Keith Mackenzie returns after a very successful season on SuperBru last year, and you could do a lot worse than follow his picks.

Ulster vs Newport Gwent Dragons

Ulster have made six new signings including Charles Piutau from Wasps, and they will be very serious title contenders. Head Coach Les Kiss has urged them to make a fast start as last season it was December before they won back to back games. The Dragons have been wearing the ‘fourth team in Wales’ badge for some time now, Taulupe Faletau has left for Bath and despite bolstering their front-row coverage it is difficult to see them finishing outside the bottom three once again.

Despite a long injury list, the home side should be too strong up front for the Dragons on Friday night, and with test match quality in the back division, they will be looking to secure an opening bonus point win. Ulster by 10.

Leinster vs Benetton Treviso

Leinster’s pre-season was disrupted somewhat by the sudden departure of defence coach Kurt McQuilken. Graham Henry was hired by the club in a consultancy capacity in July, and one can’t help feeling this will have been to the benefit of Leo Cullen. Beaten finalists last season despite leading the Pro12 for most of the way, Leinster will be looking for a confidence boosting start against a Treviso side which completely failed to spark last year.

Despite the unpredictability of the first game of the regular season, only a brave man would predict anything other than a very comfortable home win. Leinster by 18.

Ospreys vs Zebre

Ospreys have been pretty quiet on the transfer front over the summer, although Bradley Davies’ return to Wales from Wasps will bolster their pack. They suffered dreadfully from the absence of their World Cup players at the start of last season and simply couldn’t make up the lost ground once they returned. With a strong starting XV they should be back in the running again this year. It is unlikely that Zebre will provide the stiffest of challenges in this game. The Italians have lost some significant players in Mirco Bergamasco, Leonardo Sarto, Marco Bortolami, Kelly Haimona and Luke Burgess – unfortunately their signings do not appear to fill their shoes.

The Ospreys are likely to have too much quality for their visitors. Fair weather conditions and quick phase ball could give them the opportunity for a handsome win. Ospreys by 15.

Scarlets vs Munster

This is perhaps the most difficult of all the first round games to predict, The Scarlets fell out of the top four in the final weeks of last season as their squad became stretched, but with the return of Jonathan Davies and the signing of Rhys Patchell from Cardiff, they will now have more quality options in their back division. Last season was a desperate disappointment for Munster, but since then it’s been all change at the helm with the appointment of South African Rassie Erasmus as their new Director of Rugby. He has been quick to bring in the athletic Stormers lock Jean Kleyn who should make a big impression in the Pro12.

The Scarlets will be aiming to create a fast-paced game utilising their more dynamic back-line, whilst Munster will want to boss things up front. A close one to call, but Munster will usher in a new era with narrow win. Munster by 3.

Connacht vs Glasgow Warriors

The champions kick off their defence of the Pro12 title against the Warriors. It will be the third successive fixture between the two teams after they met in both Round 22 and the play-off at the end of last season. On both of those occasions the home side prevailed. At the end of this season it will be all change at Glasgow with Gregor Townsend moving on to take on the Scottish international role and Dave Rennie coming in from Super Rugby outfit the Chiefs. Townsend will be determined to deliver a second Pro12 title before he departs and they have brought in a number of new faces over the summer. However they have lost the mercurial skills of Fijian Leone Nakarawa who is off to Racing 92. Of course Connacht have lost a big name also in Robbie Henshaw, but it feels like Glasgow’s loss will be greater.

Expect another tight encounter with huge physicality up front. Glasgow’s pre-season form has been a bit mixed particularly on the road, and for that reason I suspect Connacht will secure a narrow home win. Connacht by 5.

Cardiff Blues vs Edinburgh

The Blues have a made a very significant signing in Willis Halaholo from the Hurricanes, and although he won’t join his new club until October he should a have real impact when he arrives. With the addition of Nick Williams and Matthew Morgan, the Blues look a stronger outfit this year, Edinburgh in contrast have lost the service of Matt Scott, Mike Conman and Sam Beard, whilst the most significant signing is Duncan Weir from Glasgow Warriors; he will do a very solid job but is unlikely to spark a back-line that has been stagnant for too long.

Edinburgh have been very bullish about their chances of landing a top four slot this year, which on the basis of last year and their pre-season form appears to be overly-optimistic. Add into the mix the Blues home and away victories over the Scots last season and it is difficult to see past a repeat result. Cardiff Blues by 8.

By Keith Mackenzie
Follow Keith on Twitter: @Keith_Mack7