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Struggling Treviso looking for first win of season against Leinster
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Scarlets put only 100 per cent record on the line against Newport Gwent Dragons
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Third faces fifth place when Munster clash with Ulster on Friday evening
Friday 30th October
Munster v Ulster
Scarlets v Newport Gwent Dragons
Saturday 31st October
Zebre v Cardiff Blues
Connacht v Edinburgh
Sunday 1st November
Glasgow Warriors v Ospreys
Benetton Treviso v Leinster
Marquee Game
Munster v Ulster
Munster will be hoping to put last weekend’s defeat to league leaders Scarlets behind them as they have yet another tough game in the Guinness Pro 12 against Ulster this time around.
If Ian Keatley could have successfully kicked one more penalty, it would have been his side who sit on top of the division but following the defeat they have slipped to third place.
Ulster, on the other hand, come into the game in high spirits after a fantastic win in round five against Cardiff Blues on their own patch. Four tries were enough for them in a 24-17 victory, moving them up to fifth place in the process.
Ruck Prediction: This will be a close game at the top of the division, but in front of their own fans Munster should bounce back and put the pressure back on Scarlets at the top of the table. Munster by 5
Scarlets v Newport Gwent Dragons
League leaders Scarlets will be hoping to continue their dominating form in the division when they face Newport Gwent Dragons. They are the only team left in the Pro 12 with a 100 per cent record after beating Munster 25-22 last time out, which was largely thanks to an impressive kicking display from Steven Shingler.
The Dragons are down in eighth place and have won just two of their first five games. However, they did manage to win last time out against struggling Treviso.
Ruck Prediction: The Scarlets look to be on course to maintain their impressive record and remain on top of the table. Scarlets by 10
Zebre v Cardiff Blues
In the first of Saturday’s games, Italian side Zebre face off against the Cardiff Blues. The home side will be looking to take last weekend’s performance into this after shocking everyone to claim their first win of the season against high-flying Edinburgh.
Meanwhile, Cardiff Blues will be looking to bounce back after losing to Ulster in round five. The Blues’ currently sit in ninth place, two places above Zebre, but the pair both only have one win this season.
Ruck Prediction: It will not be the most technical game of the weekend, but it has the potential to be the most exciting, with two teams already scrapping at the wrong end of the table. It will be a close affair, but Zebre could claim their second win of the season. Zebre by three
Connacht v Edinburgh
Edinburgh will want to put last week’s bad result behind them as they lost their 100 per cent record in the Pro 12 to the then-winless Zebre. It was an embarrassing performance by the Scottish side and they need to regain confidence quickly for the trip to second-placed Connacht.
The Irish side saw off Ospreys last week, claiming their fourth win in five games, courtesy of an excellent performance from Bundee Aki, who also chipped in with a try.
Ruck Prediction: Edinburgh should put in a better performance than last time, but they will come up short against Connacht as they are a side in form. Connacht by three
Glasgow Warriors v Ospreys
The first match on Sunday will see Glasgow Warriors take on the Ospreys in the Pro12, with both teams looking to bounce back after defeats last time out. The home side were defeated by Leinster on their travels, while Ospreys lost at home to second placed Connacht.
A win for the home team could see them climb into the top half on the table while Ospreys will be looking for just their second win of the season. The first came back in week four against bottom of the table Treviso.
Ruck Prediction: Home field advantage will be enough for Glasgow Warriors to see off an underachieving Ospreys, especially if Duncan Weir can step up his kicking game. Glasgow by 10
Benetton Treviso v Leinster
The final game of the three-day set of fixtures takes place at the Stadio Comunale di Monigo, where Benetton Treviso take on Leinster.
The home side sit rock bottom of the division, without a single win in any of their five games. They have only obtained four points all season, which are all losing bonus points.
Leinster sits in sixth place with three wins from five and comes into the game with confidence after defeating Glasgow Warriors 23-18 last time out. Fergus McFadden was near perfect from the boot, and he will be expecting to take that form into week six.