Pro 12 Weekly Review - Round 9

Connacht have dropped from their throne after only their second loss of the season 20-16 away to Cardiff, allowing Scarlets to go top of the table after a narrow win over Treviso in the Pro 12.

The league table is a few fries short of a happy meal this week, as one of the most anticipated matches of the weekend, Glasgow vs Leinster, was postponed due to bad weather. They’ve been battling for that ever so tight 4th place for a number of weeks now.

This has allowed Ulster to slip into 5th but with a game in hand; Glasgow can regain that spot if they beat Leinster, as and when this game is rescheduled.

The match you’ll want to make sure to watch the highlights of is Zebre vs Ospreys. This eight try thriller finished 22-39. Zebre drew first blood from an interception, and Welsh giant Justin Tipuric contributed two for the Ospreys.

If ever there was an outstanding game from the flanker, this weekend’s was up there with some of his six nations Man of the Match performances, making his presence felt at every ruck, line break and set piece.

Meanwhile, Treviso fought hard for their first win of the season, but offside play from winger Luke McClean gave the Welshmen a penalty in the dying moments. It agonisingly allowed the boot of Steve Shingler to give Scarlets a two point win, and the league’s top spot.

Many Pro 12 fans will be wondering what is happening down in Limerick after Munster, two time European Champions, went down convincingly to the Newport Dragons; 22-6. This leaves a five points gap between Munster in third, and their increasingly noisy neighbours, Connacht in second.

A great weekend for the Welsh regions who made it four wins in four, with the Scarlets now leading the way.

Edinburgh travelled to Ulster this weekend in a match were the TMO was the star of the show, disallowing four tries, three of which were in the Second half. Ulster shot up into 5th, and within sight of Leinster.

• Player of the Weekend – Justin Tipuric

• Match of the Weekend – Zebre vs Ospreys

• League Leader – Llanelli Scarlets