Friday's final game is a South Wales derby with second against third when Cardiff Blues face their old foes Llanelli Scarlets at Stradey Park. The Blues have moved up to second place, two points ahead of the Scarlets but a fifth straight home win would see the Scarlets back into second place.
There is another derby game on Saturday with Ulster travelling to Cork to face Munster - who have lost only once in their last six games against Irish opposition. A home win will keep the Munstermen in the mix for the title, however the visitors will be looking for a third straight league win to take themselves above Newport Gwent Dragons (who are without a game this weekend) and further away from the foot of the table.
ROUND 13 MATCHES
Friday 21 March
EDINBURGH RUGBY v CONNACHT
At Murrayfield, 7.30pm. Live on Setanta Sports.
Referee: James Jones (WRU), Touch Judges: Andy Macpherson (SRU), Alan Forrest (SRU)
TMO: Ian Ramage (SRU)
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HEAD TO HEAD - PREVIOUS LEAGUE MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
E |
C |
Edinburgh scorers |
Connacht scorers |
|
Fri 24 Aug 01 |
Sportsground |
30 |
21 |
Calvin Howarth(T) Gordon Ross(C/2P) Derrick Lee(T) Duncan Hodge(2C/P) Graham Dall(T) |
Pat Duignan(T) Eric Elwood(C/3P) Des Dillon(T) |
|
Sat 6 Sep 03 |
Sportsground |
3 |
11 |
Ander Monro(P) |
John Fogarty(T) Eric Elwood(2P) |
|
Fri 13 Feb 04 |
Meadowbank |
17 |
32 |
Penalty Try(T) Allan Jacobsen(T) Alistair Warnock(2C/P) |
Darren Yapp(T) Matt Mostyn(T) Conor McPhillips(T) Shane Moore(T) Eric Elwood(3C/2P) |
|
Sat 16 Oct 04 |
Sportsground |
35 |
24 |
Marcus Di Rollo(T) Todd Blackadder(T) Allan Jacobsen(T) Brendan Laney(T) Simon Webster(T) Chris Paterson(5C) |
Piet Myburgh(T) Matt Lacey(T) Paul Warwick(C/3P) Mark McHugh(P) |
|
Fri 4 Mar 05 |
Murrayfield |
13 |
16 |
Craig Smith(T) Phil Godman(C/P) Brendan Laney(P) |
David Slemen(T) Eric Elwood(C/3P) |
|
Sat 10 Sep 05 |
Murrayfield |
34 |
3 |
Simon Webster(T) Penalty Try(T) Allister Hogg(T) Rob Dewey(T) Chris Paterson(T/3C/P) |
Paul Warwick(P) |
|
Fri 5 May 06 |
Sportsground |
22 |
16 |
Alasdair Dickinson(T) Penalty Try(T) Marcus Di Rollo(T) Chris Paterson(2C/P) |
Tom Tierney(T) Mark McHugh(C/3P) |
|
Fri 22 Sep 06 |
Sportsground |
22 |
22 |
Chris Paterson(T/C/4P) Duncan Hodge(P) |
Matt Mostyn(T) Mark McHugh(C/5P) |
|
Fri 26 Jan 07 |
Murrayfield |
49 |
31 |
Rob Dewey(2T) Phil Godman(P) Simon Webster(2T) John Senio(T) Duncan Hodge(5C/2P) Alasdair Strokosch(T) |
Paul Warwick(3C/P) David Gannon(T) David Slemen(C) Conor McPhillips(2T) Danny Riordan(T) |
|
Fri 26 Oct 07 |
Sportsground |
14 |
14 |
David Blair(2C) Ross Rennie(T) Nick De Luca(T) |
Tim Donnelly(3P) Robbie Morris(T) |
Edinburgh Rugby are winless in their last three matches in all competitions but did draw 10-all last time out against Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade in the Magners League on 29 February.
Connacht have lost their last three games in all competitions, whilst their only away win since September 2006 was 60-0 against Spanish outfit El Salvador in the European Challenge Cup on 13 January. Connacht have not won in Scotland since a 29-15 victory at the now defunct Border Reivers in the Magners League on 1 September 2006.
Connacht have not beaten Edinburgh since a 16-13 win at Murrayfield in March 2005.
LEINSTER v GLASGOW WARRIORS
At RDS, Dublin, 7.30pm. Live on Setanta Sports.
Referee: Hugh Watkins (WRU), Touch Judges:
TMO:
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HEAD TO HEAD - PREVIOUS LEAGUE MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
L |
G |
Leinster scorers |
Glasgow Warriors scorers |
|
Fri 26 Nov 99 |
Hughenden |
17 |
29 |
Mark McHugh(2C/P) Shane Byrne(T) Penalty Try(T) |
Shaun Longstaff(2T) Tommy Hayes(T/3C/P) Roland Reid(T) |
|
Fri 17 Aug 01 |
Donnybrook |
39 |
11 |
Girvan Dempsey(T) Gordon D'Arcy(T) Andy Dunne(T) Brian O'Meara(3C/6P) |
Tommy Hayes(2P) Andy Nicol(T) |
|
Fri 7 Dec 01 |
Lansdowne Road SF |
35 |
13 |
Girvan Dempsey(T) Denis Hickie(T) Brian O'Driscoll(T) Shane Horgan(T) Nathan Spooner(3C/2P) Brian O'Meara(P) |
Michael Bartlett(T) Tommy Hayes(C/2P) |
|
Fri 6 Sep 02 |
Hughenden |
21 |
25 |
Kieran Lewis(T) Brian O'Meara(C/3P) Ben Gissing(T) |
Stuart Moffat(T) Jon Steel(T) Tommy Hayes(T/C/2P) Calvin Howarth(C) |
|
Fri 31 Oct 03 |
Hughenden |
31 |
10 |
Peter McKenna(T) Gordon D'Arcy(T) Aidan Kearney(T) Brian O'Meara(2C/4P) |
Rory McKay(T) Calvin Howarth(C) Dan Parks(P) |
|
Fri 2 Apr 04 |
Donnybrook |
31 |
30 |
Ben Gissing(T) James Norton(T) James Downey(T) Brian O'Meara(2C/4P) |
Glenn Metcalfe(T) Dan Parks(T/3C/3P) Gordon Bulloch(T) |
|
Fri 26 Nov 04 |
Donnybrook |
22 |
16 |
David Holwell(T/2C/P) Shane Jennings(T) Ben Gissing(T) |
Colin Shaw(T) Calvin Howarth(C/3P) |
|
Sat 16 Apr 05 |
Hughenden |
30 |
23 |
Girvan Dempsey(T) Kieran Lewis(T) Ben Gissing(T) David Holwell(3C/3P) |
Rory Lamont(T) Dan Parks(T/2C/3P) |
|
Sat 10 Sep 05 |
Donnybrook |
26 |
21 |
Rob Kearney(T) Kieran Lewis(T) Felipe Contepomi(2C/4P) |
Craig Hamilton(T) Rory Lamont(T) Dan Parks(C/D/2P) |
|
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) Jonathan Sexton(D/3P) |
Colin Gregor(D/P) Bernardo Stortoni(T) Hefin O'Hare(T) Moray Low(T) |
Table topping Leinster continue to set the pace in the Magners League and have won their last seven matches in the competition since drawing 16-16 in Ulster on 26 October. Leinster have suffered just one home defeat in their last 29 matches in all competitions: 23-52 to the Scarlets in the Magners League on 5 October. The only Scottish side ever to have beaten Leinster in Dublin in a competitive match is Edinburgh, who have done so twice in the League in 2003 and 2005.
Glasgow Warriors ended a four game losing run with victory at home to the Ospreys last time out. The Warriors' only away win in their last nine trips was 18-15 at Viadana in the European Cup on 12 January. Glasgow's last win in Ireland was 24-10 over Ulster at Ravenhill on 27 April.
Glasgow have won the last two matches they have played against Leinster and are going for a first ever season's double over the Irishmen, having won 21-17 at Firhill Arena in October.
LLANELLI SCARLETS v CARDIFF BLUES
At Stradey Park, 7.10pm. Live on BBC Sport Wales.
Referee: Tim Hayes (WRU), Touch Judges: Phil Fear (WRU), Huw Griffiths (WRU)
TMO: Tony Rowlands (WRU)
|
HEAD TO HEAD - PREVIOUS LEAGUE MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
L |
C |
Llanelli Scarlets scorers |
Cardiff Blues scorers |
|
Sat 18 Oct 03 |
Stradey Park |
35 |
20 |
Matthew Watkins(T) Tal Selley(T) Gareth Bowen(2C/7P) |
Lee Abdul(T) Nick Robinson(2C/2P) Andy Moore(T) |
|
Sat 13 Mar 04 |
Arms Park |
6 |
0 |
Gareth Bowen(2P) |
|
|
Sun 7 Nov 04 |
Arms Park |
10 |
14 |
Barry Davies(T) Gareth Bowen(C/P) |
Dean Dewdney(T) Lee Thomas(3P) |
|
Sun 20 Mar 05 |
Stradey Park |
25 |
13 |
Phil John(T) Andy Powell(T) Vernon Cooper(T) Gareth Bowen(2C/2P) |
Martin Jones(T) Lee Thomas(C/2P) |
|
Wed 14 Sep 05 |
Arms Park |
16 |
20 |
Paul Mackey(T) Lee Byrne(T) Mike Hercus(P) Gareth Bowen(P) |
Mike Phillips(T) Andy Powell(T) Nick Robinson(2C/D/P) |
|
Mon 2 Jan 06 |
Stradey Park |
32 |
13 |
Martyn Madden(T) Mark Jones(T) Regan King(T) Matthew Watkins(T) Dwayne Peel(T) Gareth Bowen(2C/P) |
Martyn Williams(T) Roger Warren(C/2P) |
|
Mon 1 Jan 07 |
Arms Park |
10 |
29 |
Penalty Try(T) Ceiron Thomas(C/P) |
Ben Blair(3C/P) Chris Czekaj(T) Tom James(T) Scott Morgan(T) Penalty Try(T) |
|
Sat 5 May 07 |
Stradey Park |
38 |
10 |
Barry Davies(2T) Matthew Watkins(2T) Stephen Jones(3C/4P) |
Nick Robinson(C/P) Xavier Rush(T) |
Llanelli Scarlets' only win in their last six matches in all competitions was 30-7 at home to Glasgow in the Magners League on 15 February. The Scarlets have won their last four matches at Stradey Park in the Magners League.
Cardiff Blues ended a three game losing streak in the Magners League with victory at home to Munster on 1 March. The Blues have won three of their last four matches against fellow Welsh regions.
The last six encounters between the two teams have all gone the way of the home side on the day, whilst the Blues have lost on all four previous visits to Stradey Park.
Saturday 22 March
MUNSTER v ULSTER
At Musgrave Park, 7.30pm. Live on Setanta Sports.
Referee: Touch Judges:
TMO:
|
HEAD TO HEAD - PREVIOUS LEAGUE MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
M |
U |
Munster scorers |
Ulster scorers |
|
Sat 8 Dec 01 |
Lansdowne Road SF |
15 |
9 |
Ronan O'Gara(5P) |
David Humphreys(3P) |
|
Fri 27 Sep 02 |
Ravenhill |
17 |
26 |
Jeremy Staunton(D/2P) Jason Holland(D) Mossie Lawlor(T) |
Neil Doak(2T/2C/4P) |
|
Fri 3 Jan 03 |
Thomond Park SF |
42 |
10 |
John Kelly(T) Mike Mullins(T) Ronan O'Gara(3C/3P) John Hayes(T) Alan Quinlan(T) Killian Keane(C) Mick Galwey(T) |
David Humphreys(T/C/P) |
|
Fri 10 Oct 03 |
Musgrave Park |
15 |
16 |
Jeremy Staunton(5P) |
Seamus Mallon(T) Adam Larkin(C/3P) |
|
Fri 5 Mar 04 |
Ravenhill |
13 |
36 |
Frank Murphy(T) Mossie Lawlor(C/2P) |
Paddy Wallace(T/2C) Neil McMillan(T) Matt Sexton(T) Scott Young(T) Adam Larkin(4P) |
|
Sat 6 Nov 04 |
Ravenhill |
24 |
3 |
Mossie Lawlor(T) Shaun Payne(T) Paul Burke(C/4P) |
Adam Larkin(P) |
|
Fri 18 Mar 05 |
Musgrave Park |
21 |
15 |
John Kelly(T) David Wallace(T) Paul Burke(C/3P) |
Roger Wilson(T) Tommy Bowe(T) Paddy Wallace(C/D) |
|
Sat 3 Dec 05 |
Musgrave Park |
17 |
20 |
Jerry Flannery(T) David Wallace(T) Ronan O'Gara(2C/D) |
Andrew Trimble(T) Tommy Bowe(T) David Humphreys(2C/2P) |
|
Fri 3 Mar 06 |
Ravenhill |
3 |
27 |
Paul Burke(P) |
Tommy Bowe(T) Roger Wilson(T) Paul Steinmetz(T) Justin Harrison(T) Neil McMillan(T) David Humphreys(C) |
|
Sat 30 Sep 06 |
Musgrave Park |
21 |
13 |
David Wallace(T) Anthony Horgan(T) Ronan O'Gara(C/3P) |
Paul Steinmetz(T) David Humphreys(C/2P) |
|
Fri 23 Mar 07 |
Ravenhill |
24 |
21 |
Brian Carney(T) Eoghan Hickey(C/P) Trevor Halstead(T) Jeremy Manning(2C) John O'Sullivan(T) |
David Humphreys(3C) Paul Steinmetz(T) Andrew Trimble(T) Roger Wilson(T) |
Munster tripped up at Cardiff Blues in their most recent game on 1 March, but at home the Munstermen have won six of their last seven matches in all competitions. Munster's only defeat to a fellow Irish province in their last six encounters was 3-10 to Leinster in Cork in the Magners League on 30 November.
Ulster have won three of their last four matches in all competitions, but they have won just once on the road this season: 30-13 at Connacht in the Magners League on 23 November.
Munster have won their last two matches against Ulster, whilst Ulster have been victorious in two of their last four visits to Musgrave Park.
OPSREYS v NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS
Game postponed due to Ospreys involvement in Anglo-Welsh Cup semi-final.
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