The third undefeated side Munster come of the back of their big win over the Newport Gwent Dragons last weekend with another home game against Welsh opposition - this time Cardiff Blues - on Saturday evening.
Elsewhere two teams without a win meet on Friday night - when the Dragons visit Ireland again - this time to face Ulster in Belfast, while the final fixture, also on Friday night, pits the Glasgow Warriors against Connacht, who are looking for their first points in the league so far this season, in Galway.
For full match previews updated tables and the latest Specsavers Fairplay League see the attached PDF file.
For live scoring from all Magners League games visit www.magnersleague.com
ROUND 3 PREVIEWS
Friday 19 September
CONNACHT v GLASGOW WARRIORS
At Sportsground, 6.30pm.
Referee: David Bodilly (WRU). Assistant Referees: M Hermin (IRFU), D Moloney (IRFU).
|
HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT Magners League MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
C |
G |
Connacht scorers |
Glasgow Warriors scorers |
|
Fri 4 Nov 05 |
Hughenden |
15 |
30 |
Andrew Farley(T) Conor McPhillips(T) Paul Warwick(C/P) |
Graydon Staniforth(T) Dan Turner(T) Colin Gregor(T/3C/3P) |
|
Fri 26 May 06 |
Sportsground |
33 |
7 |
Matt Lacey(T) John Fogarty(T) Chris Keane(T) David Gannon(T) David Slemen(T) Mark McHugh(4C) |
Sam Pinder(T) Colin Gregor(C) |
|
Fri 3 Nov 06 |
Hughenden |
34 |
39 |
Paul Warwick(P) Mark McHugh(C/D/2P) Darren Yapp(T) Brendan O'Connor(T) Ray Ofisa Treviranus(T) Danny Riordan(T) |
John Barclay(T) Francisco Leonelli Morey(T) Alastair Kellock(T) Dan Parks(T/4C/2P) Graeme Morrison(T) |
|
Fri 13 Apr 07 |
Sportsground |
23 |
40 |
Paul Warwick(T/C/2P) Conor McPhillips(T) Penalty Try(T) |
John Barclay(T) Kevin Tkachuk(T) Dan Parks(4C/D/3P) Rory Lamont(T) Hefin O'Hare(T) |
|
Fri 5 Oct 07 |
Firhill Arena |
15 |
16 |
Tim Donnelly(2D/3P) |
Johnnie Beattie(T) Colin Gregor(C/3P) |
|
Fri 30 Nov 07 |
Sportsground |
10 |
6 |
Andy Dunne(C/P) Adrian Flavin(T) |
Dan Parks(2P) |
Connacht have slipped to successive Magners League defeats, whilst their only home win since January was 24-20 over Ospreys on 9 May.
Glasgow Warriors' six game winning run in the Magners League came to a halt at home to Ospreys last Friday night. However the Warriors are on a hot streak away from home with a Scottish record of four successive away league victories.
Each side won its respective home game in last season's Magners League, but the Warriors have won in Galway twice before: in 2001 and 2007.
Friday 19 September
EDINBURGH RUGBY v LLANELLI SCARLETS
At Murrayfield, 7.30pm.
Referee: Alan Lewis (IRFU). Assistant Referees: David Changleng (SRU), Peter Carruthers (SRU)
|
HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT Magners League MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
E |
L |
Edinburgh scorers |
Llanelli Scarlets scorers |
|
Fri 2 Sep 05 |
Stradey Park |
21 |
15 |
Chris Paterson(T/C/3P) Mike Blair(T) |
Barry Davies(2T) Mike Hercus(C/P) |
|
Fri 28 Apr 06 |
Murrayfield |
35 |
18 |
Simon Webster(2T) Craig Smith(T) Alasdair Strokosch(T) Chris Paterson(3C/3P) |
Dafydd James(T) Mark Jones(T) Gareth Bowen(P) Mike Hercus(C/P) |
|
Fri 5 Jan 07 |
Murrayfield |
24 |
14 |
Duncan Hodge(D/2P) Chris Paterson(5P) |
Darren Daniel(T) Stephen Jones(3P) |
|
Sun 29 Apr 07 |
Stradey Park |
17 |
42 |
David Callam(T) Phil Godman(2C/P) Allan Jacobsen(T) |
Iestyn Thomas(T) Matthew Watkins(2T) Scott Macleod(T) Regan King(T) Ceiron Thomas(C) Stephen Jones(T/5C) |
|
Sun 25 Nov 07 |
Murrayfield |
27 |
17 |
David Blair(3P) Nick de Luca(T) Phil Godman(C/2P) Andrew Maxwell(T) |
Regan King(3T) Rhys Priestland(C) |
|
Sat 10 May 08 |
Stradey Park |
29 |
12 |
Ben Gissing(T) Phil Godman(2C) Mike Blair(T) Greig Laidlaw(P) Calum MacRae(C) Allister Hogg(T) Andrew Turnbull(T) |
Mo Schwalger(T) Rhys Priestland(C) Dafydd James(T) |
Edinburgh Rugby have stumbled to back to back defeats in the Magners League, but at least have won their last two encounters against teams from Wales.
Llanelli Scarlets have made their best start to a league season since they won their first three matches as a region in September 2003. Scarlets' only victory in their last eight visits to Scotland in all competitions was 19-13 against Border Reivers at Galashiels on 10 November 2006.
Edinburgh achieved a Magners League double over Llanelli Scarlets last season, whilst the Scarlets only win in their last six clashes with the Scotsmen was 42-17 at Stradey Park on 29 April 2007. Scarlets have lost on all five previous visits to Murrayfield.
Friday 19 September
LEINSTER v OSPREYS
At RDS Dublin, 7.35pm. Live on Setanta Sports and BBC Sport Wales.
Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU). Assistant Referees: G Clancy (IRFU), D McCormack (IRFU).
TMO: Dudley Phillips (IRFU).
|
HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT Magners League MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
L |
O |
Leinster scorers |
Ospreys scorers |
|
Sun 4 Sep 05 |
Liberty Stadium |
20 |
22 |
Rob Kearney(T) Felipe Contepomi(5P) |
Andrew Bishop(2T) Barry Williams(T) Matthew Jones(2C/P) |
|
Sat 29 Apr 06 |
Lansdowne Road |
38 |
21 |
Guy Easterby(2T) Felipe Contepomi(T/2C/3P) Jamie Heaslip(T) Niall Ronan(T) |
Jonny Vaughton(T) Gavin Henson(T/C/3P) |
|
Sat 6 Jan 07 |
Donnybrook |
45 |
22 |
Felipe Contepomi(5C/P) Denis Hickie(T) Brian O'Driscoll(2T) Rob Kearney(2T) Keith Gleeson(T) Johnny Sexton(C) |
Brent Cockbain(T) Richie Pugh(T) Shaun Connor(2C/P) Stefan Terblanche(T) |
|
Fri 27 Apr 07 |
Liberty Stadium |
17 |
19 |
Felipe Contepomi(T/2C/P) Shane Horgan(T) |
James Hook(3P) Justin Marshall(T) Shaun Connor(C/P) |
|
Fri 23 Nov 07 |
Liberty Stadium |
26 |
19 |
Felipe Contepomi(2C/4P) Shane Horgan(T) Rob Kearney(T) |
Shaun Connor(C/D/3P) Gareth Owen(T) |
|
Sat 5 Jan 08 |
Royal Dublin Society |
26 |
15 |
Luke Fitzgerald(T) Felipe Contepomi(3C) Jamie Heaslip(T) Stephen Keogh(T) Shane Jennings(T) |
Ben Lewis(T) Shaun Connor(T/C/P) |
Leinster have a proud home record in Dublin with just one defeat in the Fair City in their last 27 matches in all competitions: 23-52 to Llanelli Scarlets in the Magners League on 5 October 2007.
Ospreys have begun their 2008/09 Magners League campaign with a perfect played 3, won 3 record - their best start since winning their first seven matches of the 2004/05 season.
Leinster have won four of the last five matches between the two teams, whilst Ospreys only previous win on Leinster soil was 16-12 at Donnybrook on 6 March 2005.
Friday 19 September
ULSTER v NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS
At Ravenhill 7.30pm.
Referee: Andy Macpherson (SRU). Assistant Referees: E O'Dowd (IRFU), M Gargan (IRFU)
|
HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT Magners League MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
U |
N |
Ulster scorers |
Newport Gwent Dragons scorers |
|
Sat 24 Sep 05 |
Rodney Parade |
22 |
19 |
Andrew Trimble(T) Neil Best(2T) Paddy Wallace(2C/P) |
Ian Gough(T) Craig Warlow(C/D/3P) |
|
Sat 25 Mar 06 |
Ravenhill |
24 |
17 |
Bryn Cunningham(T) Tommy Bowe(T) David Humphreys(T/3C/P) |
Steve Jones(T) Hal Luscombe(T) Craig Warlow(2C/P) |
|
Sat 9 Sep 06 |
Rodney Parade |
32 |
25 |
Andrew Maxwell(T) Bryn Cunningham(2T) Declan Fitzpatrick(T) David Humphreys(3C/2P) |
Nic Fitisemanu(T) Aled Brew(2T) Ceri Sweeney(2C/2P) |
|
Fri 16 Feb 07 |
Ravenhill |
14 |
7 |
David Humphreys(2C) Isaac Boss(T) Andrew Trimble(T) |
Aled Brew(T) Ceri Sweeney(C) |
|
Sat 6 Oct 07 |
Rodney Parade |
11 |
31 |
Tom Court(T) Niall O'Connor(2P) |
Luke Charteris(T) Rhodri Gomer Davies(T) Ceri Sweeney(2C/4P) Gareth Wyatt(T) |
|
Fri 15 Feb 08 |
Ravenhill |
38 |
13 |
Rory Best(T) Ryan Caldwell(T) Isaac Boss(T) Bryn Cunningham(T) Paddy Wallace(T) Niall O'Connor(4C) Simon Danielli(T) |
Phillip Dollman(T) Ceri Sweeney(2P) Aled Thomas(C) |
Ulster have slipped to four successive defeats with three of those games being played at the previous fortress of Ravenhill. Ulster have only once before lost four matches in a row in the league at Belfast - at the start of the 2004/05 campaign.
Newport Gwent Dragons have also begun the Magners League season with three straight reversals, and have not won on the road since an 18-16 victory against Glasgow at Firhill on 4 January. Head coach Paul Turner has never guided Dragons to an away victory in Ireland.
The last three matches between the two sides have been won by the home side on the day, whilst the Newport Gwent Dragons' only previous win at Ravenhill was 28-21 on 8 October 2004.
Saturday 20 September
MUNSTER v CARDIFF BLUES
At Musgrave Park, 7.30pm. Live on S4/C and Setanta Sports.
Referee: Peter Allan (SRU). Assistant Referees: A Rogan (IRFU), R Kerr (IRFU).
TMO: Olan Trevor (IRFU).
|
HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT Magners League MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
M |
C |
Munster scorers |
Cardiff Blues scorers |
|
Fri 4 Nov 05 |
Arms Park |
18 |
16 |
Paul Burke(5P) Jeremy Manning(P) |
Marc Stcherbina(T) Lee Thomas(C/3P) |
|
Sat 27 May 06 |
Thomond Park |
37 |
8 |
John Kelly(2T) Federico Pucciariello(T) Mossie Lawlor(T) Trevor Halstead(T) Jeremy Manning(C/2P) Paul Burke(2C) |
Duane Goodfield(T) Nick Macleod(P) |
|
Fri 1 Sep 06 |
Arms Park |
13 |
22 |
Tim Ryan(T) Jeremy Manning(C/2P) |
Chris Czekaj(T) Scott Morgan(T) Nick Robinson(4P) |
|
Fri 2 Mar 07 |
Musgrave Park |
12 |
19 |
Eoghan Hickey(4P) |
Ben Blair(C/4P) Tom James(T) |
|
Fri 5 Oct 07 |
Musgrave Park |
17 |
19 |
Paul Warwick(2C/P) Mark Melbourne(T) Niall Ronan(T) |
Tom James(2T) Nick Robinson(3P) |
|
Sat 1 Mar 08 |
Arms Park |
22 |
25 |
Paul Warwick(2C/P) Tony Buckley(T) Paul O'Connell(T) Shaun Payne(T) |
Ben Blair(2C/2P) Tal Selley(T) T.Rhys Thomas(T) Jamie Roberts(T) |
Munster have won three of their last four matches in the Magners League, whilst their only home defeat in any competition since last November was 18-21 to Glasgow at Musgrave Park on 10 May. Munster have won six of their last seven encounters against the Welsh regions.
Cardiff Blues have begun the season with an even record of a win, a draw and a loss from their three matches. The Blues are unbeaten in their last six games against Irish opponents since the 17-24 defeat to Leinster at the RDS in February.
Cardiff Blues have taken the last four Magners League encounters with Munster and have won on their last two visits to Cork.
63x46.png){kind=logo}