We arrive at the halfway point of the Pro12 but due to the strange fixture list they won’t have played all the other teams once. So sides can have a harder or easier second half to come making it hard to draw conclusions about the standings. Anyway here are my predictions for round 11.
How did your predictions go last week?
2 from 6, a poor week but it was a tough week for predictions.
Ospreys v Newport Gwent Dragons
Ospreys are on a good run of form with 4 wins on the trot, that has included 2 games against Zebre though. Still they are facing Dragons who could drop into the bottom 2 if they lose this game. Dragons have not won away in the league and have only won 3 games all season and I can’t see them adding to it this weekend.
Ospreys by 10
Cardiff Blues v Scarlets
Blues have managed 2 wins back to back in the league after losing 7 on the trot. That has been backed up with better showings in Europe as well. Scarlets are still top of the league but have faltered a little recently with 2 losses in the last 4 games. All along the noise out of Wales was that they were going to struggle once all the teams were back to full strength. That looks to be the case and so I’m going to go with a narrow home win.
Cardiff Blues by 3
Leinster v Connacht Rugby
This match sees 3rd host 2nd in the league. Leinster are on a run of 5 wins in the league and caused Toulon issues in Europe recently. Connacht are suffering from a long injury list which has seen them lose their last 2 games and have problems in Europe. I don’t see the trip to the other coast of Ireland being an easy one meaning I’m backing a home win.
Leinster by 7
Ulster v Munster
Ulster got a good victory away to Connacht last weekend which was the first time that they managed to string two wins together. They are undefeated in the league at home and it was their away form that was the cause for concern. Munster started the season brightly but are on a run of 3 losses. They did beat Ulster at home earlier in the season but with their poor form and Ulster’s home record you have to go with the home win.
Ulster by 7
Glasgow Warriors v Edinburgh
Warriors lost away to Edinburgh last weekend ending a run of 3 victories. It had looked like they had hit a good vein of form. Edinburgh ended a losing streak themselves, after starting the season brightly they have disappoint recently. I think that with the home advantage the last weekend’s result will be reversed this coming weekend.
Glasgow Warriors by 5
Benetton Treviso v Zebre
Perhaps the simplest of all the picks this week. A good rule of thumb is to always pick agains the Italian side and if they are both Italian then pick against Treviso. Travis have not won a game all season. Zebra at least have picked up what odd win every now and then but they have all been at home. Can Zebra pick up their first away win of the season? I think so.
Zebre by 7
This is post 498, I’m closing in on 500 posts which is an amazing number that I can’t really get my head around. All I can say is, thank you all for reading and I hope to add many more.
