Ospreys vs Leinster
First up we have Ospreys hosting Leinster. Just a few weeks ago the Welsh side were sitting pretty on top of the table but two consecutive losses in Scotland have dumped them out of the top four. They’re a tough team to beat at home but will be missing 13 players to international commitments, making the task of getting back to winning ways a tad tricky considering that the current champions Leinster are rolling into town. Leinster’s form this season has been all over the place though; yes, they beat Zebre last weekend, but it took them a long time to get on the scoreboard and take control of that game. Both teams are currently depleted and both really need a win to take momentum into the final dash for a top four spot. It should be a close run match but, home advantage could seal it for Ospreys.
Prediction: Ospreys by 3
Ulster vs Llanelli Scarlets
Reduced to 13 men in the last 10 mins of the game, Ulster still managed to bring to an end Edinburgh’s amazing eight game unbeaten streak at home. Ulster currently sit in second place in the league, level on points with Munster. Scarlets yet again were guilty of not being able to close out a game where they’ve had the upperhand against Munster last weekend, and they did similar against Ulster in the reverse of this fixture way back in round one. That match notwithstanding, the usual run of things between both these sides recently has seen victory go to the home side. If you factor in the Scarlets’ poor away form these past 12 months and the fact that they haven’t won in Belfast since 2008, it’s hard to see past an Ulster win this weekend.
Prediction: Ulster by 14
Munster vs Glasgow
It’s such a shame that this match is happening during the Six Nations window as I’d love to see both teams at full strength taking each other on. I was at this equilivent fixture last season where Glasgow stunned the Thomond Park faithful with a well taken and fully deserved win over the hosts. This time the action is in Cork rather than Limerick but I’m betting Munster are still hurting from that loss, not to mention losing twice more to Glasgow in the interim, in last year’s semi-final and earlier on this season, both in Scotstoun. Under normal conditions I’d be temped to back Glasgow but I’ve no team info as I write this and given Glasgow’s contribution to the Scottish squad for their clash against Italy this weekend, I expect them to be lacking their usual firepower. Munster, too, will be without their big guns, but I think Glasgow will feel the absence more.
Prediction: Munster by 5
Cardiff Blues vs Edinburgh
This game is tough to call. On current form we see that Cardiff have lost their last three matches in the PRO12 and have a dismal home record this season with only two victories in seven games. Edinburgh are currently giving Connacht a run for their money in the ‘most-improved-team’ stakes but haven’t been able to take that form on the road, with only two wins away from home all season. Looking at this match from a league table perspective, Edinburgh are the stronger team, and proved that they deserve to be taken more seriously, especially with wins over play-off contenders Munster and Glasgow (albeit both of those were at home). This match could go either way, and despite letting themselves down last weekend against Ulster they could well bounce back this weekend.
Prediction: Edinburgh by 2
Zebre vs Newport Gwent Dragons
Another tricky game to call, as neither team have been doing all that well this year. Both teams have managed to pull off unlikely wins over much higher ranked Irish sides with Zebre stunning Ulster and Dragons surprising Leinster, but that’s about all they’ve got going for them this season. Zebre have been on the receiving end of some serious thrashing recently though, losing by margins of 21, 44 and 24 in their last three matches with two of those at home. The closest Zebre have ever come to beating the Dragons was in this fixture last year, which ended in a draw. This year, riding on a high from their last away win, over current league champions Leinster, I’m thinking that the Dragons will make it two away wins in a row, their first since early 2012.
Prediction: Dragons by 6
Connacht vs Benetton Treviso
Last up we have Connacht versus Treviso. Again, so far out from the kick-off and with no teams named we have to go on form. Advantage Connacht in that regard, who sit in sixth place in the table, a full 19 league points clear of Treviso. Incredibly for Connacht they’ve only lost once at home in this year’s competition, whereas Treviso’s sole away win was over Zebre. Connacht usually do well during the international window too, so I expect them to win handily here.
Prediction: Connacht by 15
How do you see the weekend going?
By John O’Brien (@tiptackler)
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
Thank you John, Silly question on my side. You keep mentioning “without the team selection it is hard to …” knowing that most of the starting XV are announced at 1PM CET, why don’t you wait few extra hours to publish your predictions with the complete information?
Lol, good question! Unfortunately real life gets in the way and I’m not free to write up these predictions during the day on Friday. Instead I have to compile these predictions late Thursday night so they’re on Jamie’s desk first thing Friday morning. He edits the piece and publishes it as soon as possible that morning. Last season, I set up a separate account on Superbru just to see what I’d pick if I had all the team sheets and my hand wasn’t forced so early. As it turned out, with all that extra time and info, I did slightly worse!