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PRO14: Round 7 Preview

A scrum during the Guinness PRO14 Round 4 match between Zebre and Leinster at the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi in Parma, Italy.

Darry Worthington runs the rule of the Round 7 PRO14 fixtures, which get underway on Friday the 29th of November.

The PRO14 will return from its two-week hiatus this Friday. There are some cracking Round 7 fixtures for rugby fans to sink their teeth into including a clash between the Glasgow Warriors and Leinster.

Image Copyright – Steve Haag Sports

Ulster v Scarlets
Friday 29 November
RDS Arena
21:35

To Win (80 Mins)
Ulster 1/7
Draw 28/1
Scarlets 47/10

Ulster will be looking to draw on their magnificent Heineken Cup form when they take on a Scarlets side that also enjoyed solid two weeks in Europe.

The hosts managed to register two wins from their opening two Heineken Cup fixtures beating Bath 16-17 in the First Round and then beating Clermont 18-13 last weekend.

Scarlets may not have been able to claim back to back wins in the Challenge Cup but they did impress beating London Irish 20-16 before going down by just a solitary point to Toulon in Round 2.

Verdict: Ulster 1/7
While the Scarlets have seemed to improve over the past month, I don’t think they’ll be a match for the hosts. My money is on Ulster taking this one by more than 14 points.

Munster v Edinburgh
Friday 29 November
Irish Independent Park
21:35

To Win (80 Mins)
Munster 1/4
Draw 25/1
Edinburgh 29/10

Munster will be looking to keep the good times rolling when they take on a stubborn Edinburgh outfit. The hosts currently lie top of the pops in Conference B – five points clear of their opponents who sit in third.

Both teams registered identical records during the two-week European break with Munster beating the Ospreys 13-32 before drawing 21-21 with Racing in the Champions Cup, while Edinburgh beat Agen 10-31 before drawing 16-16 with the Bordeaux Begles.

Verdict: Munster 1/4
This should be a rather tight game but Munster will ultimately come out on top.

Treviso v Cardiff Blues
Saturday 30 November
Stadio Communale di Monigo
17:00

To Win (80 Mins)
Treviso 1/4
Draw 22/1
Cardiff Blues 3/1

Treviso will be looking to put their three-game losing streak to bed when they take on a Blues outfit who have only won three of their last five fixtures.

The hosts went into the opening two weeks of the Challenge Cup having lost their last PRO14 fixture to the Scarlets 20-17. And while they did give a decent account of themselves in Europe, they did lose their two Heineken Cup games going down 33-19 to Leinster and then 32-35 to the Northampton Saints.

Like their opponents, the Blues also come into this one off the back of a defeat having gone down 11-14 to the Leicester Tigers. 

Gareth Anscombe of the Cardiff Blues
Gareth Anscombe of the Cardiff Blues. Image Copyright – Steve Haag Sports.

Verdict: Treviso 1/4
I fully expect the Italians to bounce back here. They have been there and thereabouts in recent weeks and are due a win.

Dragons v Zebre
Saturday 30 November
Rodney Parade
19:15

To Win (80 Mins)
Dragons 1/4
Draw 22/1
Zebre 31/10

The Welsh-Italian theme will continue this Saturday with the Dragons playing host to a Zebre side that are yet to win a game this term.

The visitors were given no respite in Europe as they lost their two opening fixtures, going down 59-21 to Bristol in Round 1 and then 12-13 to an out of sorts Stade Francais outfit in Round 2.

The Dragons had a much better start to their Challenge Cup campaign as they beat Castres 31-17 and then Ensei-STM 22-49.

Verdict: Dragons 1/4
The Welsh club should have no troubles getting a win on home soil. I’m execting a winning margin in excess of 14 points.

Connacht v Southern Kings
Saturday 30 November
The Sportsground
19:15

To Win (80 Mins)
Connacht 1/12
Draw 35/1
Kings 6/1

Connacht will be looking to put a patchy couple of weeks behind them when they take on a Southern Kings outfit that has only won one of their six PRO14 fixtures.

The hosts have lost two of their last three games with their only victory during this period coming against Montpellier in Round 1 of the Heineken Cup.

The Kings, who have lost five of the six fixtures they have played this term, managed to end their long-standing losing streak during Round 6 of the PRO14 season, where they beat the Ospreys 14-16.

Ntsila Andisa of the Southern Kings
Ntsila Andisa of the Southern Kings – Image Copyright – Steve Haag Sports.

Verdict: Connacht 1/12
Connacht will be wanting to make a statement here, and I can see them doing it by beating the Kings by more than 20 points.

Ospreys v Cheetahs
Saturday 30 November
Liberty Stadium
21:35

To Win (80 Mins)
Ospreys 43/20
Draw 20/1
Cheetahs 4/10

The Ospreys will be looking to end a long-running losing streak when they take on a Cheetahs side that has lost their last three PRO14 fixtures.

The hosts have only won one of their six PRO14 games, while the Cheetahs are yet to pick up an away win.

Ruan Pienaar of the Cheetahs
Ruan Pienaar of the Cheetahs. Image Copyright – Steve Haag Sports

Verdict: Cheetahs 4/10
The Ospreys have been in exceptionally poor form this term and I reckon the Cheetahs will bag their first away win of the campaign.

Glasgow Warriors v Leinster
Saturday 30 November
Scoutstoun Stadium
21:35

To Win (80 Mins)
Glasgow 18/10
Draw 20/1
Leinster 9/20

The Warriors have an almighty task on their hand this Saturday as they take on a Leinster side that is yet to taste defeat this term.

The Irish Province carried their sensational PRO14 form into Europe as they won their opening two Heineken Cup fixtures beating Benneton 33-19 and Lyon 6-13.

Glasgow also didn’t fare as well in Europe as after beating Sale 13-7 they went down 34-18 to the Exeter Chiefs.

Verdict: Leinster 9/20
While I think this game will be tight I can’t see Leinster’s winning streak being curtailed here.

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