Guinness PRO12 2014/2015: Round 6 Predictions

Benetton Treviso vs Connacht

Treviso are still ‘0 for 5’ this season after taking a pounding from current table toppers, Glasgow Warriors, last weekend. They will be desperate to turn this season around and ordinarily they’d be pleased to be facing Connacht next, who usually languish at the bottom of the table with them every year. In fact, the last time they beat any Irish opposition was at this same fixture last season. Also in their favour will be the return of star player Alessandro Zanni from a long term injury. Connacht will be looking to move on from last weekend too, when they let a trailing Cardiff Blues side score 14 points to get back into the game and snatch a draw. The Connacht of old were notoriously poor on the road, and the Treviso of old were tricky to beat at home. Neither of these squads are the teams of old though.

Prediction: Connacht by 3

Munster vs Llanelli Scarlets

Munster got back to winning ways with a bang last weekend beating Leinster in Dublin for the first time in quite a while. Where that performance came from, I have no idea. They showed great resolve to weather the Leinster fight back in the second half, especially with all the yellow cards they had towards the end. Leinster aren’t usually bullied on their own turf and will be looking to make amends this weekend. Meanwhile, Scarlets come into this on the back of a 13 point win over fellow Welshmen, the Dragons. Llanelli have had a bit of an up and down season thus far, two draws already in just five rounds, along with two wins and a loss. Their away form is pretty poor and add to that the fact that they’ve only won once on Munster soil in 11 years (Musgrave Park, 2012) ordinarily wouldn’t give me much hope for them here. What a difference a week makes though – given the home form Munster have had thus far this season, I might have backed Scarlets to sneak a win here were they playing last weekend. But this Munster side, who silenced their critics in the home of their fiercest rivals, will kick on from here.

Prediction: Munster by 9

Edinburgh vs Newport Gwent Dragons

No doubt Edinburgh will still be hurting from the 30-0 beating Ulster handed them last weekend. They have had an up and down round of results so far this season – more downs than ups, it has to be said. Beating Munster at Thomond, losing to Connacht at Murrayfield, a draw to Scarlets, before that fateful visit to Ravenhill. Newport’s season has been worse however, with a solitary win over bottom placed Treviso to brag about. I’ve got no team info at the time of writing this, so I’m going to have to go on current form and history, neither of which bode well for Newport. Home advantage stands in Edinburgh’s favour also (just about) so I’ll be backing them this round to take the win.

Prediction: Edinburgh by 5

Zebre vs Leinster

Well Zebre certainly weren’t demolished like many people were expecting last weekend, losing by a respectable one point margin to as-yet-unbeaten Ospreys. Add to that their victory over Ulster and you can see that maybe they are finally turning a corner, at home at least. Unfortunately for them, like Edinburgh last weekend they face a strong team looking to avenge a loss many would have considered an upset. It’ not often you see a Leinster results sheet reading ‘two for five’, or see them ranked seventh in the table, and even more incredibly as the lowest ranked Irish team in the PRO12. I fully expect a fired up Leinster to bounce back here, no matter how hard Zebre try to make it for them. The Irishmen’s season re-starts here.

Prediction: Leinster by 14

Ulster vs Glasgow Warriors

This game has all the hallmarks of being the game of the round. Ulster are fresh from their trashing of Edinburgh and Glasgow’s surprise mugging of them in this fixture last season no doubt still looms large in their minds. Add to that the humiliation Glasgow doled out to them at Scotstoun last April and they’ll no doubt be well up for this. Glasgow meanwhile remain one of only two unbeaten sides left in this competition, and know that a win here will keep them in the top spot for another week at least. To be totally fair to Glasgow, with the exception of Leinster in week one, they’ve yet to face any strong opposition or contenders for the title thus far. That ends tomorrow night though. Ulster will test them like they haven’t been tested so far this season and while I would love to see Glasgow win here, Ulster won’t be caught out by them again so easily.

Prediction: Ulster by 10

Ospreys vs Cardiff Blues

Ospreys just about kept their perfect scoresheet intact against a spirited Zebre side last weekend. It’s funny how a side can go and win against a team like Munster in Thomond one week and then just squeak by lowly Zebre the next. They should be in the driving seat this time with the Blues paying them a visit. Their current coach, Steve Tandy has an perfect record against fellow Welsh regions, yet to lose to any of them in a PRO12 match thus far in his tenure. The Blues have only won here once in this competition, way back in 2005. Their recent results also haven’t been great, clawing back to get a draw against Connacht and the fright they gave Leinster just about their best offerings. The one factor in their favour is that while the Ospreys barely got over the finish line against Zebre, Cardiff beat them handily by 15 points back in round one. Ospreys to remain the only unbeaten team in the PRO12 and deservedly take their spot at the top of the table.

Prediction: Ospreys by 17

How do you see the weekend going?

By John O’Brien (@tiptackler)

Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images