There are more local derbies on the menu when the PRO14 Rainbow Cup returns this weekend.
Munster v Connacht
Friday 14 May
Thomond Park
19:00
To Win (80 Mins)
Munster 1/12
Draw 33/1
Connacht 7/1
Handicap
Munster (-16.5) 9/10
Connacht (+16.5) 9/10
We kick things off with an all-Irish affair as bang in form Munster take on a stuttering Connacht outfit. The hosts impressed in their opening two games beating Leinster 3-27 and Ulster 38-10.
Connacht have endured a less positive start as they were unable to follow up on their two-point opening day win over Ulster going down 21-50 to Leinster this past weekend.
The last time these two sides met, Munster ran out 20-17 victors. They also won the previous four games between the sides.
Verdict Connacht (+16.5) 9/10
While Munster are in great touch, I feel this handicap is far too big especially considering that three of the last five games between the sides have been won by six points or less.
Leinster v Ulster
Friday 14 May
RDS Arena
21:15
To Win (80 Mins)
Leinster 1/25
Draw 33/1
Ulster 10/1
Handicap
Leinster (-17.5) 9/10
Ulster (+17.5) 9/10
The Irish theme continues on Friday night with Leinster taking on Ulster. The hosts come into this one as red hot favourites with the bookmakers with Ulster given a 17 point head start.
This makes a lot of sense considering Ulster have yet to win a game this term suffering a 24-26 loss to Connacht in the opening round and then being hammered 38-10 by Munster last weekend.
Leinster bounced back from their opening day defeat to Munster in style as they smashed Connacht 21-50 last weekend.
Verdict: Leinster (-17.5) 9/10
They were quality last weekend and I reckon another performance like that will see them past the handicap here.
Scarlets v Cardiff Blues
Saturday 15 May
Parc Y Scarlets
16:00
To Win (80 Mins)
Scarlets 9/20
Draw 22/1
Blues 7/4
Onto Saturday’s action now and we’ll get things underway in Wales where the Scarlets will play host to the Cardiff Blues.
Both sides have won one of their two games and lost the other with the hosts going down 52-32 to the Dragons in week 1 and then bouncing back this past weekend beating the Opresy 22-6.
The visitors managed a narrow 17-16 win over the Dragons this past weekend, which was the perfect tonic after they had gone down 36-14 to the Ospreys in the opening week.
Verdict: Scarlets 9/20
These Welsh games have been very tough to predict thus far and I’ll be avoiding this one as I have no real feel for it.
Treviso v Zebre
Saturday 5 MAy
Stadio Comuunale di Monigo
18:15
To Win (80 Mins)
Treviso 4/10
Draw 22/1
Zebre 19/10
We’ve got a rather interesting Italian derby up next with undefeated Treviso taking on taking on winless Zebre.
The two sides met this past weekend with Trevsio running out 25-20 victors. This was another great result and it backed up their big opening week bonus-point win over the Glasgow Warriors.
Zebre also lost their opening game by a similar margin to their game against Treviso as they went down by six points to Edinburgh in Scotland.
Verdict: Treviso 4/10
They are in red-hot form and I can see their perfect start to the season continuing here.
Edinburgh v Glasgow
Saturday 5 May
Murrayfield
20:35
To Win (80 Mins)
Edinburgh 6/10
Draw 20/1
Glasgow 27/20
The penultimate game of the weekend is a Scottish derby that sees Edinburgh and Glasgow lock horns at Murrayfield.
They faced off last weekend with Glasgow winning the fixture by ten points. It is worth noting, however, that the Warriors played something closer to a full-strength team last week following their young side’s walloping at the hands of Treviso.
These games tend to go the way of whichever side has hosting rights with the last four games going the way of whichever side was hosting.
Verdict: Edinburgh 6/10
I’m not going against the grain here and I’m going to back history to continue and the home side to bag a win.
Dragons v Ospreys
Sunday 16 May
Rodney Parade
18:00
To Win (80 Mins) *Odds to be added on release
Dragons
Draw
Ospreys
The Dragons and Ospreys will bring the curtain down when they go head to head at Rodney Parade on Sunday.
Both teams have won one and lost one with the hosts losing by just one point to Cardiff after beating the Scarlets by 20 points. The Ospreys impressed in the opening week as they beat the Cardiff Blues by 22 points. They were unable to back it up this past weekend as they went down 22-6 to the Scarlets.
Verdict: Dragons
Again, I really don’t have a feel for these Welsh games so I personally won’t be having a punt on it.
