Also on Friday The Dragons face the champions for the second successive week knowing that their Tuesday evening win over The Ospreys has secured a place in the Heineken Cup next season, while Friday's third game sees Ulster host Cardiff Blues. Victory would give the Welsh region runners up spot in the Magners League for the second year running; however they have lost on all five previous visits to Ravenhill.
Saturday sees both Scottish teams in action, Glasgow Warriors travel to Heineken cup finalists Munster, whilst Edinburgh are in Llanelli to play Scarlets. Both visiting teams are looking for their highest ever finish in the Magners League, victories would go some way to secure that.
ROUND 18 PREVIEWS
Friday 9 May
CONNACHT v OSPREYS
At Sportsground, 6.30pm.
Referee: Neil Paterson (SRU). Touch Judges: G Clancey (IRFU), M Black (IRFU).
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HEAD TO HEAD - PREVIOUS LEAGUE MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
C |
O |
Connacht scorers |
Ospreys scorers |
|
Fri 31 Oct 03 |
St Helen's |
33 |
22 |
Wayne Munn(T) Bernard Jackman(T) Mike McCarthy(T) Conor McPhillips(T) Eric Elwood(2C/2P) Mark McHugh(P) |
Chris Wells(T) Shaun Connor(C/4P) Adrian Durston(P) |
|
Sat 3 Apr 04 |
Sportsground |
24 |
21 |
Mark McHugh(T/3C/P) Andrew Farley(T) John O'Sullivan(T) |
Steve Tandy(T) James Bater(T) Gavin Henson(C/3P) |
|
Sun 21 Nov 04 |
The Gnoll |
10 |
9 |
Matt Mostyn(T) Paul Warwick(C/P) |
Matt Jones(D/2P) |
|
Sun 10 Apr 05 |
Sportsground |
13 |
22 |
Matt Lacey(T) Matt Mostyn(T) Mark McHugh(P) |
Jonathan Thomas(T) Gavin Henson(T/2C/P) Shane Williams(T) |
|
Fri 14 Oct 05 |
Liberty Stadium |
17 |
18 |
Keith Matthews(T) Paul Warwick(4P) |
Matt Jones(P) Shaun Connor(5P) |
|
Fri 12 May 06 |
Sportsground |
16 |
44 |
John Hearty(T) Mark McHugh(C/3P) |
Shaun Connor(T) Huw Bennett(T) Jonny Vaughton(3T) Lee Beach(T) Sonny Parker(T) Gavin Henson(C/P) James Hook(2C) |
|
Fri 8 Sep 06 |
Sportsground |
15 |
10 |
Mark McHugh(5P) |
Justin Marshall(T) James Hook(C/P) |
|
Sat 17 Feb 07 |
Liberty Stadium |
10 |
31 |
Paul Warwick(C/P) David Slemen(T) |
Lee Byrne(T/2C/2P) Paul James(T) Shane Williams(D) Penalty Try(T) Shaun Connor(P) |
|
Sat 16 Feb 08 |
Liberty Stadium |
7 |
37 |
Tim Donnelly(C) Jonny O'Connor(T) |
Marty Holah(T) Mike Phillips(T) Nikki Walker(T) Shaun Connor(2C/3P) Gareth Owen(T/2C) |
Connacht have won just one of their last seven matches in the Magners League: 13-11 over the Dragons at Rodney Parade on 18 April. Connacht's only defeat in their last five home games against the Welsh regions was 11-39 to the Blues on 2 May.
Ospreys are playing against Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade on Tuesday evening. Ospreys have lost on their last seven visits to Ireland for a Magners League game since beating Connacht 44-16 at the Sportsground on 12 May 2006.
Connacht's only win in their last six matches against the Ospreys was 15-10 at the Sportsground on 8 September 2006.
Friday 9 May
NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS v LEINSTER
At Rodney Parade, 7.10pm. Live on BBC Sport Wales
Referee: Peter Allan (SRU) Touch Judges: James Jones (WRU), Gwyn Morris (WRU).
TMO: Huw Lewis (WRU).
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HEAD TO HEAD - PREVIOUS LEAGUE MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
N |
L |
Newport Gwent Dragons scorers |
Leinster scorers |
|
Fri 6 Feb 04 |
Rodney Parade |
35 |
14 |
Percy Montgomery(T/5C) Sione Tuipulotu(T) Shawn Van Rensburg(T) Adam Black(T) Bobby Skinstad(T) |
Christian Warner(T) Brian O'Meara(3P) |
|
Fri 14 May 04 |
Lansdowne Road |
39 |
56 |
Jason Forster(T) Ben Breeze(T) Craig Warlow(T/C/P) Chris Anthony(T) Peter Sidoli(T) Percy Montgomery(3C/P) |
Brian O'Driscoll(T) Malcolm O'Kelly(2T) James Norton(2T) Felipe Contepomi(T) Niall Ronan(T) Brian O'Meara(6C/3P) |
|
Fri 1 Oct 04 |
Rodney Parade |
34 |
13 |
Gareth Wyatt(2T) Gareth Cooper(T) Kevin Morgan(T) Ceri Sweeney(C/4P) |
Shane Horgan(T) Felipe Contepomi(C/2P) |
|
Sun 30 Jan 05 |
Lansdowne Road |
3 |
55 |
Percy Montgomery(P) |
Ben Gissing(T) Shane Horgan(2T) Felipe Contepomi(T) Niall Ronan(T) Denis Hickie(2T) David Holwell(7C/2P) |
|
Fri 16 Sep 05 |
Donnybrook |
14 |
33 |
Leigh Hinton(T/2C) Hal Luscombe(T) |
Rob Kearney(T) Girvan Dempsey(T) Felipe Contepomi(C/7P) |
|
Sat 18 Feb 06 |
Rodney Parade |
31 |
18 |
Gareth Wyatt(T) Jason Forster(2T) Craig Warlow(2C/4P) |
Kieran Lewis(2T) Felipe Contepomi(C/2P) |
|
Sat 4 Nov 06 |
Donnybrook |
13 |
35 |
Richard Fussell(T) Mike Hercus(P) Gareth Wyatt(T) |
Gary Brown(T) Felipe Contepomi(2T/3C/3P) Christian Warner(T) |
|
Fri 13 Apr 07 |
Rodney Parade |
22 |
23 |
Adam Black(2T) Steve Jones(T) Ceri Sweeney(C/P) Aled Thomas(C) |
Chris Whitaker(T) Brian Blaney(T) Felipe Contepomi(2C/3P) |
|
Sat 3 May 08 |
Royal Dublin Society |
8 |
41 |
Adam Black(T) Ceri Sweeney(P) |
Chris Whitaker(T) Felipe Contepomi(4C/P) Shane Horgan(T) Shane Jennings(T) Cameron Jowitt(T) Ollie Le Roux(2T) |
Newport Gwent Dragons host Ospreys at Rodney Parade on Tuesday evening. Dragons' only win in their seven matches against the Irish provinces this season was 31-11 over Ulster at Rodney Parade on 6 October 2007.
Magners League champions Leinster lost their last away game 13-15 at Murrayfield but have not lost successive matches on the road in the Magners League this season. Leinster have won their last five games against Welsh opponents.
The two sides clashed in Dublin last Saturday with Leinster running out 41-8 victors. The Dragons have now won just one of their last six encounters with Leinster: 31-18 at Rodney Parade on 18 February 2006.
Friday 9 May
ULSTER v CARDIFF BLUES
At Ravenhill, 7.30pm.
Referee: Andy Macpherson (SRU). Touch Judges: E O'Dowd (IRFU), M Gargan (IRFU).
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HEAD TO HEAD - PREVIOUS LEAGUE MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
U |
C |
Ulster scorers |
Cardiff Blues scorers |
|
Fri 31 Oct 03 |
Ravenhill |
32 |
7 |
Bryn Cunningham(2T) Tyrone Howe(T) Paul Shields(T) Adam Larkin(3C/2P) |
Ryan Powell(T) Nick Robinson(C) |
|
Sat 3 Apr 04 |
Arms Park |
15 |
19 |
Simon Best(T) Warren Brosnihan(T) David Humphreys(C/D) |
Tom Shanklin(2T) Rhys Williams(T) Nick Robinson(C) Iestyn Harris(C) |
|
Fri 19 Nov 04 |
Ravenhill |
30 |
14 |
Andrew Maxwell(T) Campbell Feather(T) Matt McCullough(T) Adam Larkin(5P) |
Lee Thomas(T/3P) |
|
Fri 8 Apr 05 |
Arms Park |
8 |
22 |
Tommy Bowe(T) Paddy Wallace(P) |
Robin Sowden-Taylor(T) Tom Shanklin(T) Craig Quinnell(T) Nick Macleod(2C/P) |
|
Fri 9 Sep 05 |
Arms Park |
25 |
22 |
Tommy Bowe(T) David Humphreys(C/D/5P) |
Craig Morgan(T) Nick Robinson(C/5P) |
|
Fri 5 May 06 |
Ravenhill |
26 |
17 |
Penalty Try(T) Roger Wilson(T) David Humphreys(2C/4P) |
Jamie Robinson(T) Nick Macleod(4P) |
|
Sat 14 Oct 06 |
Ravenhill |
32 |
12 |
David Humphreys(2C/P) Paddy Wallace(T) Neil Best(T) Andrew Trimble(2T) Bryn Cunningham(T) |
Chris Czekaj(T) Wayne Evans(T) Nick Macleod(C) |
|
Fri 20 Apr 07 |
Arms Park |
17 |
20 |
Paul Steinmetz(2C/P) Andrew Trimble(T) Roger Wilson(T) |
Ben Blair(C/P) Chris Czekaj(T) Tom Shanklin(T) Nick Macleod(C/D) |
|
Sat 19 Apr 08 |
Arms Park |
17 |
30 |
Tommy Bowe(T) Ryan Caldwell(T) Niall O'Connor(2C/P) |
Ben Blair(3C/2P) David Flanagan(P) Jamie Roberts(T) Gareth Thomas(T) Martyn Williams(T) |
Ulster tripped up 24-35 at home to Glasgow Warriors last Saturday and for the first time secured a try bonus point despite losing. Ulster have lost their last two games against Welsh opponents, but have not lost at Ravenhill against a Welsh side in the league since Ospreys were the visitors in November 2005.
Cardiff Blues have won their last four games in the Magners League; the Blues have not won five in a row in the league since season 2005/06. The Cardiff based team have won five of their last six games against Irish opposition.
The last four clashes between the two teams have all been won by the home side on the day, whilst the Blues have lost on all five previous visits to Ravenhill.
Saturday 10 May
MUNSTER v GLASGOW WARRIORS
At Musgrave Park, 5pm. Live on Setanta Sports
Referee: James Jones (WRU). Touch Judges: A Rogan (IRFU) B Macneice (IRFU)
TMO: Trevor Collins (IRFU).
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HEAD TO HEAD - PREVIOUS LEAGUE MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
M |
G |
Munster scorers |
Glasgow Warriors scorers |
|
Fri 24 Oct 03 |
Musgrave Park |
26 |
10 |
Mike Mullins(T) David Wallace(T) Jeremy Staunton(2C/4P) |
Graeme Morrison(T) Stuart Moffat(T) |
|
Fri 26 Mar 04 |
Hughenden |
37 |
12 |
John Kelly(T) Martin McPhail(T) Rob Henderson(T) Mossie Lawlor(T/3C/2P) Barry Murphy(T) |
Graeme Morrison(T) Rory Kerr(T) Stuart Moffat(C) |
|
Sat 9 Oct 04 |
Hughenden |
28 |
26 |
Frank Sheahan(T) Christian Cullen(2T) Anthony Horgan(T) Ronan O'Gara(C/D/P) |
Donnie Macfadyen(T) Andrew Henderson(T) Dan Parks(2C/4P) |
|
Sun 20 Feb 05 |
Thomond Park |
25 |
19 |
Jason Holland(T) Alan Quinlan(T) James Storey(T) Paul Burke(2C/2P) |
Dan Turner(T) Calvin Howarth(C/4P) |
|
Sat 17 Sep 05 |
Hughenden |
10 |
32 |
Penalty Try(T) Paul Burke(P) Ronan O'Gara(C) |
Stevie Swindall(T) Rory Lamont(T) Andrew Wilson(T) Mike Roberts(T) Dan Parks(3C/2P) |
|
Sat 18 Feb 06 |
Thomond Park |
20 |
26 |
Anthony Foley(T) Stephen Keogh(T) Anthony Horgan(T) Mossie Lawlor(C/P) |
Sam Pinder(T) Colin Gregor(T/2C/4P) |
|
Fri 15 Sep 06 |
Hughenden |
13 |
24 |
Tomas O'Leary(T) Jeremy Manning(2P) Eoghan Hickey(C) |
Thom Evans(T) Dan Parks(T/C/4P) |
|
Sat 12 May 07 |
Musgrave Park |
38 |
20 |
Ronan O'Gara(4C/P) Shaun Payne(T) Alan Quinlan(2T) Denis Leamy(T) Jeremy Manning(C) Lifeimi Mafi(T) |
John Beattie(T) Colin Gregor(C) Dan Parks(C/2P) Graeme Morrison(T) |
|
Fri 26 Oct 07 |
Firhill Arena |
11 |
11 |
Paul Warwick(2P) Lifeimi Mafi(T) |
Dan Parks(2P) Lome Fa'atau(T) |
Munster have won eight of their last nine home games in all competitions, and are unbeaten against Scottish teams since a 10-21 reversal at the hands of Edinburgh at Thomond Park in the Magners League on 13 October 2006.
Glasgow Warriors have won their last four matches in the Magners League but have not won five league games in a row since the inaugural season of 2001/02. The Warriors currently occupy 5th place in the Magners League table, their best ever finish in a league season was 6th in season 2004/05.
Munster's only victory in their last five encounters with Glasgow was 38-20 at Musgrave Park on 12 May 2007.
Saturday 10 May
LLANELLI SCARLETS v EDINBURGH RUGBY
At Stradey Park, 5.30pm. Live on S4/C
Referee: D Wilkinson (IRFU) Touch Judges: Tim Hayes (WRU), Simon Harris (WRU)
TMO: Tony Rowlands (WRU).
|
HEAD TO HEAD - PREVIOUS LEAGUE MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
L |
E |
Llanelli Scarlets scorers |
Edinburgh scorers |
|
Fri 10 Oct 03 |
Meadowbank |
16 |
25 |
Lee Byrne(T) Gareth Bowen(C/2P) Mike Phillips(D) |
Alistair Warnock(2T/C/P) Simon Webster(T) Craig Joiner(T) |
|
Sat 6 Mar 04 |
Stradey Park |
47 |
12 |
Salesi Finau(T) Barry Davies(2T) Aled Gravelle(T) Chris Wyatt(2T) Matthew Watkins(T) Gareth Bowen(6C) |
Malcolm Clapperton(T) Tom McGee(T) Ander Monro(C) |
|
Sat 25 Sep 04 |
Stradey Park |
37 |
16 |
Tal Selley(T) Matthew Watkins(T) Arwel Thomas(T/2C/P) Mark Taylor(T) Garan Evans(T) Gareth Bowen(C/P) |
Hugo Southwell(T) Chris Paterson(C/3P) |
|
Fri 21 Jan 05 |
Murrayfield |
0 |
23 |
|
Dougie Hall(T) Mike Blair(T) Chris Paterson(2C/3P) |
|
Fri 2 Sep 05 |
Stradey Park |
15 |
21 |
Barry Davies(2T) Mike Hercus(C/P) |
Chris Paterson(T/C/3P) Mike Blair(T) |
|
Fri 28 Apr 06 |
Murrayfield |
18 |
35 |
Dafydd James(T) Mark Jones(T) Gareth Bowen(P) Mike Hercus(C/P) |
Simon Webster(2T) Craig Smith(T) Alasdair Strokosch(T) Chris Paterson(3C/3P) |
|
Fri 5 Jan 07 |
Murrayfield |
14 |
24 |
Darren Daniel(T) Stephen Jones(3P) |
Duncan Hodge(D/2P) Chris Paterson(5P) |
|
Sun 29 Apr 07 |
Stradey Park |
42 |
17 |
Iestyn Thomas(T) Matthew Watkins(2T) Scott Macleod(T) Regan King(T) Ceiron Thomas(C) Stephen Jones(T/5C) |
David Callam(T) Phil Godman(2C/P) Allan Jacobsen(T) |
|
Sun 25 Nov 07 |
Murrayfield |
17 |
27 |
Regan King(3T) Rhys Priestland(C) |
David Blair(3P) Nick De Luca(T) Phil Godman(C/2P) Andrew Maxwell(T) |
Llanelli Scarlets have lost their last four matches in the Magners League. The Scarlets have been defeated in back to back matches at Stradey Park and will want to avoid setting a new unwanted record of three successive losses at the famous old ground since the region was formed in 2003.
Edinburgh have won their last two games in the Magners League and need to win to secure their best ever finish in a league campaign. Edinburgh are undefeated in Wales this season, beating Cardiff and the Ospreys and drawing with the Dragons on their home soil.
The Scarlets have beaten Edinburgh just once in their last five encounters in all competitions, however Edinburgh have only ever won once at Stradey Park: 21-15 in the league on 2 September 2005.
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