The two outstanding fixtures from the weather-disrupted Guinness PRO14 Round 17 take place this weekend in Belfast and Parma.
Ulster host Glasgow Warriors at Kingspan Stadium and the Ospreys travel to Italy to take on Zebre.
Warriors confirmed their home spot in the Final Series Semi-Finals with their emphatic win over Connacht last time out, the only question is who they will play, and Ulster are still in the mix to qualify from Conference B.
Ospreys are set for a European Champions Cup Play-Off place, whilst Zebre will be hoping to set a new record for victories in a PRO14 season.
What’s at Stake?
Ulster (B4) take on Glasgow Warriors (A1) at Kingspan Stadium (KO 18:05). Ulster have to win both their remaining games with bonus points if they are to have any hope of overhauling Edinburgh in third spot of conference B, and that is then dependent on another result going their way.
They also need to distance themselves from Benetton Rugby who are only one point behind them in the table, to ensure they qualify for the Champions Cup Play-Off place at the end of the season. Visitors Glasgow Warriors however have the luxury of knowing they have already claimed a home Final Series Semi-final spot
After their relocation to L’Aquila last week, Zebre Rugby (A7) welcome Ospreys (A5) to their regular home ground, Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi in Parma (KO 18:45 Italy /17:45 UK & IRE).
Zebre will be looking for another way to make history this weekend and could record their highest number of victories in a PRO14 season. Ospreys could be looking for the result from Belfast to confirm who they will face in the Champions Cup Play-off.
ZEBRE RUGBY v OSPREYS RUGBY
At Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma, 6.45pm, Saturday 21 April
Referee: Lloyd Linton (SRU, 20th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Keith Allen (SRU), Andrea Piardi (FIR)
Citing Commissioner: Roberto Carra (FIR)
TMO: Charles Samson (SRU)
Overall Guinness PRO14 head to head record:
Played 11, Zebre won 1, Ospreys won 10.
Did you know?
- Zebre’s 34-32 victory at home against Dragons last weekend was their fifth of the PRO14 campaign, tying their best ever tally of wins set in 2013/14 and 2015/16.
- Zebre’s two other PRO14 wins in Parma this season were against Ulster in round 5 and Connacht in round 10.
- Ospreys 0-8 defeat in Ulster last weekend ended a four game winning run in the Guinness PRO14 and was only the second time they had been ‘nilled’ in the Championship.
- The Welshmen have won just once away from home in the PRO14 since beating Edinburgh in March 2017, against Dragons at Rodney Parade on New Year’s Eve.
- Ospreys only defeat to Zebre was 27-30 in Parma in May 2014.
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