Despite having a game in hand Munster will aim to get maximum points against the Anglo-Welsh EDF Energy Cup champions Ospreys on Saturday if they are to keep the title race alive. The omens are good for the Heineken Cup semi finalists as the Ospreys have not won away in the league since the end of last season.
At the other end of the table Connacht will be looking to bounce back from their defeat at the hands of Ulster last week against the Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade. Both sides are struggling for form at the moment but the men from the west of Ireland know they need to win if they are to have any realistic hope of catching Ulster in the race for the final Irish Heineken Cup place next season.
Ulster can take a step nearer that goal should they beat Cardiff Blues at the Arms Park on Saturday - although the Blues, who still have title aspirations of their own, have won eight of their last nine games at home.
The round's final game sees Llanelli Scarlets face Glasgow Warriors with the Scarlets looking for a seasonal double - although the Warriors have won five of their last six home games against Welsh opponents.
ROUND 16 GAMES
Friday 18 April
NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS v CONNACHT
At Rodney Parade, 7.10pm Live on BBC Sport Wales.
Referee: Neil Paterson (SRU). Touch Judges: David Bodilly (WRU), David Williams (WRU).
TMO: Neil Ballard (WRU)
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HEAD TO HEAD - PREVIOUS LEAGUE MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
N |
C |
Newport Gwent Dragons scorers |
Connacht scorers |
|
Sun 23 Nov 03 |
Rodney Parade |
28 |
19 |
Steve Jones(T) Ben Breeze(T) Hal Luscombe(T) Lee Jarvis(2C/3P) |
Bernard Jackman(T) Mark McHugh(C/4P) |
|
Sat 1 May 04 |
Sportsground |
32 |
14 |
Nathan Brew(T) Percy Montgomery(T/3C/2P) Hal Luscombe(T) Craig Warlow(T) |
Matt Mostyn(2T) Eric Elwood(2C) |
|
Sun 28 Nov 04 |
Sportsground |
14 |
19 |
Gareth Baber(T) Craig Warlow(3P) |
Matt Mostyn(T) Paul Warwick(C/D/3P) |
|
Sat 16 Apr 05 |
Rodney Parade |
24 |
19 |
Jason Forster(T) Ben Breeze(T) Kevin Morgan(2T) Ceri Sweeney(2C) |
John O'Sullivan(T) Bernard Jackman(T) Brendan O'Connor(T) Paul Warwick(2C) |
|
Fri 6 Jan 06 |
Rodney Parade |
27 |
19 |
Gareth Chapman(T) Michael Owen(T) Penalty Try(T) Jason Forster(T) Craig Warlow(2C/P) |
David Slemen(T/C/3P) Paul Warwick(P) |
|
Sat 15 Apr 06 |
Sportsground |
10 |
15 |
Luke Charteris(T) Craig Warlow(C/P) |
Mark McHugh(5P) |
|
Fri 13 Oct 06 |
Sportsground |
9 |
16 |
Ceri Sweeney(3P) |
Ray Ofisa Treviranus(T) Mark McHugh(C/D/2P) |
|
Fri 4 May 07 |
Rodney Parade |
23 |
0 |
Richard Fussell(T) Gareth Maule(T) Aled Thomas(C/2P) Colin Charvis(T) |
|
|
Fri 21 Sep 07 |
Sportsground |
7 |
22 |
Gareth McCarthy(C) Martyn Thomas(T) |
Tim Donnelly(C/D/4P) Robbie Morris(T) |
Newport Gwent Dragons are without a victory in their last five matches since beating Glasgow Warriors 18-16 at Firhill on 4 January. The Dragons have won just one game at Rodney Parade since October: 15-13 over the Scarlets in the Magners League on New Year's Day.
Connacht have suffered six straight defeats since their 60-0 win in Valladolid against El Salvador in the European Challenge Cup on 13 January. The Irishmen have not won in Wales since their 10-9 victory over Ospreys at the Gnoll on 21 November 2004.
The last seven clashes between the two sides have all gone the way of the home team on the day, whilst Connacht have not won at Rodney Parade since a 16-14 league win over Newport RFC in September 2001.
Friday 18 April
EDINBURGH RUGBY v LEINSTER
At Murrayfield, 7.30pm. Live on Setanta Sports.
Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU). Touch Judges: Rob Dickson (SRU), David Anderson (SRU)
TMO: Iain Ramage (SRU)
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HEAD TO HEAD - PREVIOUS LEAGUE MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
E |
L |
Edinburgh scorers |
Leinster scorers |
|
Fri 26 Sep 03 |
Donnybrook |
33 |
30 |
Tom Philip(T) Derrick Lee(2T) Brendan Laney(T/2C/D/2P) |
Gordon D'Arcy(2T) Brian O'Riordan(T) Matt Leek(3C/2P) Brian O'Meara(P) |
|
Fri 27 Feb 04 |
Murrayfield |
40 |
34 |
Derrick Lee(2T) Hugo Southwell(T/P) Matt Dey(T) Nathan Hines(T) Ander Monro(3C/2P) |
Niall Ronan(T) Christian Warner(T) James Norton(T) Des Dillon(T) Felipe Contepomi(4C/2P) |
|
Sun 10 Oct 04 |
Donnybrook |
13 |
35 |
Allan Jacobsen(T) Rory Lawson(T) Chris Paterson(P) |
Shane Byrne(T) Denis Hickie(2T) Aidan McCullen(T) David Holwell(3C/3P) |
|
Sat 19 Feb 05 |
Murrayfield |
41 |
33 |
Alasdair Dickinson(2T) Simon Taylor(T) Derrick Lee(T) Phil Godman(T) Marcus Di Rollo(T) Simon Webster(T) Brendan Laney(3C) |
Kieran Lewis(T) Guy Easterby(T) Christian Warner(2T) David Holwell(T/4C) |
|
Sun 6 Nov 05 |
Donnybrook |
27 |
13 |
Peter Jorgensen(T) Fergus Pringle(T) Simon Webster(T) Alasdair Strokosch(T) Phil Godman(2C/P) |
Keith Gleeson(T) Brian O'Meara(C/2P) |
|
Fri 26 May 06 |
Murrayfield |
8 |
31 |
Scott Murray(T) Ander Monro(P) |
Brian O'Driscoll(2T) Shane Horgan(T) Felipe Contepomi(T/4C/P) |
|
Fri 8 Sep 06 |
Murrayfield |
20 |
14 |
Allister Hogg(T) Duncan Hodge(T) Chris Paterson(2C/2P) |
Ronan McCormack(T) Felipe Contepomi(3P) |
|
Fri 16 Feb 07 |
Donnybrook |
6 |
13 |
Duncan Hodge(2P) |
Felipe Contepomi(C/2P) Jamie Heaslip(T) |
|
Sat 22 Sep 07 |
Royal Dublin Society |
8 |
23 |
Phil Godman(P) Andrew Turnbull(T) |
Gary Brown(T) Luke Fitzgerald(T) Jonathan Sexton(T/C/2P) |
Edinburgh Rugby have won just one of their last six matches: 38-8 over Connacht at Murrayfield in the Magners League on 21 March. The capital side have won three of their last four games against Irish teams at Murrayfield.
Leinster require 5 match points and a victory from their three remaining games to become the Magners League champions for the second time. Should the Irishmen win in Edinburgh they would tie their own league record for successive victories - eleven set during their first 11 league games between 2001-02.
The two sides have already met on three occasions this season with Leinster taking the Magners League clash 23-8 at the RDS in September, whilst each team won its respective home game in the pool stages of the European Cup. Leinster's only previous win on Edinburgh soil was 31-8 at Murrayfield in the league on 26 May 2006.
Friday 18 April
GLASGOW WARRIORS v LLANELLI SCARLETS
At Firhill Arena, 7.30pm.
Referee: David Wilkinson. Touch Judges:. David Changleng (SRU), Peter Carruthers (SRU)
|
HEAD TO HEAD - PREVIOUS LEAGUE MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
G |
L |
Glasgow Warriors scorers |
Llanelli Scarlets scorers |
|
Fri 28 Nov 03 |
Hughenden |
18 |
31 |
Sean Lamont(T) Joe Beardshaw(T) Calvin Howarth(C/2P) |
Tal Selley(T) John Davies(T) Lee Byrne(T) Stephen Jones(2C/4P) |
|
Sat 1 May 04 |
Racecourse Ground |
26 |
36 |
Sean Lamont(T) Sam Pinder(T) Andrew Henderson(T) Dave Millard(T) Dan Parks(3C) |
Chris Wyatt(T) Dave Hodges(T) Dwayne Peel(2T) Stephen Jones(2C/3P) Gareth Bowen(P) |
|
Fri 19 Nov 04 |
Hughenden |
40 |
29 |
Graeme Beveridge(T) Kenny Logan(2T) Calvin Howarth(T/4C/4P) |
Barry Davies(T) Salesi Finau(T) Mike Phillips(T) Garan Evans(T) Gareth Bowen(3C/P) |
|
Sat 9 Apr 05 |
Stradey Park |
57 |
30 |
Stevie Swindall(T) Rory Lamont(3T) Sean Lamont(2T) Sam Pinder(T) Dan Parks(5C/4P) |
Aisea Havili Kaufusi(2T) Tal Selley(T) Vernon Cooper(T) Barry Davies(T) Gareth Bowen(C/P) |
|
Sun 16 Oct 05 |
Stradey Park |
20 |
24 |
Gregor Hayter(T) Dan Parks(5P) |
Hottie Louw(T) Liam Davies(T) Gareth Bowen(C/4P) |
|
Fri 12 May 06 |
Firhill Arena |
17 |
10 |
Jon Petrie(T) Dan Parks(4P) |
Aled Gravelle(T) Craig Evans(C/P) |
|
Fri 8 Sep 06 |
Stradey Park |
17 |
31 |
Francisco Leonelli Morey(D) John Barclay(T) Colin Shaw(T) Dan Parks(2C) |
Darren Daniel(3T) Dwayne Peel(T) Gavin Evans(T) Stephen Jones(3C) |
|
Fri 16 Feb 07 |
Hughenden |
30 |
14 |
Kevin Tkachuk(T) Dan Parks(2C/2P) Hefin O'Hare(T) Stevie Swindall(2T) |
Dafydd Jones(T) Ceiron Thomas(3P) |
|
Fri 15 Feb 08 |
Stradey Park |
7 |
30 |
Colin Gregor(C) Sam Pinder(T) |
Gavin Cattle(T) Iestyn Thomas(T) Regan King(2T) Rhys Priestland(T/C/P) |
Glasgow Warriors have won three of their last four matches in the Magners League, and five of their last six home games against Welsh opponents.
Llanelli Scarlets' only victory in their last four outings in the Magners League was 35-17 at home to Cardiff Blues on 21 March. The Scarlets are winless on the road in their last nine games since a 52-23 success at Leinster on 5 October.
The last five encounters between the two teams have been won by the home side on the day, whilst the Scarlets' only victory in Scotland since September 2005 was 19-13 at the now defunct Border Reivers on 10 November 2006.
Saturday 19 April
CARDIFF BLUES v ULSTER
At Arms Park, 5.30pm. Live on S4/C and Setanta Sports.
Referee: Andrew Macpherson (SRU). Touch Judges: Gwyn Morris (WRU), Leighton Hodges (WRU)
TMO: Tony Rowlands (WRU).
|
HEAD TO HEAD - PREVIOUS LEAGUE MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
C |
U |
Cardiff Blues scorers |
Ulster scorers |
|
Fri 31 Oct 03 |
Ravenhill |
7 |
32 |
Ryan Powell(T) Nick Robinson(C) |
Bryn Cunningham(2T) Tyrone Howe(T) Paul Shields(T) Adam Larkin(3C/2P) |
|
Sat 3 Apr 04 |
Arms Park |
19 |
15 |
Tom Shanklin(2T) Rhys Williams(T) Nick Robinson(C) Iestyn Harris(C) |
Simon Best(T) Warren Brosnihan(T) David Humphreys(C/D) |
|
Fri 19 Nov 04 |
Ravenhill |
14 |
30 |
Lee Thomas(T/3P) |
Andrew Maxwell(T) Campbell Feather(T) Matt McCullough(T) Adam Larkin(5P) |
|
Fri 8 Apr 05 |
Arms Park |
22 |
8 |
Robin Sowden-Taylor(T) Tom Shanklin(T) Craig Quinnell(T) Nick Macleod(2C/P) |
Tommy Bowe(T) Paddy Wallace(P) |
|
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) |
Cardiff Blues have won eight of their last nine matches at the Arms Park in all competitions since September. The Blues have only lost once at home to an Irish side in the Magners League since November 2005 was 19-30 to Leinster last September.
Ulster have won just once on the road this season: 30-13 at Connacht in the Magners League on 23 November. Ulster have lost on their last eight visits to Wales, and have won only once at the Arms Park since January 2003: 25-22 in the Magners League on 9 September 2005.
Saturday 19 April
MUNSTER v OSPREYS
At Musgrave Park, 7.30pm. Live on Setanta Sports.
Referee: James Jones (WRU). Touch Judges: Eanna O'Dowd (IRFU), K Henley-Willis (IRFU).
TMO: Olan Trevor (IRFU).
|
HEAD TO HEAD - PREVIOUS LEAGUE MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
M |
O |
Munster scorers |
Ospreys scorers |
|
Sat 27 Sep 03 |
St Helen's |
26 |
33 |
Jeremy Staunton(2T/3C) David Wallace(T) Mike Mullins(T) |
James Storey(T) Dave Tiueti(T) Andy Williams(T) Gavin Henson(3C/4P) |
|
Fri 27 Feb 04 |
Musgrave Park |
15 |
18 |
Shaun Payne(T) Eoin Reddan(T) Rob Henderson(C/P) |
Elvis Seveali'i(2T) Shaun Connor(C/D/P) |
|
Fri 3 Sep 04 |
St Helen's |
17 |
34 |
Paul Burke(2C/P) Christian Cullen(2T) |
Gavin Henson(4C/2P) Jason Spice(T) David Bishop(T) Adrian Durston(T) Lyndon Bateman(T) |
|
Sat 18 Dec 04 |
Musgrave Park |
13 |
9 |
Frank Sheahan(T) Ronan O'Gara(C/2P) |
Gavin Henson(3P) |
|
Sat 10 Sep 05 |
Musgrave Park |
37 |
10 |
Anthony Horgan(2T) John Kelly(T) Shaun Payne(T) Paul Burke(3C/3P) Jeremy Manning(C) |
Barry Williams(T) Matt Jones(P) Shaun Connor(C) |
|
Fri 5 May 06 |
Liberty Stadium |
10 |
27 |
Penalty Try(T) Ronan O'Gara(C/P) |
Shane Williams(2T) Jason Spice(T) Gavin Henson(3C/2P) |
|
Sat 25 Nov 06 |
Thomond Park |
25 |
20 |
James Coughlan(T) Jeremy Manning(C/D/5P) |
Jonny Vaughton(T) Shaun Connor(T/2C/2P) |
|
Sat 7 Apr 07 |
Liberty Stadium |
12 |
20 |
Brian Carney(T) Ronan O'Gara(C) Donnacha Ryan(T) |
James Hook(T/2C/2P) Justin Marshall(T) |
|
Sun 14 Oct 07 |
Liberty Stadium |
3 |
16 |
Jeremy Manning(P) |
Lee Byrne(T) Shane Williams(T) Gareth Owen(2P) |
Munster have won their last four home matches in all competitions since Leinster were victorious 10-3 at Musgrave Park in the Magners League on 30 November. Munster's only defeat in their last six home games against Welsh teams was 17-19 to Cardiff Blues in Cork on 5 October.
Ospreys last six encounters in the Magners League have all been won by the home side on the day. Ospreys are winless away from home in the Magners League since the day they won the title last season: 12 May 2007 at Border Reivers.
The last seven clashes between the two teams in all competitions have all been won by the home side on the day, whilst Ospreys only previous win in Munster was 18-15 at Musgrave Park in the league on 27 February 2004.
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