RaboDirect PRO12 PREVIEW 2011/12

Round 3: 16 & 17 September 2011

THREES UP
Table toppers. Cardiff Blues, kick-off the RaboDirect PRO12 Round 3 fixtures when they visit third placed Ulster at Ravenhill on Friday night. Both teams have a 100% winning record so far this season, the only difference between them being the 2 try bonus points Blues have collected the only team to do so. Edinburgh and Connacht are also in action on Friday night, with Connacht looking for a rare Scottish victory to mark their best start to a season since 2002/03. The remaining four fixtures all take place on Saturday with games in Italy, Ireland and Wales. The action starts in Italy with Ospreys the visitors to Benetton Trevisos Stadio Monigo. Second placed Ospreys will be anxious to continue their winning ways against the Italian outfit, and know that should other results go there way, they could find themselves top of the table by Saturday night. Leinster are next into action when they take on Glasgow Warriors at the RDS. The home side are building a formidable reputation at the Showground having won their last 28 matches in all competitions at the venue and the record books do not favour Glasgow claiming a first ever win on Leinster soil. Attention then switches to Wales where Newport Gwent Dragons host Aironi. Neither team have tasted success so far this season, however Aironi did pick up a losing bonus point in their game against Ulster last time out. Reigning champions Munster bring the round to a close when they play Scarlets at Musgrave Park. The Irish province set a tournament record twelfth successive win last time out, and will be hoping to go one better this round.

ROUND 3 FIXTURES
Friday 16 September

EDINBURGH RUGBY v CONNACHT

At Murrayfield, 7.30pm. Referee: Alan Falzone (FIR, 4th competition game) Assistant Referees: James Matthew, Alan Forrest (both SRU) Citing Commissioner: Iain Goodall (SRU)

HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT TOURNAMENT MEETINGS

Date Fri 24 Oct 08 Fri 27 Mar 09 Venue Sportsground Murrayfield E C Edinburgh Rugby scorers 27 14 Mike Blair(T) Simon Webster(T) Chris Paterson(T/3C/2P) Connacht scorers Fionn Carr(T) Gavin Duffy(T) Ian Keatley(2C)

32 5 Ross Ford(T) Ally Hogg(T) Chris Troy Nathan(T) Paterson(3C/2P) Kyle Traynor(T) Andrew Turnbull(T) 62 13 Ben Cairns(T) Roddy Grant(T) Alan MacDonald(T) Mark Robertson(2T) Ally Hogg(T) Chris Paterson(T/8C/2P) Andrew Turnbull(T) 21 22 Phil Godman(3C) Roddy Grant(T) Mark Robertson(T) Tim Visser(T) 24 19 David Blair(P) Chris Paterson(T/C/3P) Tim Visser(T) 23 27 James King(T) Greig Laidlaw(2C/3P) Scott Newlands(T) Fionn Carr(T) Ian Keatley(2P) Miah Nikora(C)

Fri 11 Sep 09

Murrayfield

Fri 2 Apr 10 Fri 26 Nov 10 Fri 1 Apr 11

Sportsground Murrayfield Sportsground

Ian Keatley(T/D/2P) Miah Nikora(P) Brian Tuohy(T) Ian Keatley(2P) Miah Nikora(P) Brian Tuohy(2T) Fionn Carr(2T) Gavin Duffy(T) Ian Keatley(2C/P) Penalty Try(T)

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RaboDirect PRO12 PREVIEW 2011/12

Round 3: 16 & 17 September 2011 Edinburgh Rugbys home defeat to Cardiff Blues in round one of the RaboDirect PRO12 ended a three match winning run at Murrayfield. Edinburgh have lost their last three matches in the tournament., however the Scotsmen have won their last three home matches against Irish opponents. Another victory would emulate the best ever start to a season for Connacht, when they went on to win their opening five matches of the 2002/03 campaign. Connachts only victory in their last ten visits to Scotland since 2006 was 19-17 at Glasgow in September 2010. The last five clashes between the two teams have all been won by the home side on the day, whilst Connachts only previous victory at Murrayfield came on their maiden visit in March 2005.

ULSTER v CARDIFF BLUES

At Ravenhill, 7.05pm. Live on Referee: James Jones (WRU, 53rd competition game) Assistant Referees: John Carvill, David Keane (both IRFU) Citing Commissioner: Peter Ferguson (IFRU) TMO: Marshall Kilgore (IRFU)

HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT TOURNAMENT MEETINGS

Date Fri 12 Sep 08 Fri 24 Apr 09 Fri 26 Mar 10 Sat 3 Apr 10 Venue Arms Park Ravenhill Cardiff City Stadium Ravenhill U C Ulster scorers 15 16 BJ Botha(T) Isaac Boss(T) Niall O'Connor(C/P) 9 11 Niall O'Connor(D/P) Clinton Schifcofske(P) 9 19 Niall O'Connor(3P) 24 33 Stephen Ferris(T) Chris Henry(T) Ian Humphreys(C) Niall O'Connor(4P) Cardiff Blues scorers Ben Blair(C/3P) Leigh Halfpenny(T) James Loxton(T) Ceri Sweeney(2P) Ben Blair(C/4P) Ma'ama Molitika(T) Dafydd Hewitt(T) Ceri Sweeney(2C) Casey Laulala(T) Xavier Rush(T) Leigh Halfpenny(C/4P)

Sun 21 Nov 10

Cardiff City Stadium

Fri 25 Feb 11

Ravenhill

37 15 Craig Gilroy(2T) Adam D'Arcy(T) Tom James(T) Ceri Sweeney(C/P) Casey Willie Faloon(T) Ian Laulala(T) Humphreys(3C/2P) Paddy Wallace(T) 32 13 Craig Gilroy(T) Luke Marshall(T) Dan Fish(T) Ceri Sweeney(C/2P) Ian Humphreys(3C/2P) Ruan Pienaar(T) Andrew Trimble(T)

Ulster have hit the ground running just like they did last year when they won their opening three matches. The Ulstermen have won ten of their last eleven regular season matches in the tournament. Ulster have won all eight home matches they have played at Ravenhill in 2011. Cardiff Blues top the RaboDirect PRO12 table after two rounds courtesy of two bonus point wins, but have not won their opening three games of a season since 2007/08. Ulster did the seasons double over the Blues last campaign for the first time since 2005/06, whilst the Cardiff based side have won on three of their last four visits to Ravenhill.

Saturday 17 September

BENETTON TREVISO v OSPREYS

At Stadio Monigo, 3pm local time (2pm UK & Ireland). Referee: Neil Hennessy (WRU, 4th competition game) Assistant Referees: Stefano Traversi, Stefano Marrama (both FIR) Citing Commissioner: Maurizio Vancini (FIR)

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Round 3: 16 & 17 September 2011

HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT TOURNAMENT MEETINGS

Date Fri 10 Sep 10 Venue Liberty Stadium B O Benetton Treviso scorers Ospreys scorers 16 32 Tobias Botes(3P) Kris Burton(C) Brendan Dan Biggar(2C/P) Andrew Bishop(T) Lee Williams(T) Byrne(T) Shane Williams(T) Nikki Walker(T) Jonathan Thomas(T) 18 34 Tobias Botes(2T/C/2P) Ashley Beck(T) Dan Biggar(3C/P) Ian Gough(T) Nikki Walker(3T)

Sat 19 Feb 11

Stadio Monigo

Benetton Treviso gained their solo point in the RaboDirect PRO12 courtesy of a losing bonus point at home to Connacht in round one. Treviso have won four of their last six home games in the tournament., but have not beaten a Welsh region since they defeated the Dragons at Stadio Monigo on 1 October 2010. Ospreys have not started a season with three successive victories since 2008/09. The Welshmen have won their last three regular season fixtures in the tournament, whilst their only two away wins in this competition since November have both been in Italy. Ospreys have won all the four previous encounters with Benetton Treviso in all competitions.

LEINSTER v GLASGOW WARRIORS

At RDS Dublin, 6pm. Referee: Andrew McMenemy, (SRU, 8th competition game) Assistant Referees: John Lacey, Trevor Collins (both IRFU) Citing Commissioner: John West (IFRU)

HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT TOURNAMENT MEETINGS

Date Fri 24 Oct 08 Sat 25 Apr 09 Venue Firhill Stadium Royal Dublin Society L G Leinster scorers 12 15 Felipe Contepomi(4P) 36 13 Rocky Elsom(T) Felipe Contepomi(4C/P) Shane Horgan(T) Sean O'Brien(2T) Jonathan Sexton(T) 20 14 Girvan Dempsey(T) Fergus McFadden(T/2C/2P) 6 30 Ian Madigan(2P) Glasgow Warriors scorers Dan Parks(5P) Kelly Brown(T) Ruaridh Jackson(P) Lome Fa'atau(T)

Thu 18 Mar 10 Fri 23 Apr 10 Fri 3 Sep 10

Royal Dublin Society Firhill Stadium Firhill Stadium

Colin Gregor(T/C) Ruaridh Jackson(C) Hefin O'Hare(T) Rob Dewey(2T) Bernardo Stortoni(T) Dan Parks(3C/3P)

Fri 6 May 11

Royal Dublin Society

19 22 Dominic Ryan(T) Isaac Boss(T) Duncan Weir(C/D/P) DTH van der Fergus McFadden(2P) Isa Merwe(T) Ruaridh Jackson(3P) Nacewa(P) 38 3 Dominic Ryan(T) Gordon Duncan Weir(P) D'Arcy(T) Shane Horgan(T) Kevin McLaughlin(T) Fergus McFadden(3C/4P)

Leinster have won their last 28 home matches in all competitions since a London Irish victory at the RDS in the European Cup on 31 October 2009. The Leinstermen beat the Dragons 31-10 at the RDS on Friday evening in the RaboDirect PRO12. Leinsters last seven games against Scottish opponents have all been won by the home team on the day. Glasgow Warriors have not tallied a single league point since their 16-19 defeat in Treviso on 16 April. The Warriors only away win in the competition since May 2010 came at Aironi, 17-16, on 2 April. The last ten matches between the two sides have all been won by the home side on the day, whilst Glasgow have never won in 13 previous encounters on Leinster soil in all competitions.

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Round 3: 16 & 17 September 2011

MUNSTER v SCARLETS
At Musgrave Park, 7.45pm. Referee: Andy Macpherson (SRU, 38th competition game) Assistant Referees: Dudley Phillips, Kevin Beggs (both IRFU) Citing Commissioner: Gordon Black (IRFU) TMO: Jude Quinn (IRFU) Live on

HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT TOURNAMENT MEETINGS

Date Fri 28 Nov 08 Fri 24 Apr 09 Venue Parc y Scarlets Musgrave Park M S Munster scorers Scarlets scorers 18 16 Ian Dowling(T) Ronan O'Gara(C/2P) Penalty Try(T) Rhys Priestland(C/3P) Denis Leamy(T) 29 10 Ian Dowling(T) Keith Earls(T) David Rhys Priestland(P) Martin Roberts(T) Wallace(T) Ronan O'Gara(3C/P) Stephen Jones(C) Denis Leamy(T) 22 20 Denis Hurley(2T) Jeremy Manning(2C/P) Toby Morland(T) 23 17 Paul Warwick(2C/3P) James Coughlan(T) Jean de Villiers(T) 27 26 Paul Warwick(T/3C/2P) Barry Murphy(T) Sam Tuitupou(T) Mark Jones(T) Deacon Manu(T) Rhys Priestland(2C/P) Dan Evans(P) Rhys Priestland(T/4P) Johnathan Edwards(2T) Rhys Priestland(2C/4P)

Sat 19 Sep 09 Thu 18 Mar 10 Sun 21 Nov 10 Sat 16 Apr 11

Parc y Scarlets Musgrave Park Musgrave Park Parc y Scarlets

13 6 Paul Warwick(C/2P) Simon Zebo(T) Rhys Priestland(2P)

Munsters record sequence of wins in their last dozen matches in the tournament continued with their 23-12 victory at Glasgow last Friday in the RaboDirect PRO12. The Munstermen have won their last 12 games at Musgrave Park since a Glasgow succcess there on 10 May 2008. Scarlets tripped up 11-13 at Connacht on Friday to end a three game winning run in the competition. Scarlets have not won a match in Ireland since a visit to Connacht on 9 January 2009. Munster have won their last eleven encounters with Scarlets since the Welshmen knocked them out of the European Cup at the quarter-final stage at the old Stradey Park in March 2007.

NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS v AIRONI RUGBY

At Rodney Parade, 6.30pm. Referee: Leo Colgan (IRFU, 3rd competition game) Assistant Referees: Phil Fear, Phil Connett (both WRU) Citing Commissioner: Gwyn Bowden (WRU) TMO: Tony Rowlands (WRU) Live on

HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT TOURNAMENT MEETINGS

Date Sat 23 Oct 10 Sun 20 Feb 11 Venue Rodney Parade Stadio Zaffanella N A Newport Gwent Dragons scorers Aironi Rugby scorers 36 5 Adam Hughes(2T) Jason Tovey(2C/5P) Aled Giovanbattista Venditti(T) Brew(T) Matthew Jones(C) 18 3 Jason Tovey(C/2P) Aled Brew(T) Tom Tito Tebaldi(P) Riley(T)

Newport Gwent Dragons are without a point after the first two rounds of RaboDirect PRO12 play, but both of those matches have been away from home. The Dragons have won three of their last four games at Rodney Parade. The Men from Gwent won three of their four encounters with Italian sides last season. Aironi Rugby have picked up losing bonus points in two of their last three matches, and tallied just three league points on their travels during the whole of last season. Dragons won both previous encounters with Aironi, whilst the most recent Italian team to won at Rodney Parade were Treviso in the European Cup in December 2007.

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RaboDirect PRO12 PREVIEW 2011/12

Round 3: 16 & 17 September 2011

HOW THEY STAND

RaboDirect PRO12
Pos 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Team Cardiff Blues (1) Ospreys (2) Ulster (4) Munster (5) Connacht (6) Scarlets (3) Leinster (12) Benetton Treviso (7) Aironi Rugby (11) Edinburgh Rugby (10) Glasgow Warriors (9) Newport Gwent Dragons (8) TOTALS P 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 12 Record W D 2 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 0 L 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 12 TB 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 Points LB Tot 0 10 0 8 0 8 0 8 0 8 1 5 0 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 4 54 T 8 5 6 4 2 3 3 0 1 1 1 1 35 C 5 5 4 4 1 2 2 0 1 1 0 1 26 Attack PG DG 7 0 5 1 5 0 5 0 4 0 8 0 5 0 7 2 7 0 9 0 7 0 5 0 74 3 For 71 53 53 43 24 43 34 27 28 34 26 22 458 T 0 1 2 0 1 1 4 5 5 6 5 5 35 C 0 1 1 0 0 1 4 2 4 5 4 4 26 Defence PG DG Agst 9 2 33 5 0 22 7 0 33 8 0 24 5 0 20 5 0 22 2 1 37 5 0 44 8 0 57 8 0 64 6 0 51 6 0 51 74 3 458 TB 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 2 LB 0 1 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 PD 38 31 20 19 4 21 -3 -17 -29 -30 -25 -29

2011/12 ABBREVIATED RULES

The RaboDirect PRO12 shall consist of a league stage followed by a play-off stage. In the league stage, four league points shall be awarded for a win and two league points shall be awarded for a draw. One bonus league point shall be awarded to a Team scoring four or more tries and one bonus league point shall be awarded to a Team losing by seven points or less. The top four Teams in the league at the end of the season shall qualify for the play- offs which shall consist of the RaboDirect PRO12 Semi Finals and the RaboDirect PRO12 Final. If two or more Teams finish with the same number of league points, their placings will be determined by the following criteria in descending order: number of matches won; the difference between points for and points against; the number of tries scored; the most points scored; the difference between tries for and tries against; the fewest number of red cards received; the fewest number of yellow cards received. In the RaboDirect PRO12 Semi-Finals, the Team placed first in the league shall play the Team placed fourth and the Team placed second shall play the Team placed third. The RaboDirect PRO12 Semi-Finals shall be held at the home grounds of the first and second placed Teams respectively. The winners shall meet in the RaboDirect PRO12 Final. The RaboDirect PRO12 Final is provisionally scheduled to take place on Saturday 26th May 2012. RaboDirect PRO12 will determine the venue for the RaboDirect PRO12 Final however the Team that finished highest in the league stage competing in the Final will be able to propose a venue within its own Unions jurisdiction (which may include the team's own ground) to host the RaboDirect PRO12 Final, provided that the venue meets certain commercial criteria and has capacity for a minimum of 18,000 spectators. The winner of the RaboDirect PRO12 for 2011/12 will therefore be the Team that wins the RaboDirect PRO12 Final.

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RaboDirect PRO12 PREVIEW 2011/12

Round 3: 16 & 17 September 2011

ROUND 2 MICROCOSM
LEINSTER Isa Nacewa(2C/4P) Brendan Macken(45) Ian Madigan(48) Fionn Carr(77) GLASGOW WARRIORS Duncan Weir(4P) Att: 2,914 FRIDAY 9 SEPTEMBER (6)31 NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS Jason Tovey(57/C/P) Att: 14,362 (3)10

(6)12

CONNACHT Matthew Jarvis(C/P) Mark McCrea(54) Niall O'Connor(P) (b) AIRONI RUGBY Nick Williams(31) Naas Olivier(C/4P) Att: 3,000 OSPREYS Dan Biggar(2C/4P) Rhys Webb(11) Justin Tipuric(80+2)

(B) CARDIFF BLUES (18)18 Gareth Davies(C/3P) Ceri Sweeney(C) Alex Cuthbert(6) Tom James(19) Martyn Williams(44) Dafydd Hewitt(78) Key: winning team shown in green, losing team in red, a draw marked in amber Note: (B) denotes a try bonus point and (b) a losing bonus point

MUNSTER Ian Keatley(2C/3P) Niall Ronan(39) Simon Zebo(44) SATURDAY 10 SEPTEMBER (3)13 SCARLETS Aaron Shingler(47) Dan Newton(2P) Att: 3,408 (13)19 ULSTER Ian Humphreys(2C/2P) Ian Whitten(17) Dan Tuohy(23) Craig Gilroy(55) (13)26 EDINBURGH RUGBY Greig Laidlaw(C/4P) Tim Visser(7) Att: 5,179 SUNDAY 11 SEPTEMBER (21)33 BENETTON TREVISO Kris Burton(2D/4P) Att: 4,847

(16)23

(6)11

(b)

(15)25

(13)19

(b)

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Round 3: 16 & 17 September 2011

SPECSAVERS FAIRPLAY LEAGUE

The Specsavers Fairplay League will reward the best disciplinary record, with the club with the fewest disciplinary points (1 point for each yellow card, and 3 points for each red card or upheld citing) at the end of the 22 week regular season given 10,000 to spend on their youth development programme.

FAIRPLAY LEAGUE
YC 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 8 8 8 8 Edinburgh Rugby Leinster Connacht Glasgow Warriors Scarlets Ulster Aironi Rugby Benetton Treviso Cardiff Blues Ospreys Newport Gwent Dragons TOTALS 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 5 18 RC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 PC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Pts 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 5 18

12 Munster

YELLOW CARDS (18)

Aironi (1) Blues (2) Connacht (1) Dragons (2) Edinburgh (0) Leinster (0) Munster (5) Ospreys (2) Scarlets (1) Treviso (2) Ulster (1) Warriors (1) Tito Tebaldi Deiniol Jones, Nathan Trevett Michael Swift Ben Castle, Tom Willis Billy Holland, Lifeimi Mafi, Peter OMahony, Niall Ronan, Damien Varley Ian Evans, Justin Tipuric Rob McCusker Gonzalo, Padro, Manoa Vosawai Jerry Cronin Chris Fusaro

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Round 3: 16 & 17 September 2011

TOP RaboDirect PRO12 ACCUMULATORS

Name Greig Laidlaw Dan Biggar Dan Newton Ian Humphreys Ian Keatley Naas Olivier Duncan Weir Ceri Sweeney Jason Tovey Kris Burton Isa Nacewa Gareth Davies Matthew Jarvis TOP RaboDirect PRO12 POINTS SCORERS Team Apps Mins Try Conv Edinburgh Rugby 2 160 0 1 Ospreys 2 152 0 5 Scarlets 2 159 0 2 Ulster 2 158 0 4 Munster 2 154 0 4 Aironi Rugby 2 160 0 1 Glasgow Warriors 2 154 0 0 Cardiff Blues 1+1 111 0 4 Newport Gwent Dragons 2 160 1 1 Benetton Treviso 2 160 0 0 Leinster 2 160 0 2 Cardiff Blues 1 54 0 1 Connacht 2 121 0 1 Best in a PRO12 Season: 287pts by Felipe Contepomi (Leinster) in 2005/06 PG DG 9 0 5 1 7 0 5 0 5 0 7 0 7 0 4 0 4 0 4 2 4 0 3 0 3 0 Points 29 28 25 23 23 23 21 20 19 18 16 11 11

TOP RaboDirect PRO12 TRY SCORERS

Name Sam Hobbs Tom James Justin Tipuric Rhys Webb TOP RaboDirect PRO12 TRY SCORERS Team Apps Mins Tries Home Away 1st H Cardiff Blues 2 131 2 0 2 1 Cardiff Blues 2 160 2 1 1 1 Ospreys 2 150 2 2 0 1 Ospreys 2 160 2 2 0 2 Best in a PRO12 Season: 14 by Tim Visser (Edinburgh) 2010/11 2nd H 1 1 1 0

TOP RaboDirect PRO12 MARKSMEN

Name Dan Newton Ceri Sweeney Dan Biggar Greig Laidlaw Jason Tovey Duncan Weir Ian Keatley Isa Nacewa Naas Olivier Ian Humphreys Gareth Davies Matthew Jarvis Team Scarlets Cardiff Blues Ospreys Edinburgh Rugby Newport Gwent Dragons Glasgow Warriors Munster Leinster Aironi Rugby Ulster Cardiff Blues Connacht BEST RaboDirect PRO12 KICKERS Good Att Kick% Last 10 kicks 9 10 90.00% 3332332/33c 8 9 88.89% 3c332322/2 10 12 83.33% 22/233p33p2 10 12 83.33% 3p33/23p333 5 7 9 6 8 9 4 4 Conv PG 2/3 7/7 4/5 4/4 5/5 5/7 1/1 9/11 Streak Missed last 1 Last 7 Last 1 Last 3

6 83.33% 333p/32 1/1 4/5 Last 2 9 77.78% c333/33p33 0/1 7/8 Last 2 12 75.00% 22p3/33p322 4/4 5/8 Last 3 8 75.00% 3p3c2332 2/3 4/5 Last 4 11 72.73% 3pp3/p32333 1/1 7/10 Last 5 14 64.29% 3p2/pc232p3 4/6 5/8 Last 1 7 57.14% pc3323c 1/3 3/4 Missed last 1 10 40.00% 3ppc3p/p3p2 1/2 3/8 Last 1 Qual: 5 place kicks at goal Under Streak, "Last 4" means has kicked last four place kicks in a row successfully. Under "Last 10 kicks" 3 denotes a penalty goal, 2 a conversion, p is a missed penalty and c a missed conversion, whilst separate matches are divided with forward slashes. Page 8 of 10

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Round 3: 16 & 17 September 2011

RaboDirect PRO12 RECORD CENTRE

INDIVIDUAL GAME RECORDS
Most points Most tries All-Time 32 - Stephen Jones (Llanelli RFC @ Swansea, 4 Oct 02) 4 - Mike Mullins (Munster @ Caerphilly, 11 Sep 01) 4 - Lee Abdul (Blues v Ospreys, 25 Oct 03) 4 Jamie Robinson (Blues v Borders, 27 Feb 04) 9 - Brendan Laney (Edinburgh @ Caerphilly, 21 Sep 02) Best in 2011/12 19 Dan Newton (Scarlets v Aironi, 4 Sep) 2 Sam Hobbs (Blues @ Edinburgh, 2 Sep)

Most conversions

Most penalty goals

Most drop goals Fastest try Quickest bonus point try

8 - David Humphries (Ulster v Neath RFC, 30 Nov 01) 8 Calvin Howarth (Warriors v Reivers, 5 Nov 04) 8 David Holwell (Leinster v Scarlets, 25 Mar 05) 4 Dan Parks (Glasgow v Ulster, 16 Apr 10) 18 secs Nathan Brew (Dragons @ Blues, 27 Dec 05) 17 mins 43 secs Tommy Bowe (Ulster v Reivers, 12 May 06)

3 Ceri Sweeney (Blues @ Edinburgh, 2 Sep) 3 Dan Biggar (Ospreys v Leinster, 2 Sep) 5 Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh v Blues, 2 Sep) 5 Dan Newton (Scarlets v Aironi, 4 Sep)

2 Kris Burton (Treviso @ Blues, 11 Sep) 94 secs Rhys Webb (Ospreys v Leinster, 2 Sep) 73 mins Tom James (Blues @ Edinburgh, 2 Sep)

TEAM RECORDS
All-Time Best in 2011/12 63-17 Ulster v Reivers 33-18 Blues v Treviso (Ravenhill, 12 May 06) (City Stadium, 11 Sep) 67-15 Ulster @ Caerphilly 38-15 Blues @ Edinburgh (Virginia Park, 5 Oct 02) (Murrayfield, 2 Sep) 98pts - Caerphilly 32, Edinburgh 66 53pts Edinburgh 15, Blues 38 (Virginia Park, 21 Sep 02) (Murrayfield, 2 Sep) 62pts - Connacht 62, Caerphilly 0 24pts Ospreys 27, Leinster 3 (Galway, 16 Sep 01) (Liberty Stadium, 2 Sep) 52pts - Ulster 67 @ Caerphilly 15 23pts Edinburgh 15, Blues 38 Biggest away win (Virginia Park, 5 Oct 02) (Murrayfield, 2 Sep) 50,645 Leinster v Munster 14,362 Leinster v Dragons Best attendance (Aviva Stadium, 2 Oct 10) (RDS, 9 Sep) (regular season) Note: 2011/12 Season bests set or equalled this past round shown in italics. Most points in a home game Most points in an away game Highest aggregate of points in game Biggest home win

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Round 3: 16 & 17 September 2011

APPROACHING CAREER MILESTONES

POINTS SCORING
1,000 points: 500 points: Record: Chris Paterson (800), Ronan OGara (790) Rhys Priestand (446) 1,263 points Dan Parks (Glasgow Warriors & Cardiff Blues)

TRY SCORING
50 tries: 25 tries: Record: Tommy Bowe (44) Gordon DArcy (23), Fionn Carr (23), Barry Davies (22), Andrew Trimble (22), Chris Paterson (22), Richard Fussell (22) 44 tries Tommy Bowe (Ulster & Ospreys)

MATCHES PLAYED
100 games: 50 games: Record: Robert Sidoli (99), Gareth Williams (98), John Yapp (97), Jonathan Thomas (97), Luke Charteris (96) Matthew Jones (49), Ross Rennie (49), Robbie Diack (49), Sean Cronin (48), Morgan Stoddart (48) 135 games Deiniol Jones (Bridgend, Celtic Warriors & Cardiff Blues)

CAREER TOP TENS

MOST POINTS MOST GAMES MOST MINS PLAYED MOST TRIES

Dan Parks Felipe Contepomi Chris Paterson Ronan OGara David Humphreys Stephen Jones Paul Warwick Gavin Henson Ceri Sweeney Nick Robinson

1263 877 800 790 786 693 664 645 615 585

Deiniol Jones Michael Swift Andy Kelly Adam Jones Alastair Kellock Allan Jacobsen Paul Warwick Ceri Sweeney Iestyn Thomas

135 129 124 124 122 122 121 120 120

Gareth Wyatt Alastair Kellock Nikki Walker Andrew Farley Graeme Morrison Tommy Bowe Deiniol Jones Scott Macleod Dan Parks Allan Jacobsen

8587 8536 8441 8414 8405 8379 8323 8308 8286 8140

Tommy Bowe Shane Horgan Nikki Walker Shane Williams Simon Danielli Matthew Watkins Simon Webster Denis Hickie Aled Brew

44 39 36 31 30 30 29 28 27

Active players in RaboDirect PRO12 marked in orange

Compiled for RaboDirect PRO12 by SFMS Ltd Tel: 0044 1455 442849 Fax: 0044 1455 442559 e-mail: stats@sfmsltd.co.uk Page 10 of 10