Rabo Dierct Pro 12 games Rd 1

RaboDirect PRO12
Friday , August 31
Newport-Gwent D'gons 1/4 vs Zebre   
Benetton Treviso 11/8 vs Ospreys 8/11   
Ulster 8/13 vs Glasgow   
Saturday , September 1
Connacht 11/8 vs Cardiff Blues 8/13   
Scarlets 3/4 vs Leinster 4/3
Edinburgh 10/11 vs Munster 11/10

My tips;
Dragons by 5. Zebre are an unknown entity but have some Italian Internationals, and I was never happy with the way Dragons played last year.

Benetton look solid and with a South African coach i think will win more games at home.
Ospreys missing a few internationals. Last time they met it was a draw in H Cup.
It will rain tonight so I'm backing the bookies and going for a 1pt Treviso win.

Ulster have been performing well in the off season so I think they will hit the ground running at home and will win by 5

A good start for me....Dragons won easily by 37-6
Treviso upset Ospreys 12-6 and Ulster bt Glasgow 18-10
I watched most of Treviso game and was appalled by the lack of skills by Osprey.

Saturday Games
Connacht vs Blues
This from Planet Rugby 

Cardiff Blues are without several big names for their RaboDirect PRO12 opener against Connacht at the Sportsground in Galway on Saturday.

Coach Phil Davies is missing the likes of Sam Warburton, Jamie Roberts, Leigh Halfpenny, Michael Paterson, Chris Czekaj and Jason Tovey.
There is a starting competitive debut at his new region for hooker Andi Kyriacou, who lines up alongside Taufa'ao Filise and Thomas Davies.
"We are looking forward to the start of the season, after a pretty gruelling pre season in many ways, the players have worked very hard to be fair to them," said Davies, speaking ahead of the fixture.
"The fitness standards that are needed for regional rugby are high and the players have all worked to achieve that standard.
"A lot of work has been carried out over the summer to improve all our team system and hopefully that focus will be there Saturday and then there for the next 21 games after that.
"We have about nine players out injured now with Czekaj added to the list. Rhys Patchell is out injured with a bang on the shoulder from last week against Bath. He has done exceptionally well for a young man and Jason Tovey has been unwell all week. Michael Paterson is out with a shoulder injury and Scott Andrews is out with a knee injury but should be back next week. We are also missing Ryan Harford, Sam Hobbs and Cooper-Woodlley from the front row.
"The international players have a specific training programme so we are missing a number of them. We started training with one set of boys and that is the difference with the RaboDirect PRO12 to the English Premiership, the international players come back later than the initial squad.
"The first squad we had back on June 11 worked through a conditioning block a recover block and rugby block. The internationals and some of the Under 20s are doing the same.
"Following their conditioning block and recovery block they will be available on Monday until the Autumn internationals, so we have them for the next 8 games after this first game.
"As of Monday we have almost a full squad to pick from which is great, it's trying to get them all fit and fighting to play each week.
"At the moment is we have four fit props out of nine. We have Tom Davies who is a young player but he is also a Welsh lose head in the future, I have no doubt. Then we have Andi Kyriacou and Fau Filise with him who are experienced.
"I am confident we can go out and play well on Saturday and gain a result which is the most important thing."
Meanwhile, Gavin Duffy will lead his Connacht side out, having been announced as captain for a second year running. Duffy is supported on the wings by last season regulars Fetu'u Vainikolo and Tiernan O'Halloran while the centres are Mata Fifita and Eoin Griffin.
Kieran Marmion will gain his first cap for Connacht at nine. He started in the pre-season friendly against Harlequins and also played a pivotal role for Ireland at the Junior World Championship, starting four of their five games en route to a highest ever finish of fifth.
Another regular from last season is out half Miah Nikora who got a good run out in both pre-season friendlies in August.
"All the pre-season training has led to this point and we can't wait to get going," said director of rugby Eric Elwood.
Form: Both Connacht and Cardiff Blues have begun with an opening weekend victory for the past two seasons. Connacht achieved their highest tournament finishing position last season (8th), and won three of their last four games. Connacht have lost only one of their last six matches at the Sportsground: 16-20 to Munster on 24 March. Cardiff Blues had a disappointing end to the 2011/12 RaboDirect PRO12 season, winning just one of their last six encounters: 38-13 over Edinburgh at the City Stadium in round 21. The Blues' solo away victory since January came in Treviso on 3 March. Connacht have beaten the Blues only once since 2005: 18-16 at the Galway Sportsground on 18 September 2009.


The teams:
Connacht: 15 Gavin Duffy (capt), 14 Tiernan O'Halloran, 13 Eoin Griffin, 12 Mata Fifita, 11 Fetu'u Vainikolo, 10 Miah Nikora, 9 Kieran Marmion, 8 George Naoupu, 7 Johnny O'Connor, 6 John Muldoon, 5 Mike McCarthy, 4 Michael Swift, 3 Ronan Loughney, 2 Ethienne Reynecke, 1 Denis Buckley.
Replacements: 16 Adrian Flavin, 17 Rodney Ah You, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Dave Gannon, 20 Willie Faloon, 21 David Moore, 22 Matthew Jarvis, 23 Robbie Henshaw.
Cardiff Blues: 15 Dan Fish, 14 Harry Robinson, 13 Gavin Evans, 12 Gareth Davies, 11 Tom James, 10 Ceri Sweeney, 9 Lewis Jones, 8 Andries Pretorius (c), 7 Josh Navidi, 6 Rory Watts-Jones, 5 James Down, 4 Robin Copeland, 3 Taufa'ao Filise, 2 Andi Kyriacou, 1 Thomas Davies.
Replacements: 16 Rhys Williams, 17 Beniot Borrust, 18 Nathan Trevett, 19 Lou Reed, 20 Luke Hamilton, 21 Lloyd Williams, 22 Cory Allen, 23 Tom Williams, 24 Owen Williams.
Date: Saturday, September 1
Kick-off: 17:00 BST
Venue: The Sportsground
Referee: Andrew McMenemy (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Leo Colgan (Ireland), Olly Hodges (Ireland)
Assessor: Bertie Smith (Ireland)

I can't say I am so looking forward to this game.
I can't believe the bookies have the Blues as favourites since they are missing so many internationals.
Connacht to win by 10 because they have so much experience in the team

Game over and Bookies correct although match report says connacht pressuring all the time...they just couldn't break through.
Blues win away 13-9

Scarlets 3/4 vs Leinster 4/3
this from Planet rugby...my favourite initial source BTW

Shane Jennings will captain Leinster in their PRO12 clash against the Scarlets at Parc y Scarlets on Saturday.

Jennings is joined in the back-row by fellow flanker Dominic Ryan and number eight Leo Auva'a.Damian Browne locks down alongside Devin Toner.
Isaac Boss, who skippered the side in last weekend's 10-all draw away to Sale Sharks, partners Ian Madigan at half back.
Twenty-three-year-old fly-half Madigan, who was the province's young player of the year last season, will make his 50th appearance after featuring 26 times last season.
Noel Reid continues his centre partnership with Brendan Macken, with Andrew Conway named in a pacey back three alongside Fionn Carr and full-back Isa Nacewa.
Tom Denton could be set to make his competitive debut for the team if he appears from the bench which includes six products from the Leinster Academy.
Meanwhile, the Scarlets are showing their intent with a strong team and plenty of experience and power to call on from the replacements bench.
There will be plenty to excite the home supporters in the backs with Wales internationals Liam Williams, George North and Scott Williams on hand - backed by experienced league campaigners Andy Fenby, Gareth Maule and Aled Thomas - all of whom put in strong performances in their pre-season clash against London Welsh last weekend.
Aaron Shingler returns to the back-row alongside Josh Turnbull and new skipper Rob McCusker at number eight, with new South African signing George Earle and former Osprey Richard Kelly in the second row after the Scarlets produced a strong line-out performance last weekend.
With internationals Matthew Rees, Rhys Priestland and Jon Davies on the bench, the Scarlets have plenty of experience and flair to draw on for this encounter.
Form: Scarlets have begun in round one of the RaboDirect PRO12 with victory in three of the last four years. The Welshmen concluded the last campaign with just one defeat in their last seven matches: 23-26 at Edinburgh on 30 March. Leinster were the only side to beat Scarlets at home in the RaboDirect PRO12 last season. Since the tournament became a season long one in 2003/04 amazingly Leinster have won in round one just once: 23-8 at home to Edinburgh in 2007! The only side to defeat the Leinstermen in the PRO12 after the 2011 Rugby World Cup was Ospreys, who did it twice. Scarlets have not beaten Leinster in their last seven encounters in all competitions, since their 18-16 victory at Parc y Scarlets in the opening round of this competition in season 2009/10.


The teams:
Scarlets:15 Liam Williams, 14 George North, 13 Gareth Maule, 12 Scott Williams, 11 Andy Fenby, 10 Aled Thomas, 9 Tavis Knoyle, 8 Rob McCusker (c), 7 Josh Turnbull, 6 Aaron Shingler, 5 Richard Kelly, 4 George Earle, 3 Deacon Manu, 2 Ken Owens, 1 Rhodri Jones.
Replacements: 16 Matthew Rees, 17 Phil John, 18 Samson Lee, 19 Sione Timani, 20 Kieran Murphy, 21 Gareth Davies, 22 Rhys Priestland, 23 Jonathan Davies.
Leinster: 15 Isa Nacewa, 14 Andrew Conway, 13 Brendan Macken, 12 Noel Reid, 11 Fionn Carr, 10 Ian Madigan, 9 Isaac Boss, 8 Leo Auva'a, 7 Shane Jennings (c), 6 Dominic Ryan, 5 Devin Toner, 4 Damian Browne, 3 Jamie Hagan, 2 Richardt Strauss, 1 Heinke van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 Aaron Dundon, 17 Jack McGrath, 18 Martin Moore, 19 Tom Denton, 20 Jordi Murphy, 21 John Cooney, 22 Collie O'Shea, 23 Darren Hudson.
Date: Saturday, September 1
Kick-off: 18:30 BST
Venue: Parc y Scarlets
Referee: Neil Paterson (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Tim Hayes (Wales), Martyn Lewis (Wales)
Television match official: Nigel Whitehouse (Wales)

Petes pick.
You can never really confidently back against leinster, even if it is their 2nd side. Their coach is a genius.
But the Scarlets have the better set of players today. I particularly like George Nort. The reserve bench alone could ensure a victory if they are behind.
If Scarlets are going to be in at the finish they need to win all home games.
Scarlets by 9
 Well scarlets were brilliant. ggorge North at full speed is great.
They won by 45-20
Edinburgh 10/11 vs Munster 11/10
Interesting odds with nothing between the 2 teams.
This from Planet rugby;
ff-season signings James Downey and Casey Laulala will start in the Munster midfield for their PRO12 opener at Edinburgh on Saturday.
The duo are joined by fellow new player Sean Dougall plus international Donncha O'Callaghan in the starting line-up running out at Murrayfield.
Besides the three newcomers the only uncapped player in the squad is forward Barry O'Mahony while Doug Howlett leads the side for the first time competitively in his new role as captain.
Downey and Laulala form the midfield pairing and after an impressive debut season in which he scored four tries Luke O'Dea is named on the left.
Up front there's a strong spine to the selection, Damien Varley propped by the South African pair Wian du Preez and BJ Botha. O'Callaghan is partnered by the hard working Billy Holland with Dougall joined in the back-row by youth and experience in the shape of Paddy Butler and the ever dependable James Coughlan at number eight.
And there will be no easing into the season for Penney's side as Michael Bradley welcomes back a number of his internationals who were involved in the the triumphant three Test Australasia tour.
Meanwhile, some nine players from the successful Scotland tour of Australasia return to competitive action for Edinburgh.
Starting the match in the backs are captain and fly-half Greig Laidlaw as well as centre Nick De Luca and top try-scoring winger Tim Visser. Ross Ford, and back-row trio Ross Rennie, David Denton and Stuart McInally re-enter the pack, while props Allan Jacobsen and Geoff Cross are primed to enter the fray from the bench.
Head coach Michael Bradley's first selection for the 2012/13 season will also see five competitive debuts made from the outset.
With Tom Brown ruled out with a hamstring strain, new arrival Greig Tonks gets his first start in his preferred position of full-back with fellow new face, Ben Atiga, forming a centre partnership with De Luca for the first time.
Welsh international scrum-half Richie Rees forges a dynamic half-back partnership with Laidlaw, while Lee Jones completes the backs on the wing.
New props John Yapp and Willem Nel flank Scotland captain Ford in a formidable front row, with the pack completed by the familiar pairing of Sean Cox and elite development graduate Grant Gilchrist, who reinstate a partnership that started 15 matches last season.


Form: Edinburgh's only round one victory since 2005 came at Cardiff Blues in 2009. The Scotsmen finished off last season's RaboDirect PRO12 season with victory at home to Benetton Treviso. Edinburgh have won their last three games at Murrayfield in all competitions, but have not beaten any Irish province since this equivalent fixture last season - played on 30 September 2011. Munster have begun their new campaign with a win in four of the past five seasons. The Munstermen's only victory away from home in their last four trips was 20-16 at Connacht on 24 March. Munster have lost just one of their last ten encounters with Scottish opponents. In the history of the tournament the two sides have met on 21 previous occasions, with Edinburgh victorious on just five occasions.
The teams:
Edinburgh: 15 Greig Tonks, 14 Lee Jones, 13 Nick De Luca, 12 Ben Atiga, 11 Tim Visser, 10 Greig Laidlaw (c), 9 Richie Rees, 8 Stuart McInally, 7 Ross Rennie, 6 David Denton, 5 Sean Cox, 4 Grant Gilchrist, 3 Willem Nel, 2 Ross Ford, 1 John Yapp.
Replacements: 16 Andy Titterrell, 17 Allan Jacobsen, 18 Geoff Cross, 19 Perry Parker, 20 Dimitri Basilaia, 21 Chris Leck, 22 Gregor Hunter, 23 John Houston.
Munster: 15 Denis Hurley, 14 Doug Howlett (capt), 13 Casey Laulala, 12 James Downey, 11 Luke O'Dea, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Duncan Williams, 8 James Coughlan, 7 Sean Dougall, 6 Peter Butler, 5 Billy Holland, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 3 BJ Botha, 2 Damien Varley, 1 Wian du Preez.
Replacements: 16 Mike Sherry, 17 Marcus Horan, 18 Stephen Archer, 19 Dave Foley, 20 Barry O'Mahony, 21 Peter Stringer, 22 Scott Deasy, 23 Ivan Dineen.
Date: Saturday, September 1
Kick-off: 20:00 BST
Venue: Murrayfield
Referee: Leighton Hodges (Wales)
Assistant Referees: Andy Macpherson (Scotland), Bob Nevins (Scotland)
Television match official: Iain Ramage (Scotland)

This is the hardest match to judge.
New coach from ITM Cup Canterbury, Rob penney, will bring a new vision and hopefully restore Munster's fortunes.
He is without quite a few Internationals whereas Scots have no such problems.
Bookies barely have Edinburgh as favourites.
Munster will do well when a few more of their Internationals can help anchor the side.
Today i must go with Edinburgh. They have to lay down the gauntlet for the rest of the season and badly need this victory.
Edinburgh by 5, just in case Munster do manage to hold them to a draw, and I can get a half point for superbru.

Game over. Edinburgh were their usual boring self. Crap rugby, hoof and chase crap.
They lost to a 2nd side munster 23-18