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 5 B/FWD PREVIEWS
Tuesday 9 September
OSPREYS v CARDIFF BLUES
At Liberty Stadium, 7.35pm. Live on Setanta Sports and S4/C.
Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU). Assistant Referees: Tim Hayes (WRU), Nigel Whitehouse (WRU).
TMO: Derek Bevan (WRU).
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HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT Magners League MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
O |
C |
Ospreys scorers |
Cardiff Blues scorers |
|
Thu 22 Dec 05 |
Liberty Stadium |
9 |
28 |
Shaun Connor(2P) Adrian Cashmore(P) |
Deiniol Jones(T) Chris Czekaj(T) Craig Morgan(T) Nick Robinson(2C/3P) |
|
Fri 3 Mar 06 |
Arms Park |
14 |
40 |
James Bater(T) Shaun Connor(2D) Gavin Henson(P) |
Nick Robinson(T/3C/3P) Chris Czekaj(3T) Jamie Robinson(T) |
|
Wed 13 Sep 06 |
Liberty Stadium |
18 |
16 |
Shane Williams(T) Ryan Jones(T) Richie Pugh(T) Gavin Henson(P) |
Nick Robinson(T/C/2D/P) |
|
Sat 23 Dec 06 |
Arms Park |
24 |
30 |
Ian Evans(T) Gavin Henson(C/4P) Filo Tiatia(T) |
Ben Blair(2T/3C/3P) Nick Robinson(T) |
|
Fri 31 Aug 07 |
Arms Park |
15 |
17 |
Shaun Connor(5P) |
Nick Robinson(4P) Rhys Williams(T) |
|
Mon 31 Dec 07 |
Liberty Stadium |
22 |
3 |
Huw Bennett(T) James Hook(C/5P) |
Ben Blair(P) |
Ospreys sit atop the Magners League table courtesy of points difference following their 16-3 away victory in Connacht on Friday evening. Ospreys only defeat at Liberty Stadium against a fellow Welsh region in their last seven such encounters was 9-14 to Scarlets almost exactly twelve months ago.
Cardiff Blues are unbeaten in their last six matches in the Magners League after their 16-all draw with reigning champions Leinster at the Arms Park on Saturday. The Blues have won their last three away games in the Magners League and another victory would set a new Blues record on the road in the league.
The last five meetings between the two regions have all gone the way of the home side on the day, whilst the Blues only victory so far at Liberty Stadium was 28-9 on 22 December 2005.
Wednesday 10 September
NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS v LLANELLI SCARLETS
At Rodney Parade, 7.05pm. Live on BBC Sport Wales
Referee: James Jones (WRU). Assistant Referees: Neil Ballard (WRU), Gwyn Morris (WRU).
TMO: Tony Rowlands (WRU).
|
Date |
Venue |
N |
L |
Newport Gwent Dragons scorers |
Llanelli Scarlets scorers |
|
Fri 23 Dec 05 |
Rodney Parade |
16 |
28 |
Rhys Oakley(T) Ceri Sweeney(C/3P) |
Dafydd Jones(T) Dafydd James(T) Craig Dunlea(T) Mike Hercus(2C/3P) |
|
Sat 22 Apr 06 |
Stradey Park |
17 |
36 |
Leigh Hinton(P) Nathan Brew(T) Jason Forster(T) Aled Thomas(2C) |
Mark Jones(3T) Ceiron Thomas(2C) Dafydd James(2T) Lee Byrne(T) Mike Hercus(C) |
|
Tue 12 Sep 06 |
Rodney Parade |
22 |
23 |
Nathan Brew(T) Ceri Sweeney(C/D/4P) |
Gavin Evans(2T) Ceiron Thomas(T) Stephen Jones(C/2P) |
|
Fri 23 Mar 07 |
Stradey Park |
11 |
35 |
Ceri Sweeney(2P) Kevin Morgan(T) |
James Bater(T) Barry Davies(T) Mark Jones(T) Ceiron Thomas(T/2C/2P) Dafydd James(T) |
|
Sat 1 Sep 07 |
Stradey Park |
30 |
23 |
Phillip Dollman(C) Andy Williams(T) Rhys M. Thomas(T) Aled Thomas(2C/3P) Gareth Wyatt(T) |
Iestyn Thomas(T) Ceiron Thomas(2C/3P) Garan Evans(T) |
|
Tue 1 Jan 08 |
Rodney Parade |
15 |
13 |
Richard Mustoe(T) Ceri Sweeney(C/P) Ashley Smith(T) |
Penalty Try(T) Rhys Priestland(C/2P) |
This is a fourth successive home game for Newport Gwent Dragons, but they were defeated 6-12 by Glasgow Warriors at Rodney Parade on Friday. Both Dragons and Scarlets each had an even won 3, lost 3 record against fellow Welsh regions last season.
Llanelli Scarlets ended a five game losing run with their 16-9 victory over Ulster at Ravenhill last Friday.
Dragons took both encounters against the Scarlets last season: 30-23 at Stradey Park and 15-13 at Rodney Parade.
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