Also on Friday night Connacht will be looking to rewrite over 20 years of history and claim a success against third placed Munster who, with a game in hand over the leaders, are still in the running for two trophies this season, the Magners League and the Heineken Cup.
Friday's third game will see Ospreys and Ulster meeting for the fourth time this season, an Ulster victory will make it honours shared and keep them clear of the bottom of the table.
Finally in Wales on Sunday victory could see the Newport Gwent Dragons overtake their visitors, Glasgow Warriors, and depending on results elsewhere further their European ambitions by elevating them to the third placed Welsh team.
ROUND 14 PREVIEWS
Friday 28 March
OSPREYS v ULSTER
At Liberty Stadium, 7.10pm. Live on BBC Sport Wales and Setanta Sports.
Referee: Peter Allan (SRU) Touch Judges: James Jones (WRU), Huw David (WRU)
TMO: Hugh Watkins (WRU)
|
HEAD TO HEAD - PREVIOUS LEAGUE MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
O |
U |
Ospreys scorers |
Ulster scorers |
|
Fri 5 Sep 03 |
The Gnoll |
41 |
30 |
Dave Tiueti(T) Adrian Durston(T) Gavin Henson(2T/C/P) Shaun Connor(2C/4P) |
Shane Stewart(T) Ronan McCormack(T) Andy Ward(T) Paddy Wallace(3C/3P) |
|
Fri 13 Feb 04 |
Ravenhill |
19 |
31 |
Gareth Morris(T) Dave Tiueti(T) Gavin Henson(C) Shaun Connor(C) Barry Williams(T) |
Neil Best(T) Scott Young(T) Paddy Wallace(T) Warren Brosnihan(T) Adam Larkin(4C/P) |
|
Sat 25 Sep 04 |
Ravenhill |
37 |
24 |
Shane Williams(T) David Bishop(T) Dave Tiueti(T) Sonny Parker(T) Gavin Henson(4C/D/2P) |
Bryn Cunningham(T) Kevin Maggs(T) Campbell Feather(T) David Humphreys(3C/P) |
|
Fri 21 Jan 05 |
St Helen's |
22 |
21 |
Gavin Henson(T/C/5P) |
Andrew Maxwell(T) Tommy Bowe(T) David Humphreys(C/3P) |
|
Fri 4 Nov 05 |
Ravenhill |
20 |
12 |
Jason Spice(T) Shaun Connor(D/4P) |
Paul Steinmetz(4P) |
|
Fri 26 May 06 |
Liberty Stadium |
17 |
19 |
Jonny Vaughton(T) Jason Spice(T) Gavin Henson(2C/P) |
Matt McCullough(T) David Humphreys(C/D/3P) |
|
Fri 22 Sep 06 |
Ravenhill |
7 |
43 |
Lee Byrne(T) James Hook(C) |
Rory Best(T) Tommy Bowe(T) Paul Steinmetz(T) Neil McMillan(T) David Humphreys(4C/5P) |
|
Sat 27 Jan 07 |
Liberty Stadium |
29 |
22 |
Nikki Walker(2T) Shaun Connor(2C/2D/3P) |
Stephen Ferris(T) Paul Steinmetz(C/5P) |
|
Fri 21 Sep 07 |
Ravenhill |
16 |
17 |
Andrew Bishop(T) Shaun Connor(C/3P) |
Niall O'Connor(4P) Simon Danielli(T) |
Ospreys only defeat in their last nine games in all competitions at Liberty Stadium was 19-26 to table topping Leinster on 23 November.
Ulster suffered their biggest ever league defeat at Munster on Saturday, and have won just once away from home since April 2007: 30-13 at Connacht on 23 November. Ulster's last win in Wales was 32-15 at the Dragons in the Magners League on 9 September 2006.
The two sides have already met on three occasions this season, with Ospreys winning home and away in the European Cup, but Ulster taking the Magners League encounter 17-16 at Ravenhill in September.
CONNACHT v MUNSTER
At Sportsground, 7.30pm. Live on Setanta Sports.
Referee: Simon McDowell (IRFU), Touch Judges: Colin Stanley (IRFU), Eanna O'Dowd (IRFU).
TMO: M Black (IRFU).
|
HEAD TO HEAD - PREVIOUS LEAGUE MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
C |
M |
Connacht scorers |
Munster scorers |
|
Tue 28 Aug 01 |
Thomond Park |
19 |
40 |
Eric Elwood(C/4P) Eoin Reddan(T) |
Jeremy Staunton(T/2C/7P) John O'Neill(T) Marcus Horan(T) |
|
Fri 29 Nov 02 |
Musgrave Park QF |
3 |
33 |
Mark McHugh(P) |
Mike Mullins(2T) Mossie Lawlor(T) Ronan O'Gara(2C/3P) Penalty Try(T) |
|
Fri 2 Jan 04 |
Dubarry Park |
0 |
3 |
|
Ronan O'Gara(P) |
|
Fri 7 May 04 |
Thomond Park |
10 |
39 |
Penalty Try(T) Eric Elwood(C/P) |
Anthony Foley(T) David Wallace(2T) Jason Holland(T) David Pusey(T) Christian Cullen(T/C) Jeremy Staunton(2C/P) |
|
Sat 11 Sep 04 |
Musgrave Park |
27 |
27 |
Niall O'Brien(T) Conor McPhillips(T) Adrian Clarke(T) Paul Warwick(3C/2P) |
Anthony Horgan(T) Denis Leamy(T) Shaun Payne(T) Christian Cullen(T) Paul Burke(2C/P) |
|
Mon 27 Dec 04 |
Sportsground |
0 |
3 |
|
Paul Burke(P) |
|
Sat 1 Oct 05 |
Sportsground |
19 |
44 |
Conor McPhillips(T) David Slemen(2P) Paul Warwick(C/2P) |
Gary Connolly(2T) Frank Sheahan(T) Marcus Horan(T) Federico Pucciariello(T) Ronan O'Gara(4C/3P) Paul Burke(C) |
|
Tue 27 Dec 05 |
Thomond Park |
17 |
36 |
Joe Merrigan(T) Paul Warwick(T/2C/P) |
Denis Leamy(T) Paul O'Connell(T) Anthony Horgan(T) Federico Pucciariello(T) Jeremy Manning(C/4P) Ronan O'Gara(C) |
|
Sun 3 Dec 06 |
Thomond Park |
0 |
13 |
|
Ronan O'Gara(C/2P) Christian Cullen(T) |
|
Sun 31 Dec 06 |
Sportsground |
8 |
14 |
Mark McHugh(P) Gavin Williams(T) |
Ronan O'Gara(P) Jeremy Manning(2P) Tomas O'Leary(T) |
|
Thu 27 Dec 07 |
Musgrave Park |
0 |
17 |
|
Paul Warwick(4P) Denis Leamy(T) |
Connacht have lost their last three matches in the Magners League since a 20-18 victory at home to the Scarlets on 4 January. Connacht have won just one of their last 24 games against fellow Irish provinces since March 2004: 22-12 over Ulster in Galway on New Year's Eve 2005.
Munster have won three of their last four games in the Magners League. Munster have also won six of their last seven encounters against fellow Irish provinces.
Connacht have not beaten Munster since an 11-9 victory at Musgrave Park in the Irish Interprovincial Championship on 22 November 1986.
EDINBURGH RUGBY v CARDIFF BLUES
At Murrayfield, 7.30pm.
Referee: Alan Lewis (IRFU) Touch Judges: Rob Dickson (SRU), John Ferns (SRU)
|
HEAD TO HEAD - PREVIOUS LEAGUE MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
E |
C |
Edinburgh scorers |
Cardiff Blues scorers |
|
Fri 6 Feb 04 |
Meadowbank |
10 |
50 |
Conan Sharman(T) Alistair Warnock(C/D) |
Donovan Van Vuuren(T) Nick Walne(T) Matt Cockbain(T) Rob Appleyard(T) Matt Allen(T) Jonny Vaughton(T) Nick Macleod(T) Nick Robinson(6C/P) |
|
Thu 13 May 04 |
Arms Park |
22 |
55 |
Mike Blair(T) Alistair Warnock(T/2C/P) Conan Sharman(T) |
T.Rhys Thomas(T) Iestyn Harris(4C/P) Jamie Robinson(2T) Dan Baugh(T) Rhys Williams(2T) Andrew Lewis(T) Nick Robinson(2C) Pieter Muller(T) |
|
Sat 2 Oct 04 |
Murrayfield |
35 |
16 |
Derrick Lee(T) Mike Pyke(T) Chris Paterson(2C/7P) |
Penalty Try(T) Nick Macleod(C/3P) |
|
Fri 28 Jan 05 |
Arms Park |
17 |
12 |
Derrick Lee(T) Simon Webster(T) Brendan Laney(2C/P) |
Ryan Powell(T) Martin Jones(T) Nick Macleod(C) |
|
Fri 27 Jan 06 |
Arms Park |
13 |
9 |
Francisco Leonelli Morey(T) Duncan Hodge(C/P) Rory Lawson(D) |
Lee Thomas(3P) |
|
Fri 7 Apr 06 |
Murrayfield |
10 |
21 |
Allister Hogg(T) Chris Paterson(C/P) |
Nick Robinson(2T/3C) Gethin Jenkins(T) |
|
Fri 3 Nov 06 |
Murrayfield |
13 |
23 |
Andrew Kelly(T) Chris Paterson(C/2P) |
Ben White(T) Ben Blair(C/2P) Tom James(T) Xavier Rush(T) |
|
Sat 14 Apr 07 |
Arms Park |
0 |
48 |
|
Ben Blair(2T/3C) Andy Powell(T) Rhys Williams(3T) Nick Macleod(T/C) Mike Phillips(T) |
|
Fri 4 Jan 08 |
Arms Park |
11 |
10 |
Phil Godman(D/P) Andrew Turnbull(T) |
Ben Blair(C/P) Xavier Rush(T) |
Edinburgh Rugby have lost just one of their last seven games in the Magners League: 7-11 at home to Munster on 15 February. Edinburgh have suffered only one reversal in five matches against Welsh sides this season: 13-19 at home to the Dragons on 12 October.
Cardiff Blues have won just one of their last five encounters in the Magners League: 25-22 at home to Munster on 1 March. The Blues have lost their last two matches against Scottish teams.
Edinburgh won 11-10 when the two teams met at the Arms Park in January and are going for a league double over the Blues for the first time since season 2004/05.
Saturday 29 March
LLANELLI SCARLETS v LEINSTER
At Stradey Park, 5.30pm. Live on S4/C and Setanta Sports.
Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (IRFU). Touch Judges: Hugh Watkins (WRU), Simon Harris (WRU).
TMO: Tony Rowlands (WRU)
|
HEAD TO HEAD - PREVIOUS LEAGUE MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
LS |
Le |
Llanelli Scarlets scorers |
Leinster scorers |
|
Fri 7 Nov 03 |
Donnybrook |
20 |
31 |
Tal Selley(T) Ian Boobyer(T) Barry Davies(2C) Gareth Bowen(2P) |
Christian Warner(T) John McWeeney(2T) Brian O'Meara(2C/4P) |
|
Fri 16 Apr 04 |
Stradey Park |
51 |
20 |
Dwayne Peel(2T) Barry Davies(2T) Garan Evans(T) Jon Thiel(T) Stephen Jones(6C/3P) |
John McWeeney(2T) Shane Horgan(T) Felipe Contepomi(P) Brian O'Meara(C) |
|
Sun 14 Nov 04 |
Racecourse Ground |
24 |
22 |
Matthew Watkins(T) Aisea Havili Kaufusi(T) Barry Davies(T) Gareth Bowen(3C/P) |
Ricky Nebbett(T) David Holwell(C/5P) |
|
Fri 25 Mar 05 |
Lansdowne Road |
25 |
31 |
Tal Selley(T) Gareth Bowen(C/D/5P) |
Denis Hickie(T) David Holwell(C/8P) |
|
Sat 7 Jan 06 |
Stradey Park |
20 |
18 |
Matthew Watkins(T) Barry Davies(T/P) Mike Hercus(2C/P) |
Gordon D'Arcy(T) Denis Hickie(T) Felipe Contepomi(C/2P) |
|
Fri 14 Apr 06 |
Lansdowne Road |
22 |
30 |
Iestyn Thomas(T) Lee Byrne(T) Gavin Thomas(T) Ceiron Thomas(2C/P) |
Cameron Jowitt(T) Brian Blaney(T) Guy Easterby(T) Girvan Dempsey(T) Felipe Contepomi(2C/2P) |
|
Sat 23 Sep 06 |
Stradey Park |
33 |
21 |
Dafydd James(2T) Inoke Afeaki(T) Regan King(T) Stephen Jones(2C/3P) |
Denis Hickie(2T) Trevor Hogan(T) Felipe Contepomi(3C) |
|
Fri 26 Jan 07 |
Donnybrook |
34 |
44 |
Barry Davies(T/C) Clive Stuart-Smith(T) Matthew Watkins(C) Regan King(T) Morgan Stoddart(T) Ceiron Thomas(C/P) Dafydd James(T) |
Gary Brown(T) Felipe Contepomi(5C/3P) Jamie Heaslip(2T) Stephen Keogh(T) Kieran Lewis(T) |
|
Fri 5 Oct 07 |
Royal Dublin Society |
52 |
23 |
Jonathan Edwards(2T) James Bater(T) Matthew Watkins(T) Regan King(T) Rhys Priestland(5C/4P) Morgan Stoddart(T) |
Jamie Heaslip(T) Christian Warner(T) Stan Wright(T) Jonathan Sexton(C/2P) |
Llanelli Scarlets have won their last five Magners League games at Stradey Park since the Dragons won there 30-23 on 1 September. The Scarlets have lost their last four matches in all competitions against the Irish provinces.
Leinster, who are flying high at the top of the Magners League have won their last eight matches in the competition. The Irishmen have suffered just one reversal at the hands of the Welsh regions this season: 23-52 at home to today's opponents, the Scarlets, on 5 October.
The Scarlets have the chance to be the first team to achieve a league double in the same season in the series of matches between these two teams.
NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS v GLASGOW WARRIORS
At Rodney Parade, 4.05pm. Live on S4/C and Setanta Sports.
Referee: Alain Rolland (IRFU). Touch Judges: David Bodliy (WRU), David Williams (WRU).
TMO: Gareth Simmonds (WRU).
|
HEAD TO HEAD - PREVIOUS LEAGUE MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
N |
G |
Newport Gwent Dragons scorers |
Glasgow Warriors scorers |
|
Sun 12 Oct 03 |
Rodney Parade |
27 |
5 |
Jason Forster(T) Rhys M. Thomas(T) Craig Warlow(C/5P) |
Sean Lamont(T) |
|
Fri 5 Mar 04 |
Hughenden |
20 |
48 |
Percy Montgomery(T/5P) |
Dan Parks(T/5C/P) Donnie Macfadyen(T) Rory Kerr(2T) Sam Pinder(T) Roland Reid(T) Dave Millard(T) |
|
Fri 24 Sep 04 |
Hughenden |
38 |
29 |
Gareth Cooper(T) Jamie Ringer(T) Kevin Morgan(T) Rod Snow(T) Ceri Sweeney(3C/3P) Sione Tuipulotu(D) |
Donnie Macfadyen(T) Paul Dearlove(T) Dan Parks(2C/5P) |
|
Sat 22 Jan 05 |
Rodney Parade |
21 |
16 |
Ceri Sweeney(T/3C) Chris Anthony(T) Percy Montgomery(T) |
Kevin Tkachuk(T) Dan Parks(C/D/2P) |
|
Fri 2 Sep 05 |
Hughenden |
21 |
15 |
Jason Forster(2T) Gareth Wyatt(T) Craig Warlow(3C) |
Stevie Swindall(T) Dan Parks(C/P) Mike Roberts(T) |
|
Fri 28 Apr 06 |
Rodney Parade |
32 |
18 |
Jason Forster(2T) Adam Black(T) Nathan Brew(T) Craig Warlow(3C/2P) |
Dan Parks(T/C/2P) Colin Shaw(T) |
|
Fri 1 Sep 06 |
Hughenden |
24 |
23 |
Ceri Sweeney(T/C/3P) Aled Brew(T) Mike Hercus(D) |
Sam Pinder(T) Graeme Morrison(T) Dan Parks(2C/2P) Colin Gregor(P) |
|
Fri 2 Mar 07 |
Rodney Parade |
13 |
3 |
Ceri Sweeney(C/2P) Ashley Smith(T) |
Dan Parks(P) |
|
Fri 4 Jan 08 |
Firhill Arena |
18 |
16 |
Joe Bearman(T) Peter Sidoli(T) Ceri Sweeney(C/2P) |
Dan Parks(C/3P) Sam Pinder(T) |
Newport Gwent Dragons have not won a game since their 18-16 victory at Glasgow in the Magners League on 4 January, whilst the Dragons have won just once at Rodney Parade in all competitions since October.
Glasgow Warriors' only win in their last six encounters in the Magners League was 9-6 at home to the Ospreys on 29 February. Glasgow are winless away from home in the Magners League this season, and have not won in Wales since a 57-30 victory at Stradey Park in April 2005.
In nine previous encounters between the two sides Glasgow have won just once: 48-20 at Hughenden in March 2004.
63x46.png){kind=logo}