The PRO 14 action continues this weekend with seven Round 17 games taking place between Friday the 1st of March and Sunday the 3rd.
The PRO14 continued to provide quality rugby action, with some eye catching results and games taking place last weekend.
A few narratives were continued last weekend with Leinster racking up yet another win, while fairytale story Treviso continued their great run of form as they thrashed the struggling Dragons out in Italy.
Leinster v Cheetahs
Friday 1 March
RDS Arena
21:35
To Win (80 Mins)
Leinster
Draw
Cheetahs
There seems like there’s just no stopping Leinster this year with the reigning champions racking up their 16th win of the season as they hammered the Kings 59-19 at the RDS last Saturday. The bonus point win has seen them take an almost unassailable position at the top of the Conference B standings.
While Leinster were bagging yet another handsome victory, the Cheetahs were receiving yet another away drubbing with the men from Bloemfontein going down 43-21 to the Scarlets in Round 16. This was the Free Stater’s ninth loss of the season, with the result seeing them fall to sixth place on the Conference A standings.
Verdict: Leinster
I fear the Cheetahs may be in for another huge away dfeat here. I can see Leinster winning this one by at least 32 points.
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Connacht v Ospreys
Saturday 2 March
The Sportsground
17:45
To Win (80 Mins)
Connacht
Draw
Ospreys
We remain in Ireland for the day’s next fixture which will Connacht ply host to Welsh side, the Ospreys. The hosts head into this one off the back of a substantial 43-17 loss to the warriors. The result has slightly hindered their chances of advancing to this season’s play-offs as it has seen them lose ground on the top two sides in Pool A.
The Ospreys also head into this one off the back of their defeat, with this weekend’s visitors going down 13-19 to Munster in Round 16. The loss has seen them drop into fifth-place on the Conference A standings – three points off third-placed Connacht.
Verdict: Connacht
This really is a big game for both sides with a win set to open up a lot of space between the victor and the chasing pack. As such, it should be a rather cagey affair, which I think will be won by the home side, albeit by a very slim margin.
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Treviso v Edinburgh
Saturday 2 March
Stadio Communale di Monigo
18:00
To Win (80 Mins)
Treviso
Draw
Edinburgh
High-flying Treviso will be looking to maintain second spot on the Conference B standings by getting one over Edinburgh, who could leapfrog the hosts into second spot with a bonus point victory.
The Italian outfit continued their sensational run of form last weekend by beating the struggling Dragons 57-7. This was their ninth win of the season and has put them in a solid position to qualify for the play-offs.
Edinburgh had a much tougher time of it last weekend as they went down 17-19 to the Cardiff Blues. The Scottish team has been hit-and-miss over the past two months and will need to up their game here if they are to stop a rampant Edinburgh.
Verdict: Treviso
The Italian side are knocking over all-comers at the moment, and my money is on them bagging yet another home win.
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Scarlets v Munster
Saturday 2 March
Parc ye Scarlets
20:00
To Win (80 Mins)
Scarlets
Draw
Munster
The Scarlets will be looking to be looking to return into the play-off spots by getting a win over Conference B pacesetters Munster. The visitors have won 12 of their 16 games this season, and head into this one off the back of a solid six-point away victory over the Ospreys.
The Scarlets also enjoyed a great hit out in Round 16 as they notched up a 43-21 victory over the Cheetahs.
Verdict: Munster
The visitors should have enough about them to see off a very weak Scarlets outfit.
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Zebre v Glasgow
Saturday 2 March
Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi
20:15
To Win (80 Mins)
Zebre
Draw
Glasgow
The lesser two of the Italian sides, Zebre, will be looking to secure only their fourth win of the season when they take on Conference B’s second placed side, the Glasgow Warriors.
The two sides head into this one off the back of contrasting results with Zebre going down 54-7 to Ulster, while the Warriors beat Connacht 43-17, and in the process secured their 11th victory of the season.
Verdict: Glasgow
The Scottish side have started to rediscover some early season form and I can see them registering another big win this weekend. My money is on the visitors taking it by 17 or more.
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Cardiff Blues v Kings
Saturday 2 March
Cardiff Arms Park
22:35
To Win (80 Mins)
Cardiff
Draw
Kings
The penultimate game of the Round will see the Cardiff Blues play host to a Kings side that are about as effective on the road as an attempt by Malcolm Marx to win a penalty off Egon Seconds.
The Blues head into this one off the back of a great away 17-19 victory over Edinburgh. The result will have gone a long way to vanquishing the ghosts of their last minute defeat to the Warriors in Round 15.
Unlike the Blues, the Kings performed no such heroics in Round 16 as they were comprehensively disapatched 59-19 by Leinster.
Verdict: Cardiff
The Kings woes will continue this weekend. I can see the South African side going down by more than 27 points here.
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Dragons v Ulster
Sunday 3 March
Rodney Parade
18:00
To Win (80 Mins)
Dragons
Draw
Ulster
We close out the round with a clash between the struggling Dragons and an Ulster side on the rise.
The hosts season reached a new low last weekend as they were hammered 57-7 by Treviso. While their are mitigating factors for the heavy loss – the Dragons were missing numerous players through injury and national call-ups – you would still expect more fight from the Welsh side.
Ulster had a very tidy Round 16 as they notched up a 54-7 victory over Zebre. The win has seen them move within two points of second-placed Treviso on the Conference B standings.
Verdict: Ulster
The Dragons are in horrendous for and I cannot see them getting anything from their game against a solid Ulster side.
Written by Darry Worthington for Hollywoodbets
