Also on Friday Leinster host a resurgent Edinburgh team who, following their defeat by European champions last week, will again be looking to overcome Irish opposition. Edinburgh will have a tough task on their hands as Leinster have not been defeated at home since October 2007.
The final game on Friday night sees Ospreys visit Glasgow Warriors, where all eyes will be on Dan Parks, should he be selected, to see if he can overtake David Humphreys to become the Magners League all time top points scorer.
On Saturday in what promises to be the emotional highlight of the weekend, the last scheduled Magners League game takes place at Stradey Park when Connacht are the visitors to the famous old ground.
The round wraps up on Sunday when Newport Gwent Dragons travel to Musgrave Park. Dragons face a difficult task as since March 2003 the only visiting Welsh team to win on Munster soil is Cardiff Blues, who did so twice in 2007.
ROUND 2 PREVIEWS
Friday 12 September
CARDIFF BLUES v ULSTER
At Arms Park, 7.05pm. Live on Setanta Sports and BBC Sport Wales.
Referee: Alan Lewis (IRFU) Assistant Referees: Hugh Watkins (WRU), Steve Edwards (WRU).
TMO: Gareth Simmonds (WRU).
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HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT Magners League MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
C |
U |
Cardiff Blues scorers |
Ulster scorers |
|
Fri 9 Sep 05 |
Arms Park |
22 |
25 |
Craig Morgan(T) Nick Robinson(C/5P) |
Tommy Bowe(T) David Humphreys(C/D/5P) |
|
Fri 5 May 06 |
Ravenhill |
17 |
26 |
Jamie Robinson(T) Nick Macleod(4P) |
Penalty Try(T) Roger Wilson(T) David Humphreys(2C/4P) |
|
Sat 14 Oct 06 |
Ravenhill |
12 |
32 |
Chris Czekaj(T) Wayne Evans(T) Nick Macleod(C) |
David Humphreys(2C/P) Paddy Wallace(T) Neil Best(T) Andrew Trimble(2T) Bryn Cunningham(T) |
|
Fri 20 Apr 07 |
Arms Park |
20 |
17 |
Ben Blair(C/P) Chris Czekaj(T) Tom Shanklin(T) Nick Macleod(C/D) |
Paul Steinmetz(2C/P) Andrew Trimble(T) Roger Wilson(T) |
|
Sat 19 Apr 08 |
Arms Park |
30 |
17 |
Ben Blair(3C/2P) Dai Flanagan(P) Jamie Roberts(T) Gareth Thomas(T) Martyn Williams(T) |
Tommy Bowe(T) Ryan Caldwell(T) Niall O'Connor(2C/P) |
|
Fri 9 May 08 |
Ravenhill |
26 |
17 |
Roger Davies(T) James Down(T) Ma'ama Molitika(2T) Leigh Halfpenny(3C) |
Tommy Bowe(T) Paddy Wallace(T/C) Simon Danielli(T) |
Cardiff Blues play at Ospreys on Tuesday. The Blues have been defeated just once at the Arms Park in their last eleven encounters in all competitions: 10-11 to Edinburgh in the Magners League on 4 January. The last Irish side to win at the Arms Park was Leinster, 30-19, on 28 September 2007.
Ulster have suffered three straight defeats in the Magners League and have won just once on the road since April 2007: 30-13 at Connacht on 23 November. The Ulstermen have not won in Wales since a 32-25 victory against Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade on 9 September 2006.
Cardiff Blues have won their last three meetings against Ulster, whilst the Irishmen's last win at the Arms Park was 25-22 on 9 September 2005.
Friday 12 September
GLASGOW WARRIORS v OSPREYS
At Firhill Arena 7.30pm.
Referee: Carlo Damasco (FIR). Assistant Referees: Stefano Penne (FIR), Ronnie Dumma (SRU).
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HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT Magners League MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
G |
O |
Glasgow Warriors scorers |
Ospreys scorers |
|
Fri 27 Jan 06 |
Old Anniesland |
8 |
22 |
Kevin Tkachuk(T) Colin Gregor(P) |
Adrian Cashmore(T/C/P) Shaun Connor(D/3P) |
|
Sat 8 Apr 06 |
Liberty Stadium |
13 |
16 |
Sam Pinder(T) Dan Parks(C/2P) |
Richard Mustoe(T) Steve Tandy(T) Gavin Henson(P) Shaun Connor(P) |
|
Fri 13 Oct 06 |
Liberty Stadium |
9 |
26 |
Colin Gregor(3P) |
Nikki Walker(T) Sonny Parker(T) Steve Tandy(T) Shane Williams(T) Gavin Henson(3C) |
|
Fri 4 May 07 |
Hughenden |
29 |
26 |
Dan Parks(T/2C/5P) Graeme Morrison(T) |
Lee Byrne(T) James Hook(C/2P) Shane Williams(2T) Shaun Connor(P) |
|
Sun 30 Sep 07 |
Liberty Stadium |
23 |
37 |
Colin Gregor(2C/3P) Sam Pinder(T) Colin Shaw(T) |
Lee Byrne(2T) Ben Lewis(T) Shaun Connor(2C/2D/4P) |
|
Fri 29 Feb 08 |
Firhill Arena |
9 |
6 |
Dan Parks(3P) |
Shaun Connor(2P) |
Glasgow Warriors are in the midst of their best ever winning run in the league with six straight victories since an 18-34 reversal to Leinster at the RDS on 21 March. The Warriors' last defeat at Firhill in the Magners League was 16-18 to the Dragons on 4 January.
Ospreys host Cardiff Blues on Tuesday night. The Welshmen are winless against Scottish opponents since beating Glasgow 37-23 at Liberty Stadium on 30 September 2007.
The last four matches between the two sides have been won by the home side on the day. Ospreys only win on Glasgow soil was 22-8 at Old Anniesland on 27 January 2006.
Dan Parks needs just three more points to pass David Humphreys' record for total league points in a career.
Friday 12 September
LEINSTER v EDINBURGH RUGBY
At RDS Dublin, 7.30pm. Live on Setanta Sports
Referee: Tim Hayes (WRU). Assistant Referees: M Black (IRFU), J Peake (IRFU).
TMO: Brian MacNeice (IRFU).
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HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT Magners League MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
L |
E |
Leinster scorers |
Edinburgh scorers |
|
Sun 6 Nov 05 |
Donnybrook |
13 |
27 |
Keith Gleeson(T) Brian O'Meara(C/2P) |
Peter Jorgensen(T) Fergus Pringle(T) Simon Webster(T) Alasdair Strokosch(T) Phil Godman(2C/P) |
|
Fri 26 May 06 |
Murrayfield |
31 |
8 |
Brian O'Driscoll(2T) Shane Horgan(T) Felipe Contepomi(T/4C/P) |
Scott Murray(T) Ander Monro(P) |
|
Fri 8 Sep 06 |
Murrayfield |
14 |
20 |
Ronan McCormack(T) Felipe Contepomi(3P) |
Allister Hogg(T) Duncan Hodge(T) Chris Paterson(2C/2P) |
|
Fri 16 Feb 07 |
Donnybrook |
13 |
6 |
Felipe Contepomi(C/2P) Jamie Heaslip(T) |
Duncan Hodge(2P) |
|
Sat 22 Sep 07 |
Royal Dublin Society |
23 |
8 |
Gary Brown(T) Luke Fitzgerald(T) Johnny Sexton(T/C/2P) |
Phil Godman(P) Andrew Turnbull(T) |
|
Fri 18 Apr 08 |
Murrayfield |
13 |
15 |
Luke Fitzgerald(T) Felipe Contepomi(C/2P) |
David Callam(T) Ross Ford(T) Phil Godman(C/P) |
Current Magners League champions Leinster have in fact won just one of their last four games in the competition: 41-8 over the Dragons at the RDS on 3 May. The Leinstermen's only home defeat in any competition at any ground since November 2005 was 23-52 to Llanelli Scarlets on 5 October 2007.
Edinburgh's three game winning run in the Magners League was brought to an end by Munster with a 15-20 reversal at Murrayfield on Friday. The Scotsmen have won their last two away games and another victory would equal the team's best ever away league run set in season 2002/03.
The last four encounters between the two sides have all been won by the home side on the day, whilst Edinburgh's last win on Leinster soil was 27-13 at Donnybrook on 6 November 2005.
Saturday 13 September
LLANELLI SCARLETS v CONNACHT
At Stradey Park, 5.30pm. Live on Setanta Sports and S4/C
Referee: Simon McDowell (IRFU). Assistant Referees: Matthew Alpin (WRU), Wayne Davies (WRU)
TMO: Tony Rowlands (WRU).
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HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT Magners League MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
L |
C |
Llanelli Scarlets scorers |
Connacht scorers |
|
Sat 17 Sep 05 |
Racecourse Ground |
25 |
17 |
Aled Gravelle(T) Inoke Afeaki(T) Lee Byrne(T) Gareth Bowen(2C/2P) |
Paul Warwick(T/C) Frik Venter(T) David Slemen(C/D) |
|
Sat 18 Feb 06 |
Sportsground |
19 |
33 |
Darren Daniel(T) Regan King(T) Mike Hercus(2P) Gareth Bowen(P) |
Colm Rigney(T) Paul Warwick(T/2C/4P) David Slemen(T/C) |
|
Fri 15 Sep 06 |
Sportsground |
37 |
15 |
Darren Daniel(T) Simon Easterby(T) Regan King(2T) Stephen Jones(4C/3P) |
Matt Mostyn(T) Mark McHugh(T/C/P) |
|
Fri 11 May 07 |
Stradey Park |
19 |
10 |
Gavin Evans(T) Ceiron Thomas(2T/2C) |
Mark McHugh(C/P) John Muldoon(T) |
|
Fri 28 Sep 07 |
Stradey Park |
34 |
11 |
Jonathan Davies(T) Regan King(T) Rhys Priestland(4C/2P) Morgan Stoddart(T) Vernon Cooper(T) |
Tim Donnelly(2P) John Fogarty(T) |
|
Fri 4 Jan 08 |
Sportsground |
18 |
20 |
Rhys Priestland(6P) |
Andy Dunne(5P) Conor O'Loughlin(T) |
Llanelli Scarlets visit Newport Gwent Dragons on Wednesday evening. The Scarlets will want to win their last ever Magners League home game at the famous old Stradey Park especially as they have lost their last three encounters at the venue. Scarlets have lost their last six encounters against Irish teams in all competitions.
Connacht won their last away game: 13-11 against the Dragons in Newport in April, but have not managed back to back away wins in the Magners League since season 2004/05.
Both sides won their respective home games when the two teams met in the Magners League last season, whilst Connacht last won at Stradey Park on 9 October 2004.
Sunday 14 September
MUNSTER v NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS
At Musgrave Park, 6pm. Live on Setanta Sports and S4/C
Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU). Assistant Referees:D Keane (IRFU) J Carvill (IRFU)
TMO: J Sheehan (IRFU)
|
HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT Magners League MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
M |
N |
Munster scorers |
Newport Gwent Dragons scorers |
|
Sat 28 Jan 06 |
Musgrave Park |
10 |
8 |
Anthony Foley(T) Mossie Lawlor(C/P) |
Adam Black(T) Craig Warlow(P) |
|
Fri 7 Apr 06 |
Rodney Parade |
17 |
23 |
Trevor Halstead(T) Federico Pucciariello(T) Jeremy Manning(C/P) Paul Burke(C) |
Jason Forster(T) Nathan Brew(T) Gareth Wyatt(T) Craig Warlow(C/2P) |
|
Fri 5 Jan 07 |
Rodney Parade |
12 |
19 |
Jeremy Manning(C) Lifeimi Mafi(2T) |
Ceri Sweeney(C/D/3P) Jamie Ringer(T) |
|
Sat 28 Apr 07 |
Musgrave Park |
15 |
7 |
Ronan O'Gara(C/P) Denis Leamy(2T) |
Aled Thomas(T/C) |
|
Fri 28 Sep 07 |
Rodney Parade |
26 |
16 |
Paul Warwick(T/C/3P) Ian Dowling(T) Billy Holland(T) |
Wayne Evans(T) Aled Thomas(C/3P) |
|
Sat 24 Nov 07 |
Musgrave Park |
45 |
19 |
Paul Warwick(5C) Brian Carney(T) Frank Sheahan(T) Peter Stringer(T) Rua Tipoki(T) Kieran Lewis(T) Donnacha Ryan(T) Federico Pucciariello(T) |
Richard Mustoe(T) Aled Thomas(2C) Martyn Thomas(T) Jamie Ringer(T) |
Munster lost their last home game in the Magners League: 18-21 to Glasgow Warriors in Cork on 10 May, but have not lost back to back home matches in the league since season 2003/04. Since March 2003 the only visiting Welsh team to win on Munster soil is Cardiff Blues, who have done so twice in 2007.
Newport Gwent Dragons entertain Llanelli Scarlets on Wednesday evening. The Dragons have lost their last four away games in all competition since their 18-16 victory at Glasgow on 4 January. Dragons have lost on their last 16 visits to Ireland in all competitions since a 28-21 win against Ulster at Ravenhill on 8 October 2004.
Munster have won their last three matches against Newport Gwent Dragons.
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