With Rainbow Cup surprise log leaders Benetton not in action this weekend, the attention turns to the chasing pack with PRO14 champions Leinster under pressure to haul in the leading sides as the competition reaches the business end.
Leinster clash with Scottish hopefuls Glasgow Warriors in the pick of the round five clashes, knowing the loser will be out of the race for the final, while the winner will still have some ground to make up.
Leinster have played one game less than the other sides and have a good chance of catching the Italians if they lose their last game while Glasgow will be hoping for a giant-killing act to do the same.
Leinster bounced back from their opening round defeat to Munster to post 71 points in wins over Connacht and Ulster and their impressive record shows they have been beaten just once away from home since April 2019.
The Dubliners have also won their last five matches against the Warriors, who have lost their previous nine to an Irish province
For this reason they will start as favourites, but the recent form has given Glasgow hope, especially their coach Danny Wilson.
“The first thing is we’re coming into it in a bit of form and playing some decent rugby,” he said heading into the fixture. “Having three good wins under our belt, confidence is hopefully where it needs to be.
“I was wondering after coming off two derbies where you know that emotionally you’re going to be very high, whether there was going to be a drop-off playing Dragons away last weekend, but I was really pleased because that was probably the most physical performance we’ve put out. So, that shows that emotionally we were in a good place, and I think the work ethic was strong.
“It will have to be the same against Leinster. It’s a different animal playing Leinster, one of the best sides in Europe, whichever side they put out. It’s a big challenge, an exciting challenge, here on a fast track on a Friday night. I think it’s one that the boys will want to play in.”
Leinster have suffered since losing to Munster and then La Rochelle in the European Cup but they are still the formidable foe that they’ve always been.
“With these teams, the myth goes with them, and as soon as you see a fixture against Leinster your senses perk up because you know it is a very strong side with a very good record,” Wilson said.
“But, at the same time, if you look at them the tail-end of this season, they’ve had a couple of results which maybe aren’t to the standard they would want.
“Sides have beaten them, so I think they are every much beatable – while still respecting that they are a very strong side. We’re playing them at home which, again, is a bit different, so we’ll see.”
LOOKING FOR REDEMPTION
Connacht will want to put their poor form against Benetton last weekend behind them as they face the Ospreys, who themselves have won two of their last three games against Irish opposition.
On Saturday both Ulster and Edinburgh will be looking for redemption as they continue in the competition.
Ulster head to the Scottish capital seeking a first win in the Rainbow Cup and looking to end a wretched run of form.
The Irish province have gone five matches without a win after Scarlets were awarded the points following the cancellation of last weekend’s clash due to coronavirus cases in the camp.
Edinburgh’s record is marginally better with their sole win in their last six matches in all competitions coming against Zebre in Round 1.
In the weekend’s final game Cardiff will be looking to bounce back from their narrow defeat at the hands of Munster last weekend to continue their impressive form in the Rainbow Cup.
They have won their last eight games against Italian opposition and Zebre shouldn’t be too much of challenge for them on Saturday night.
Zebre and Ulster are the only two sides yet to record a victory in the Rainbow Cup, with Michael Bradley’s side having lost their last seven matches.
The Blues have lost just once in seven against Zebre, who are the only Italian side to have beaten Cardiff in their own backyard having prevailed at the Arms Park back in September 2013.
FIXTURES
Friday
Connacht v Ospreys (19.00)
Glasgow Warriors v Leinster (21.15)
Saturday
Edinburgh v Ulster (18.15)
Cardiff Blues v Zebre (20.15)