With just two rounds of the Guinness PRO12 remaining the tension and excitement is building as teams battle to earn a place in the championship’s flagship event, the Guinness PRO12 Final at BT Murrayfield on 28 May.
Only the top five teams are now shooting for the two home Play-Off spots, (currently jointly held by Leinster and Connacht on 68 points apiece) and should Glasgow Warriors and Connacht both win their round 21 games against Italian opposition this weekend it will be nicely set-up for a round 22 head to head between them for one of the coveted home berths. However, Benetton Treviso are only three points behind Zebre in the race for the guaranteed Italian spot, so one win could make a huge difference there also.
Benetton Treviso have lost their last five Guinness PRO12 matches since beating Newport Gwent Dragons at home in round 15 but are still within touching distance of Zebre for the automatic Italian Champion’s Cup place next year. Treviso have not beaten an Irish province in any tournament since their 23-3 victory over Connacht at Stadio Monigo in October 2013.
Connacht require just one more league point to qualify for the Play-Offs for the first time since the competition went home and away in 2003/04. The Irishmen’s only defeat in the last eight rounds of Guinness PRO12 came at Ulster on 1 April.
Treviso have beaten Connacht just once since 2011 whilst Connacht’s record at Stadio Monigo is an even won two, drawn one, lost two, but they have not scored a try at the venue since April 2013.
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