There are storylines aplenty for rugby fans to wrap their heads around when the Guinness PRO14 returns this weekend after a brief hiatus for seven more hotly-anticipated games. Round 4 sees reigning champions Leinster, Scarlets and Toyota Cheetahs put their unbeaten records on the line having enjoyed perfect starts to their 2019⁄20 campaigns so far. Elsewhere, Benetton, Zebre and Isuzu Southern Kings will be going in search of their opening wins of the season as many sides begin to welcome back their Rugby World Cup cavalry. FRIDAY Munster Rugby v Ospreys Irish Independent Park, Cork | KO 19:35 | Live: eir sport 1, Premier Sports 2, TG4, DAZN, PRO14.tv Munster welcome Ospreys as part of a Friday night double-header to kick-off the weekend, with the visitors coming into the game in high spirits after winning last time out. The Welsh region were on the wrong side of two heavy defeats in the opening two round before bouncing back with an impressive 24-20 victory against Benetton at the Liberty Stadium. But in Munster they face a team with a point to prove after their South African adventure ended in a humbling 40-16 defeat to the in-form Cheetahs – a result they will be keen to put behind them. Player to look out for: Sam Parry - Ospreys The man of the moment. The hooker became the only forward to score two hat-tricks in Championship history after bagging a brilliant match-winning treble against Benetton. Fast fact: The Munstermen are unbeaten in their last 23 home games in all competitions since Leinster beat them at Thomond Park in the Championship in December 2017. Ulster Rugby v Cardiff Blues Kingspan Stadium, Belfast | KO 19:35 UK | Live on S4C, eir Sport 2, DAZN, Premier Sports 1 Cardiff Blues travel to a formidable Ulster side with the daunting task of trying to topple the Irish province in their own backyard, a place where they have been unbeaten for a year. John Mulvihill’s men began the season with a morale-boosting win over Southern Kings but it has been tough going since then, with back-to-back defeats stunting their momentum. 📸 Some shots from training this afternoon as preparations taper off ahead of the visit of Cardiff Blues to Kingspan Stadium on Friday night. #SUFTUM pic.twitter.com/UHegqcxnNP — Ulster Rugby (@UlsterRugby) October 23, 2019 Ulster on the other hand were victorious last time out, also against Southern Kings, and will be desperate to keep pace with Cheetahs and Leinster at the summit of Conference A. Player to look out for: John Cooney Ireland’s loss has been Ulster’s gain. John Cooney has hit the ground running for his club side in the Guinness PRO14 and crossed the whitewash twice last time out in Port Elizabeth. Fast fact: Ulster’s only defeat to a Welsh region in any tournament since March 2018 was 29-19 on a visit to Scarlets in Round 9 of the Guinness PRO14 last season. SATURDAY Dragons v Glasgow Warriors Rodney Parade, Newport | KO 15:00 UK | Live on Premier Sports 2, DAZN Glasgow Warriors finally got off the mark at the third time of asking last time out with a nervy win over Cardiff Blues and Dave Rennie will be keen for his side to build on that result. A visit to Dragons would appear to present a perfect opportunity to do just that after Dean Ryan’s men were defeated 38-14 at home by Connacht for their second loss from three games. But having failed to back up their rare away-day win at Zebre from the previous round, Dragons will be eager to redeem themselves in front of Rodney Parade faithful at the second time of asking. Player to look out for: Ollie Griffiths The Wales flanker limped off with a groin problem in their opening match away to Munster but the Dragons man will be back to face Warriors in a big boost for Ryan. Fast fact: Dragons have beaten a Scottish opponent just once since 2016, at home to Edinburgh in November 2018. Benetton Rugby v Isuzu Southern Kings Stadio Monigo, Treviso | KO 15:00 (UK) / 16:00 (ITA) | Live on eir sport 2, FreeSports, Supersport 2, DAZN, PRO14.tv Both Benetton and Southern Kings are in need of a win when they meet in Treviso on Saturday as they go into their fourth game of the Championship at the bottom of Conference B. Kieran Crowley’s side have shown plenty of fight despite missing their Rugby World Cup contingent, with two close defeats to Leinster and Ospreys at least earning losing bonus points. For Southern Kings, though, a solitary bonus point leaves the South Africans with plenty of work to do as they bid for their first-ever Championship victory over Benetton. Player to watch out for: Luca Sperandio The talented youngster has proved a handful for defences in the opening three rounds of the Guinness PRO14 and don’t be surprised if he gets on the scoresheet on Saturday. Fast fact: Benetton Rugby have lost their last four Guinness PRO14 matches since beating Zebre in Parma in Round 21 last season. Connacht v Toyota Cheetahs The Sportsground, Galway | KO 17:15 (UK) / 18:15 (SA) | Live on eir sport 2, Premier Sports 1, SuperSport 2, TG4, DAZN, PRO14.tv The visitors have been nothing short of sensational since the start of the 2019⁄20 campaign, playing fast-flowing, attacking rugby in three consecutive bonus-point victories. But they must now look to take that impressive home form on their travels, with a visit to Connacht the first chance to see whether Cheetahs can maintain their perfect Conference A start. Connacht will be satisfied with their efforts so far, with two wins from three leaving them second in Conference B, but taking the scalp of Cheetahs would see their confidence soar. Player to look out for: Joseph Dweba – Toyota Cheetahs It’s hard to pick just one player from the Cheetahs but Joseph Dweba has certainly made the biggest impact with the hooker scoring four fun to help his side to 15 points from a possible 15. Fast fact: Connacht have met South African opponents on six previous occasions in the Championship, with their only defeat being by a solitary point to Cheetahs in March 2018. Zebre Rugby Club v Leinster Rugby Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma | KO 17:15 (UK) / 18:15 (ITA) | Live on eir sport 1, Premier Sports 2, DAZN, PRO14.tv Winless Zebre welcome unbeaten Leinster, the reigning Guinness PRO14 champions, on Saturday evening as they look to produce a shock that would reverberate around the Championship. The Irish province have three bonus-point wins from three games so far and sit joint top of Conference A with Cheetahs, while Zebre are rock bottom with a solitary point. "We're into a very intense long block now." Leo Cullen reflects on the opening three #GuinnessPRO14 games of the season and looks ahead to #ZEBvLEI this Saturday. 👇 pic.twitter.com/g8tjO34Ujv — Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) October 22, 2019 History is not on Zebre’s side either. The Italians have lost all 12 times they have faced Leinster and their last Guinness PRO14 victory came against Edinburgh in Round 7 last season. Player to look out for: Ross Byrne – Leinster He may have flown somewhat under the radar so far this season but Ross Byrne has been impressively consistent for the Irish province during the absence of Johnny Sexton. Fast fact: Leinster have maximum league points after three rounds (along with Cheetahs), no side has ever amassed 20 points after the first four rounds of a campaign. Edinburgh v Scarlets BT Murrayfield, Edinburgh | KO 19:35 UK | Live on eir sport 2, Premier Sports 2, SuperSport 2, DAZN, PRO14.tv; Deferred: Sunday 14:05 on S4C Scarlets put their unbeaten start to the campaign on the line against fourth-placed Edinburgh in the finale game of the round in what should be a blockbuster clash. The Welsh side are eyeing a fourth straight victory for the first time since November 2017, with new coach Brad Mooar making an instant impact since taking over the reins. But Edinburgh have a formidable home record, losing only twice at BT Murrayfield in the Guinness PRO14 since April 2018, and haven’t been beaten by Scarlets there in six years. Player to watch out for: Johnny McNicholl – Scarlets Johnny McNicholl has begun the new season like a house on fire and crossed the whitewash twice against Zebre last time out. Edinburgh defenders will certainly have their hands full. Fast fact: The Scotsmen have won their last two matches against Welsh regions but have not won three such fixtures in succession since September 2017. Cardiff City Stadium will play host to the 2020 Guinness PRO14 Final on June 20 as one of the most exciting days in the club rugby calendar comes to Wales! General sale tickets are available from http://bit.ly/PRO14Cardiff2020 and prices start at just £13 for concessions and £26 for adults (subject to booking fees), that’s a 15% early bird discount. Family ticket (2 adults / 2 children) prices begin at £64 and fans are encouraged to buy early to get the best value tickets.
