Also on Friday there are local rivalries re-kindled in Wales and Scotland. Cardiff Blues will be looking to bounce back from Heineken Cup disappointment against Llanelli Scarlets at the Arms Park - with both teams harbouring title hopes, while Glasgow will be looking to narrow the gap on their neighbours when Edinburgh travel to Firhill.
With the Ospreys playing in the EDF Energy Cup Final on Saturday there is only one more game this weekend - and what a game it is. Heineken Cup semi finalists Munster travel to Dublin on Saturday evening to face leaders Leinster - knowing they need a win if Michael Cheika's side are to be pegged back in their hunt for the Magners League title. The Munstermen have not won a league match in Dublin for four and a half years and if that trend continues Leinster could be as much as 15 points clear at the top by the end of the round.
ROUND 15 GAMES
Friday 11 April
CARDIFF BLUES v LLANELLI SCARLETS
At Arms Park, 7.10pm. Live on BBC Sport Wales
Referee: TBC Touch Judges: TBC
TMO: Tony Rowlands (WRU)
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HEAD TO HEAD - PREVIOUS LEAGUE MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
C |
L |
Cardiff Blues scorers |
Llanelli Scarlets scorers |
|
Sat 18 Oct 03 |
Stradey Park |
20 |
35 |
Lee Abdul(T) Nick Robinson(2C/2P) Andy Moore(T) |
Matthew Watkins(T) Tal Selley(T) Gareth Bowen(2C/7P) |
|
Sat 13 Mar 04 |
Arms Park |
0 |
6 |
|
Gareth Bowen(2P) |
|
Sun 7 Nov 04 |
Arms Park |
14 |
10 |
Dean Dewdney(T) Lee Thomas(3P) |
Barry Davies(T) Gareth Bowen(C/P) |
|
Sun 20 Mar 05 |
Stradey Park |
13 |
25 |
Martin Jones(T) Lee Thomas(C/2P) |
Phil John(T) Andy Powell(T) Vernon Cooper(T) Gareth Bowen(2C/2P) |
|
Wed 14 Sep 05 |
Arms Park |
20 |
16 |
Mike Phillips(T) Andy Powell(T) Nick Robinson(2C/D/P) |
Paul Mackey(T) Lee Byrne(T) Mike Hercus(P) Gareth Bowen(P) |
|
Mon 2 Jan 06 |
Stradey Park |
13 |
32 |
Martyn Williams(T) Roger Warren(C/2P) |
Martyn Madden(T) Mark Jones(T) Regan King(T) Matthew Watkins(T) Dwayne Peel(T) Gareth Bowen(2C/P) |
|
Mon 1 Jan 07 |
Arms Park |
29 |
10 |
Ben Blair(3C/P) Chris Czekaj(T) Tom James(T) Scott Morgan(T) Penalty Try(T) |
Penalty Try(T) Ceiron Thomas(C/P) |
|
Sat 5 May 07 |
Stradey Park |
10 |
38 |
Nick Robinson(C/P) Xavier Rush(T) |
Barry Davies(2T) Matthew Watkins(2T) Stephen Jones(3C/4P) |
|
Fri 21 Mar 08 |
Stradey Park |
35 |
17 |
Iestyn Thomas(T) Dwayne Peel(T) Stephen Jones(3C/3P) Gavin Evans(T) Dafydd James(T) |
Ben Blair(2C/P) Jamie Roberts(T) Scott Morgan(T) |
Cardiff Blues have won seven of their last eight games at the Arms Park in all competitions, but the Blues recent form in the Magners League has seen them gain just ten league points from their last six matches.
Llanelli Scarlets have not won away from home since a 52-23 victory over table-topping Leinster at the RDS in October.
The last seven clashes between the two regions have all gone the way of the home side on the day, whilst the only previous occasion that the Scarlets have won at the Arms Park was 6-0 in March 2004.
Friday 11 April
GLASGOW WARRIORS v EDINBURGH RUGBY
At Firhill Arena, 8pm. Live on Setanta Sports
Referee: Peter Allan (SRU) Touch Judges: Graham Knox (SRU) Ronnie Dumma (SRU)
TMO: Jim Yuille (SRU).
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HEAD TO HEAD - PREVIOUS LEAGUE MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
G |
E |
Glasgow Warriors scorers |
Edinburgh scorers |
|
Sat 27 Dec 03 |
Hughenden |
16 |
25 |
Andrew Hall(T) Dan Parks(C/D/2P) |
Tom Philip(T) Brendan Laney(C/2D/4P) |
|
Fri 7 May 04 |
Meadowbank |
17 |
19 |
Sam Pinder(T) Dan Parks(T/2C/P) |
Andrew Dall(T) Marcus Di Rollo(T) Joel Brannigan(T) Alistair Warnock(2C) |
|
Sat 18 Sep 04 |
Old Anniesland |
12 |
10 |
Dan Parks(D/3P) |
David Callam(T) Chris Paterson(C/P) |
|
Mon 27 Dec 04 |
Murrayfield |
12 |
18 |
Calvin Howarth(3P) Dan Parks(P) |
Hugo Southwell(T) Craig Joiner(T) Phil Godman(C/P) Brendan Laney(P) |
|
Fri 30 Sep 05 |
Murrayfield |
12 |
28 |
Scott Lawson(T) Andy Craig(T) Dan Parks(C) |
Scott Murray(T) Rory Lawson(T) Rob Dewey(T) Chris Paterson(2C/D/2P) |
|
Sun 4 Dec 05 |
Firhill Arena |
46 |
6 |
John Beattie(T) Kevin Tkachuk(T) Colin Gregor(T/4C/2P) Graydon Staniforth(2T) Graeme Morrison(T) Dan Parks(C) |
Duncan Hodge(2P) |
|
Fri 29 Sep 06 |
Murrayfield |
9 |
14 |
Colin Gregor(D) Dan Parks(2P) |
Hugo Southwell(T) Chris Paterson(2P) Duncan Hodge(D) |
|
Fri 22 Dec 06 |
Hughenden |
34 |
27 |
Dan Parks(T/2C/2D/3P) Andrew Henderson(T) Dan Turner(T) |
Marcus Di Rollo(2T) Hugo Southwell(T) Chris Paterson(3C/2P) |
|
Fri 28 Dec 07 |
Murrayfield |
31 |
35 |
Kelly Brown(T) Dan Parks(T/2C/4P) Moray Low(T) |
David Callam(T) Ben Cairns(T) Phil Godman(3C/3P) Mike Blair(T) Simon Webster(T) |
Glasgow Warriors' only home defeat in the Magners League in their last eleven encounters at Hughenden and Firhill since January 2007 was 16-18 to Newport Gwent Dragons on 4 January.
Edinburgh Rugby have gained just one victory in their last four outings in the Magners League, but are unbeaten on the road in the league since November. Should Edinburgh avoid defeat it will represent the first time that the team has gone four successive away games in the league undefeated.
The last eight meetings between Scotland's two professional sides have gone the way of the home side on the day, whilst Edinburgh's last win in Glasgow was 25-16 in the league at Hughenden on 27 December 2003.
Friday 11 April
ULSTER v CONNACHT
At Ravenhill, 6.30pm. Live on Setanta Sports
Referee: Alan Lewis (IRFU) Touch Judges: A Rogan (IRFU), J Carvill (IRFU).
TMO: Eanna O'Dowd (IRFU)
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HEAD TO HEAD - PREVIOUS LEAGUE MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
U |
C |
Ulster scorers |
Connacht scorers |
|
Sat 8 Nov 03 |
Sportsground |
20 |
31 |
Ryan Constable(2T) Adam Larkin(2C/2P) |
Matt Mostyn(T) Mark McHugh(C/6P) Eric Elwood(2P) |
|
Fri 16 Apr 04 |
Ravenhill |
42 |
27 |
Neil McMillan(T) Tommy Bowe(T) Andy Ward(T) Scott Young(T) Paddy Wallace(T) David Humphreys(4C/3P) |
Conor McPhillips(T) Wayne Munn(T) Mark McHugh(C/3P) Dave Hewitt(2P) |
|
Sat 18 Sep 04 |
Sportsground |
19 |
13 |
Tommy Bowe(T) Jonathan Bell(T) David Humphreys(3P) |
Conor O'Loughlin(T) Paul Warwick(C/2P) |
|
Sat 1 Jan 05 |
Ravenhill |
23 |
14 |
Tommy Bowe(T) Paul Steinmetz(T) David Humphreys(2C/3P) |
Bernard Jackman(T) Paul Warwick(3P) |
|
Fri 7 Oct 05 |
Ravenhill |
36 |
10 |
Matt McCullough(T) Rory Best(T) James Topping(T) Andrew Trimble(T) Tommy Bowe(T) David Humphreys(2C) Bryn Cunningham(C/P) Paddy Wallace(C) |
Paul Warwick(P) Keith Matthews(T) Ted Robinson(C) |
|
Sat 31 Dec 05 |
Sportsground |
12 |
22 |
David Humphreys(4P) |
Matt Lacey(T) David Slemen(T/2C/P) Conor McPhillips(T) |
|
Fri 6 Oct 06 |
Sportsground |
24 |
17 |
Roger Wilson(T) Isaac Boss(T) Bryn Cunningham(T) David Humphreys(2C/P) Paddy Wallace(C) |
Paul Warwick(T/2C/P) Matt Mostyn(T) |
|
Tue 26 Dec 06 |
Ravenhill |
20 |
10 |
Neil Best(T) Tommy Bowe(2T) David Humphreys(P) Paddy Wallace(C) |
Paul Warwick(D) John Fogarty(T) Mark McHugh(C) |
|
Fri 23 Nov 07 |
Sportsground |
30 |
13 |
Kieron Dawson(T) Paddy Wallace(3C/3P) Roger Wilson(T) Carlo Del Fava(T) |
Tim Donnelly(C/P) Andy Dunne(P) Danny Riordan(T) |
Ulster have lost their last two games in the Magners League - away to Munster and Ospreys. At Ravenhill Ulster have won their last three matches in all competitions.
Connacht have lost their last four Magners League games and have not won away from home in the competition since a 29-15 victory at the now defunct Border Reivers on 1 September 2006. Connacht's only win in their last 25 encounters against fellow Irish provinces was 22-12 at home to Ulster on New Year's Eve 2005.
Connacht have not won in Belfast since a 6-3 victory on 16 November 1960.
Saturday 12 April
LEINSTER v MUNSTER
At RDS Dublin, 6.30pm. Live on S4/C and Setanta Sports
Referee: Chris White (RFU). Touch Judges: C Stanley (IRFU), D Wilkinson (IRFU).
TMO: Marshall Kilgore (IRFU).
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HEAD TO HEAD - PREVIOUS LEAGUE MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
L |
M |
Leinster scorers |
Munster scorers |
|
Sat 15 Dec 01 |
Lansdowne Road TF |
24 |
20 |
Shane Horgan(T) Gordon D'Arcy(T) Nathan Spooner(C/4P) |
John O'Neill(T) Anthony Horgan(T) Ronan O'Gara(C/P) Anthony Foley(T) |
|
Fri 5 Sep 03 |
Donnybrook |
8 |
15 |
Brendan Burke(T) Gordon D'Arcy(P) |
Jeremy Staunton(5P) |
|
Fri 13 Feb 04 |
Musgrave Park |
13 |
24 |
Aidan Kearney(T) Matt Leek(C/2P) |
Mossie Lawlor(T) John Kelly(2T) Rob Henderson(T) Jason Holland(2C) |
|
Sat 18 Sep 04 |
Donnybrook |
17 |
15 |
Gary Brown(T) James Norton(T) Brian O'Meara(2C/P) |
Paul Burke(5P) |
|
Sat 1 Jan 05 |
Musgrave Park |
13 |
19 |
Eric Miller(T) David Holwell(C/2P) |
Marcus Horan(T) Frank Sheahan(T) Ronan O'Gara(2P) Paul Burke(P) |
|
Sun 9 Oct 05 |
Musgrave Park |
9 |
33 |
Felipe Contepomi(3P) |
Marcus Horan(T) Alan Quinlan(T) Denis Leamy(T) John Kelly(T) Ronan O'Gara(T/4C) |
|
Sat 31 Dec 05 |
Royal Dublin Society |
35 |
23 |
Brian Blaney(T) Shane Horgan(T) Felipe Contepomi(2T/3C/3P) |
Paul O'Connell(T) Trevor Halstead(T) Ronan O'Gara(2C/3P) |
|
Fri 6 Oct 06 |
Lansdowne Road |
27 |
20 |
Brian O'Driscoll(2T) Shane Horgan(T) Jamie Heaslip(T) Felipe Contepomi(2C/P) |
David Wallace(T) Marcus Horan(T) Ronan O'Gara(2C/2P) |
|
Wed 27 Dec 06 |
Thomond Park |
11 |
25 |
Girvan Dempsey(T) Jonathan Sexton(2P) |
Ronan O'Gara(C/6P) Penalty Try(T) |
|
Fri 30 Nov 07 |
Musgrave Park |
10 |
3 |
Felipe Contepomi(C/P) Shane Horgan(T) |
Ronan O'Gara(P) |
Leinster are unbeaten in their last ten matches in the Magners League since Glasgow defeated them 21-17 at Firhill on 12 October. Leinster's only home loss in any competition since November 2005 was 23-52 to Llanelli Scarlets at the RDS on 5 October.
Munster have won five of their last six matches in all competitions. Munster's only defeat in their last eight encounters with fellow Irish provinces was 3-10 at home to Leinster on 30 November 2007.
Leinster are going for a first ever season's double over Munster, whilst the Munstermen's only victory over Leinster in Dublin in the league was 15-8 on 5 September 2003.
NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS v OSPREYS
Match postponed due to Ospreys involvement in Anglo-Welsh Cup Final.
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