The Dragons will be looking to undermine the Blues strong home record - they have lost only one of their last 15 home games - although a Dragons victory would be something special, their last away win against the Blues was back in November 2003.
Across the Irish Sea, Leinster will be looking to defend top spot against struggling Ulster who have won only one of their last 11 games. In contrast the league leaders have lost just once in Dublin in the last two years.
Thursday 27th also sees a game in Ireland and one in Wales. Munster entertain Connacht in Cork while the Scarlets and the Ospreys meet at Stradey Park.
Recent success has seen Munster move up to third place while Connacht will be looking to record their first away win in 19 attempts - and it will be a momentous occasion should they achieve it - they have not beaten their southern neighbours since November 1986.
Ospreys have fallen to the bottom half of the table and are six points behind The Scarlets, so will be looking for an end of year fillip in Llanelli. The Swansea based side have won four of their last five away games, however it should prove a close contest with each side having won five times in their last 10 meetings.
Attention turns north the following day with Glasgow Warrirors travelling to Edinburgh with the two Scottish sides separated by only a point in the middle of the table. It is over seven years since Edinburgh lost at home to a fellow Scottish team and if that trend continues Andy Robinson's side would move above their local rivals.
Wednesday 26 December
CARDIFF BLUES v NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS
At Arms Park, 2.05pm. Live on BBC Sport Wales.
Referee: Hugh Watkins (WRU). Touch Judges: Neil Ballard (WRU), Simon Harris (WRU).
TMO: James Jones (WRU).
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HEAD TO HEAD - PREVIOUS LEAGUE MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
C |
N |
Cardiff Blues scorers |
Newport Gwent Dragons scorers |
|
Fri 7 Nov 03 |
Arms Park |
13 |
25 |
Lee Abdul(T) Nick Robinson(C/2P) |
Sione Tuipulotu(2T) Hal Luscombe(T) Jason Forster(T) Craig Warlow(C/P) |
|
Sat 17 Apr 04 |
Rodney Parade |
25 |
48 |
Martyn Williams(T) Tom Shanklin(2T) Jamie Robinson(T) Nick Robinson(C/P) |
Jason Forster(2T) Nathan Brew(2T) Percy Montgomery(T/6C/2P) Andy Marinos(T) |
|
Sat 11 Sep 04 |
Arms Park |
18 |
8 |
Lee Thomas(C/2P) Richard Smith(T) Martyn Williams(T) |
Gareth Wyatt(T) Ceri Sweeney(P) |
|
Mon 27 Dec 04 |
Rodney Parade |
21 |
25 |
Rhys Williams(T) Jonny Vaughton(T) Nick Macleod(C/3P) |
Kevin Morgan(2T) Sione Tuipulotu(T) Ceri Sweeney(2C/2P) |
|
Tue 27 Dec 05 |
Arms Park |
41 |
23 |
Nick Robinson(T/C/3P) Craig Morgan(T) Ryan Powell(T) Jonah Lomu(T) T.Rhys Thomas(T) Rhys Williams(T) |
Nathan Brew(T) Rhys M. Thomas(T) Ceri Sweeney(C/2P) Jon Bryant(T) |
|
Wed 19 Apr 06 |
Rodney Parade |
18 |
13 |
Mike Phillips(T) Chris Czekaj(T) Nick Robinson(C/D/P) |
Michael Owen(T) Craig Warlow(C/2P) |
|
Wed 27 Dec 06 |
Rodney Parade |
13 |
14 |
Ben White(T) Ben Blair(P) Xavier Rush(T) |
Nathan Brew(T) Ceri Sweeney(3P) |
|
Tue 1 May 07 |
Arms Park |
31 |
20 |
Ben Blair(4C/P) Tom Shanklin(T) Xavier Rush(T) Mike Phillips(2T) |
Joe Bearman(T) Ceri Sweeney(2C/2P) Gareth Maule(T) |
|
Fri 7 Sep 07 |
Rodney Parade |
40 |
13 |
Nick Robinson(3C/D/2P) Tal Selley(2T) Rhys Williams(T) Mark Lewis(T) Jamie Roberts(T) |
Richard Parks(T) Aled Thomas(C/2P) |
Cardiff Blues have suffered just one reversal at the Arms Park in their last 15 matches in all competitions: 19-30 to Leinster in the Magners League on 28 September. The last seven fellow Welsh visitors to the Arms Park have all been repelled with the last Region to lower the Blues' colours there being Ospreys on New Year's Day 2005.
Newport Gwent Dragons' only win in their last eight games was 35-33 at Treviso in the European Cup on 8 December. The Dragons have already beaten a fellow Welsh Region on their own patch this season when they travelled to Stradey Park on 1 September and won 30-23.
The Blues have won four of the last five encounters against the Dragons, whilst the Dragons have not won at the Arms Park since 7 November 2003.
Wednesday 26 December
LEINSTER v ULSTER
At RDS Dublin, 3.00pm. Live on Setanta Sports.
Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (IRFU). Touch Judges: George Clancy (IRU), L Colgan (IRFU).
TMO: Marc Gargan (IRFU)
|
HEAD TO HEAD - PREVIOUS LEAGUE MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
L |
U |
Leinster scorers |
Ulster scorers |
|
Fri 31 Aug 01 |
Donnybrook |
31 |
9 |
Girvan Dempsey(D) Denis Hickie(T) Gordon D'Arcy(2T) Nathan Spooner(C/2P) Malcolm O'Kelly(T) |
Paddy Wallace(P) David Humphreys(2P) |
|
Fri 2 Jan 04 |
Donnybrook |
32 |
30 |
Felipe Contepomi(T) Victor Costello(T) Brian O'Meara(2C/6P) |
Tyrone Howe(T) Paul Steinmetz(T) David Humphreys(T/3C/3P) |
|
Fri 7 May 04 |
Ravenhill |
6 |
28 |
Brian O'Meara(2P) |
Tyrone Howe(2T) David Humphreys(T/2C/3P) |
|
Sat 11 Sep 04 |
Ravenhill |
26 |
15 |
Christian Warner(T) Brian O'Riordan(T) David McAllister(2P) Brian O'Meara(C/P) Ben Gissing(T) |
Andrew Maxwell(T) Bryn Cunningham(T) Paddy Wallace(C/P) |
|
Mon 27 Dec 04 |
Donnybrook |
9 |
8 |
Felipe Contepomi(3P) |
Tyrone Howe(T) Adam Larkin(P) |
|
Sat 1 Oct 05 |
Donnybrook |
30 |
23 |
Ciaran Potts(T) Denis Hickie(T) Felipe Contepomi(C/6P) |
Paddy Wallace(T) Neil Best(T) David Humphreys(2C/3P) |
|
Mon 26 Dec 05 |
Ravenhill |
24 |
19 |
Gordon D'Arcy(T) Girvan Dempsey(T) Felipe Contepomi(C/4P) |
Tommy Bowe(T) David Humphreys(C/4P) |
|
Sat 2 Dec 06 |
Ravenhill |
6 |
6 |
Gordon D'Arcy(D/P) |
David Humphreys(2P) |
|
Sun 31 Dec 06 |
Lansdowne Road |
20 |
12 |
Owen Finegan(T) Felipe Contepomi(C) Jamie Heaslip(T) Denis Hickie(T) Jonathan Sexton(P) |
Paddy Wallace(D/3P) |
|
Fri 26 Oct 07 |
Ravenhill |
16 |
16 |
Gordon D'Arcy(T) Jonathan Sexton(C/3P) |
David Humphreys(C/D/2P) Andrew Trimble(T) |
Leinster, the table toppers in the Magners League, have won their last three league games since a 16-all draw with Ulster at Ravenhill on 26 October. Leinster have lost just one home match since November 2005: 23-52 to Llanelli Scarlets at the RDS in the Magners League on 5 October 2007.
Ulster's only victory in their last eleven encounters came at Galway with a 30-13 win over Connacht in the Magners League on 23 November.
Ulster have not won in Dublin since a 26-15 victory over Leinster at Donnybrook in the Interprovincial Championship on 13 August 1999.
Thursday 27 December
LLANELLI SCARLETS v OSPREYS
At Stradey Park, 7.35pm. Live on S4/C
Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU). Touch Judges: Nigel Whitehouse (WRU), Jon Mason (WRU).
TMO: Hugh Watkins (WRU)
|
HEAD TO HEAD - PREVIOUS LEAGUE MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
L |
O |
Llanelli Scarlets scorers |
Ospreys scorers |
|
Fri 2 Jan 04 |
Stradey Park |
28 |
15 |
Barry Davies(2T) Matthew Watkins(T) Scott Quinnell(T) Gareth Bowen(C/2P) |
Shaun Connor(5P) |
|
Sun 9 May 04 |
St Helen's |
18 |
15 |
Jon Thiel(T) Gareth Bowen(T/C) Stephen Jones(2P) |
Stefan Terblanche(T) Shane Williams(T) Gavin Henson(C/P) |
|
Fri 10 Sep 04 |
Stradey Park |
6 |
23 |
Arwel Thomas(2P) |
Gavin Henson(T/2C/3P) Richie Pugh(T) |
|
Sun 26 Dec 04 |
The Gnoll |
7 |
28 |
Jon Mills(T) Gareth Bowen(C) |
Barry Williams(T) Shane Williams(2T) James Bater(T) Gavin Henson(2P) Matt Jones(C) |
|
Fri 31 Mar 06 |
Stradey Park |
30 |
17 |
Lee Byrne(T) Regan King(T) Mike Hercus(C/D/3P) Barry Davies(2P) |
Stefan Terblanche(T) Gavin Henson(4P) |
|
Tue 18 Apr 06 |
Liberty Stadium |
13 |
25 |
Matthew Watkins(T) Mike Hercus(C/2P) |
Penalty Try(T) Gavin Henson(C/D/5P) |
|
Tue 26 Dec 06 |
Liberty Stadium |
24 |
50 |
Gavin Evans(T) Dwayne Peel(T) Penalty Try(T) Ceiron Thomas(3C/P) |
Lyndon Bateman(T) Lee Byrne(T) James Hook(4C/5P) Ryan Jones(T) Nikki Walker(T) Shaun Connor(C) Andy Lloyd(T) |
|
Tue 24 Apr 07 |
Stradey Park |
6 |
19 |
Stephen Jones(2P) |
James Hook(T/C/D/3P) |
|
Tue 11 Sep 07 |
Liberty Stadium |
14 |
9 |
Adam Eustace(T) Ceiron Thomas(3P) |
Shaun Connor(3P) |
Llanelli Scarlets have won just one of their last six matches in all competitions: 36-32 at home to Saracens on 1 December. The Scarlets have also lost two of their last three games at Stradey Park played against fellow Welsh Regions with Ospreys and Dragons tasting success there.
Ospreys have gained three successive victories over Harlequins and Ulster (twice) in the past three weeks, and have lost just one of their past five away encounters.
Things could not be more even with five wins apiece in previous matches between the Scarlets and Ospreys.
Thursday 27 December
MUNSTER v CONNACHT
At Musgrave Park, 7.30pm. Live on Setanta Sports
Referee: Colin Stanley (IRFU). Touch Judges: David Keane (IRFU), D Phillips (IRFU).
TMO: Dermot Moloney (IRFU)
|
HEAD TO HEAD - PREVIOUS LEAGUE MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
M |
C |
Munster scorers |
Connacht scorers |
|
Tue 28 Aug 01 |
Thomond Park |
40 |
19 |
Jeremy Staunton(T/2C/7P) John O'Neill(T) Marcus Horan(T) |
Eric Elwood(C/4P) Eoin Reddan(T) |
|
Fri 29 Nov 02 |
Musgrave Park QF |
33 |
3 |
Mike Mullins(2T) Mossie Lawlor(T) Ronan O'Gara(2C/3P) Penalty Try(T) |
Mark McHugh(P) |
|
Fri 2 Jan 04 |
Dubarry Park |
3 |
0 |
Ronan O'Gara(P) |
- |
|
Fri 7 May 04 |
Thomond Park |
39 |
10 |
Anthony Foley(T) David Wallace(2T) Jason Holland(T) David Pusey(T) Christian Cullen(T/C) Jeremy Staunton(2C/P) |
Penalty Try(T) Eric Elwood(C/P) |
|
Sat 11 Sep 04 |
Musgrave Park |
27 |
27 |
Anthony Horgan(T) Denis Leamy(T) Shaun Payne(T) Christian Cullen(T) Paul Burke(2C/P) |
Niall O'Brien(T) Conor McPhillips(T) Adrian Clarke(T) Paul Warwick(3C/2P) |
|
Mon 27 Dec 04 |
Sportsground |
3 |
0 |
Paul Burke(P) |
|
|
Sat 1 Oct 05 |
Sportsground |
44 |
19 |
Gary Connolly(2T) Frank Sheahan(T) Marcus Horan(T) Federico Pucciariello(T) Ronan O'Gara(4C/3P) Paul Burke(C) |
Conor McPhillips(T) David Slemen(2P) Paul Warwick(C/2P) |
|
Tue 27 Dec 05 |
Thomond Park |
36 |
17 |
Denis Leamy(T) Paul O'Connell(T) Anthony Horgan(T) Federico Pucciariello(T) Jeremy Manning(C/4P) Ronan O'Gara(C) |
Joe Merrigan(T) Paul Warwick(T/2C/P) |
|
Sun 3 Dec 06 |
Thomond Park |
13 |
0 |
Ronan O'Gara(C/2P) Christian Cullen(T) |
- |
|
Sun 31 Dec 06 |
Sportsground |
14 |
8 |
Ronan O'Gara(P) Jeremy Manning(2P) Tomas O'Leary(T) |
Mark McHugh(P) Gavin Williams(T) |
Munster have won four of their last five matches in all competitons, and have also won four of their last five home games. The Munstermen lost their only other encounter against a fellow Irish province this season: 3-10 to Leinster at Cork on 30 November.
Connacht have gained three victories in their last five games in all competitions, but away from home they have not won in their last 18 trips since beating Border Reivers 29-15 at Netherdale in the Magners League on 1 September 2006.
Connacht have not beaten Munster for over 21 years, since an 11-9 victory at Thomond Park in the Irish Interprovincial Championship on 22 November 1986.
Friday 28 December
EDINBURGH v GLASGOW WARRIORS
At Murrayfield, 7.30pm. Live on Setanta Sports
Referee: Andrew Small (RFU). Touch Judges: David Changleng (SRU), Alan Forrest (SRU)
TMO: John Steele (SRU).
|
HEAD TO HEAD - PREVIOUS LEAGUE MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
E |
G |
Edinburgh scorers |
Glasgow Warriors scorers |
|
Sat 27 Dec 03 |
Hughenden |
25 |
16 |
Tom Philip(T) Brendan Laney(C/2D/4P) |
Andrew Hall(T) Dan Parks(C/D/2P) |
|
Fri 7 May 04 |
Meadowbank |
19 |
17 |
Andrew Dall(T) Marcus Di Rollo(T) Joel Brannigan(T) Alistair Warnock(2C) |
Sam Pinder(T) Dan Parks(T/2C/P) |
|
Sat 18 Sep 04 |
Old Anniesland |
10 |
12 |
David Callam(T) Chris Paterson(C/P) |
Dan Parks(D/3P) |
|
Mon 27 Dec 04 |
Murrayfield |
18 |
12 |
Hugo Southwell(T) Craig Joiner(T) Phil Godman(C/P) Brendan Laney(P) |
Calvin Howarth(3P) Dan Parks(P) |
|
Fri 30 Sep 05 |
Murrayfield |
28 |
12 |
Scott Murray(T) Rory Lawson(T) Rob Dewey(T) Chris Paterson(2C/D/2P) |
Scott Lawson(T) Andy Craig(T) Dan Parks(C) |
|
Sun 4 Dec 05 |
Firhill Arena |
6 |
46 |
Duncan Hodge(2P) |
John Beattie(T) Kevin Tkachuk(T) Colin Gregor(T/4C/2P) Graydon Staniforth(2T) Graeme Morrison(T) Dan Parks(C) |
|
Fri 29 Sep 06 |
Murrayfield |
14 |
9 |
Hugo Southwell(T) Chris Paterson(2P) Duncan Hodge(D) |
Colin Gregor(D) Dan Parks(2P) |
|
Fri 22 Dec 06 |
Hughenden |
27 |
34 |
Marcus Di Rollo(2T) Hugo Southwell(T) Chris Paterson(3C/2P) |
Dan Parks(T/2C/2D/3P) Andrew Henderson(T) Dan Turner(T) |
Edinburgh have won three of their last four matches in all competitions, and have won their last two games in the Magners League. Edinburgh have not lost at home to a fellow Scottish team since Glasgow beat them 33-26 in the Welsh-Scottish League at Myreside on 15 September 2000.
Glasgow's 6-10 loss at Connacht last time out in the Magners League ended a five game unbeaten run for the Warriors in the League. At home Glasgow have lost just one of their last 19 matches since September 2006: 8-19 to Ulster at Hughenden in the Magners League on 6 January 2007.
The last seven encounters between the two teams have all been won by the home side on the day.
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