Ospreys can prevent Connacht cruising to Brewery Field win

Pro14 matches
Premier Sports and FreeSports from 6pm Friday
Premiership Cup
7.45pm Friday

Ospreys' Wales players are in camp for next month's internationals but the Pro14 Conference A third-placed outfit should still put up a fight when they host Connacht at Bridgend.

The Brewery Field always has a great atmosphere whenever the Ospreys are in town and they are not shorn of all their stars so the value bet looks to be a narrow win for the Galway gang.

Connacht are at decent strength and enjoyed a rare away victory at Ulster before the break for European action, but their Belfast success was helped by two disallowed home tries and the dismissal of Ulster flanker Matthew Rea.

Ulster are worth backing to give up 16 points to the Dragons at the Kingspan Stadium.

Ulster showed their true home form when powering away to a 24-10 Champions Cup triumph over Leicester a fortnight ago and were excellent for the first half of last week's loss at Racing 92.

The Dragons were extremely disappointing in a home defeat to Northampton in the Challenge Cup last Saturday and were clear second-best on their last two Pro14 away days at Glasgow and Leinster.

Scarlets and Edinburgh should enjoy road successes at the Kings and Zebre but will not be thinking about claiming them with style.

Worcester are worth a wager to win the new Premiership Cup competition.

The tournament replaces the Anglo-Welsh Cup, as the Welsh franchises have withdrawn, and remains aimed at providing Premiership youngsters with opportunities at first-team level in international weeks.

Traditional powerhouses Exeter, Saracens, Harlequins, Gloucester and Northampton have injury battles to contend with and the Warriors have named a strong squad for Friday's opening encounter with Sale.

Worcester have also begun the Premiership Shield North Conference, which has replaced the old A team leagues, with three wins out of four including a triumph over Sale and future pool opponents Leicester and Wasps.

Recommendations
Connacht to win by one to 12 points
1pt 2-1 Betfair, Sky Bet
Ulster -16
1pt 5-6 Betway
Worcester to win the Premiership Cup
1pt each-way 16-1 bet365

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