Second placed Ospreys are also away from home on Friday night travelling to Edinburgh and looking for an away Scottish double after beating Glasgow Warriors in September.
Also on Friday night there is a crucial meeting at the bottom of the table with third from bottom Ulster facing 10th placed team Connacht at Ravenhill in Belfast. The Ulstermen will be looking to the record books for inspiration as the western province has not won in Belfast for 48 years.
Friday's fourth game is Glasgow Warriors versus Cardiff Blues where the Warriors will be aiming to keep pace with the top two whilst the Blues will be looking to keep an advantage over fourth placed Welsh Region Newport Gwent Dragons. Dragons themselves are in action on Saturday night when visitors Leinster will be hoping for a return to winning ways after a run of three League defeats.
ROUND 7 PREVIEWS
Friday 28 November
EDINBURGH RUGBY v OSPREYS
At Murrayfield , 7.30pm.
Referee: John Lacey (IRFU, 1st League game). Assistant Referees: David Changleng (SRU), Bob Nevins (SRU).
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HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT Magners League MEETINGS |
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||||
|
Date |
Venue |
E |
O |
Edinburgh scorers |
Ospreys scorers |
|
Sun 25 Sep 05 |
Murrayfield |
24 |
18 |
Alasdair Dickinson(T) Simon Taylor(T) Rob Dewey(T) Chris Paterson(3C/P) |
Stefan Terblanche(T) Matthew Jones(T/C/2P) |
|
Sun 26 Mar 06 |
Liberty Stadium |
17 |
24 |
Simon Webster(T) Peter Jorgensen(T) Phil Godman(P) Duncan Hodge(2C) |
Huw Bennett(T) Shaun Connor(T) Gavin Henson(C/4P) |
|
Sat 2 Sep 06 |
Liberty Stadium |
11 |
17 |
Simon Webster(T) Chris Paterson(2P) |
Lee Byrne(T) James Hook(4P) |
|
Fri 2 Mar 07 |
Murrayfield |
12 |
30 |
Ben Cairns(T) Matt Mustchin(T) Duncan Hodge(C) |
Huw Bennett(T) Jason Spice(C) Steve Tandy(T) Justin Marshall(T) Jonny Vaughton(T) Stefan Terblanche(T/P) |
|
Fri 5 Oct 07 |
Murrayfield |
13 |
13 |
Augusto Allori(T) Phil Godman(C/2P) |
Jonny Vaughton(T) Shaun Connor(P) Gareth Owen(C/P) |
|
Fri 2 May 08 |
Liberty Stadium |
19 |
18 |
Nick de Luca(T) Alan MacDonald(T) Calum MacRae(2C) Allister Hogg(T) |
James Hook(6P) |
Edinburgh have won back to back matches in Castres in the European Cup and at Connacht in the Magners League. The Scotsmen have won three of their last four games against Welsh opponents.
Ospreys may have won four of their five games in the Magners League this season, but the Welshmen have lost their last three away matches in all competitions since the last time they visited Scotland with a 21-18 victory at Glasgow in the Magners League on 12 September.
Edinburgh had the best of their two meetings with Ospreys in the Magners League last season, winning 19-18 in Swansea and drawing 13-all at Murrayfield.
GLASGOW WARRIORS v CARDIFF BLUES
At Firhill Arena, 7.30pm.
Referee: Colin Stanley (IRFU, 10th League game). Assistant Referees: Rob Dickson (SRU), Graeme Marshall (SRU).
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HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT Magners League MEETINGS |
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||||
|
Date |
Venue |
G |
C |
Glasgow Warriors scorers |
Cardiff Blues scorers |
|
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) Ma'ama 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) Andrew 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) |
|
Fri 23 Nov 07 |
Firhill Arena |
17 |
5 |
Dan Parks(T/D/3P) |
Rhys Williams(T) |
Glasgow Warriors' three game losing run in all competitions ended last time out with their 15-12 victory over reigning Magners League champions Leinster at Firhill Arena on 24 October. The Warriors have won five of their last six games in the Magners League at Firhill.
Cardiff Blues have won their last half a dozen matches in all competitions, equalling their best ever winning run since becoming a Region in 2003. The Blues have lost both of their away games in the Magners League this season; at Ospreys and at Munster.
The last four encounters between the two teams have been won by the home side on the day, whilst the Blues only previous win in Glasgow was 28-23 at Hughenden in the league on 24 September 2005.
SCARLETS v MUNSTER
At Parc y Scarlets , 7.05pm. Live on Setanta Sports and BBC Sport Wales.
Referee: Peter Allan (SRU, 23rd League game). Assistant Referees: James Jones (WRU), Steve Edwards (WRU).
TMO: Tony Rolands (WRU).
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HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT Magners League MEETINGS |
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||||
|
Date |
Venue |
L |
M |
Scarlets scorers |
Munster scorers |
|
Fri 23 Sep 05 |
Musgrave Park |
13 |
14 |
Lee Byrne(T) Matthew Watkins(T) Mike Hercus(P) |
Ronan O'Gara(3P) Alan Quinlan(T) |
|
Tue 9 May 06 |
Stradey Park |
18 |
6 |
Alix Popham(2T) Craig Evans(C/2P) |
Jeremy Manning(2P) |
|
Sun 5 Nov 06 |
Stradey Park |
25 |
12 |
Darren Daniel(T) Barry Davies(T) Deacon Manu(T) Ceiron Thomas(C/P) Dafydd James(T) |
Jeremy Manning(D/3P) |
|
Sat 14 Apr 07 |
Musgrave Park |
0 |
20 |
- |
Anthony Foley(T) Marcus Horan(T) Ronan O'Gara(C/P) Barry Murphy(T) |
|
Sat 22 Sep 07 |
Musgrave Park |
16 |
26 |
Matthew Watkins(T) Rhys Priestland(C/3P) |
Paul Warwick(T/2C/4P) Anthony Horgan(T) |
|
Sat 3 May 08 |
Stradey Park |
23 |
24 |
Matthew Watkins(T) Dafydd James(T) Stephen Jones(2C/3P) |
Paul Warwick(T/2P) Ian Dowling(2T) Ronan O'Gara(P) |
The Scarlets play their first game at the brand new Parc y Scarlets, which duly becomes the 31st different venue to stage a league game. Scarlets have won just one of their last four games in all competitions, but have won the two games they have played against Irish opponents this season.
Table topping Munster were handed a first Magners League defeat of the season last time out at Ravenhill, but the Munstermen's only loss to a Welsh team in their last eight meetings in all competitions was 22-25 at Cardiff Blues on 1 March.
Scarlets have not defeated Munster in the Magners League since a 25-12 victory at Stradey Park on 5 November 2006.
ULSTER v CONNACHT
At Ravenhill , 7.30pm. Live on Setanta Sports.
Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (IRFU, 18th League game). Assistant Referees: D Phillips (IRFU), T Collins (IRFU).
TMO: Dermot Moloney (IRFU).
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HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT Magners League MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
U |
C |
Ulster scorers |
Connacht scorers |
|
Fri 7 Oct 05 |
Ravenhill |
36 |
10 |
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) |
Paul Warwick(P) Keith Matthews(T) Ted Robinson(C) |
|
Sat 31 Dec 05 |
Sportsground |
12 |
22 |
David Humphreys(4P) |
Matt Lacey(T) David Slemen(T/2C/P) Conor McPhillips(T) |
|
Fri 6 Oct 06 |
Sportsground |
24 |
17 |
Roger Wilson(T) Isaac Boss(T) Bryn Cunningham(T) David Humphreys(2C/P) Paddy Wallace(C) |
Paul Warwick(T/2C/P) Matt Mostyn(T) |
|
Tue 26 Dec 06 |
Ravenhill |
20 |
10 |
Neil Best(T) Tommy Bowe(2T) David Humphreys(P) Paddy Wallace(C) |
Paul Warwick(D) John Fogarty(T) Mark McHugh(C) |
|
Fri 23 Nov 07 |
Sportsground |
30 |
13 |
Kieron Dawson(T) Paddy Wallace(3C/3P) Roger Wilson(T) Carlo del Fava(T) |
Tim Donnelly(C/P) Andy Dunne(P) Danny Riordan(T) |
|
Fri 11 Apr 08 |
Ravenhill |
18 |
6 |
Tom Court(T) Matt McCullough(T) Paddy Wallace(C/P) Niall O'Connor(P) |
Andy Dunne(P) Troy Nathan(P) |
After a poor start to the season Ulster have won their last two matches in the Magners League at home to Edinburgh and league leaders Munster. The Ulstermen have not won three successive games in the league since October-November 2006. Ulster have won their last three encounters against fellow Irish provinces.
Connacht won their most recent away game: 30-12 at Dax in the European Challenge Cup, but their only victory on the road in the Magners League since September 2006 remains as the 13-11 win against the Dragons at Rodney Parade on 18 April 2008.
Connacht's last victory over Ulster was 22-12 at Galway in the league on New Year's Eve 2005, whilst Connacht have not won in Belfast since a 6-3 victory on 16 November 1960 in the Irish Interprovincial Championship.
Saturday 29 November
LEINSTER v NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS
At RDS , 5.30pm. Live on S4/C and Setanta Sports.
Referee: Andy Macpherson (SRU, 19th League game). Assistant Referees: M Black (IRFU), R Kerr (IRFU).
TMO: Peter Ferguson (IRFU).
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HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT Magners League MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
L |
N |
Leinster scorers |
Newport Gwent Dragons scorers |
|
Fri 16 Sep 05 |
Donnybrook |
33 |
14 |
Rob Kearney(T) Girvan Dempsey(T) Felipe Contepomi(C/7P) |
Leigh Hinton(T/2C) Hal Luscombe(T) |
|
Sat 18 Feb 06 |
Rodney Parade |
18 |
31 |
Kieran Lewis(2T) Felipe Contepomi(C/2P) |
Gareth Wyatt(T) Jason Forster(2T) Craig Warlow(2C/4P) |
|
Sat 4 Nov 06 |
Donnybrook |
35 |
13 |
Gary Brown(T) Felipe Contepomi(2T/3C/3P) Christian Warner(T) |
Richard Fussell(T) Mike Hercus(P) Gareth Wyatt(T) |
|
Fri 13 Apr 07 |
Rodney Parade |
23 |
22 |
Chris Whitaker(T) Brian Blaney(T) Felipe Contepomi(2C/3P) |
Adam Black(2T) Steve Jones(T) Ceri Sweeney(C/P) Aled Thomas(C) |
|
Sat 3 May 08 |
Royal Dublin Society |
41 |
8 |
Chris Whitaker(T) Felipe Contepomi(4C/P) Shane Horgan(T) Shane Jennings(T) Cameron Jowitt(T) Ollie Le Roux(2T) |
Adam Black(T) Ceri Sweeney(P) |
|
Fri 9 May 08 |
Rodney Parade |
26 |
31 |
Michael Berne(2T) Girvan Dempsey(T) Johnny Sexton(C/3P) |
Jason Tovey(2C) Phillip Dollman(T) Wayne Evans(T) Hugh Gustafson(T) Adam Black(T) Steve Jones(T) Ceri Sweeney(C) |
Leinster are in the midst of their worst run in the Magners League since March 2004, suffering three successive defeats to Munster, Connacht and Glasgow. Leinster have lost just one of their last 14 matches at the RDS in all competitions: 0-18 to Munster on 28 September.
Newport Gwent Dragons have lost their last three games in all competitions but have won back to back matches in the Magners League against Ulster and Edinburgh. The Dragons have not won three successive league games since November 2004.
Each side won its respective home game when the two teams met in the Magners League last season, and the Dragons have never beaten Leinster on their own soil.
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