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Week 21 of the Guinness Pro 12 will take place this weekend. Taking to the field will be competition’s the professional sides from Italy and the Celtic nations. With it being the penultimate round of the 2016-2017 season there is plenty to play for. Below is what to look out for in the Americas weekend guide.
Week 21 has a three-three even split of Friday and Saturday fixtures. Up first on Friday is to be the Cardiff Blues at home to Zebre. The Italians have named a strong side as they chase Champions Cup qualification. This sees just one of the team’s three Argentine players featuring. Guillermo Roan is to be the player. He will play as a replacement.
Leaders Leinster have gone for 13 changes from the side that lost to Clermont on Sunday. The province can afford to do so based on already having qualified for the Semi Finals. The 6th placed Glasgow Warriors have named American Lion Tommy Seymour at fullback.
The 4th placed Ospreys have home advantage against the 5th placed Ulster. A win will secure their spot in the Semi Finals. In looking to do so a strong side has been named. Starting out of position in the second-row will be Canadian Tyler Ardron. Ohio’s Sam Underhill will play flanker. Underhill has been selected by Eddie Jones to play for England vs Argentina in June. The U.S. eligible Callum Black will play as a replacement prop for Ulster.
A week on from losing to Saracens in the Champions Cup, Ulster have gone for 10 changes to face Treviso in Italy. Munster are, like Leinster, assured of a home Pro 12 Semi Final. With an eye to next season’s Champions Cup the Italians need a win to stay above Zebre. Canadian-Italian Robert Barbieri starts this weekend at No 8 for Treviso.
Last season’s Pro 12 champions, Connacht host the Scarlets this weekend. The western Irish province enter the weekend in 8th position. They cannot acquire sufficient points to qualify for the Semi Finals or the Champions Cup. Involved for the Scarlets will be Canadian flier DTH van der Merwe as a replacement.
