PRO 12 WEEK TEAMS AND PREDICTIONS 7-10-16

PRO 12 TEAMS

FRIDAY

CONNACHT V ULSTER

Connacht: T O'Halloran; N Adeolokun, B Aki, C Ronaldson, C Kelleher; J Carty, C Blade; F Bealham, D Heffernan, C Carey, U Dillane, A Browne, E McKeon, J Heenan, J Muldoon (capt).

Replacements: S Delahunt, R Loughney, JP Cooney, L Stevenson, J Connolly, S Kerins, S O'Leary, S Ili.

Ulster: J Payne (capt); T Bowe, L Ludik, D Cave, C Gilroy; P Jackson, P Marshall; C Black, R Best, R Ah You, R Diack, P Browne, I Henderson, C Ross, R Wilson.

Replacements: R Herring, A Warwick, R Kane, K Treadwell, S Reidy, D Shanahan, B Herron, R Lyttle.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/37574003

I would be very surprised if Ulster do not win this but a bonus point might not be as easy to get as people think. I say Ulster by 8

OSPREYS V BLUES

Ospreys: Dan Evans; Jeff Hassler, Ben John, Josh Matavesi, Eli Walker; Sam Davies, Rhys Webb; Nicky Smith, Sam Parry, Dmitri Arhip, Bradley Davies, Alun Wyn Jones (Capt), James King, Justin Tipuric, Dan Baker.

Replacements: Scott Baldwin, Paul James, Ma'afu Fia, Rory Thornton, Dan Lydiate, Tom Habberfield, Dan Biggar, Ashley Beck

Cardiff Blues: Dan Fish; Blaine Scully, Garyn Smith, Rey Lee-Lo, Tom James; Gareth Anscombe, Lloyd Williams; Gethin Jenkins (capt), Kristian Dacey, Taufa'ao Filise, Macauley Cook, Josh Turnbull, Josh Navidi, Ellis Jenkins, Nick Williams

Replacements: Matthew Rees, Rhys Gill, Scott Andrews, James Down, Cam Dolan, Tomos Williams, Steven Shingler, Matthew Morgan

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/37552736

I would go more for the Ospreys as I think that this match will be very close and neither team will take control of it and I do not think either team will lead at any stage by more than 7 points.

EDINBURGH V TREVISO

Edinburgh: Blair Kinghorn, Damien Hoyland, Michael Allen, Chris Dean, Tom Brown, Jason Tovey, Sean Kennedy; Rory Sutherland, Ross Ford, Ewan McQuillin, Ben Toolis, Grant Gilchrist (capt), Magnus Bradbury, Hamish Watson, Nasi Manu.

Replacements: Stuart McInally, Allan Dell, Murray McCallum, Lewis Carmichael, John Hardie, Nathan Fowles, Glenn Bryce, Solomoni Rasolea.

Benetton Treviso: Luke McLean, Angelo Esposito, Tommaso Benvenuti, Alberto Sgarbi (capt), Andrea Buondonno, Tommaso Allan, Edoardo Gori; Alberto de Marchi, Ornel Gega, Simone Ferrari, Filo Paulo, Marco Fuser, Francesco Minto, Marco Lazzaroni, Braam Steyn.

Replacements: Luca Bigi, Matteo Zanusso, Cherif Traore, Filippo Gerosa, Andrea Pratichetti, Tito Tebaldi, Ian McKinley, David Odiete.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/37575931

I think that Edinburgh will win this match but Treviso are picking up points so this game could be a lot closer than even the Italians think as there could be as little as one kick between the sides when the final ball is kicked out.

SATURDAY

LEINSTER V MUNSTER

This is without a doubt the match that sells the pro 12 to the public and I think that this again could be a battle for the ages especially as Munster are near the top of the table and the European Cup starts next week and with what happened last season to the Irish sides that was not a good year. I think that both coaches will see this match as good prep for next wee3k and anything could happen. I would go for a Leinster win as I think they have more in their side

ZEBRE V GLASGOW

Glasgow will win this match with a bonus point anything less would be considered a disappointment

SCARLET'S V DRAGONS

I do not see this match as the most attacking game in the world I think home advantage will give the Scarlet's the edge