There are two other games on Saturday - both in the afternoon - with Heineken Cup finalists Munster at Stradey Park to face a Llanelli Scarlets team who will be looking to arrest a recent dip in form in the league which has seen them collect only one win since February.
The third Saturday game will see Ulster looking for their first win in four over Scottish opponents when they play Glasgow Warriors in Belfast. The Ulstermen know that victory could be vital in their bottom of the table tussle with Connacht for a Heineken Cup place next season.
Connacht will themselves be in action on Friday night when they face Cardiff Blues in the round's third Irish - Welsh encounter, knowing they will need to win at the Sportsground to keep the pressure on Ulster, whilst The Blues will be looking for maximum points to keep the title race alive should Leinster slip up on Saturday.
The final game of the round, also on Friday night, will see The Ospreys looking to improve their record of 13 home wins in the league against Scottish sides when Edinburgh travel to the Liberty Stadium.
ROUND 17 PREVIEWS
Friday 2 May
CONNACHT v CARDIFF BLUES
At Sportsground, 6.30pm. Live on Setanta Sports
Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU). Touch Judges: Eanna O'Dowd (IRFU), S Flannery (IRFU).
TMO: Dermot Moloney (IRFU)
|
HEAD TO HEAD - PREVIOUS LEAGUE MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
Co |
CB |
Connacht scorers |
Cardiff Blues scorers |
|
Sat 13 Sep 03 |
Arms Park |
17 |
33 |
John O'Sullivan(T) Conor McPhillips(2T) Eric Elwood(C) |
Nick Macleod(T) Jamie Robinson(T) Dean Dewdney(T) Nick Robinson(3C/4P) |
|
Sat 21 Feb 04 |
Dubarry Park |
18 |
21 |
Adrian Clarke(T) Mike McCarthy(T) Eric Elwood(C/2P) |
Nick Robinson(2T/C/3P) |
|
Fri 24 Sep 04 |
Arms Park |
6 |
31 |
Paul Warwick(2P) |
Tom Shanklin(T) Rhys Williams(T) Craig Morgan(T) Dean Dewdney(T) Nick Macleod(C/3P) |
|
Sat 22 Jan 05 |
Sportsground |
8 |
18 |
James Downey(T) Paul Warwick(P) |
Nick Macleod(C/2P) Dean Dewdney(2T) |
|
Sat 3 Sep 05 |
Sportsground |
13 |
9 |
Conor McPhillips(T) Paul Warwick(C/D/P) |
Nick Robinson(3P) |
|
Sat 29 Apr 06 |
Arms Park |
12 |
30 |
Mark McHugh(4P) |
Marc Stcherbina(2T) Gethin Jenkins(T) Nick Macleod(3C/3P) |
|
Sat 18 Nov 06 |
Arms Park |
13 |
15 |
Paul Warwick(C/2P) Matt Mostyn(T) |
Ben Blair(5P) |
|
Sat 7 Apr 07 |
Sportsground |
16 |
16 |
Paul Warwick(C/3P) Ray Ofisa Treviranus(T) |
Ben Blair(C/3P) Tom Shanklin(T) |
|
Fri 12 Oct 07 |
Arms Park |
16 |
30 |
Tim Donnelly(C/3P) Conor O'Loughlin(T) |
Ben Blair(T/2C) Tom James(2T) Nick Macleod(2P) Martyn Williams(T) |
Connacht won 13-11 against Newport Gwent Dragons in their most recent outing but have not won successive matches in the Magners League since September 2006. Connacht are unbeaten at home in their last four matches against Welsh sides since the Llanlli Scarlets won in Galway on 15 September 2006.
Cardiff Blues have won their last three matches in the Magners League against Edinburgh, Scarlets and Ulster. The Blues have won four of their last five games against Irish teams.
Connacht have met the Blues on nine previous occasions and been victorious just once: 13-9 at the Sportsground on 3 September 2005.
Friday 2 May
OSPREYS v EDINBURGH RUGBY
At Ravenhill, 7.10pm. Live on BBC Sport Wales.
Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (IRFU) Touch Judges: James Jones (WRU), Huw David (WRU).
TMO: Tony Rowlands (WRU).
|
HEAD TO HEAD - PREVIOUS LEAGUE MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
O |
E |
Ospreys scorers |
Edinburgh scorers |
|
Fri 17 Oct 03 |
The Gnoll |
42 |
18 |
Shaun Connor(T) James Storey(T) Gavin Henson(2C/6P) Scott Gibbs(T) Andy Newman(T) |
Derrick Lee(T) Hugo Southwell(T) Alistair Warnock(C/2P) |
|
Fri 12 Mar 04 |
Meadowbank |
35 |
31 |
James Storey(T) Stefan Terblanche(T) Andrew Millward(T) Richie Pugh(T) Gavin Henson(3C/3P) |
Hugo Southwell(2T) Dougie Hall(T) Craig Joiner(T) Ander Monro(4C/P) |
|
Fri 12 Nov 04 |
Murrayfield |
31 |
15 |
Andy Newman(T) Stefan Terblanche(T) Aled Brew(T) Matt Jones(2C/D/2P) Shaun Connor(D) |
Simon Webster(T) Craig Joiner(T) Phil Godman(C/P) |
|
Sat 26 Mar 05 |
The Gnoll |
29 |
12 |
Jason Spice(T) Gavin Henson(T/2C/5P) |
Andrew Kelly(T) Alasdair Dickinson(T) Chris Paterson(C) |
|
Sun 25 Sep 05 |
Murrayfield |
18 |
24 |
Stefan Terblanche(T) Matt Jones(T/C/2P) |
Alasdair Dickinson(T) Simon Taylor(T) Rob Dewey(T) Chris Paterson(3C/P) |
|
Sun 26 Mar 06 |
Liberty Stadium |
24 |
17 |
Huw Bennett(T) Shaun Connor(T) Gavin Henson(C/4P) |
Simon Webster(T) Peter Jorgensen(T) Phil Godman(P) Duncan Hodge(2C) |
|
Sat 2 Sep 06 |
Liberty Stadium |
17 |
11 |
Lee Byrne(T) James Hook(4P) |
Simon Webster(T) Chris Paterson(2P) |
|
Fri 2 Mar 07 |
Murrayfield |
30 |
12 |
Huw Bennett(T) Jason Spice(C) Steve Tandy(T) Justin Marshall(T) Jonny Vaughton(T) Stefan Terblanche(T/P) |
Ben Cairns(T) Matt Mustchin(T) Duncan Hodge(C) |
|
Fri 5 Oct 07 |
Murrayfield |
13 |
13 |
Jonny Vaughton(T) Shaun Connor(P) Gareth Owen(C/P) |
Augusto Allori(T) Phil Godman(C/2P) |
Ospreys only loss at Liberty Stadium in any competition since September was 19-26 to Leinster in the Magners League on 23 November. Ospreys have hosted Scottish sides on 13 previous occasions in league play and won them all.
Edinburgh Rugby beat Magners League leaders Leinster 15-13 last time out at Murrayfield on 18 April. Edinburgh are winless in their last three away matches in all competitions since an 11-10 victory at Cardiff on 4 January.
In nine previous encounters in league play Edinburgh have beaten the Ospreys only once: 24-18 at Murrayfield on 25 September 2005.
Saturday 3 May
LLANELLI SCARLETS v MUNSTER
At Stradey Park, 2:45pm.
Referee: Neil Paterson (SRU). Touch Judges: Jon Mason (WRU), Alan Jenkins (WRU).
|
HEAD TO HEAD - PREVIOUS LEAGUE MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
L |
M |
Llanelli Scarlets scorers |
Munster scorers |
|
Fri 12 Sep 03 |
Thomond Park |
19 |
12 |
Gareth Bowen(T/C/D/3P) |
Jeremy Staunton(4P) |
|
Fri 20 Feb 04 |
Stradey Park |
37 |
20 |
Matthew Watkins(T) Richard Rees(T) Gareth Williams(T) Gareth Bowen(T/4C/3P) |
Eoin Reddan(T) Anthony Horgan(2T) Rob Henderson(C/P) |
|
Sun 3 Oct 04 |
Thomond Park |
13 |
19 |
Garan Evans(T) Mike Phillips(T) Gareth Bowen(P) |
Alan Quinlan(T) Christian Cullen(T) Denis Leamy(T) Ronan O'Gara(2C) |
|
Sat 29 Jan 05 |
Stradey Park |
32 |
17 |
Matthew Watkins(T) Andy Powell(T) Aisea Havili Kaufusi(T) Chris Wyatt(T) Gareth Bowen(3C/2P) |
Peter Stringer(T) Alan Quinlan(T) Ronan O'Gara(2C/P) |
|
Fri 23 Sep 05 |
Musgrave Park |
13 |
14 |
Lee Byrne(T) Matthew Watkins(T) Mike Hercus(P) |
Ronan O'Gara(3P) Alan Quinlan(T) |
|
Tue 9 May 06 |
Stradey Park |
18 |
6 |
Alix Popham(2T) Craig Evans(C/2P) |
Jeremy Manning(2P) |
|
Sun 5 Nov 06 |
Stradey Park |
25 |
12 |
Darren Daniel(T) Barry Davies(T) Deacon Manu(T) Ceiron Thomas(C/P) Dafydd James(T) |
Jeremy Manning(D/3P) |
|
Sat 14 Apr 07 |
Musgrave Park |
0 |
20 |
|
Anthony Foley(T) Marcus Horan(T) Ronan O'Gara(C/P) Barry Murphy(T) |
|
Sat 22 Sep 07 |
Musgrave Park |
16 |
26 |
Matthew Watkins(T) Rhys Priestland(C/3P) |
Paul Warwick(T/2C/4P) Anthony Horgan(T) |
Llanelli Scarlets have lost four of their last five matches in the Magners League since February. At Stradey Park the Scarlets lost 10-24 to Leinster last time out but have not lost successive home league games since 2005.
Scarlets have been defeated in their last five encounters against Irish opponents.
Munster reached the final of the European Cup with their victory over Saracens in Coventry on Sunday and also visit Ulster in the Magners League on Wednesday.
Munster have won the last four clashes between the two sides in all competitions. Munster have already won at Stradey Park this season: 29-16 in the European Cup on 8 December.
Saturday 3 May
ULSTER v GLASGOW WARRIORS
At Ravenhill, 3pm.
Referee: Tim Hayes (WRU). Touch Judges: David Keane (IRFU), P Haycock (IRFU).
|
HEAD TO HEAD - PREVIOUS LEAGUE MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
U |
G |
Ulster scorers |
Glasgow Warriors scorers |
|
Fri 24 Aug 01 |
Hughenden |
25 |
25 |
Paddy Wallace(T/C) David Humphreys(C/2P) Ryan Constable(T) Russell Nelson(T) |
James McLaren(P) Tommy Hayes(2C/P) Andy Nicol(T) Gordon Simpson(2T) |
|
Sat 30 Nov 02 |
Hughenden (QF) |
20 |
17 |
David Humphreys(2C/2P) Paul Shields(T) Andy Ward(T) |
Jon Steel(T) Tommy Hayes(4P) |
|
Fri 12 Sep 03 |
Ravenhill |
33 |
6 |
Rowan Frost(T) Andy Ward(T) Shane Stewart(T) Adam Larkin(3C/4P) |
Stuart Moffat(D) Calvin Howarth(P) |
|
Fri 20 Feb 04 |
Hughenden |
25 |
27 |
Neil Best(T) Matt McCullough(T) Scott Young(T) Adam Larkin(2P) Paddy Wallace(2C) |
Sean Lamont(T) Alan Bulloch(T) Scott Lawson(T) Calvin Howarth(3C/2P) |
|
Sat 16 Oct 04 |
Hughenden |
20 |
34 |
Tyrone Howe(T) Tommy Bowe(T) David Humphreys(2C/2P) |
Kevin Tkachuk(T) Graeme Morrison(T) Dan Parks(2T/4C/2P) |
|
Fri 4 Mar 05 |
Ravenhill |
30 |
3 |
Simon Best(T) Tommy Bowe(T) Kevin Maggs(T) Tyrone Howe(T) Adam Larkin(C/2P) Paddy Wallace(C) |
Calvin Howarth(P) |
|
Sat 7 Jan 06 |
Ravenhill |
25 |
23 |
David Humphreys(T/C/6P) |
Graeme Morrison(T) Craig Hamilton(T) Dan Parks(2C/3P) |
|
Sat 15 Apr 06 |
Firhill Arena |
27 |
18 |
Isaac Boss(T) Justin Harrison(T) David Humphreys(C/5P) |
John Beattie(T) Hefin O'Hare(T) Dan Parks(C/2P) |
|
Sat 6 Jan 07 |
Hughenden |
19 |
8 |
Neil Best(T) Rory Best(T) Tommy Bowe(T) Paddy Wallace(2C) |
Andy Newman(T) Dan Parks(P) |
|
Fri 27 Apr 07 |
Ravenhill |
10 |
24 |
Andrew Maxwell(T) Andrew Trimble(T) |
John Barclay(T) John Beattie(T) Dan Parks(3C/P) Rory Lamont(T) |
|
Fri 2 Nov 07 |
Firhill Arena |
6 |
25 |
David Humphreys(2P) |
Dan Parks(C/6P) Andrew Henderson(T) |
Ulster are in action on Wednesday evening in a rearranged game against Munster, and have lost their last three games against Scottish opponents.
Glasgow Warriors have won their last three matches in the Magners League against Newport Gwent Dragons, Edinburgh and Llanelli Scarlets. The Warriors have lost on their last three visits to Ireland.
Glasgow beat Ulster 25-6 at Firhill in November and have never previously achieved a season's league double over the Ulstermen.
Saturday 3 May
LEINSTER v NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS
At RDS Dublin, 6pm. Live on Setanta Sports & S4/C.
Referee: Andy Macpherson (SRU). Touch Judges: Simon McDowell (IRFU), P Roche (IRFU).
TMO: Eanna O'Dowd (IRFU).
|
HEAD TO HEAD - PREVIOUS LEAGUE MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
L |
N |
Leinster scorers |
Newport Gwent Dragons scorers |
|
Fri 6 Feb 04 |
Rodney Parade |
14 |
35 |
Christian Warner(T) Brian O'Meara(3P) |
Percy Montgomery(T/5C) Sione Tuipulotu(T) Shawn Van Rensburg(T) Adam Black(T) Bobby Skinstad(T) |
|
Fri 14 May 04 |
Lansdowne Road |
56 |
39 |
Brian O'Driscoll(T) Malcolm O'Kelly(2T) James Norton(2T) Felipe Contepomi(T) Niall Ronan(T) Brian O'Meara(6C/3P) |
Jason Forster(T) Ben Breeze(T) Craig Warlow(T/C/P) Chris Anthony(T) Peter Sidoli(T) Percy Montgomery(3C/P) |
|
Fri 1 Oct 04 |
Rodney Parade |
13 |
34 |
Shane Horgan(T) Felipe Contepomi(C/2P) |
Gareth Wyatt(2T) Gareth Cooper(T) Kevin Morgan(T) Ceri Sweeney(C/4P) |
|
Sun 30 Jan 05 |
Lansdowne Road |
55 |
3 |
Ben Gissing(T) Shane Horgan(2T) Felipe Contepomi(T) Niall Ronan(T) Denis Hickie(2T) David Holwell(7C/2P) |
Percy Montgomery(P) |
|
Fri 16 Sep 05 |
Donnybrook |
33 |
14 |
Rob Kearney(T) Girvan Dempsey(T) Felipe Contepomi(C/7P) |
Leigh Hinton(T/2C) Hal Luscombe(T) |
|
Sat 18 Feb 06 |
Rodney Parade |
18 |
31 |
Kieran Lewis(2T) Felipe Contepomi(C/2P) |
Gareth Wyatt(T) Jason Forster(2T) Craig Warlow(2C/4P) |
|
Sat 4 Nov 06 |
Donnybrook |
35 |
13 |
Gary Brown(T) Felipe Contepomi(2T/3C/3P) Christian Warner(T) |
Richard Fussell(T) Mike Hercus(P) Gareth Wyatt(T) |
|
Fri 13 Apr 07 |
Rodney Parade |
23 |
22 |
Chris Whitaker(T) Brian Blaney(T) Felipe Contepomi(2C/3P) |
Adam Black(2T) Steve Jones(T) Ceri Sweeney(C/P) Aled Thomas(C) |
Leinster's 11 game unbeaten run in the Magners League came to a halt at Edinburgh in the last round but a victory this evening will give them the league title for the second time. Leinster have won their last nine matches at the RDS in all competitions.
Newport Gwent Dragons are winless in their last seven encounters in all competitions since beating Glasgow 18-16 at Firhill on 4 January. The Dragons have lost their last 15 matches against Irish opponents since a 28-21 victory over Ulster at Ravenhill on 8 October 2004.
Leinster have won four of their last five matches against the Dragons.
63x46.png){kind=logo}