The second round of matches in the Guinness PRO12 take place this weekend with four matches scheduled for Friday night, one for Saturday and one for Sunday.
Both matches involving teams from Scotland will be played on modern artificial pitches. In the first match, tonight, Edinburgh Rugby will play host to Connacht Rugby at BT Murrayfield in what will be the first match on the newly laid hybrid pitch at the National Stadium. The final fixture of the weekend will see a top four clash between Cardiff Blues and Glasgow Warriors on the 3G pitch at BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park.
It will be interesting to see how the teams fare tonight on the hybrid pitch at Murrayfield which was put in place after the old grass field was dug up earlier this year following a lot of problems with the surface attributed to root damage caused by nemotodes. One would expect these kinds of pitches to be more conducive to running rugby and especially good in standing up to the rigours of scrum time.
It may take the visiting teams a bit of time to settle in to the feel of playing on the artificial surfaces so this potentially gives Edinburgh and Cardiff Blues a bit of an early advantage. However, in Edinburgh’s case this shouldn’t amount to much as this is the first match to be played on the new pitch and it is unclear how much they have practised on the pitch. One also guesses that both visiting teams will be getting a practise run on the pitches ahead of the matches anyway.
Sunday’s match in Cardiff promises to be an exciting affair with both teams likely to be looking to take full advantage of the 3G surface and expected dry conditions to play free flowing rugby. Former Hurricanes coach Mark Hammett will be keen to impose his brand of running rugby with Cardiff who started off their Pro12 campaign last weekend with a bonus point victory away from home against Zebre, scoring five tries in the process. Promising young flyhalf Rhys Patchell, who was man of the match against Zebre, starts for Cardiff again and will be looking to continue his progress, albeit against a team that will pose a much sterner challenge.
Gregor Townsend has already shown his hand over the last few seasons with Glasgow Warriors in attempting to play a free flowing game with much offloading and strong running, with underfoot and overhead conditions at the Arms Park likely to suit their style of play. However, one of Glasgow’s best runners and counter attacking players, Stuart Hogg, will not be playing against Cardiff.
3G Pitch at BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park
Fixtures
| Round 2 | ||||||
| Fri 12 Sep | 19:35 | Edinburgh Rugby | vs | Connacht Rugby | BT Murrayfield | BBC ALBA/TG4 |
| Fri 12 Sep | 19:35 | Newport Gwent Dragons | vs | Ospreys | Rodney Parade | BBC Wales |
| Fri 12 Sep | 19:35 | Ulster Rugby | vs | Zebre | Kingspan Stadium | TBA |
| Fri 12 Sep | 20:00 | Benetton Treviso | vs | Munster Rugby | Stadio Monigo | TBA |
| Sat 13 Sep | 14:40 | Leinster Rugby | vs | Scarlets | RDS Arena | Sky |
| Sun 14 Sep | 16:00 | Cardiff Blues | vs | Glasgow Warriors | BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park | S4C/BBC ALBA |
Teams
Edinburgh vs Connacht
Edinburgh: Jack Cuthbert; Sam Beard, Phil Burleigh, Andries Strauss, Nick McLennan; Tom Heathcote, Sean Kennedy; Alasdair Dickinson, Ross Ford (Capt.), John Andress; Fraser McKenzie, Ollie Atkins; Tomas Leonardi, Hamish Watson, Cornell Du Preez.
Replacements: James Hilterbrand, Rory Sutherland, WP Nel, Anton Bresler, Mike Coman, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, Grayson Hart, Joaquin Dominguez.
Connacht: Darragh Leader; Niyi Adeolokun, Robbie Henshaw, Dave McSharry, Danie Poolman; Jack Carty, Kieran Marmion; Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan, Nathan White; Mick Kearney, Quinn Roux; John Muldoon (Capt.), Willie Faloon, Eoin McKeon.
Replacements: Sean Henry, Finlay Bealham, Rodney Ah You, Aly Muldowney, George Naoupu, Ian Porter, Craig Ronaldson, Fionn Carr.
NG Dragons vs Ospreys
NG Dragons: Lee Byrne (Capt.); Hallam Amos, Tyler Morgan, Jack Dixon, Aled Brew; Jason Tovey, Jonathan Evans; Boris Stankovich, Elliot Dee, Lloyd Fairbrother; Ian Gough, Rynard Landman; Lewis Evans, Nic Cudd, Taulupe Faletau.
Replacements: T. Rhys Thomas, Owen Evans, Dan Way, Andrew Coombs, Andy Powell, Richie Rees, Angus O’Brien, Tom Prydie.
Ospreys: Dan Evans; Jeff Hassler, Andrew Bishop, Josh Matavesi, Eli Walker; Dan Biggar, Rhys Webb; Nicky Smith, Scott Baldwin, Aaron Jarvis; Lloyd Peers (Capt.), Rynier Bernardo; Joe Bearman, James King, Dan Baker.
Replacements: Sam Parry, Duncan Jones, Daniel Suter, Tyler Ardron, Morgan Allen, Martin Roberts, Sam Davies, Hanno Dirksen.
Ulster vs Zebre
Ulster: Ricky Andrew; Andrew Trimble, Darren Cave, Luke Marshall, Craig Gilroy; Ian Humphreys, Paul Marshall; Andrew Warwick, Rory Best (Capt.), Wiehahn Herbst; Lewis Stevenson, Dan Tuohy; Robbie Diack, Chris Henry, Nick Williams.
Replacements: Rob Herring, Ruaidhri Murphy, Bronson Ross, Franco van der Merwe, Roger Wilson, Michael Heaney, Stuart Olding, Louis Ludik.
Zebre: Hendrik Daniller; David Odiete, Giulio Bisegni, Gonzalo Garcia (Capt.), Giulio Toniolatti; Kelly Haimona, Brendon Leonard; Andrea De Marchi, Andrea Manici, Dario Chistolini; Andries Ferreira, George Biagi; Mauro Bergamasco, Filippo Cristiano, Andries Van Schalkwyk.
Replacements: Oliviero Fabiani, Andrea Lovotti, Luciano Leibson, Valerio Bernabò, Quintin Geldenhuys, Samuela Vunisa, Guglielmo Palazzani, Edoardo Padovani.
Benetton Treviso vs Munster
Benetton Treviso: Simone Ragusi; Ludovico Nitoglia, Luca Morisi, Sam Christie, Michele Campagnaro; Joe Carlisle, Henry Seniloli; Matteo Muccignat, Davide Giazzon, Rupert Harden; Marco Fuser, Corniel Van Zyl (Capt.); Meyer Swanepoel, Tomas Vallejos, Mat Luamanu.
Replacements: Giovanni Maistri, Matteo Zanusso, Salesi Manu, Marco Lazzaroni, Marco Barbini, Alberto Sgarbi, Angelo Esposito, James Ambrosini.
Munster: Felix Jones (Capt.); Andrew Conway, Andrew Smith, Ivan Dineen, Simon Zebo; Ian Keatley, Duncan Williams; James Cronin, Duncan Casey, Stephen Archer; Dave Foley, Billy Holland; CJ Stander, Tommy O’Donnell, Robin Copeland.
Replacements: Kevin O’Byrne, John Ryan, BJ Botha, Donncha O’Callaghan, Sean Dougall, Cathal Sheridan, Johnny Holland, Ronan O’Mahony.
Leinster vs Scarlets
Leinster: Rob Kearney; Zane Kirchner, Brendan Macken, Ian Madigan, Darragh Fanning; Jimmy Gopperth, Isaac Boss; Jack McGrath, Sean Cronin, Mike Ross; Devin Toner, Mike McCarthy; Dominic Ryan, Shane Jennings, Jamie Heaslip (Capt.).
Replacements: Bryan Byrne, Cian Healy, Tadhg Furlong, Ben Marshall, Kevin McLaughlin, Eoin Reddan, Steve Crosbie, Mick McGrath.
Scarlets: Liam Williams; Harry Robinson, Gareth Owen, Scott Williams, Jordan Williams; Rhys Priestland, Rhodri Williams; Phil John, Ken Owens (Capt.), Rhodri Jones; Jake Ball, Johan Snyman; Aaron Shingler, John Barclay, Rory Pitman.
Replacements: Emyr Phillips, Rob Evans, Peter Edwards, Richard Kelly, Rob McCusker, Aled Davies, Steven Shingler, Adam Warren.
Cardiff Blues vs Glasgow Warriors
Cardiff Blues: Adam Thomas; Alex Cuthbert, Cory Allen, Gavin Evans, Dan Fish; Rhys Patchell, Lewis Jones; Sam Hobbs, Matthew Rees (Capt.), Adam Jones; Jarrad Hoeata, Filo Paulo; Josh Turnbull, Sam Warburton, Manoa Vosawai.
Glasgow Warriors: Peter Murchie; Tommy Seymour, Mark Bennett, Alex Dunbar, Sean Lamont; Peter Horne, Henry Pyrgos; Alex Allan, Pat MacArthur, Rossouw de Klerk; Tim Swinson, Jonny Gray; Rob Harley, Chris Fusaro, Josh Strauss (Capt.).
Replacements: Fraser Brown, Gordon Reid, Jerry Yanuyanutawa, Leone Nakarawa, James Eddie, Niko Matawalu, Duncan Weir, DTH van der Merwe.
* teams adapted from therugbypaper
There you go nortierd, do spill the beans on your picks for the PRO12 this week please. Some tough calls and also some no-brainers methinks. Hope you saw I put up highlight videos in the PRO12 review earlier this week, especially to help you make your picks, dis ‘n moerse plesier ou dier or is it tier
GO GLASGOW, GO EDINBURGH!
Edinburgh who are already without quite a few players due to injury had to shuffle their backline quite a bit with their top two wingers, Visser and Fife, both picking up injuries against Munster last week. Sam Beard has been shifted from outside centre to wing, although he played well last week one feels his place being taken by Burleigh is not weakening the position. Nick McClennan takes up a starting spot on the other wing, don’t know anything about him.
Last season Edinburgh moved Greg Tonks from fullback to flyhalf a move I thought was promising at the time(that was before they signed Tom Heathcote) but he picked up an injury in training so was a late omission from the Edinburgh team last week, he is still out with the injury this sees this week’s team going out with 3 scrumhalfs in the squad of 23.
Tim Visser got a ‘dead leg’ injury and Dougie Fife a knee injury against Munster.
No mention of Carl Bezuidenhout in Edinburgh’s length injury report so am wondering whether he has fallen out of favour with Alan Solomons to not even be on the bench where he could cover flyhalf and fullback, positions he has played in for Edinburgh last season as far as am aware…
@ Bullscot:
Lol
Pro 12 as follows (again with the 5’s this week)
Munster by 5
Edinburgh by 5
Ospreys by 10
Ulster by 20
Leinster by 15
Glasgow by 10
Aviva:
Saracens by 5
Bath by 25
Gloucester by 5
Leicester by 6
Northampton by 5
Newcastle by 7
What do you think?
7 @ nortierd:
Sorry nortierd had to dash away soon after, school run doing braai for us etc.
I like you picking victories for both Scottish teams
Feel Munster should win by more against Treviso even away from home, you margin could be at least 15 points out. Think you picked wisely for the 2nd one, you could quite easily have seen Edinburgh playing at home having won that big game away to mighty Munster and playing the weakest Irish Province Connacht and gone bos and predicted a HUUGE win for Edinburgh. But considering all the injury issues they have, 3 scrumhalfs in their team etc think a narrow margin would suffice although hopefully it will be nearer by 10 points. Ospreys Dragons probably about right. Ulster should beat Zebre comprehensively at home by how much who knows.
The Leinster Scarlets one is possibly one of the trickier ones as Scarlets looked good against Ulster in their draw last week, playing a nice quick passing game with good halfbacks, Leinster still possible favourites but maybe to win by less than 7.
The Cardiff Blues Glasgow Warriors one is also a hard one to call as both teams did well last week. In recent time Blues have seemed to be Glasgow’s bogey team beat us in both Heineken Cup pool games last season and there have been some close PRO12 games too, one in particular remember Glasgow squeaked home in the end with a try right at the end of the game. Plus Cardiff at home so this one really a tough one, am going to sit on the fence just say that IF Glasgow do win like I hope it could be by 5 or less. Don’t know if it is rotation policy or injuries but two big players in Maitland and Hogg not in Glasgow match day squad and still without captain Kellock and some props injured and Euan Murray not playing with the game being on Sunday, going to be a big result for Glasgow if we can win.
Latest scores (first half still on):
Treviso 7/18 Munster, Edinburgh 6/6 Connacht, Ulster 19/10, Dragons 3/3 Ospreys (20 min gone in that game
CORNEL DU PREEZ SCORES IN THE CORNER FOR EDINBURGH!
Great conversion from Heathcote from near the touchline, Edinburgh 13/6 Connacht – and its half time
Latest- Treviso 10/18 Munster, Dragons 3/10 Ospreys, rest of scores no change
@ Bullscot:
Connaught’s 1 point victory hurt me.
At least got the 20 point margin for Ulster spot on, but no chance of a GSP anymore
13 @ nortierd:
Do you get to watch any of the PRO12? Why I ask is I think that you may be pleasantly surprised by the quality of some of the matches especially on dry nights.
Arggh man was really disappointed with that result, Edinburgh should have won that one, just got caught out late in the game from what I heard, the game was on the TV and watched much of the 1st half but had the 2nd half in the background. Well done on your Ulster pick. Dragons Ospreys was a close one. Munster Treviso – told you so (although I did think they may have won by just a few points more than they did)
@ Bullscot:
Hi Bully, so far haven’t watched any of the games.
Not sure if they even televise them here
FINAL SCORES: Edinburgh 13/14 Connacht, Dragons 15/17 Ospreys, Ulster 33/13 Zebre, Treviso 10/21 Munster
Very disappointed that Edinburgh lost last night, leading for most of the match and on the attack only to concede a late penalty that was kicked to touch and a try scored from in the 78th minute. I guess was getting ahead of myself with Edinburgh having a good season and getting a good win against Munster thought that even with all the injuries they had turned the corner only to see them lose at home to Connacht.
Cornell du Preez scored a try for Edinburgh and was man of the match. WP Nel got a yellow card, second one in two games, didn’t see it but it was for a scrum infringement so it was possibly a ‘team card’ as Edinburgh were pinged a lot in the scrum especially starting tighthead Andress, this after dominating Munster’s scrum last weekend, either Connacht have a better scrum than Munster or this week’s ref sees this things different to last week’s ref, who has right…
Saturday result: Leinster 42/12 Scarlets – big bonus point win for Leinster who scored 6 tries, two by Rob Kearney, Scarlets scored 2 tries.
Result- Cardiff Blues 12/33 Glasgow Warriors! Great win away from home, pity no bonus point as only got 3 tries. But lets not get greedy would have taken that result before the match, thought it would be much closer. Guess just a bit of a pity when can’t go on and get bonus point try after scoring 3rd try in 68th minute.
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