Round 10 of the 2018/19 Pro14 season will get underway on Friday the 30th of November.
Munster v Edinburgh
Friday 30 November
Irish Independence Park
21:35
To Win (80 Mins)
Munster 1/7
Draw 25/1
Edinburgh 47/10
We kick things off with the choice game of the weekend which will see Irish province Munster tackle Scottish rivals Edinburgh. The hosts have enjoyed a solid start to their season and currently reside in second on the Conference A standings – eight points adrift of conference leaders, the Glasgow Warriors. The Munster men head into Friday’s affair off the back of a solid result as they beat Zebre 7-32 in Round 9.
Edinburgh haven’t been as prolific in Pro14 and currently sit in fourth place on the Conference B standings with four wins from their opening nine fixtures. The men from the Scottish capital also head into this one off the back of a disappointing away defeat to the Dragons.
Verdict: Munster 1/7
Both teams will have their internationals back this weekend which will make this match all the more intriguing. I can see Munster edging what should be an absolute classic of a game.
______________________________________________
Ospreys v Zebre
Friday 30 November
Liberty Stadium
21:35
To Win (80 Mins)
Ospreys 1/14
Draw 40/1
Zebre 13/2
We travel from Ireland to Wales for our next fixture which will see Ospreys tackle Italian side Zebre. The Welsh side have enjoyed a solid if not spectacular start to the opening third of the season having won five of their nine fixtures. Their five victories have seen them to fourth on the Conference A standings. They didn’t fare very well last weekend as they went down 52-7 to an almost third-strength Leinster outfit.
Likes the Ospreys, Zebre also head into this one off the back of a heavy defeat as they went down 7-32 to Munster at home in Round 9. The loss has seen them drop down to fourth on the Conference A standings.
Verdict: Ospreys 1/14
With their Welsh internationals back, the Ospreys should make short work of a Zebre side who have only registered three wins this term. My money is on the hosts taking this one by 12 points or more.
______________________________________________
Ulster v Cardiff Blues
Saturday 1 December
Kingspan Stadium
17:00
To Win (80 Mins)
Ulster 7/20
Draw 18/1
Cardiff 24/10
We return to Ireland for our next fixture with Ulster playing host to the Cardiff Blues. The Ulstermen have struggled for form of late having only won two of their last five games. The hosts also head into Friday night’s affair off the back of a 29-12 away defeat to Cardiff Welsh rivals, the Scarlets.
The Cardiff Blues have also endured some patchy form of late and come into Friday’s clash off the back of a 40-15 drubbing at the hands of a Glasgow Warriors outfit that were missing a plethora of first stringers.
Verdict: Ulster 7/20
Both teams have struggled for results of late which makes this game a tough one to predict. I personally will be avoiding the ante-post markets here. If you must an ante-post punt, I would recommend backing the hosts on the straight win.
______________________________________________
Cheetahs v Connacht
Saturday 1 December
Toyota Stadium
17:00
To Win (80 Mins)
Cheetahs 19/20
Draw 18/1
Connacht 9/10
We venture out of Europe for Saturday’s first fixture which will see Irish province Connacht take on the Free State Cheetahs out in Bloemfontein. The hosts have added some respectability to a faltering campaign over the past two rounds, going down to Munster by just two points in Round 8 and then beating Treviso by six points in Round 9.
2016/17 champions Connacht have been far more prolific than their opponents this term and have five wins to their names thus far. They head to the Free State off the back of a solid 33-12 victory over the Dragons.
Verdict: Connacht 9/10
This should be a cracking game of rugby with both sides possessing some exciting players. I can see the visitors edging a high-scoring affair out in the Republic.
______________________________________________
Kings v Benetton Treviso
Saturday 1 December
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
19:15
To Win (80 Mins)
Kings 13/10
Draw 20/1
Treviso 13/20
We remain in South Africa for our next fixture which will see the Kings take on fellow minnows Treviso. The visitors gave a solid account of themselves during the first game of their tour of South Africa as they managed to pick up a losing bonus point from their six-point defeat to the Cheetahs.
The Kings had a less profitable week during Round 9 as they went down 14-31 to Connacht. The loss was their eighth of the season and has seen them drop back down to the foot of the Conference B standings.
Verdict: Kings 13/10
This will have been a game the South Africans will have been targeting. If they can maintain their discipline, then they should be able to bag their second win of the season.
______________________________________________
Dragons v Leinster
Saturday 1 December
Rodney Parade
19:15
To Win (80 Mins)
Dragons 11/2
Draw 30/1
Leinster 1/10
The penultimate Pro14 game of the weekend pits Welsh club the Newport Gwent Dragons up against reigning champion Leinster. Despite missing a host of their Irish internationals last weekend, Leinster still managed to put in a mighty shift as they beat the Ospreys by 45 points.
The Dragons also enjoyed a productive Round 9 as they registered a beat a strong Edinburgh side by six-points out in Wales.
Verdict: Leinster 1/10
With a host of their internationals set to return, the Irish giants should have no trouble getting one over the Dragons. My money is on the visitors taking this one by 10 points or more.
______________________________________________
Glasgow Warriors v Scarlets
Saturday 1 December
Scoutstoun Stadium
19:15
To Win (80 Mins)
Glasgow 3/10
Draw 20/1
Scarlets 26/10
We close out Round 10 with yet another Scotland versus Wales affair as Conference A leaders, the Glasgow Warriors, take on Conference B’s second-placed side, the Llanelli Scarlets.
The hosts illustrated how deep their playing pool is last weekend as despite missing a number of their Scottish internationals – they managed to bag a 40-15 home victory over a handy Cardiff Blues outfit.
The Scarlets also enjoyed a solid showing in Round 10 as they beat Ulster 29-12 last Saturday.
Verdict: Glasgow 3/10
This should be a great game as both sides like to give the ball a bit of air. I can foresee the hosts coming out on top by no more than eight points.
