Bumper Crowds Provide Backdrop to Festive Derbies

Dec 27 • General News, Guinness Pro14 • 2074 Views • Comments Off on Bumper Crowds Provide Backdrop to Festive Derbies

ROUND 12 – PREVIEWS

An epic round of Christmas Derby action has left fans craving for more after 84,960 people turned out to witness the tribal rivalries in full force. Shock results, last-minute winners and sell-out crowds headlined Round 11 of the Guinness PRO14 with the 1872 Cup between Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors and the Irish derby between Munster and Leinster all setting attendance records for those respective fixtures.

Played in front of a record crowd of 23,833 at BT Murrayfield, the 1872 Cup saw late, late drama as Edinburgh’s Chris Dean crossed over to end the Warriors’ 10-game unbeaten start to the season, a result which also ended the visitors’ hopes of equaling Ulster’s record of 11 wins to start a Championship campaign. The sides meet once again in Scotstoun this weekend where a second win for Edinburgh would secure the 1872 Cup, however, Glasgow will aim to rebound and ensure the fight for the famous trophy stretches out to their Round 21 clash in April.

Like Edinburgh, reigning champions Scarlets also overcame a red card and produced a winner in the final moment of their game against Ospreys while Dragons almost completed a famous comeback against Cardiff Blues as the Welsh Derbies produced some riveting action in front of sell-out crowds. An attendance of 26,267 at Thomond Park set a record for the highest figure at the Limerick venue across all competitions in the professional era.

What’s at Stake

Once more, the Italian Derby between Zebre and Benetton Rugby (Eurosport Italia, 14:55 Italy) will get the action up and running. Zebre were unfortunate to fall away in Treviso last weekend after playing much of the second half with 14 players and will have home advantage to strike back. Both teams will be feeling the pressure to produce a result and keep themselves in the hunt for the Champions Cup Play-Off spot in their respective conferences.

With their unbeaten run at an end Glasgow Warriors’ clash with Edinburgh (Sky Sports Main Event Ch 401, Sky Sports Action Ch 407, 15:00) in Scotstoun presents more than an opportunity for revenge. Firstly, they must ensure the 1872 Cup goes to the third Derby game in Round 21 while they must also work to keep Munster at bay in second place. Dave Rennie’s team lead last season’s finalists by 12 points in Conference A, however, in Conference B Edinburgh now have 3rd place Ulster in their sights and there is no doubt that the games in Glasgow and Belfast (Ulster v Munster) will be heavily linked with each other.

On New Year’s Eve, Cardiff Blues and Scarlets meet in the Welsh capital (Sky Sports Action Ch 407, 15:00, BBC2 Wales, 15:05) with both regions under pressure from the Irish provinces beneath them in their respective Conferences. Due to the Toyota Cheetahs’ ineligibility for Europe, the Blues are currently in possession of an automatic Champions Cup place, however, they are ahead of Connacht by virtue of games won. Meanwhile, Scarlets lead Leinster by just two points in Conference B with both sides determined to finish top of the pile in order to ensure home-advantage in the Guinness PRO14 Final Series. With so much at stake this should be a cracker.

Dragons take on Ospreys (S4C, 17:15) at Rodney Parade after a sell-out crowd saw them come so close to a result against Cardiff Blues on Boxing Day. Ospreys remain bottom of Conference A with just two wins so far and this Derby will be vital to both teams who are eager to grab some momentum heading into 2018.

Leinster face Connacht in Dublin (TG4, 14:45) off the back of their spectacular win against Munster in Round 11 and with two Derby games in a row at the RDS, Leo Cullen’s team will not want to slip up as they chase Scarlets hard for a place at the top of Conference B. Connacht will be full of confidence after their record win against Ulster at the Sportsground and with some of the Guinness PRO14’s most exciting attacking talent on show this game should provide plenty of entertainment.

Pick of the Round Ulster v Munster

In what is bound to be another sell-out affair this is a must-win encounter for Ulster and Munster as they collide at Kingspan Stadium (BBC2 NI, 17:30, TG4, 17:30) with no margin for error. A loss for Ulster could see Leinster and Scarlets stretch away at the top in Conference B while providing Edinburgh with more encouragement in the chasing pack. Likewise, Munster need to keep in sight of Glasgow Warriors and ensure that the Toyota Cheetahs don’t usurp them in second place in Conference A after January’s back-to-back South African Derbies.

This fixture in Belfast will also be a key battle for Irish players eager to impress Ireland coach Joe Schmidt as the Six Nations draws closer and an uncompromising physical battle looks set to play out