Looking ahead to Round 13 of URC

Leinster will look to maintain pole position as United Rugby Championship leaders during the latest round of action this week.

The Irish side face their hosts Benetton, knowing victory at Stadio Monigo would keep them in top spot.

Ulster can climb back to the summit if they beat Kingspan Stadium visitors Cardiff on Friday night but it would be short-lived if Leinster triumph less than 24 hours later while Edinburgh are also in action on Friday as they take on Connacht at the DAM Health Stadium.

Third-placed Glasgow Warriors, tucked in a point behind Ulster, head to West Wales on Saturday for an appointment with the Scarlets, knowing a win on the road would keep them firmly in the mix.

The same goes for Munster, in fourth, who will attempt to make home advantage count when they tackle the Dragons at Thomond Park.

Welsh Shield leaders Ospreys, meanwhile, can consolidate that position at home to Zebre Parma on Sunday, with the Italian side yet to taste victory in the URC this season.

FRI - Ulster v Cardiff

Kingspan Stadium, Belfast | 19:35 UK & IRE (20:35 ITA, 21:35 SA) | Live on RTE, Premier Sports, URC TV

Ulster will bid for a sixth successive victory since an 18-13 URC defeat to Munster when Cardiff arrive in Belfast.

They also have a 100 per cent home record in all competitions this season and can reflect on eight wins in their last nine games against Welsh opposition.

Cardiff have form behind them, though, losing just one of their last four URC fixtures, with those victories including a memorable one against Leinster which was secured by Jarrod Evans' final-kick penalty.

Cardiff have not beaten Ulster for four years and it is almost 12 years since they won in Belfast.

FRI - Edinburgh v Connacht

DAM Health Stadium, Edinburgh | 19:35 UK & IRE (20:35 ITA, 21: 35 SA | Live on TG4, Premier Sports, URC TV

Edinburgh are down to fifth having slipped to three successive URC defeats.

They have not lost four on the bounce since October 2020 and are unbeaten at home in all competitions for six games.

Connacht are on the trail of a third successive URC victory, having toppled the Scarlets and DHL Stormers, which is a run they last achieved almost a year ago.

Both games between Edinburgh and Connacht last season were won by the away side while Connacht have claimed four victories from their last six visits to the Scottish capital.

SAT - Benetton v Leinster

Stadio Monigo, Treviso | 12:55 UK & IRE (13:55 ITA, 14:55 SA) | Live on RTE, Mediaset, Premier Sports, URC TV

Leaders Leinster will seek to maintain their dominance over Benetton when they head to Italy.

The Dublin-based side have lost once in 13 previous visits to Stadio Monigo – which was more than 11 years ago - and have won their last six games against Italian opposition.

Benetton are striving to avoid a third URC reversal on the bounce after going down to Glasgow and Cell C Sharks.

The history books will offer them little comfort, having only beaten Leinster once since 2010 - a 17-15 verdict at Dublin's RDS Arena almost four years ago.

SAT - Munster v Dragons

Thomond Park, Limerick | 17:15 UK & IRE (18:15 ITA, 19:15 SA) | Live on TG4, S4C, Premier Sports, URC TV

Munster know victory will keep them in touch with the URC top three of Leinster, Ulster and Glasgow and they are unbeaten at home for eight games.

They lost their most recent fixture against Welsh opposition, though - 18-10 against the Ospreys – which ended a run of 15 successive wins.

Dragons have not tasted victory since winning at Connacht in October and their only previous triumph at Thomond Park was 18 years ago.

After beating Saturday's opponents 22-6 in December 2015, they have suffered seven successive defeats against Munster.

SAT - Scarlets v Glasgow

Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli | 17:15 UK & IRE (18:15 ITA, 19:15 SA) | Live on Premier Sports, URC TV

The Scarlets are aiming to prevent a third successive URC loss, having gone down to Ulster and Connacht, but they have only beaten Scottish opponents once from the last seven attempts.

Glasgow are on a roll, winning their last five URC games - their best run in the competition since May 2019.

They have also triumphed on their last two visits to Llanelli, winning there in November 2016 and April 2018.

Glasgow can also reflect on three wins in a row against Welsh opposition since losing to the Dragons at the Principality Stadium last March.

SUN - Ospreys v Zebre Parma

Swansea.com Stadium, Swansea | 14:00 UK & IRE (15:00 ITA, 16:00 SA) | Live on Mediaset, Premier Sports, URC TV

The Ospreys are chasing a fourth successive victory on home soil, which they have not achieved in the URC since October 2018.

They have also reeled off three wins on the bounce against Italian opponents and only lost once to Zebre in almost four years.

Zebre have now gone more than a year without a victory in any competition, with a home win against Dragons their last success.