Did you know?
Ulster Rugby’s 35-23 victory over The Blues in Cardiff in round 10 of the Guinness PRO12 ended a three game losing run in the Championship.
The Ulstermen’s only defeat in their last nine fixtures in Belfast was by a single point to Munster in the PRO12 on 28 October.
Connacht have suffered just one reversal in their last four fixtures: 17-32 to Wasps in Coventry in round 3 of the European Champions Cup.
Connacht have not won away from home in the PRO12 since a visit to Edinburgh on 4 March.
Connacht beat Ulster 30-25 in Galway in round 6 and have not recorded back-to-back victories over the Ulstermen since 1997-98, whilst they have not been victorious in Belfast since November 1960.
Overall Guinness PRO12 head to head record:
Played 27, Ulster won 22, Connacht won 4 with 1 game drawn.
ULSTER RUGBY v CONNACHT RUGBY
At Kingspan Stadium, 7:35pm.
Live on BBC Sport NI / Sky Sports
Referee: George Clancy (IRFU, 85th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Dudley Phillips, Nigell Correll (both IRFU)
Citing Commissioner: Gordon Black (IRFU)
TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)
HEAD TO HEAD – RECENT GUINNESS PRO12 MEETINGS | |||||
Date | Venue | U | C | Ulster scorers | Connacht scorers |
Fri 11 Apr 14 | Kingspan Stadium | 58 | 12 | Craig Gilroy(T) Paddy Jackson(5C/2P) Luke Marshall(T) James McKinney(C) Tommy Bowe(T) Paul Marshall(2T) Andrew Trimble(3T) | Dave McSharry(T) Darragh Leader(T) Miah Nikora(C) |
Fri 26 Dec 14 | Kingspan Stadium | 13 | 10 | Craig Gilroy(T) Paddy Jackson(C/2P) | Jack Carty(C/P) Aly Muldowney(T) |
Sat 11 Apr 15 | Sportsground | 27 | 20 | Craig Gilroy(T) Rory Best(T) Tommy Bowe(2T) Ruan Pienaar(C) Louis Ludik(T) | Matt Healy(T) Tiernan O’Halloran(T) Jack Carty(C/P) Miah Nikora(C/P) |
Sat 26 Dec 15 | Sportsground | 10 | 3 | Paddy Jackson(C/P) Nick Williams(T) | Aj MacGinty(P) |
Fri 1 Apr 16 | Kingspan Stadium | 18 | 10 | Craig Gilroy(T) Paddy Jackson(C/2P) Rory Best(T) | Caolin Blade(T) Shane O’Leary(C/P) |
Fri 7 Oct 16 | Sportsground | 25 | 30 | Craig Gilroy(T) Paddy Jackson(2C/2P) Rory Best(T) Jared Payne(T) | Jack Carty(T/2C/2P) James Connolly(T) Cian Kelleher(2T) |
COMPARISON | Ulster | Connacht |
Last 3 PRO12 results: | 4 Nov – Edinburgh (A) L 17-28 | 4 Nov – Dragons (A) L 16-21 |
25 Nov – Zebre (H) 0-0 | 25 Nov – Cardiff Blues (H) W 18-7 | |
3 Dec – Cardiff Blues (A) W 35-22 | 3 Dec – Treviso (H) W 47-8 | |
PRO12 2016/17 | 5th – W6 D0 L3 – 28pts | 8th – W4 D0 L5 – 20pts |
Last 6 PRO12 form | wWlLlw (15pts) | WWllWW (20pts) |
Top try scorer | 3 – Rob Lyttle | 4 – Niyi Adeolokun |
Top points scorer | 44 – Paddy Jackson | 52 – Jack Carty |