Elsewhere the weekend kicks-off with the visit of Glasgow Warriors to Cardiff where the Blues will be hoping the trend of the home team winning on the day in Magners League clashes will continue, however Warriors most recent away game saw them defeat European giants Toulouse in the Heineken Cup.
The round finishes with a televised 'double header' on Sunday, both games featuring teams from Wales against Ireland; Ospreys hosting Connacht whilst Ulster travel to Newport Gwent Dragons. After losing to Munster last time out at the Liberty Stadium, and with that top spot in the table, Ospreys will be keen for a victory to keep up their title challenge. Meanwhile Connacht, Ulster and Dragons are all looking for points to lift them from the wrong end of the table.
ROUND 11 FIXTURES
Friday 20 February
CARDIFF BLUES v GLASGOW WARRIORS
At Arms Park, 7.05pm. Live on Setanta Sports and BBC Sport Wales
Referee: Alain Rolland (IRFU, 37th League game). Assistant Referees: Phil Fear (WRU), Neil Perkins (WRU)
TMO: Neil Ballard (WRU).
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HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT MAGNERS LEAGUE MEETINGS |
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||||
|
Date |
Venue |
C |
G |
Cardiff Blues scorers |
Glasgow Warriors scorers |
|
Fri 24 Mar 06 |
Arms Park |
31 |
3 |
Mike Phillips(T) Nick Robinson(T/3C) Chris Czekaj(T) Martyn Williams(T) Andy Powell(T) |
Dan Parks(P) |
|
Fri 22 Sep 06 |
Arms Park |
27 |
9 |
Ben Blair(T/3C/2P) Mosese Luveitasau Yabakitini(T) Tom Shanklin(T) |
Dan Parks(3P) |
|
Fri 26 Jan 07 |
Hughenden |
3 |
22 |
Ben Blair(P) |
Kevin Tkachuk(T) Colin Gregor(2C/P) Sam Pinder(T) Fergus Thomson(T) |
|
Fri 21 Sep 07 |
Arms Park |
32 |
16 |
Nick Robinson(2C/P) Tal Selley(T) Gareth Williams(T) Nick Macleod(T) Jamie Roberts(2T) |
James Eddie(T) Colin Gregor(C/3P) |
|
Fri 23 Nov 07 |
Firhill Arena |
5 |
17 |
Rhys Williams(T) |
Dan Parks(T/D/3P) |
|
Fri 28 Nov 08 |
Firhill Arena |
0 |
28 |
|
Max Evans(2T) Dan Parks(C/2P) Mark McMillan(T) Lome Fa'atau(T) |
Cardiff Blues have won their two most recent games against Gloucester and Calvisano in the European Cup, but in the Magners League 10th placed Blues have won just one of their last five encounters since the end of September: 21-19 at the Dragons on Boxing Day. Cardiff Blues only home defeat since January 2008 was 12-16 by the Ospreys at the Arms Park in the Magners League on New Year's Eve.
Glasgow Warriors have won three of their last four matches in all competitions, whilst their most recent away game saw them defeat Toulouse 33-26 on their own patch in the European Cup. Glasgow have not won away from home in the Magners League since a 12-6 victory at the Dragons on 5 September.
The last six clashes between the two teams have all been won by the home side on the day, whilst the Warriors' only victory at the Arms Park came in the League on 31 August 2002 with a 44-35 scoreline.
Saturday 21 February
MUNSTER v EDINBURGH
At Musgrave Park, 7.30pm. Live on Setanta Sports
Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU, 51st League game). Assistant Referees: A Rogan (IRFU), P Haycock (IRFU).
TMO: Dermot Moloney (IRFU).
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HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT MAGNERS LEAGUE MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
M |
E |
Munster scorers |
Edinburgh scorers |
|
Sat 15 Apr 06 |
Thomond Park |
36 |
15 |
Federico Pucciariello(T) Shaun Payne(T) Jerry Flannery(T) Ian Dowling(T) Penalty Try(T) John Kelly(T) Paul Burke(3C) |
Scott Murray(T) Dave Duley(T) Duncan Hodge(C/P) |
|
Fri 13 Oct 06 |
Thomond Park |
10 |
21 |
Denis Leamy(T) Eoghan Hickey(C/P) |
Alasdair Dickinson(T) Chris Paterson(T/3C) Simon Webster(T) |
|
Fri 4 May 07 |
Murrayfield |
35 |
9 |
Denis Fogarty(T) Paul O'Connell(T) Ronan O'Gara(3C/3P) Alan Quinlan(T) Penalty Try(T) |
Phil Godman(3P) |
|
Sat 3 Nov 07 |
Musgrave Park |
19 |
16 |
Ronan O'Gara(C/4P) Denis Leamy(T) |
David Blair(C/D/2P) Allan Jacobsen(T) |
|
Fri 15 Feb 08 |
Murrayfield |
11 |
7 |
Paul Warwick(2P) Donnacha Ryan(T) |
Phil Godman(C) Ben Meyer(T) |
|
Fri 5 Sep 08 |
Murrayfield |
20 |
15 |
Keith Earls(T) Ronan O'Gara(2C/2P) David Wallace(T) |
Chris Paterson(5P) |
Munster are flying high at the top of the Magners League table and have won their last three matches in all competitions. In the Magners League the Irishmen have lost three of their last five encounters and were also defeated the last time they played at Thomond Park in the competition: 11-37 at the hands of Ulster on 3 January.
Edinburgh's only loss in their last five games in the Magners League was 20-25 at Glasgow on 2 January. The Scotsmen have lost their last three away games in all competitions since a 27-14 victory at Connacht in the Magners League on 24 October.
Munster's only defeat to Edinburgh in their last ten meetings in all competitions was 10-21 at Thomond Park in the Magners League on 13 October 2006.
SCARLETS v LEINSTER
At Parc y Scarlets, 5.30pm. Live on S4/C and Setanta Sports
Referee: Andy Macpherson (SRU, 21st League game). Assistant Referees: Matthew Alpin (WRU), Ken Bowen (WRU)
TMO: Tony Rowlands (WRU).
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HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT MAGNERS LEAGUE MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
S |
L |
Scarlets scorers |
Leinster scorers |
|
Sat 7 Jan 06 |
Stradey Park |
20 |
18 |
Matthew Watkins(T) Barry Davies(T/P) Mike Hercus(2C/P) |
Gordon D'Arcy(T) Denis Hickie(T) Felipe Contepomi(C/2P) |
|
Fri 14 Apr 06 |
Lansdowne Road |
22 |
30 |
Iestyn Thomas(T) Lee Byrne(T) Gavin Thomas(T) Ceiron Thomas(2C/P) |
Cameron Jowitt(T) Brian Blaney(T) Guy Easterby(T) Girvan Dempsey(T) Felipe Contepomi(2C/2P) |
|
Sat 23 Sep 06 |
Stradey Park |
33 |
21 |
Dafydd James(2T) Inoke Afeaki(T) Regan King(T) Stephen Jones(2C/3P) |
Denis Hickie(2T) Trevor Hogan(T) Felipe Contepomi(3C) |
|
Fri 26 Jan 07 |
Donnybrook |
34 |
44 |
Barry Davies(T/C) Clive Stuart-Smith(T) Matthew Watkins(C) Regan King(T) Morgan Stoddart(T) Ceiron Thomas(C/P) Dafydd James(T) |
Gary Brown(T) Felipe Contepomi(5C/3P) Jamie Heaslip(2T) Stephen Keogh(T) Kieran Lewis(T) |
|
Fri 5 Oct 07 |
Royal Dublin Society |
52 |
23 |
Johnathan Edwards(2T) James Bater(T) Matthew Watkins(T) Regan King(T) Rhys Priestland(5C/4P) Morgan Stoddart(T) |
Jamie Heaslip(T) Christian Warner(T) Stan Wright(T) Johnny Sexton(C/2P) |
|
Sat 29 Mar 08 |
Stradey Park |
10 |
24 |
Dafydd Jones(T) Stephen Jones(C/P) |
Felipe Contepomi(3C/P) Malcolm O'Kelly(T) Ollie le Roux(2T) |
Scarlets only defeat in their last five games since 27 December was 24-29 at Harlequins in the European Cup on 24 January. The Welshmen are unbeaten at their new home in their last five matches, but as yet an Irish side has not lost at Parc y Scarlets with Munster winning there 18-16 on 28 November and Ulster gaining a 16-all draw on 12 December!
Leinster too have suffered just one reversal in their last five encounters: 12-19 to Wasps at Twickenham in the European Cup on 17 January. The Irishmen have won their last four games in the Magners League since losing 12-15 at Glasgow on 24 October. Leinster's only defeat in their last ten games against Welsh opponents since October 2007 was 26-31 at the Dragons on 9 May 2008.
Things could not be more even between the two teams with the ten previous clashes being split with five wins apiece. Leinster won 24-10 the last time they visited Llanelli.
Sunday 22 February
OSPREYS v CONNACHT
At Liberty Stadium, 2.15pm. Live on S4/C
Referee: Peter Allan (SRU, 25th League game). Assistant Referees: Leighton Hodges (WRU), Alan Jenkins (WRU)
TMO: Hugh Watkins (WRU).
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HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT MAGNERS LEAGUE MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
O |
C |
Ospreys scorers |
Connacht scorers |
|
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) |
|
Sat 16 Feb 08 |
Liberty Stadium |
37 |
7 |
Marty Holah(T) Mike Phillips(T) Nikki Walker(T) Shaun Connor(2C/3P) Gareth Owen(T/2C) |
Tim Donnelly(C) Jonny O'Connor(T) |
|
Fri 9 May 08 |
Sportsground |
20 |
24 |
Dan Biggar(2C/P) Kristian Phillips(T) Martin Roberts(T) Shaun Connor(P) |
Andy Dunne(3C/P) Keith Matthews(2T) Ofisa Treviranus(T) |
|
Fri 5 Sep 08 |
Sportsground |
16 |
3 |
James Hook(C/3P) Nikki Walker(T) |
Ian Keatley(P) |
Ospreys have lost three of their last five Magners League matches. Ospreys only defeat at Liberty Stadium in their last nine outings was 21-25 against Munster on 9 January.
Connacht's 49-3 victory at home to Dax last time out in the European Challenge Cup on 23 January ended a three game losing run in all competitions. Connacht's only win in their last 22 away games in the Magners League since September 2006 was 13-11 at the Dragons on 18 April 2008.
Ospreys have won three of their last four encounters with Connacht, whilst the Irishmen's last win on Ospreys soil was 10-9 at The Gnoll on 21 November 2004.
NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS v ULSTER
At Rodney Parade, 4.10pm. Live on S4/C
Referee: Neil Paterson (SRU, 10th League game). Assistant Referees: Neil Ballard (WRU), David Swain (WRU)
TMO: Huw Lewis (WRU).
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HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT MAGNERS LEAGUE MEETINGS |
|
||||
|
Date |
Venue |
N |
U |
Newport Gwent Dragons scorers |
Ulster scorers |
|
Sat 25 Mar 06 |
Ravenhill |
17 |
24 |
Steve Jones(T) Hal Luscombe(T) Craig Warlow(2C/P) |
Bryn Cunningham(T) Tommy Bowe(T) David Humphreys(T/3C/P) |
|
Sat 9 Sep 06 |
Rodney Parade |
25 |
32 |
Nic Fitisemanu(T) Aled Brew(2T) Ceri Sweeney(2C/2P) |
Andrew Maxwell(T) Bryn Cunningham(2T) Declan Fitzpatrick(T) David Humphreys(3C/2P) |
|
Fri 16 Feb 07 |
Ravenhill |
7 |
14 |
Aled Brew(T) Ceri Sweeney(C) |
David Humphreys(2C) Isaac Boss(T) Andrew Trimble(T) |
|
Sat 6 Oct 07 |
Rodney Parade |
31 |
11 |
Luke Charteris(T) Rhodri Gomer Davies(T) Ceri Sweeney(2C/4P) Gareth Wyatt(T) |
Tom Court(T) Niall O'Connor(2P) |
|
Fri 15 Feb 08 |
Ravenhill |
13 |
38 |
Phillip Dollman(T) Ceri Sweeney(2P) Aled Thomas(C) |
Rory Best(T) Ryan Caldwell(T) Isaac Boss(T) Bryn Cunningham(T) Paddy Wallace(T) Niall O'Connor(4C) Simon Danielli(T) |
|
Fri 19 Sep 08 |
Ravenhill |
16 |
14 |
James Arlidge(C/3P) Ashley Smith(T) |
Ian Humphreys(T) Kieron Dawson(T) Clinton Schifcofske(2C) |
Newport Gwent Dragons have won just one of their last five matches in all competitions: 25-20 at Glasgow in the Magners League on 9 January. Dragons have won only one of their last four games at Rodney Parade: 30-24 over the Ospreys on 19 December.
Ulster's only away win since November 2007 was 37-11 at Munster on 3 January. The Ulstermen have won just one of their last nine games against Welsh opponents: 26-16 at home to the Scarlets on 5 December, whilst Ulster's last win in Wales was 32-25 against the Dragons at Rodney Parade on 9 September 2006.
Dragons have won two of their last three games against Ulster. The Irishmen have won twice in six previous visits to Newport.
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