The Scarlets also have an imposing home record to defend - with only one defeat in the last 19 league games at Stradey Park - and the omens look good for an increase in that record against a Dragons side who will be looking to end a five game away losing streak and who have lost on each of their last five meetings with the Scarlets.
Cardiff Blues will be looking for a league record 16th successive home win on Friday night and although the champions have won their last five opening day games they not have tasted victory at the Arms Park since New Years Day 2005. This game will also be notable as Neil Ballard becomes the first video referee to be appointed in the history of the league.
The Scarlets also have an imposing home record to defend - with only one defeat in the last 19 league games at Stradey Park - and the omens look good for an increase in that record against a Dragons side who will be looking to end a five game away losing streak and who have lost on each of their last five meetings with the Scarlets.
Friday 31 August
CARDIFF BLUES v OSPREYS
At Arms Park , 7.40pm. Live on BBC Wales.
Referee: Tim Hayes (WRU). Touch Judges: Jon Mason (WRU), Scott Fleming (WRU). TMO: Neil Ballard (WRU).
|
HEAD TO HEAD - PREVIOUS LEAGUE MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
C |
O |
Cardiff Blues scorers |
Ospreys scorers |
|
Sat 25 Oct 03 |
Arms Park |
43 |
6 |
Lee Abdul(4T) Jamie Robinson(2T) Nick Robinson(5C/P) |
Gavin Henson(2P) |
|
Sun 28 Mar 04 |
St Helen's |
13 |
34 |
Jonny Vaughton(T) Nick Robinson(C/2P) |
Shaun Connor(T) Andy Newman(T) Gavin Henson(T/2C/5P) |
|
Sat 18 Sep 04 |
The Gnoll |
3 |
39 |
Lee Thomas(P) |
Duncan Jones(T) David Bishop(T) Jason Spice(T) Gavin Henson(T/4C/2P) Sonny Parker(T) |
|
Sat 1 Jan 05 |
Arms Park |
9 |
15 |
Nick Macleod(3P) |
Richie Pugh(T) Jason Spice(T) Gavin Henson(C/P) |
|
Thu 22 Dec 05 |
Liberty Stadium |
28 |
9 |
Deiniol Jones(T) Chris Czekaj(T) Craig Morgan(T) Nick Robinson(2C/3P) |
Shaun Connor(2P) Adrian Cashmore(P) |
|
Fri 3 Mar 06 |
Arms Park |
40 |
14 |
Nick Robinson(T/3C/3P) Chris Czekaj(3T) Jamie Robinson(T) |
James Bater(T) Shaun Connor(2D) Gavin Henson(P) |
|
Wed 13 Sep 06 |
Liberty Stadium |
16 |
18 |
Nick Robinson(T/C/2D/P) |
Shane Williams(T) Ryan Jones(T) Richie Pugh(T) Gavin Henson(P) |
|
Sat 23 Dec 06 |
Arms Park |
30 |
24 |
Ben Blair(2T/3C/3P) Nick Robinson(T) |
Ian Evans(T) Gavin Henson(C/4P) Filo Tiatia(T) |
A Cardiff Blues victory would set a new league record with the Blues' 16 th successive home win surpassing Leinster 's current home run of 15 consecutive league wins on home soil. The Blues have not lost at home in the league since a 9-13 reversal to Edinburgh on 27 January 2006.
The current Magners League champions, Ospreys, begin their defence hoping for a fifth successive victory on the opening weekend of a league season, whilst coach Lyn Jones achieves the personal milestone of becoming the first man to clock up 100 matches as head coach in the history of the League. Jones took charge at Neath for 17 games before assuming the same role at the Ospreys when the region was created in 2003 - his record so far is 62 wins, 2 draws and 35 losses.
The Blues have won three of the least four league meetings with the Ospreys, and have not lost to them at the Arms Park since New Year's Day 2005.
Neil Ballard becomes the first video referee to be used in the history of the league.
Saturday 1 September
LLANELLI SCARLETS v NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS
At Stradey Park , 5.30pm. Live on S4C
Referee: James Jones (WRU). Touch Judges: David Bodilly (WRU), Richard Hughes (WRU). TMO: Tony Rowlands (WRU).
|
HEAD TO HEAD - PREVIOUS LEAGUE MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
L |
N |
Llanelli Scarlets scorers |
Newport Gwent Dragons scorers |
|
Sat 6 Sep 03 |
Stradey Park |
35 |
11 |
Scott Quinnell(2T) Gareth Bowen(2C/6P) Barry Davies(D) |
Jason Forster(T) Brett Davey(2P) |
|
Fri 13 Feb 04 |
Rodney Parade |
9 |
15 |
Gareth Bowen(3P) |
Percy Montgomery(5P) |
|
Fri 17 Sep 04 |
Rodney Parade |
0 |
15 |
- |
Ceri Sweeney(5P) |
|
Sat 1 Jan 05 |
Stradey Park |
35 |
26 |
Matthew Watkins(2T) Dafydd Jones(2T) Gareth Bowen(3C/D/2P) |
Kevin Morgan(T) Michael Owen(T) Ceri Sweeney(2C/4P) |
|
Fri 23 Dec 05 |
Rodney Parade |
28 |
16 |
Dafydd Jones(T) Dafydd James(T) Craig Dunlea(T) Mike Hercus(2C/3P) |
Rhys Oakley(T) Ceri Sweeney(C/3P) |
|
Sat 22 Apr 06 |
Stradey Park |
36 |
17 |
Mark Jones(3T) Ceiron Thomas(2C) Dafydd James(2T) Lee Byrne(T) Mike Hercus(C) |
Leigh Hinton(P) Nathan Brew(T) Jason Forster(T) Aled Thomas(2C) |
|
Tue 12 Sep 06 |
Rodney Parade |
23 |
22 |
Gavin Evans(2T) Ceiron Thomas(T) Stephen Jones(C/2P) |
Nathan Brew(T) Ceri Sweeney(C/D/4P) |
|
Fri 23 Mar 07 |
Stradey Park |
35 |
11 |
James Bater(T) Barry Davies(T) Mark Jones(T) Ceiron Thomas(T/2C/2P) Dafydd James(T) |
Ceri Sweeney(2P) Kevin Morgan(T) |
This match is Llanelli Scarlets' fifth successive home league game, whilst the Scarlets have lost just one of their last 19 home league encounters since September 2005: 6-19 to the Ospreys in April.
Newport Gwent Dragons have lost their last eight away games in the Magners League, since a 20-8 win at Border Reivers on 22 September 2006. The Dragons have only ever beaten a Welsh Regions away from home once before: 25-13 at Cardiff Blues on 7 November 2003.
The Scarlets have taken the last eight encounters against the Dragons, and have never lost at home to the Newport based team.
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