Thursday's Pro14 match betting preview: free rugby union tips & predictions

Free rugby union tips, best bets and analysis for Cardiff Blues v Dragons and Scarlets v Ospreys in the Pro14.

Where to watch

Premier Sports 2, 3pm & 5.15pm Thursday

Best bets

Dragons +15
1pt 10-11 bet365, Betway
Scarlets to win by one to 12 points
1pt 7-4 Coral, Ladbrokes

Pro14 preview

Cardiff city centre will be buzzing on Thursday lunchtime as the Blues take on their rivals the Dragons to the Arms Park and Cardiff's footballers host Millwall across town at 3pm.

Blues fans should go home happy after John Mulvihill's men made it three wins on the spin in the Pro14 with a hard-earned success at the Ospreys last Saturday. But the best bet on the match could be backing the Dragons to stay within 15 points.

Dean Ryan's side stunned the Scarlets 22-20 at Rodney Parade on Saturday and they have registered a few other decent results in among some disappointing drubbings this league campaign. Glasgow were beaten 18-5 at Rodney Parade, Zebre were tonked 52-28 in Parma and Edinburgh could only stretch out to a 20-7 triumph at Murrayfield.

The Dragons also top their European Challenge Cup pool after picking up a losing bonus at Worcester in addition to home wins over the Warriors and Castres and the expected five points at Enisei.

The Blues, who won last season's meetings 23-15 on the road and 19-16 at the Arms Park, are boosted by the return to the fray of top-notch Wales back-rower Josh Navidi after injury. However, Ryan has moved to counter the likely impetus at the breakdown and in the loose by including all three of Navidi's international colleagues Cory Hill, Aaron Wainwright and Ross Moriarty in his starting pack.

Another tight derby tussle looks on the cards at Parc y Scarlets with the visiting Ospreys looking on the verge of exiting the doldrums.

Their 19-14 loss to the Blues followed two decent efforts in European Champions Cup defeat to Racing 92.

However, take the Scarlets to prevail by a margin of one to 12 points. They have claimed narrow home league wins this season over Connacht, Cheetahs and Benetton, as well as enjoying a stroll in front of their fans against Zebre, and their injuries are still far less exacting than the Ospreys’.

Last season, Scarlets sneaked the home clash 20-17 while Ospreys won 19-12 in Swansea.

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