RaboDirect PRO12 Round 7 Review

As there is a short break in the RaboDirect PRO12 whilst the Autumn Internationals take centre stage, Munster retain their position as leaders thanks to their victory over Ospreys in the top of the table clash at Thomond Park on Saturday.

In light of that result Ospreys dropped back down to third, whilst Glasgow Warriors victory over Connacht in the West of Ireland the same day saw them rise back up to second. Leinster’s late victory over Dragons on Friday night ensured them the final spot in the Play-Off zone.

In what turned out to be a very close round, Scarlets Aled Thomas spoilt the party when his 77th minute penalty at Parc y Scarlets deprived Ulster of a losing bonus point, as in all five other games last weekend the margin of victory was so narrow that the losing side gained a bonus point. Since September 2011 there has been only one other round that has produced so many losing bonus points.

The aggregate winning margin in round 7 was just 31 points in the six games – the only other round that has seen a lower total since May 2011 was the 28 points (the total difference between the winning and losing scores) recorded in round 17, in March 2013. In the four seasons since the Italians joined what was the Celtic League, this has been the closest in terms of total winning margins after 7 rounds of play.