The story so far: The northern province’s winning run is now a distant memory. Ulster are still comfortably top of the Pro12 – seven points clear of Glasgow.
But after losing to Munster in the last game of 2012 and last week’s home defeat to Ospreys, they will be eager to return to bonus-point winning ways at home to Zebre.
The new Italian franchise are rooted to the still searching frantically for their first ever win. Arguably the closest they have come to a four-pointer was this reverse fixture in Parma, when Ulster needed a 75th minute penalty try to win the November scrap 25-27.
Team news: With the Six Nations taking a well deserved rest, Mark Anscombe has been able to call upon some of the talent that was surplus to Declan Kidney’s starting XV.
Iain Henderson, Chris Henry and Declan Fitzpatrick come straight back into the pack while Paddy Jackson returns to partner Ruan Pienaar while Darren Cave’s return to the side means Luke Marshall can revert to his favoured inside centre role.
Ulster: R Andrew, A Trimble, D Cave, L Marshall, C Cochrane; P Jackson, R Pienaar: T Court, R Herring, D Fitzpatrick; J Muller (capt), L Stevenson; I Henderson, C Henry, R Diack.
Replacements: N Annett, C Black, J Afoa, N McComb, M McComish, M Heaney, S Olding, N Walsh.
Zebre: P Buso; L Sarto, A Benettin, G Garcia, S Sinoti; D Halangahu, A Chilton: A de Marchi, A Manici, L Redolfini; M van Vuuren, M Bortolami; F Cristiano, M Bergamasco, J Sole.
Replacements: C Festuccia, M Aguero, C Fazzari, N Belardo, D van Schalwyk, D Odiete, A Chiesa, M Pratichetti.
The story so far: With only two wins from their past seven league games, Connacht will be hoping for a big Friday night crowd in Galway to help them shock the reigning champions.
Eric Elwood’s men sit third from bottom, but will assuredly have their sights on over taking Edinburgh, just two points above them, after the news that Michael Bradley was headed for the exit. The Scottish side are also in action tonight tonight (at home to the Blues).
The Ospreys are beginning to rediscover their pedigree after a shaky start to the season. Five straight wins – including last week’s triumph in Ravenhill – have pushed them into the play-off places and a sixth could see them ending the night second in the Pro12 table.
Team news: The Westerners will be bolstered by the return from injury of John Muldoon, and of Robbie Henshaw from international duty with the under 20s. Muldoon slots into a back tow also welcoming back Willie Faloon, Eoin McKeon is retained at number eight.
The most notable name on the Ospreys team-sheet is the return of Alun Wyn Jones to the second row. The international lock came off the bench last weekend to make his first appearance since injuring his shoulder in November and will be vital for both Wales and Ospreys in the remainder of their title defences.
Connacht’s opposition in the engine room will be made even more difficult by James King, who has also been released by Rob Howley for this round of fixtures. The only place on the bench to be decided is the number 21 shirt, either Arthur Ellis or Sam Davies will be in contention for their Pro12 debut if selected there.
Connacht: R Henshaw; T O’Halloran, E Griffin, K Tonetti, D Poolman; D Parks, K Marmion: B Wilkinson, J Harris-Wright, N White (capt); M Swift, M Kearney; J Muldoon, W Faloon, E McKeon.
Replacement: E Reynecke, R Ah You, R Loughney, A Browne, J O’Connor, P O’Donohoe, M Nikora, G Duffy.
Ospreys: R Fussell; T Habberfield, T Isaacs, J Spratt, B John; M Morgan, K Fotuali’i: D Jones, S Baldwin, C Griffiths; AW Jones (capt), J King; J Bearman, S lewis, M Allen.
Replacements: M Dwyer, M Thomas, D Arhip, L Peers, J Thomas, A N Other, R Webb, R Jones.
Leinster v Treviso
When: Saturday, 5.0.
Where can I watch? Not on TV.
The story so far: Leinster’s five-strong winning run since they travelled to Ravenhill was tempered by their Heineken Cup exit. Now their focus can be set upon a home Amlin final or breaking their Pro12 hoodoo after three final defeats in three seasons.
The Italian side have been a little out of sorts in league action and have only beaten the Dragons and Zebre in their last eight outings.
Team news: Joe Schmidt has given Eoin O’Malley his first start this season. The centre has been battling a knee injury since playing in the Pro12 semi-final win over Glasgow last May, but will fill his favoured number 13 shirt tomorrow after coming through 20 minutes in Cardiff unscathed.
Blindside Rhys Ruddock will captain a youthful pack which included Ben Marshall, selected ahead of Leo Cullen as the loosehead lock. Eoin Reddan and Sean Cronin start after playing minimal to no time with Ireland last weekend. Luke Fitzgerald will get a chance to show his class from fullback.
Leinster: L Fitzgerald; D Kearney, E O’Malley, A Goodman, F McFadden; I Madigan, E Reddan: J McGrath, S Cronin, J Hagan; B Marshall, D Toner; R Ruddock (capt), D Ryan, J Murphy.
Replacements: A Dundon, J O’Connell, M Bent, L Cullen, S Jennings, I Boss, N Reid, F Carr.
Benetton Treviso: G Toniolatti, L Nitoglia, A Pratichetti, G La Grange, T Iannone; J Ambrosini, F Semenzato: M Rizzo, G Maistri, J Roux; M Fuser, C Van Zyl (capt); D Budd, V Bernabo, M Vosawai.
Replacements:F Sbaraglini, I Fernandez-Rouyet, P Di Santo, E Ceccato, F Giusti, C Loamanu, L Morisi, B Williams.
Scarlets v Munster
When: Saturday, 6.30.
Where can I watch? RTE 2.
The story so far: Munster will not be too unhappy to hit the road this week despite their impressive winning margin over Edinburgh at Musgrave Park last Saturday. Munster’s home form, particularly in the Cork ground, has given Rob Penney much more cause for concern than their travels.
Munster’s last away defeat in the league was against Leinster at the Aviva Stadium and they will hope to build upon last week’s victory to push them up from sixth and into the play-off places.
Between them and that goal, sit Scarlets. Simon Easterby’s men are one point ahead of the southern province and come into the game on the back of a 25-15 win over Connacht.
Team news: After a near-flawless display last time out, Ian Keatley has been moved to fullback to accommodate Ronan O’Gara’s need for game time after the injury to Jonathan Sexton. Centre JJ Hanrahan is rewarded for his fine display against Edinburgh, retained despite the presence of Casey Laulala.
CJ Stander will hope to continue his remarkable scoring form from the back row of a pack captained by Mike Sherry.
Sherry’s cover on the bench will be provided by Sean Henry, after Damien Varley was a late withdrawal.
Scarlets: G Owen; L Williams, G Maule, A Warren, A Fenby; O Williams, A Davies: P John, E Phillips, J Adriaanse; G Earle, J Snyman; R McCusker, J Turnbull, K Murphy.
Replacements: K Myhill, R Jones, S Lee, J Ball, J Edwards, G Davies, A Thomas, N Reynolds.
Munster: I Keatley; D Hurley, I Dineen, JJ Hanrahan, J Murphy; R O’Gara, D Williams; W du Preez, M Sherry (capt), BJ Botha; D O’Callaghan, I Nagle; CJ Stander, T O’Donnell, P Butler.
Replacements:S Henry, J Ryan, S Archer, B Holland, S Dougall, C Sheridan, D Barnes, C Laulala.
Pro12 Cheat Sheet: Your guide to this weekend's rugby action
Ulster v Zebre
When: Tonight, 7.05
Where can I watch? BBC.
The story so far: The northern province’s winning run is now a distant memory. Ulster are still comfortably top of the Pro12 – seven points clear of Glasgow.
But after losing to Munster in the last game of 2012 and last week’s home defeat to Ospreys, they will be eager to return to bonus-point winning ways at home to Zebre.
The new Italian franchise are rooted to the still searching frantically for their first ever win. Arguably the closest they have come to a four-pointer was this reverse fixture in Parma, when Ulster needed a 75th minute penalty try to win the November scrap 25-27.
Team news: With the Six Nations taking a well deserved rest, Mark Anscombe has been able to call upon some of the talent that was surplus to Declan Kidney’s starting XV.
Iain Henderson, Chris Henry and Declan Fitzpatrick come straight back into the pack while Paddy Jackson returns to partner Ruan Pienaar while Darren Cave’s return to the side means Luke Marshall can revert to his favoured inside centre role.
Connacht v Ospreys
When? Tonight 7.45.
Where can I watch? TG4.
The story so far: With only two wins from their past seven league games, Connacht will be hoping for a big Friday night crowd in Galway to help them shock the reigning champions.
Eric Elwood’s men sit third from bottom, but will assuredly have their sights on over taking Edinburgh, just two points above them, after the news that Michael Bradley was headed for the exit. The Scottish side are also in action tonight tonight (at home to the Blues).
The Ospreys are beginning to rediscover their pedigree after a shaky start to the season. Five straight wins – including last week’s triumph in Ravenhill – have pushed them into the play-off places and a sixth could see them ending the night second in the Pro12 table.
Team news: The Westerners will be bolstered by the return from injury of John Muldoon, and of Robbie Henshaw from international duty with the under 20s. Muldoon slots into a back tow also welcoming back Willie Faloon, Eoin McKeon is retained at number eight.
The most notable name on the Ospreys team-sheet is the return of Alun Wyn Jones to the second row. The international lock came off the bench last weekend to make his first appearance since injuring his shoulder in November and will be vital for both Wales and Ospreys in the remainder of their title defences.
Connacht’s opposition in the engine room will be made even more difficult by James King, who has also been released by Rob Howley for this round of fixtures. The only place on the bench to be decided is the number 21 shirt, either Arthur Ellis or Sam Davies will be in contention for their Pro12 debut if selected there.
Leinster v Treviso
When: Saturday, 5.0.
Where can I watch? Not on TV.
The story so far: Leinster’s five-strong winning run since they travelled to Ravenhill was tempered by their Heineken Cup exit. Now their focus can be set upon a home Amlin final or breaking their Pro12 hoodoo after three final defeats in three seasons.
The Italian side have been a little out of sorts in league action and have only beaten the Dragons and Zebre in their last eight outings.
Team news: Joe Schmidt has given Eoin O’Malley his first start this season. The centre has been battling a knee injury since playing in the Pro12 semi-final win over Glasgow last May, but will fill his favoured number 13 shirt tomorrow after coming through 20 minutes in Cardiff unscathed.
Blindside Rhys Ruddock will captain a youthful pack which included Ben Marshall, selected ahead of Leo Cullen as the loosehead lock. Eoin Reddan and Sean Cronin start after playing minimal to no time with Ireland last weekend. Luke Fitzgerald will get a chance to show his class from fullback.
Scarlets v Munster
When: Saturday, 6.30.
Where can I watch? RTE 2.
The story so far: Munster will not be too unhappy to hit the road this week despite their impressive winning margin over Edinburgh at Musgrave Park last Saturday. Munster’s home form, particularly in the Cork ground, has given Rob Penney much more cause for concern than their travels.
Munster’s last away defeat in the league was against Leinster at the Aviva Stadium and they will hope to build upon last week’s victory to push them up from sixth and into the play-off places.
Between them and that goal, sit Scarlets. Simon Easterby’s men are one point ahead of the southern province and come into the game on the back of a 25-15 win over Connacht.
Team news: After a near-flawless display last time out, Ian Keatley has been moved to fullback to accommodate Ronan O’Gara’s need for game time after the injury to Jonathan Sexton. Centre JJ Hanrahan is rewarded for his fine display against Edinburgh, retained despite the presence of Casey Laulala.
CJ Stander will hope to continue his remarkable scoring form from the back row of a pack captained by Mike Sherry.
Sherry’s cover on the bench will be provided by Sean Henry, after Damien Varley was a late withdrawal.
6 Nations chiefs confirm Cian Healy is suspended for Leinster’s game this weekend
Crisis point: Gordon D’Arcy ruled out of 6 Nations remainder
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