Preview: Magners League, Rd Eight
The Magners League is back in full swing this weekend with an exciting round of fixtures snuck in before a couple week's of European action. rugby365 previews all the action from the Celtic competition...
Ospreys/Munster, Dragons/Leinster - the weekend really is full of exciting match-ups and kicks off on Friday night with the Scarlets hosting Edinburgh and the Warriors travelling to Ravenhill to take on the Ulsterman.
With just five points separating first and seventh place the league is hugely competitive at the moment with bonus points becoming more and more important as the weeks go on.
Connacht, sitting down at the bottom table, travel to fellow strugglers Cardiff this weekend and will be hoping to claw themselves up above the Blues with a big win at the Cardiff City Stadium.
Fri, 4 December
Scarlets v Edinburgh (19:05 GMT) (19:05 local) - Parc y Scarlets -
Edinburgh Rugby have won only one of their last four Magners League encounters: 12-7 at home to Munster on 23 October. The Scotsmen have lost their last two matches against Welsh opponents.
Scarlets' only defeat in their last six matches in all competitions was 10-16 at Connacht in the Magners League on 30 October. The Welshmen have won their last three games at Parc y Scarlets since their 20-22 reversal to Munster there on 19 September. Scarlets have won just one of their last seven games against opponents from Scotland.
The two sides each won their respective home game when they clashed in the Magners League last season.
Despite being down in eighth spot on the table the Scarlets have already shown this season what they are capable of. Impressing in the Heineken Cup, the Welsh region will be expecting to take the points from this weekend's clash with the Gunners.
Rob Moffat's men meanwhile are one of four teams stuck on 19 points and will be hoping to maintain their pressure on the top teams with a win this weekend.
rugby365 Prediction: The Gunners have already shown they are capable of winning on the road but the Scarlets, playing at home, should still be favourites. Welsh region by eight.
Ulster v Glasgow Warriors (20:00 GMT) (20:00 local) - Ravenhill -
The Warriors have won their last three matches against Irish opponents. Ulster did the Magners League double over Glasgow last season.
Ulster's 10-24 defeat in Munster last time out ended a three game winning run in the Magners League. The Ulstermen have won their last three matches at Ravenhill since Edinburgh won there, 16-13, on 18 September.
Glasgow Warriors' only win in their last four encounters in all competitions was 34-20 at home to Connacht in the Magners League on 23 October.
Third versus second on the log - both camps are full of confidence at the moment and could serve up a really fascinating clash at Ravenhill this weekend.
rugby365 Prediction: A tight one to call, we're once again going to give the edge to the home side. Ulster by five.
Saturday, 5 December
Ospreys v Munster (18.30 GMT)(18.30 local) - Liberty Stadium
Munster have won their last four games against Ospreys in all competitions including a 25-21 victory on their most recent visit to Liberty Stadium on 9 January.
Ospreys' only win in their last six matches in all competitions was 25-24 over Clermont Auvergne at Liberty Stadium in the European Cup on 18 October. The Welshmen have won just one of their last five games against opponents from Ireland: 19-12 at Connacht in the Magners League on 4 September.
Munster's 24-10 victory over Ulster last time out ended a two game losing run for the Magners League champions. The Munstermen have lost five of their last six away matches, but have an impressive record against Welsh opponents, having won 13 of their last 14 such encounters.
Two of European rugby's big names, this match is always going to draw a lot of interest. The Ospreys have well documented injury problems but despite their shortage of halfbacks they will still field a team filled with international power and experience.
Munster meanwhile have still yet to really find their best form but will be boosted by the arrival of South African prop Wian du Preez and feel pretty secure with the knowledge that their head coach, Tony McGahan, has just signed a new two year deal with the Thomond Park-based side.
rugby365 Prediction: It often depends on which Ospreys side shows up... brilliant at their best, frustrating at their worst... Munster by six.
Sunday, 6 December
Blues v Connacht (15:00 GMT) (15:00 local) - Cardiff City Stadium -
Connacht are going for a first ever Magners League double over the Blues, having beaten them 18-16 at the Sportsground on 18 September. Connacht have never won in six previous visits to Cardiff.
Cardiff Blues have won just one of their last four matches in the Magners League: 20-12 at home to Ospreys on 24 October. The Blues have lost all three games they have played against teams from Ireland this season.
Connacht's only reversal in their last four matches in all tournaments was 20-34 at Glasgow in the Magners League on 23 October. The Irishmen's most recent away victory in the Magners League was 13-11 at Newport Gwent Dragons on 18 April 2008.
Clearly therefore homeground advantage is going to be a factor! Neither team will be pleased with their domestic form so far this season but there is never a better time than the present to put that right.
Cardiff were disappointing in their recent clash with Australia but the only team to have scored less points than them in their sevens matches so far this season is this weekend's opponents.
rugby365 Prediction: Connacht are certainly on the up - finally having found some confidence, but it won't be enough to overcome Dai Young's men this weekend. The Welsh region by nine or more.
Dragons v Leinster (17:00 GMT) (17:00 local) - Rodney Parade -
The last five games between the two teams have all been won by the home side on the day, whilst Leinster's last win at Rodney Parade was 23-22 on 13 April 2007.
Newport Gwent Dragons have been victorious in two of their last three games in the Magners League, and have won seven in a row in all competitions at Rodney Parade since Munster won there on 7 March.
Leinster's only defeat in their last six encounters in the Magners League was 14-16 at Ulster on 24 October. The Irishmen have won their last three matches against the Welsh regions.
Top of the table, defending Heineken Cup Champions... it is good to be a Leinster fan at the moment. With a number of their stars expected to return they will be targeting a win this weekend before turning their attentions to the hugely important back-to-back Heineken Cup matches in the next fortnight.
Paul Turner's Dragons meanwhile have 'kept it simple' and upset a number of sides already this season. Playing at Rodney Parade they will over Michael Cheika's troops a stern examination.
One wonders as well whether the continued speculation regarding who will be in charge at the RDS next season might not start affecting the players...
rugby365 Prediction: We don't really think the speculation will affect anyone. Leinster are a quality outfit at the moment and while the Dragons could well upset them this weekend it's not what we expect to happen. Leinster by seven.
by rugby365