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The march towards the Guinness Pro 12 Final in Edinburgh is heating up. For eight of the twelve competing teams this weekend it to be 4th to last round of the season. Exactly who the final four will be remains unconfirmed. Action this weekend, in week 19 of the season, will see Americas Players taking to the field for all four of the league’s competing nations.
Week 19 gets underway this evening with Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland each hosting a match. First up will be the Newport-Gwent Dragons hosting the Ospreys in an all-Welsh fixture. The 10th vs 9th match is a dead-rubber but Canadians should follow it with Jeff Hassler having been named on the bench. Starting ahead of him is former USA junior Hanno Dirksen who, remarkably, remains uncapped by Wales despite turning down playing in Rugby World Cup 2011 for the USA.
Edinburgh will be in search for the full five points when they host Italian injury-depleted side Zebre. The 7th placed Pro 12 side host 11th and need to rise to secure a place in the 2016-2017 Champions Cup. Former Pumas Bruno Postiglioni and Guillermo Roan are to be front-row replacements for Zebre.
Over in Belfast Ulster are chasing points to climb back into the top four. Their home derby against western neighbors, Connacht is to be no walk in the part. Connacht are the story of the season, leading the competition and pressing for an unlikely title. Out injured is AJ MacGinty. His shoulder problem sees the Canadian eligible Shane O’Leary starting at fly half. Meanwhile the USA eligible Callum Black will play loosehead prop for Ulster.
The first of three Saturday matches will see the Scarlets hosting the Cardiff Blues. The Llanelli-based region is Wales’ only chance of a place in the Semi Finals and could, also, quite possibly be the only team preventing an all-Irish final four. Canadian DTH van der Merwe will be looking to continue his strong form as he starts again on the left wing. The Blues’ Americans miss out this weekend.
Bottom of the table Benetton Treviso will be chasing a win over last season’s champions, the Glasgow Warriors. Named to start at the back of the scrum at the Stadio Monigo is Toronto’s Italian international Robert Barbieri.
Closing the round will be an Irish derby in Dublin. A crowd of 50,000 is expected for Leinster vs Munster on Saturday. Uruguayan Mario Sagario will sit out the match for the visitors.
