Friday's three games include Matt Williams' first match in charge of Ulster, with the bottom side facing the Newport Gwent Dragons at Ravenhill. Scotland's two teams are also in action on Friday night, Edinburgh Rugby, who are looking to set a new record for successive League wins, at home to Munster, and Glasgow Warriors travelling to Llanelli Scarlets determined to overcome their poor record at Stradey Park. Should Cardiff Blues lose Dublin, depending on the outcome of these two games Edinburgh, Scarlets or Munster could overtake them into second place in the table.
ROUND 11 PREVIEWS
Friday 15 February
EDINBURGH v MUNSTER
At Murrayfield, 7.30pm. Live on Setanta
Referee: Tim Hayes (WRU). Touch Judges: David Changleng (SRU), Peter Carruthers (SRU).
TMO: Ian Heard (SRU).
|
HEAD TO HEAD - PREVIOUS LEAGUE MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
E |
M |
Edinburgh scorers |
Munster scorers |
|
Fri 17 Aug 01 |
Myreside |
22 |
25 |
Duncan Hodge(4P) Simon Taylor(T) Gordon Ross(C/P) |
Jeremy Staunton(C/5P) Jason Holland(D) David Wallace(T) |
|
Fri 13 Sep 02 |
Meadowbank |
21 |
28 |
Brendan Laney(C/2P) Derrick Lee(T) Chris Paterson(T) Duncan Hodge(D) |
Jeremy Staunton(C/7P) Rob Henderson(T) |
|
Fri 7 Nov 03 |
Meadowbank |
20 |
9 |
Andrew Dall(T) Allister Hogg(T) Brendan Laney(2C/2P) |
Conrad O'Sullivan(3P) |
|
Fri 16 Apr 04 |
Musgrave Park |
28 |
17 |
Allister Hogg(T) Hugo Southwell(T) Todd Blackadder(T) Alasdair Strokosch(T) Alistair Warnock(C/2P) |
Shaun Payne(T) Jason Holland(4P) |
|
Fri 26 Nov 04 |
Murrayfield |
0 |
11 |
- |
Shaun Payne(T) Paul Burke(2P) |
|
Sat 16 Apr 05 |
Thomond Park |
20 |
30 |
Phil Godman(T) Alasdair Dickinson(T) Chris Paterson(2C/2P) |
John Hayes(T) Alan Quinlan(T) Denis Leamy(2T) Jason Holland(C) Paul Burke(P) Anthony Horgan(T) |
|
Sat 7 Jan 06 |
Murrayfield |
17 |
18 |
Scott Murray(T) Marcus Di Rollo(T) Chris Paterson(2C/P) |
Trevor Halstead(T) John Kelly(T) Ronan O'Gara(C/2P) |
|
Sat 15 Apr 06 |
Thomond Park |
15 |
36 |
Scott Murray(T) Dave Duley(T) Duncan Hodge(C/P) |
Federico Pucciariello(T) Shaun Payne(T) Jerry Flannery(T) Ian Dowling(T) Penalty Try(T) John Kelly(T) Paul Burke(3C) |
|
Fri 13 Oct 06 |
Thomond Park |
21 |
10 |
Alasdair Dickinson(T) Chris Paterson(T/3C) Simon Webster(T) |
Denis Leamy(T) Eoghan Hickey(C/P) |
|
Fri 4 May 07 |
Murrayfield |
9 |
35 |
Phil Godman(3P) |
Denis Fogarty(T) Paul O'Connell(T) Ronan O'Gara(3C/3P) Alan Quinlan(T) Penalty Try(T) |
|
Sat 3 Nov 07 |
Musgrave Park |
16 |
19 |
David Blair(C/D/2P) Allan Jacobsen(T) |
Ronan O'Gara(C/4P) Denis Leamy(T) |
Edinburgh Rugby have won their last four matches in the Magners League and another victory will set a new Edinburgh record for successive league wins - the only previous time that they have won four consecutive league games was in 2002-03 en route to that season's quarter-finals. Edinburgh have won their last four games at Murrayfield in all competitions.
Munster have lost just one of their last five games in the Magners League: 3-10 at home to Leinster on 30 November. Munster's only away victory in any competition since September was 29-16 at Llanelli Scarlets in the European Cup on 8 December.
Edinburgh have won just one of their last eight encounters with Munster in all competitions: 21-10 at Limerick in the Magners League on 13 October 2006. Munster have won on all three previous visits to Murrayfield.
LLANELLI SCARLETS v GLASGOW WARRIORS
At Stradey Park, 7.10pm. Live on BBC Sport Wales.
Referee: George Clancy (IRFU). Touch Judges: Huw David (WRU), Richard Hughes (WRU).
TMO: Hugh Watkins (WRU).
|
HEAD TO HEAD - PREVIOUS LEAGUE MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
L |
G |
Llanelli Scarlets scorers |
Glasgow Warriors scorers |
|
Fri 28 Nov 03 |
Hughenden |
31 |
18 |
Tal Selley(T) John Davies(T) Lee Byrne(T) Stephen Jones(2C/4P) |
Sean Lamont(T) Joe Beardshaw(T) Calvin Howarth(C/2P) |
|
Sat 1 May 04 |
Racecourse Ground |
36 |
26 |
Chris Wyatt(T) Dave Hodges(T) Dwayne Peel(2T) Stephen Jones(2C/3P) Gareth Bowen(P) |
Sean Lamont(T) Sam Pinder(T) Andrew Henderson(T) Dave Millard(T) Dan Parks(3C) |
|
Fri 19 Nov 04 |
Hughenden |
29 |
40 |
Barry Davies(T) Salesi Finau(T) Mike Phillips(T) Garan Evans(T) Gareth Bowen(3C/P) |
Graeme Beveridge(T) Kenny Logan(2T) Calvin Howarth(T/4C/4P) |
|
Sat 9 Apr 05 |
Stradey Park |
30 |
57 |
Aisea Havili Kaufusi(2T) Tal Selley(T) Vernon Cooper(T) Barry Davies(T) Gareth Bowen(C/P) |
Stevie Swindall(T) Rory Lamont(3T) Sean Lamont(2T) Sam Pinder(T) Dan Parks(5C/4P) |
|
Sun 16 Oct 05 |
Stradey Park |
24 |
20 |
Hottie Louw(T) Liam Davies(T) Gareth Bowen(C/4P) |
Gregor Hayter(T) Dan Parks(5P) |
|
Fri 12 May 06 |
Firhill Arena |
10 |
17 |
Aled Gravelle(T) Craig Evans(C/P) |
Jon Petrie(T) Dan Parks(4P) |
|
Fri 8 Sep 06 |
Stradey Park |
31 |
17 |
Darren Daniel(3T) Dwayne Peel(T) Gavin Evans(T) Stephen Jones(3C) |
Francisco Leonelli Morey(D) John Barclay(T) Colin Shaw(T) Dan Parks(2C) |
|
Fri 16 Feb 07 |
Hughenden |
14 |
30 |
Dafydd Jones(T) Ceiron Thomas(3P) |
Kevin Tkachuk(T) Dan Parks(2C/2P) Hefin O'Hare(T) Stevie Swindall(2T) |
Llanelli Scarlets have recorded just one victory from their last seven matches in all competitions since November: 17-12 at home to the Ospreys in the Magners League on 27 December. At Stradey Park the Scarlets have been defeated just once in the Magners League since 24 April.
Glasgow Warriors have slipped to three successive losses in the Magners League since they beat Cardiff Blues 17-5 at the Firhill Arena on 23 November. The Warriors' last away win in the league was at Ulster on 27 April 2007.
The last four encounters between the two teams have all gone the way of the home side on the day, whilst Glasgow have won just twice at Stradey Park in eight previous visits in all competitions.
ULSTER v NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS
At Ravenhill, 7.30pm. Live on Setanta Sports.
Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU) Touch Judges: A Rogan (IRFU), L Colgan (IRFU).
TMO: Mark Hermin (IRFU).
|
HEAD TO HEAD - PREVIOUS LEAGUE MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
U |
N |
Ulster scorers |
Newport Gwent Dragons scorers |
|
Fri 26 Sep 03 |
Ravenhill |
37 |
18 |
Andy Ward(T) Adam Larkin(4C/3P) Ryan Constable(T) Tony McWhirter(T) Tyrone Howe(T) |
Craig Warlow(C/D/P) Gerald Arasa(T) Gareth Baber(T) |
|
Sat 28 Feb 04 |
Rodney Parade |
19 |
27 |
Roger Wilson(T) David Humphreys(C/4P) |
Lee Jarvis(T) Hal Luscombe(T) Percy Montgomery(C/5P) |
|
Fri 8 Oct 04 |
Ravenhill |
21 |
28 |
Neil Best(T) Ronan McCormack(T) David Humphreys(C/3P) |
Kevin Morgan(T) Adam Black(T) Nathan Brew(T) Ceri Sweeney(2C/3P) |
|
Fri 18 Feb 05 |
Rodney Parade |
11 |
13 |
Bryn Cunningham(T) David Humphreys(D/P) |
Jason Forster(T) Craig Warlow(C) Percy Montgomery(2P) |
|
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) |
This game is Matt Williams' first as head coach of Ulster - Williams has the best winning percentage of any head coach in the history of the league, Leinster winning 13 of his 17 league games in charge between 2001-02.
Ulster have won just one of their last eight games in the Magners League: 30-13 at Connacht on 23 November.
Newport Gwent Dragons have won back to back matches in the Magners League but they have not won three in a row in the competition since season 2004-05. The Dragons have not won in Ireland since a 28-21 victory against Ulster at Ravenhill in October 2004.
The Dragons won 31-11 when the two sides met in the Magners League in October however the Welsh side has not recorded a league double over the Ulstermen since season 2004-05.
Saturday 16 February
LEINSTER v CARDIFF BLUES
At RDS Dublin, 7.30pm. Live on Setanta Sports.
Referee: Peter Allan (SRU). Touch Judges: Simon McDowell (IRFU), Ger English (IRFU)
TMO: Dudley Phillips (IRFU).
|
HEAD TO HEAD - PREVIOUS LEAGUE MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
L |
C |
Leinster scorers |
Cardiff Blues scorers |
|
Fri 10 Oct 03 |
Arms Park |
3 |
22 |
Matt Leek(P) |
Dan Baugh(2T) Nick Walne(T) Nick Robinson(2C/P) |
|
Fri 5 Mar 04 |
Donnybrook |
18 |
22 |
James Norton(T) Brendan Burke(T) Felipe Contepomi(C/P) Brian O'Meara(P) |
Rob Appleyard(T) Nick Robinson(T/2C/P) Pieter Muller(T) |
|
Sun 5 Sep 04 |
Donnybrook |
9 |
9 |
David McAllister(2P) Brian O'Meara(P) |
Nick Macleod(3P) |
|
Sat 18 Dec 04 |
Arms Park |
15 |
6 |
David Quinlan(T) Girvan Dempsey(T) Felipe Contepomi(C/P) |
Lee Thomas(2P) |
|
Sat 15 Oct 05 |
Royal Dublin Society |
34 |
15 |
Felipe Contepomi(T/3C/P) Shane Horgan(T) Gordon D'Arcy(T) Ben Gissing(2T) |
Nick Robinson(5P) |
|
Sun 14 May 06 |
Millennium Stadium |
31 |
40 |
Shane Horgan(T) Gordon D'Arcy(T) Denis Hickie(T) Rob Kearney(T) Felipe Contepomi(4C/P) |
Nick Macleod(T) Mike Phillips(T) Chris Czekaj(T) Martyn Williams(T) Craig Morgan(T) Nick Robinson(3C/3P) |
|
Sat 16 Sep 06 |
Donnybrook |
16 |
9 |
Michael Berne(T) Felipe Contepomi(C/3P) |
Ben Blair(3P) |
|
Fri 11 May 07 |
Arms Park |
11 |
27 |
Felipe Contepomi(2P) Shane Horgan(T) |
Ben Blair(P) Nick Robinson(2C) Marc Stcherbina(T) Rhys Williams(T) Gareth Williams(T) Robin Sowden-Taylor(T) |
|
Fri 28 Sep 07 |
Arms Park |
30 |
19 |
Luke Fitzgerald(2T) Jamie Heaslip(T) Jonathan Sexton(T/2C/2P) |
Tom James(T) Nick Robinson(3P) Mark Lewis(T) |
Table topping Leinster have won their last five matches in the Magners League since a 16-all draw against Ulster at Ravenhill on 26 October. The Leinstermen's only home loss in any competition since November 2005 was 23-52 to the Scarlets at the RDS in the Magners League on 5 October.
Cardiff Blues have won their last two games - both in the European Cup, but in the Magners League the Blues have slipped to three defeats in their last four matches. Cardiff Blues' last away win in the Magners League was 19-17 in Munster on 5 October.
Leinster won 30-19 when the two teams met at the Arms Park in September as the Irishmen strive for a first ever league double over the Blues.
OSPREYS v CONNACHT
At Liberty Stadium, 5.30pm. Live on Setanta Sports and S4/C.
Referee: Andy Macpherson (SRU). Touch Judges: Matthew Alpin (WRU), Colin Kirkhouse (WRU).
TMO: Huw Lewis (WRU).
|
HEAD TO HEAD - PREVIOUS LEAGUE MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
O |
C |
Ospreys scorers |
Connacht scorers |
|
Fri 31 Oct 03 |
St Helen's |
22 |
33 |
Chris Wells(T) Shaun Connor(C/4P) Adrian Durston(P) |
Wayne Munn(T) Bernard Jackman(T) Mike McCarthy(T) Conor McPhillips(T) Eric Elwood(2C/2P) Mark McHugh(P) |
|
Sat 3 Apr 04 |
Sportsground |
21 |
24 |
Steve Tandy(T) James Bater(T) Gavin Henson(C/3P) |
Mark McHugh(T/3C/P) Andrew Farley(T) John O'Sullivan(T) |
|
Sun 21 Nov 04 |
The Gnoll |
9 |
10 |
Matt Jones(D/2P) |
Matt Mostyn(T) Paul Warwick(C/P) |
|
Sun 10 Apr 05 |
Sportsground |
22 |
13 |
Jonathan Thomas(T) Gavin Henson(T/2C/P) Shane Williams(T) |
Matt Lacey(T) Matt Mostyn(T) Mark McHugh(P) |
|
Fri 14 Oct 05 |
Liberty Stadium |
18 |
17 |
Matt Jones(P) Shaun Connor(5P) |
Keith Matthews(T) Paul Warwick(4P) |
|
Fri 12 May 06 |
Sportsground |
44 |
16 |
Shaun Connor(T) Huw Bennett(T) Jonny Vaughton(3T) Lee Beach(T) Sonny Parker(T) Gavin Henson(C/P) James Hook(2C) |
John Hearty(T) Mark McHugh(C/3P) |
|
Fri 8 Sep 06 |
Sportsground |
10 |
15 |
Justin Marshall(T) James Hook(C/P) |
Mark McHugh(5P) |
|
Sat 17 Feb 07 |
Liberty Stadium |
31 |
10 |
Lee Byrne(T/2C/2P) Paul James(T) Shane Williams(D) Penalty Try(T) Shaun Connor(P) |
Paul Warwick(C/P) David Slemen(T) |
Ospreys have won three of their last four matches in all competitions, but in the Magners League they have won just one of their last four outings: 22-3 at home to the Blues on New Year's Eve.
Connacht won their last game in the Magners League: 20-18 at home to the Scarlets on 4 January but have not won back to back matches in the league since September 2006. Connacht have not won away from home in the league since a 29-15 victory at Border Reivers on 1 September 2006, and are winless in Wales since a 10-9 victory over Ospreys at the Gnoll in November 2004.
Ospreys have won four of their last five encounters with Connacht.
63x46.png){kind=logo}