The opening round of the Guinness PRO12 saw four sides – Ospreys, Glasgow Warriors, Cardiff Blues and Ulster – posting bonus-point wins to kick off their campaigns.
- Ospreys sit top of the PRO12 table after Rd 1 after scoring eight tries in the win over Zebre, with three other teams also securing a bonus point win on the opening weekend
- Next up for the Ospreys is a trip to Galway to face champions Connacht, who lost at home to Glasgow in their Rd 1 fixture
- Crowds and tries are up year on year as PRO12 kicks off with a bumper weekend
Former champions Leinster and Munster also won their Round 1 fixtures as the 34 tries scored on the weekend eclipsed last season’s figure of 29 while attendances were also up over 13,000 on last year’s total with 48,500 at Guinness PRO12 games.
What’s at Stake?
Five teams will play their first home game of the season and after their defeat to Ospreys, Zebre have remained in Wales to prepare for their visit to face Newport-Gwent Dragons in Rodney Parade on Friday night.
Defending champions Connacht Rugby will be looking to bounce back from their opening-round defeat to Glasgow Warriors when they test the title credentials of Ospreys in Galway.
Round 2 Fixtures
Friday, Sept 9: Newport-Gwent Dragons v Zebre Rugby (7.15pm); Munster Rugby v Cardiff Blues (7.35pm); Edinburgh Rugby v Scarlets (7.35pm).
Saturday, Sept 10: Glasgow Warriors v Leinster Rugby (3pm); Benetton Treviso v Ulster Rugby (6.05pm Italy); Connacht Rugby v Ospreys (7.35pm).
Connacht v Ospreys
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU, 26th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Claudio Blessano (FIR), Leo Colgan (IRFU)
Citing Commissioner: Tim Lowry (IRFU)
TMO: Alan Falzone (FIR)
Did you know?
- Connacht were defeated in round 1 by Glasgow Warriors at the Sportsground - the only previous Guinness PRO12 Champions to have begun their defence with a pair of defeats was Ospreys in both 2007/08 and 2012/13.
- Connacht have not lost successive matches in Galway since the end of the 2014/15 season.
- Ospreys have lost just one of their last five Guinness PRO12 fixtures: 26-46 at home to Ulster in round 22 last season.
- During the last campaign Ospreys won just one of their eight encounters with Irish provinces: 21-17 against Munster in Cork.
- Connacht achieved the season’s double over Ospreys last year for the first time since 2003/04.
- Ospreys overall record at the Sportsground is won eight, lost five.
For more Opta statistics visit http://www.pro12rugby.com/powered-by-opta/
Guinness PRO12 Final 2017 Ticket Information: Fans can save up to 20% on selected tickets, and prices start at just €30 adults and €5 child, and be booked via www.ticketmaster.ie. For further information visit http://www.pro12rugby.com/final