Connacht (6) v Scarlets (7)
Saturday 29th Nov. 19.30
Connacht
have made a vast improvement this year and find themselves mid table and only 4
points off a play-off place approaching the midway point of the season.
Scarlets who sit 7th and just a point behind their opponents will
have a weakened team as Wales prepare to take on the Boks at the Millenium
Stadium, while Connacht could be at full strength with the return of Rodney Ah
You and Robbie Henshaw after international duty.
Verdict:
Connacht
Leinster (5) v Ospreys (1)
Saturday 29th Nov. 17.15
Similar
factors will affect this game as the Ospreys will be operating without
playmaker Dan Biggar and many of their other Welsh born stars, while Leinster
will get ready to welcome back their International contingent with Ian Madigan,
Eoin Reddan & Dominick Ryan all likely to start as the rest who started
against Australia may be given more time to recuperate. Ospreys though have
shown a serious backbone this season and deservedly sit pretty on the top of
table while Leinster have stuttered with their form. This game will be tight
but can home advantage swing it for the Irish side up against their bogey team
of the past.
Verdict:
Leinster
Munster (3) v Ulster (2)
Friday 28th Nov. 19.35
Thomond Park
& Munster gets set to host a dry run before they pack it out to the rafters
next weekend with French giants Clermont on their way. Ulster simply have to
take 10 points from their next 2 outings in Europe if they are to keep alive
their fading hopes of qualification to the knockout stages. With 1 eye each on
next week, this game looks set to be a sparring contest between the 2. Pat
Howard will look to make his home debut at outside centre for Munster, while
Stuart Olding will aim to carry on his glittering form which saw him called
into Joe Schmidts panel this Autumn. Another tough game to call and Ulster have
shown in recent times that they aren’t afraid of the Thomond factor, but the
competition for places in Munster will have the fringe players on their toes as
they seek to make it into the panel for next week’s cracker v Clermont.
Verdict:
Munster
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