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It is all but to club duty in the Celtic-Italian League this weekend. The completion of the Six Nations championship sees players from Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales returning to their respective Guinness Pro 12 teams with many of them straight back into the starting line-up. Also involved are to be a host of players from around the world with the Americas having a contingent of players appearing in week 18 action.
In Ireland’s southern province the 5th placed Munster will take-on the 11th placed Zebre in the opening match of the round. In the first of three Good Friday fixtures the home side will have a prime opportunity at gaining competition points and pushing for a return to the play-offs zone. Uruguayan tighthead prop Mario Sagario will feature on Munster’s bench while Argentine prop Guillermo Roan will start for Zebre at loosehead and Bruno Postiglioni is to be his back-up.
Italy’s second team, Benetton Treviso, will also play on Good Friday, taking on the Cardiff Blues in Wales. neither Cam Dolan nor Blaine Scully are to be involved for the Blues. Depending on results the home side could shoot up the standings to overtake both the Ospreys and Edinburgh, thereby moving into 7th spot.
The 6th placed Glasgow Warriors host northern Irish province Ulster in a must-win home match in Friday’s third match. The reigning champions have called-upon all their cavalry for the fixture with some 18 Scottish internationals in the match day 23. One of them is Tommy Seymour who is from Tennessee but qualifies for Scotland through his mother. The U.S. eligible Callum Black is to start at loosehead prop for Ulster.
Week 18 will continue on Saturday with the Ospreys hosting the Scarlets in the first of two matches. The western Wales derby in Swansea is to feature a Canadian battle outwide. Jeff Hassler will play right wing for the Ospreys with DTH van der Merwe starting on the left wing for the Scarlets.
In a top of the table clash Connacht take-on Leinster in Saturday’s second fixture. The west vs east Ireland battle is to feature AJ MacGinty. The first choice USA Eagles fly half is to start in the position, playing opposite Ian Madigan.
Completing week 18 will be a Sunday fixture in which Newport Gwent Dragons play host to Edinburgh in a match with nothing on the line for the home side. With an eye to potential European Champions Cup qualification Edinburgh could benefit greatly, however.
