The 2018/19 PRO 14 season will enter Round 20 on Friday the 12th of April. Darry Worthington previews the action below.
It wasn’t a great week for the South African sides in Round 19 as the Cheetahs went down to the Ospreys and the Kings could only manage a draw with fellow strugglers, the Dragons. Both teams will be looking to salvage some pride from their next set of home fixtures.
While the South African teams struggled last weekend, the same cannot be said of the two Scottish sides with both Edinburgh and Glasgow grabbing vital victories last weekend.
Kings v Ospreys
Friday 12 April
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
19:35
To Win (80 Mins)
Kings 36/10
Draw 25/1
Ospreys 1/5
The Kings let numerous punters down last weekend as they could only manage a 19-19 draw at home to the out of sorts Dragons, who came to town with only four wins to their names. The results has left the Kings still on a point above the Dragons in the battle to avoid the wooden spoon in Conference B.
The Ospreys enjoyed a far more positive Round 19 as they racked up a 14-31 win over the Cheetahs. The results has left the Welsh club with a slim chance of qualifying for the knock-out phase of the tournament with two weeks of round-robin action to go.
Verdict: Ospreys 1/5
The visitors will be eyeing a bonus point win here in a bid to enhance their chances of making the pay-off heading into the final round. I can see them doing just this and claiming a win in excess of 10 points.
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Treviso v Munster
Friday 12 April
Stadio Comunale di Monigo
20:00
To Win (80 Mins)
Treviso 8/10
Draw 20/1
Munster 5/4
Treviso will be looking to build on their shock 27-27 away draw with Leinster when they take on another Irish side in the form of Munster. The hosts were full value for their two points last weekend as they put in a spirited display against the reigning champions.
Munster also enjoyed a solid Round 19 as they racked up a 45-21 victory over the Cardiff Blues. The win has left them in with a chance of pipping the Glasgow Warriors to top spot in the Conference A standings as they trail the Scottish outfit by just three points with two regular season games remaining.
Verdict: Munster 5/4
I’m going for the away side here. Last weekend’s game against Leinster will have taken a lot out of Treviso and I can see them struggling to maintain them dropping off in the final quarter of this match.
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Edinburgh v Ulster
Friday 12 April
Murrayfield
20:45
To Win (80 Mins)
Edinburgh 7/20
Draw 20/1
Ulster 49/20
We head over to Scotland for our next installment which sees Conference B’s fourth-placed side Edinburgh take on second-placed Ulster. Only three points separate the two sides on the Conference standings, so this game could well determine which of these sides make it through to the play-offs.
The hosts enjoyed a solid Round 19 as they secured a hard-fought 12-20 victory over Welsh outfit, the Scarlets. The visitors didn’t have as good a time of it last weekend as they went down 30-7 to Glasgow.
Verdict: Edinburgh 7/20
This game is likely to be a narrow fun thing so if you’re offered a plus handicap in the range of seven points I would suggest taking it. I can see the hosts claiming a win, however.
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Leinster v Glasgow Warriors
Saturday 13 April
RDS Arena
16:00
To Win (80 Mins)
Leinster 4/10
Draw 20/1
Glasgow 39/20
We’ll kick-off Saturday’s action with the tie of the round that will see reigning champions Leinster take on an in-form Glasgow side.
The hosts suffered an almighty shock last weekend as they were held to a 27-27 draw by Italian out Treviso. The result had no impact on the standings, however, as Leinster have already secured top spot on the Conference B standings.
Glasgow retained their spot at the top of the Conference A standings as they beat Ulster 30-7. A victory here coupled with a Munster loss to Treviso would assure Glasgow top spot on the Conference A standings and a home semi-final berth.
Verdict: Leinster 4/10
I’m expecting a big response from the Irish Province who will fell rather wounded after last weekend’s dismal showing.
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Connacht v Cardiff Blues
Saturday 13 April
Sportsground
16:00
To Win (80 Mins)
Connacht 9/20
Draw 14/1
Cardiff 29/20
Next up is an Irish-Welsh affair with Connacht taking on Cardiff. The hosts currently occupy third spot on the Conference A standings, and a victory here should be enough to see them bag a play-off spot. They have won their last three fixtures but were far from impressive last weekend as they managed to pip Zebre 5-6 in an attritional affair.
Cardiff sit four points off Connacht on the Conference A standings and need a victory here to give themselves a chance of qualifying for the play-offs. They head into the game off the back of a disappointing Round 19 result that saw them go down 45-21 to Munster.
Verdict: Connacht 9/20
My money is on the hosts edging what should be a very tight game.
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Scarlets v Zebre
Saturday 13 April
Parc Y Scarlets
18:15
To Win (80 Mins)
Scarlets 1/100
Draw 30/1
Zebre 11/1
The penultimate game of the weekend will see the Scarlets play host to Italian side Zebre. The home team lie fifth on the Conference B standings and need a bonus point win and a few results to go their way, to have any chance of making it into the play-offs. They have lost their last two games with their most recent defeat being an eight-point loss to Edinburgh.
Zebre have no chance of making it to the next round, and are set to claim the Conference A wooden spoon. They could prove to be a tricky prospect here, however, as they have nothing to play for and will loosen the shackles.
Verdict: Scarlets 1/100
The hosts need a big win here and I can see them getting it. My money is on the home side winning this one by 25 points or more.
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Cheetahs v Dragons
Saturday 13 April
Toyota Stadium
19:35
To Win (80 Mins)
Cheetahs 1/5
Draw 25/1
Dragons 36/10We close out the round with a clash between two of the tournament’s most disappointing sides with the woeful Cheetahs taking on the Dragon. The South African side currently sit second to last on the Conference A standings while the Dragons prop up the Conference table.
The hosts head into this one off the back of a massively disappointing 14-31 loss to the Ospreys, while the Dragons make the trip having avoided defeat for just the fifth time this season as they drew 19-19 with the Kings last Sunday.
Verdict: Cheetahs 1/5
This is probably a game to avoid watching with both teams playing dour rugby this season. I suggest letting this one pass you by as there is no real value here either.
Written by Darry Worthington for Hollywoodbets
