However should The Blues slip up, Llanelli Scarlets, three points behind in second place in the table, could go top if they win when they also travel to Scotland to play Edinburgh in the round's final game on Sunday afternoon. The Scarlets have never beaten Edinburgh north of the border but with Andy Robinson's men acheiving only one win in their last 12 outings, the Scarlets will be keen to keep the pressure on the Blues.
Third placed Leinster are in action on Friday night at Ospreys. Leinster have won just once in their last seven away games - and a home win on Friday could see Ospreys leapfrog the Irish Province in the table.
Also on Friday night Ulster, in their first Magners League game since the departure of Mark McCall, travel to Connacht. The former champions are at the foot of the table, with Connacht only a point above. Connacht have not beaten Ulster for almost two years and a return to winning ways for the Belfast side would leave the men from the West of Ireland at the bottom of the league.
The remaining game of the weekend, on Saturday, sees Munster face the Newport Gwent Dragons in Cork. The Dragons have lost on their last 13 trips to Ireland, although Munster have also lost their last two games against Welsh opponents, including their last home defeat - to Cardiff Blues in early October.
Friday 23 November
CONNACHT v ULSTER
At Sportsground, 7.30pm. Live on Setanta Sports
Referee: Alain Rolland (IRFU). Touch Judges: Peter Fitzgibbon (IRFU), P Roche (IRFU).
TMO: David McHugh (IRFU)
|
HEAD TO HEAD - PREVIOUS LEAGUE MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
C |
U |
Connacht scorers |
Ulster scorers |
|
Sat 8 Nov 03 |
Sportsground |
31 |
20 |
Matt Mostyn(T) Mark McHugh(C/6P) Eric Elwood(2P) |
Ryan Constable(2T) Adam Larkin(2C/2P) |
|
Fri 16 Apr 04 |
Ravenhill |
27 |
42 |
Conor McPhillips(T) Wayne Munn(T) Mark McHugh(C/3P) Dave Hewitt(2P) |
Neil McMillan(T) Tommy Bowe(T) Andy Ward(T) Scott Young(T) Paddy Wallace(T) David Humphreys(4C/3P) |
|
Sat 18 Sep 04 |
Sportsground |
13 |
19 |
Conor O'Loughlin(T) Paul Warwick(C/2P) |
Tommy Bowe(T) Jonathan Bell(T) David Humphreys(3P) |
|
Sat 1 Jan 05 |
Ravenhill |
14 |
23 |
Bernard Jackman(T) Paul Warwick(3P) |
Tommy Bowe(T) Paul Steinmetz(T) David Humphreys(2C/3P) |
|
Fri 7 Oct 05 |
Ravenhill |
10 |
36 |
Paul Warwick(P) Keith Matthews(T) Ted Robinson(C) |
Matt McCullough(T) Rory Best(T) James Topping(T) Andrew Trimble(T) Tommy Bowe(T) David Humphreys(2C) Bryn Cunningham(C/P) Paddy Wallace(C) |
|
Sat 31 Dec 05 |
Sportsground |
22 |
12 |
Matt Lacey(T) David Slemen(T/2C/P) Conor McPhillips(T) |
David Humphreys(4P) |
|
Fri 6 Oct 06 |
Sportsground |
17 |
24 |
Paul Warwick(T/2C/P) Matt Mostyn(T) |
Roger Wilson(T) Isaac Boss(T) Bryn Cunningham(T) David Humphreys(2C/P) Paddy Wallace(C) |
|
Tue 26 Dec 06 |
Ravenhill |
10 |
20 |
Paul Warwick(D) John Fogarty(T) Mark McHugh(C) |
Neil Best(T) Tommy Bowe(2T) David Humphreys(P) Paddy Wallace(C) |
Connacht gained a first win since September with the 75-8 defeat of Spanish outfit Centransa El Salvador at the Sportsground last Friday. Connacht have won just one of their last 11 matches in the Magners League: 22-7 over Newport Gwent Dragons in Galway on 21 September.
Ulster are without a win in any competition since a 17-16 victory over Ospreys at Ravenhill on 21 September. Ulster have been victorious just once on the road since January: 33-9 at Border Reivers on 13 April.
Connacht have beaten Ulster twice in their last seven encounters, both games in Galway.
Friday 23 November
GLASGOW WARRIORS v CARDIFF BLUES
At Firhill Arena, 7.30pm.
Referee: Alan Lewis (IRFU). Touch Judges: Peter Allan (SRU), Graeme Marshall (SRU).
|
HEAD TO HEAD - PREVIOUS LEAGUE MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
G |
C |
Glasgow Warriors scorers |
Cardiff Blues scorers |
|
Fri 5 Sep 03 |
Hughenden |
23 |
13 |
Gareth Maclure(T) Sam Pinder(T) Euan Murray(T) Calvin Howarth(C/D/P) |
Nick Macleod(T) Nick Robinson(C/2P) |
|
Fri 13 Feb 04 |
Arms Park |
19 |
29 |
Alan Bulloch(2T) Joe Beardshaw(T) Colin Gregor(2C) |
Jonny Vaughton(2T) Nick Walne(T) Nick Robinson(T/3C/P) |
|
Sat 13 Nov 04 |
Arms Park |
19 |
24 |
Andrew Wilson(T) Calvin Howarth(C/4P) |
Freddie Tuilagi(T) Kort Schubert(T) Lee Thomas(C/4P) |
|
Fri 25 Mar 05 |
Hughenden |
19 |
14 |
Sean Lamont(T) Calvin Howarth(C/2P) Dan Parks(2P) |
Craig Quinnell(T) Nick Macleod(P) Nick Robinson(D/P) |
|
Sat 24 Sep 05 |
Hughenden |
23 |
28 |
Calvin Howarth(T/P) Mike Roberts(T) Rory Lamont(T) Dan Parks(C/P) |
Nick Robinson(T/3C) Craig Morgan(T) Maama Molitika(2T) Lee Thomas(C) |
|
Fri 24 Mar 06 |
Arms Park |
3 |
31 |
Dan Parks(P) |
Mike Phillips(T) Nick Robinson(T/3C) Chris Czekaj(T) Martyn Williams(T) Andy Powell(T) |
|
Fri 22 Sep 06 |
Arms Park |
9 |
27 |
Dan Parks(3P) |
Ben Blair(T/3C/2P) Mosese Luveitasau Yabakitini(T) Tom Shanklin(T) |
|
Fri 26 Jan 07 |
Hughenden |
22 |
3 |
Kevin Tkachuk(T) Colin Gregor(2C/P) Sam Pinder(T) Fergus Thomson(T) |
Ben Blair(P) |
|
Fri 21 Sep 07 |
Arms Park |
16 |
32 |
James Eddie(T) Colin Gregor(C/3P) |
Nick Robinson(2C/P) Tal Selley(T) Gareth Williams(T) Nick Macleod(T) Jamie Roberts(2T) |
Glasgow Warriors are undefeated at home since their return to Firhill in the summer, they have in fact not lost at home since an 8-19 reversal to Ulster at Hughenden on 6 January.
Cardiff Blues, who are flying high at the top of the Magners League and their European Cup pool, have lost just once in their last six matches in all competitions. The Blues' only defeat to a Scottish side in their last dozen such encounters was 3-22 in this equivalent fixture in January.
Glasgow have won just one of their last five matches against Cardiff Blues.
Friday 23 November
OSPREYS v LEINSTER
At Liberty Stadium, 7.10pm. Live on Setanta Sports and BBC Sport Wales
Referee: Andy Macpherson (SRU). Touch Judges: Tim Hayes (WRU), Matthew Alpin (WRU)
TMO: Tony Rowlands (WRU)
|
HEAD TO HEAD - PREVIOUS LEAGUE MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
O |
L |
Ospreys scorers |
Leinster scorers |
|
Sat 29 Nov 03 |
The Gnoll |
25 |
36 |
Shaun Connor(D) Gavin Henson(C/5P) Huw Bennett(T) |
Brian O'Driscoll(2T) Gordon D'Arcy(2T) Christian Warner(T) John McWeeney(T) Brian O'Meara(3C) |
|
Fri 30 Apr 04 |
Donnybrook |
16 |
16 |
Shane Williams(T) Gavin Henson(C/3P) |
James Norton(T) Brian O'Meara(C/3P) |
|
Fri 15 Oct 04 |
St Helen's |
11 |
3 |
Sonny Parker(T) Gavin Henson(2P) |
David Holwell(P) |
|
Sun 6 Mar 05 |
Donnybrook |
16 |
12 |
Jason Spice(T) Shaun Connor(2P) Matt Jones(C/P) |
Christian Warner(T) Shane Jennings(T) David Holwell(C) |
|
Sun 4 Sep 05 |
Liberty Stadium |
22 |
20 |
Andrew Bishop(2T) Barry Williams(T) Matt Jones(2C/P) |
Rob Kearney(T) Felipe Contepomi(5P) |
|
Sat 29 Apr 06 |
Lansdowne Road |
21 |
38 |
Jonny Vaughton(T) Gavin Henson(T/C/3P) |
Guy Easterby(2T) Felipe Contepomi(T/2C/3P) Jamie Heaslip(T) Niall Ronan(T) |
|
Sat 6 Jan 07 |
Donnybrook |
22 |
45 |
Brent Cockbain(T) Richie Pugh(T) Shaun Connor(2C/P) Stefan Terblanche(T) |
Felipe Contepomi(5C/P) Denis Hickie(T) Brian O'Driscoll(2T) Rob Kearney(2T) Keith Gleeson(T) Jonathan Sexton(C) |
|
Fri 27 Apr 07 |
Liberty Stadium |
19 |
17 |
James Hook(3P) Justin Marshall(T) Shaun Connor(C/P) |
Felipe Contepomi(T/2C/P) Shane Horgan(T) |
Ospreys 18-26 defeat at Gloucester on Friday ended a four game winning run in all competitions for the Welshmen. The last none Welsh team to win at Liberty Stadium was Ulster on 26 May 2006.
Leinster have won just one of their last six away games: 30-19 at Cardiff Blues on 28 September.
The last four encounters between the teams have been won by the home side on the day, whilst Leinster's last win in Swansea was 51-10 against Swansea RFC at St Helen's in the European Cup on 19 October 2002.
Saturday 24 November
MUNSTER V NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS
At Musgrave Park, 7.30pm. Live on Setanta Sports
Referee: Rob Debney (RFU). Touch Judges: David Keane (IRFU), D Wilkinson (IRFU).
TMO: Olan Trevor (IRFU)
|
HEAD TO HEAD - PREVIOUS LEAGUE MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
M |
N |
Munster scorers |
Newport Gwent Dragons scorers |
|
Fri 17 Oct 03 |
Rodney Parade |
6 |
29 |
Jeremy Staunton(2P) |
Jamie Ringer(T) Adam Black(T) Craig Warlow(2C/D/4P) |
|
Fri 12 Mar 04 |
Thomond Park |
6 |
16 |
Mossie Lawlor(2P) |
Andy Marinos(T) Percy Montgomery(C/3P) |
|
Sat 13 Nov 04 |
Musgrave Park |
25 |
16 |
Rob Henderson(T) Paul Burke(C/6P) |
Kevin Morgan(T) Craig Warlow(C/D/2P) |
|
Fri 25 Mar 05 |
Rodney Parade |
24 |
8 |
Alan Quinlan(T) John Kelly(T) Shaun Payne(T) Ronan O'Gara(P) Paul Burke(3C) |
Kevin Morgan(T) Ceri Sweeney(P) |
|
Sat 28 Jan 06 |
Musgrave Park |
10 |
8 |
Anthony Foley(T) Mossie Lawlor(C/P) |
Adam Black(T) Craig Warlow(P) |
|
Fri 7 Apr 06 |
Rodney Parade |
17 |
23 |
Trevor Halstead(T) Federico Pucciariello(T) Jeremy Manning(C/P) Paul Burke(C) |
Jason Forster(T) Nathan Brew(T) Gareth Wyatt(T) Craig Warlow(C/2P) |
|
Fri 5 Jan 07 |
Rodney Parade |
12 |
19 |
Jeremy Manning(C) Lifeimi Mafi(2T) |
Ceri Sweeney(C/D/3P) Jamie Ringer(T) |
|
Sat 28 Apr 07 |
Musgrave Park |
15 |
7 |
Ronan O'Gara(C/P) Denis Leamy(2T) |
Aled Thomas(T/C) |
|
Fri 28 Sep 07 |
Rodney Parade |
26 |
16 |
Paul Warwick(T/C/3P) Ian Dowling(T) Billy Holland(T) |
Wayne Evans(T) Aled Thomas(C/3P) |
Munster's only defeat in their last seven home matches in all competitions was 17-19 to Cardiff Blues in the Magners League on 5 October. Munster have lost their last two games against Welsh opponents.
Newport Gwent Dragons have won their last two encounters in the Magners League but have lost on their last 13 visits to Ireland, their last win in the Emerald Isle being 28-21 against Ulster at Ravenhill on 8 October 2004.
The teams have met on eight previous occasions in the league with both Munster and the Dragons each managing four wins apiece.
Sunday 25 November
EDINBURGH v LLANELLI SCARLETS
At Murrayfield, 4.10pm. Live on S4/C
Referee: George Clancy (IRFU). Touch Judges: Neil Paterson (SRU), John Ferris (SRU).
TMO: Andy Ireland (SRU).
|
HEAD TO HEAD - PREVIOUS LEAGUE MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
E |
L |
Edinburgh scorers |
Llanelli Scarlets scorers |
|
Fri 10 Oct 03 |
Meadowbank |
25 |
16 |
Alistair Warnock(2T/C/P) Simon Webster(T) Craig Joiner(T) |
Lee Byrne(T) Gareth Bowen(C/2P) Mike Phillips(D) |
|
Sat 6 Mar 04 |
Stradey Park |
12 |
47 |
Malcolm Clapperton(T) Tom McGee(T) Ander Monro(C) |
Salesi Finau(T) Barry Davies(2T) Aled Gravelle(T) Chris Wyatt(2T) Matthew Watkins(T) Gareth Bowen(6C) |
|
Sat 25 Sep 04 |
Stradey Park |
16 |
37 |
Hugo Southwell(T) Chris Paterson(C/3P) |
Tal Selley(T) Matthew Watkins(T) Arwel Thomas(T/2C/P) Mark Taylor(T) Garan Evans(T) Gareth Bowen(C/P) |
|
Fri 21 Jan 05 |
Murrayfield |
23 |
0 |
Dougie Hall(T) Mike Blair(T) Chris Paterson(2C/3P) |
- |
|
Fri 2 Sep 05 |
Stradey Park |
21 |
15 |
Chris Paterson(T/C/3P) Mike Blair(T) |
Barry Davies(2T) Mike Hercus(C/P) |
|
Fri 28 Apr 06 |
Murrayfield |
35 |
18 |
Simon Webster(2T) Craig Smith(T) Alasdair Strokosch(T) Chris Paterson(3C/3P) |
Dafydd James(T) Mark Jones(T) Gareth Bowen(P) Mike Hercus(C/P) |
|
Fri 5 Jan 07 |
Murrayfield |
24 |
14 |
Duncan Hodge(D/2P) Chris Paterson(5P) |
Darren Daniel(T) Stephen Jones(3P) |
|
Sun 29 Apr 07 |
Stradey Park |
17 |
42 |
David Callam(T) Phil Godman(2C/P) Allan Jacobsen(T) |
Iestyn Thomas(T) Matthew Watkins(2T) Scott Macleod(T) Regan King(T) Ceiron Thomas(C) Stephen Jones(T/5C) |
Edinburgh's only win in their last dozen matches in all competitions was 24-10 over Ulster at Murrayfield in the Magners League on 28 September. Edinburgh have not beaten a team from Wales since a 30-20 victory over the Dragons at Murrayfield on 6 April.
Llanelli Scarlets have won their last three matches in the Magners League, but the Scarlets only win in Scotland since September 2005 was 19-13 at Border Reivers on 10 November 2006.
The two sides each won their respective home game when they met last season in the Magners League, whilst Edinburgh have won all five previous home matches they have played against the Scarlets in all competitions.
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