Elsewhere Cardiff Blues, after their resounding victory in the Anglo-Welsh EDF Cup final at Twickenham last Saturday, travel to Ravenhill where Blues will be hoping to keep up the momentum that has seen them win seven out of their last eight encounters in all competitions.
Current champions Leinster entertain Glasgow Warriors at the RDS on Saturday, a ground where no team from Scotland has ever won, whilst the round finishes off with a game between Newport Gwent Dragons and Connacht at Rodney Parade on Sunday, the hosts looking for points to stake their claim for European qualification next season.
ROUND 16 FIXTURES
Friday 24 April
ULSTER v CARDIFF BLUES
At Ravenhill, 7.30pm
Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU, 53 rd League game).
Assistant Referees: J Lacey (IRFU), B Macneice (IRFU).
|
HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT Magners League MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
U |
C |
Ulster scorers |
Cardiff Blues scorers |
|
Fri 5 May 06 |
Ravenhill |
26 |
17 |
Penalty Try(T) Roger Wilson(T) David Humphreys(2C/4P) |
Jamie Robinson(T) Nick Macleod(4P) |
|
Sat 14 Oct 06 |
Ravenhill |
32 |
12 |
David Humphreys(2C/P) Paddy Wallace(T) Neil Best(T) Andrew Trimble(2T) Bryn Cunningham(T) |
Chris Czekaj(T) Wayne Evans(T) Nick Macleod(C) |
|
Fri 20 Apr 07 |
Arms Park |
17 |
20 |
Paul Steinmetz(2C/P) Andrew Trimble(T) Roger Wilson(T) |
Ben Blair(C/P) Chris Czekaj(T) Tom Shanklin(T) Nick Macleod(C/D) |
|
Sat 19 Apr 08 |
Arms Park |
17 |
30 |
Tommy Bowe(T) Ryan Caldwell(T) Niall O'Connor(2C/P) |
Ben Blair(3C/2P) Dai Flanagan(P) Jamie Roberts(T) Gareth Thomas(T) Martyn Williams(T) |
|
Fri 9 May 08 |
Ravenhill |
17 |
26 |
Tommy Bowe(T) Paddy Wallace(T/C) Simon Danielli(T) |
Roger Davies(T) James Down(T) Ma'ama Molitika(2T) Leigh Halfpenny(3C) |
|
Fri 12 Sep 08 |
Arms Park |
15 |
16 |
BJ Botha(T) Isaac Boss(T) Niall O'Connor(C/P) |
Ben Blair(C/3P) Leigh Halfpenny(T) |
Ulster gained the narrowest of victories, 20-19, at Glasgow on Friday evening, but have tripped up at Ravenhill in the Magners League in two of their last three matches. The Ulstermen have lost their last nine games against Welsh opponents in the Magners League since a 20-8 victory over Scarlets at Ravenhill on 28 March 2008.
Cardiff Blues ensured that the Anglo-Welsh Cup remained in Celtic hands with their comprehensive 50-12 demolition of Gloucester at Twickenham on Saturday. The Blues' only defeat in their last eight encounters in all competitions was 3-16 at Edinburgh in the Magners League on 3 April.
Ulster have lost their last four matches against the Blues.
MUNSTER v SCARLETS
At Musgrave Park, 7.35pm Live on BBC Sport Wales and Setanta Sport
Referee: Neil Paterson (SRU, 12 th League game).
Assistant Referees: D Keane (IRFU), M Black (IRFU).
TMO: Brian Fitzgerald (IRFU).
|
HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT Magners League MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
M |
S |
Munster scorers |
Scarlets scorers |
|
Tue 9 May 06 |
Stradey Park |
6 |
18 |
Jeremy Manning(2P) |
Alix Popham(2T) Craig Evans(C/2P) |
|
Sun 5 Nov 06 |
Stradey Park |
12 |
25 |
Jeremy Manning(D/3P) |
Darren Daniel(T) Barry Davies(T) Deacon Manu(T) Ceiron Thomas(C/P) Dafydd James(T) |
|
Sat 14 Apr 07 |
Musgrave Park |
20 |
0 |
Anthony Foley(T) Marcus Horan(T) Ronan O'Gara(C/P) Barry Murphy(T) |
|
|
Sat 22 Sep 07 |
Musgrave Park |
26 |
16 |
Paul Warwick(T/2C/4P) Anthony Horgan(T) |
Matthew Watkins(T) Rhys Priestland(C/3P) |
|
Sat 3 May 08 |
Stradey Park |
24 |
23 |
Paul Warwick(T/2P) Ian Dowling(2T) Ronan O'Gara(P) |
Matthew Watkins(T) Dafydd James(T) Stephen Jones(2C/3P) |
|
Fri 28 Nov 08 |
Parc y Scarlets |
18 |
16 |
Ian Dowling(T) Ronan O'Gara(C/2P) Denis Leamy(T) |
Penalty Try(T) Rhys Priestland(C/3P) |
Munster have won their last nine games in all competitions since an 11-37 reversal at home to Ulster in the Magners League on 3 January. The Munstermen's only defeat to a Welsh side in their last dozen encounters was 22-25 to the Blues at the Arms Park in the Magners League on 1 March 2008.
Scarlets have won just one of their last four matches: 13-6 at home to Edinburgh on 8 March, whilst the Welshmen's only Magners League away win since September was 17-14 at Connacht on 9 January.
Munster have won their last six games against Scarlets in all competitions, and the Welshmen have not won on Munster soil since a 19-12 victory at Thomond Park on 12 September 2003.
Saturday 25 April
OSPREYS v EDINBURGH
At Liberty Stadium, 7.30pm Live on S4C and Setanta Sports
Referee: Alain Rolland (IRFU, 39 th League game).
Assistant Referees: Huw David (WRU), Simon Harris (WRU).
TMO: Tony Rowlands (WRU).
|
HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT Magners League MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
O |
E |
Ospreys scorers |
Edinburgh scorers |
|
Sun 26 Mar 06 |
Liberty Stadium |
24 |
17 |
Huw Bennett(T) Shaun Connor(T) Gavin Henson(C/4P) |
Simon Webster(T) Peter Jorgensen(T) Phil Godman(P) Duncan Hodge(2C) |
|
Sat 2 Sep 06 |
Liberty Stadium |
17 |
11 |
Lee Byrne(T) James Hook(4P) |
Simon Webster(T) Chris Paterson(2P) |
|
Fri 2 Mar 07 |
Murrayfield |
30 |
12 |
Huw Bennett(T) Jason Spice(C) Steve Tandy(T) Justin Marshall(T) Jonny Vaughton(T) Stefan Terblanche(T/P) |
Ben Cairns(T) Matt Mustchin(T) Duncan Hodge(C) |
|
Fri 5 Oct 07 |
Murrayfield |
13 |
13 |
Jonny Vaughton(T) Shaun Connor(P) Gareth Owen(C/P) |
Augusto Allori(T) Phil Godman(C/2P) |
|
Fri 2 May 08 |
Liberty Stadium |
18 |
19 |
James Hook(6P) |
Nick de Luca(T) Alan MacDonald(T) Calum MacRae(2C) Allister Hogg(T) |
|
Fri 28 Nov 08 |
Murrayfield |
16 |
32 |
Matthew Jarvis(C/3P) Nikki Walker(T) |
Geoff Cross(T) Nick de Luca(T) Phil Godman(D) Chris Paterson(2C/5P) |
Ospreys have won three of their last four matches in the Magners League.
Edinburgh have won their last three games in the Magners League since their 6-13 reversal to the Scarlets on 8 March. Edinburgh won on their most recent visit to Liberty Stadium: 19-18 on 2 May 2008.
Ospreys have not beaten Edinburgh since a 30-12 scoreline at Murrayfield on 2 March 2007.
LEINSTER v GLASGOW WARRIORS
At RDS, 7.35pm. Live on Setanta Sports
Referee: James Jones (WRU, 26 th League game).
Assistant Referees: C Stanley (IRFU), L Colgan (IRFU).
TMO: John Carvill (IRFU).
|
HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT Magners League MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
L |
G |
Leinster scorers |
Glasgow Warriors scorers |
|
Sun 7 May 06 |
Firhill Arena |
21 |
18 |
Keith Gleeson(T) Rob Kearney(T) Felipe Contepomi(C/3P) |
Andrew Henderson(T) Stuart Corsar(T) Dan Parks(C/2P) |
|
Fri 10 Nov 06 |
Donnybrook |
38 |
23 |
Chris Whitaker(T) Brian Blaney(T) Jamie Heaslip(T) Denis Hickie(T) Andy Dunne(C) Rob Kearney(C/3P) Keith Gleeson(T) |
Kevin Tkachuk(T) Thom Evans(T) Dan Parks(C/2P) Jon Petrie(T) |
|
Fri 6 Apr 07 |
Hughenden |
20 |
26 |
Felipe Contepomi(2C/2P) Gordon D'Arcy(2T) |
Thom Evans(T) Dan Parks(C/3P) Rory Lamont(T) Hefin O'Hare(T) |
|
Fri 12 Oct 07 |
Firhill Arena |
17 |
21 |
Cian Healy(T) Johnny Sexton(D/3P) |
Colin Gregor(D/P) Bernardo Stortoni(T) Hefin O'Hare(T) Moray Low(T) |
|
Fri 21 Mar 08 |
Royal Dublin Society |
34 |
18 |
Michael Berne(T) Felipe Contepomi(3C/P) Jamie Heaslip(T) Shane Horgan(2T) Shane Jennings(T) |
Johnnie Beattie(T) Colin Gregor(C/2P) Moray Low(T) |
|
Fri 24 Oct 08 |
Firhill Arena |
12 |
15 |
Felipe Contepomi(4P) |
Dan Parks(5P) |
Leinster have lost back to back matches in the Magners League - at Munster and at Edinburgh. The Irishmen have lost just one of their last 20 games at the RDS: 0-18 to Munster in the Magners League on 28 Serptember.
Glasgow Warriors have won just one of their last five matches in the Magners League: 38-21 at Scarlets on 4 April. The Warriors have lost on all three previous visits to Ireland this season.
No Scottish side has ever won at the RDS, whilst the last victory by a team from Scotland on Leinster soil in the Magners League was 27-13 by Edinburgh at Donnybrook on 6 November 2005.
Sunday 26 April
NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS v CONNACHT
At Rodney Parade, 5.05pm. Live on Setanta Sports & S4C
Referee: Graham Knox (SRU, 3 rd League game).
Assistant Referees: Phil Fear (WRU), David Jones (WRU).
TMO: Hugh Watkins (WRU)
|
HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT Magners League MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
N |
C |
Newport Gwent Dragons scorers |
Connacht scorers |
|
Sat 15 Apr 06 |
Sportsground |
10 |
15 |
Luke Charteris(T) Craig Warlow(C/P) |
Mark McHugh(5P) |
|
Fri 13 Oct 06 |
Sportsground |
9 |
16 |
Ceri Sweeney(3P) |
Ray Ofisa Treviranus(T) Mark McHugh(C/D/2P) |
|
Fri 4 May 07 |
Rodney Parade |
23 |
0 |
Richard Fussell(T) Gareth Maule(T) Aled Thomas(C/2P) Colin Charvis(T) |
|
|
Fri 21 Sep 07 |
Sportsground |
7 |
22 |
Gareth McCarthy(C) Martyn Thomas(T) |
Tim Donnelly(C/D/4P) Robbie Morris(T) |
|
Fri 18 Apr 08 |
Rodney Parade |
11 |
13 |
Michael Owen(T) Ceri Sweeney(2P) |
Andy Dunne(C) Jonny O'Connor(T) Troy Nathan(2P) |
|
Fri 3 Apr 09 |
Sportsground |
17 |
39 |
Jason Tovey(C/P) Richard Fussell(T) Danny Lydiate(T) Shaun Connor(C) |
Liam Bibo(T) Fionn Carr(2T) Ian Keatley(4C/D/P) Ray Ofisa Treviranus(T) Niva Ta'auso(T) |
Newport Gwent Dragons have won just one of their last five matches in all competitions: 26-16 at home to Ulster on 22 February. Dragons lost the last time they hosted an Irish team at Rodney Parade: 9-20 to Munster on 7 March.
Connacht's only win in their last six matches in all competitions was 39-17 over today's opponents Dragons three weeks ago. Connacht have managed just one away victory in the Magners League since the opening game of the 2006/07 season was 13-11 in this equivalent fixture last season.
Connacht have won five of the last six meetings between the two sides.
63x46.png){kind=logo}