Preview: Magners League, Round Five
Round Five of the Magners League is serving up a number of interesting battles but one, as it always does, stands out on the fixture list - Leinster and Munster go head to head this weekend! rugby365 previews all the weekend's action...
Edinburgh maintained their spot at the top of the table last weekend despite a defeat but, with an away trip to the Ospreys this weekend, will need to be at their best if they want to stay there over the European break.
Five weeks into the season, the teams are on the verge of a two week break from the competition and nobody will want to end this part of the season on a disappointing note. Whether they've had a good, bad, outstanding or shocking start to the season; a good results this weekend would be a great moral booster for any team.
Starting off in Ireland on Friday night, the Scarlets have a tough match trip to Ravenhill before, on Saturday, the Dragons, Cardiff and Leinster welcome Connacht, Glasgow and Munster respectively.
The weekend wraps up in Wales on Sunday as the Gunners head to the Liberty Stadium.
Magners League Round Five:
Friday, 02 October
Ulster v Scarlets (19:05) (18.05 GMT) - Ravenhill - Brian McLaughlin's side continued to impress last weekend - recording a comprehensive 30-6 victory over Connacht in their all-Irish derby at the Sportsground.
In fact it's been a pretty interesting season for Ulster so far. A disappointing loss on day one was followed by a win over the Ospreys, a narrow defeat to Edinburgh and then a big win last weekend. All of which means, in truth, we're not really sure what to expect from the Ulsterman at the moment!
The Scarlets meanwhile have been on the losing side of three close contests in three weeks and, despite playing some good rugby, find themselves languishing down in the bottom half of the table.
One massive plus for Nigel Davies this week though is the return of British and Irish Lions flyhalf Stephen Jones. The hard-as-nails No.10 will no doubt bring some assuredness back into the Scarlets backline.
A fascinating first encounter of the weekend; these two sides will both be desperate for a win. Ulster, after losing to the Gunners in round three, need to claim a win in front of their home fans and the Scarlets, with just one win in four, need the points to get their season back on track.
rugby365 Prediction: The Ravenhill faithful will have to play their part - this is a powerful Scarlets side but one which certainly hasn't yet hit it's full potential this season. A tight match with the home side edging it by four or less.
Saturday, 03 October
Dragons v Connacht (16.30) (15.30 GMT) - Rodney Parade - Last weekend's two biggest losers, Paul Turner and Michael Bradley's men will both be expecting to return to winning ways this weekend.
The Dragons, having made a great start to the season, have been hit hard by the news that prop forward Ben Castle will be out of action for four months but, despite that, will be optimistic about Saturday's encounter.
Connacht meanwhile enjoyed a fantastic 18-16 win over the Ospreys last weekend but then crashed to a disappointing 30-6 loss at home to Ulster last weekend.
Confidence may not be high in the Irish region at the moment but this fixture would almost certainly be one which Bradley and co. would have targeted as a potential win on the road this season.
rugby365 Prediction: Connacht are often underestimated but, having performed so poorly last weekend, the Dragons are unlikely to make the mistake. The Dragons by eight or more.
Cardiff v Glasgow (18.30) (17.30 GMT) - Cardiff City Stadium - On paper this clash has all the ingredients required to be an entertaining encounter. Two teams cramped full of exciting players, they have enjoyed contrasting fortunes so far this season.
The Warriors started like a house on fire - winning their first two matches of the season - but have now lost two on the trot.
Despite leading at half time last weekend against the Ospreys, the Scottish side crashed to a poor 26-16 defeat at home and now face the difficult task of heading to Cardiff to tackle a Blues side fresh off a Welsh derby victory.
The Blues are still nowhere near their best. Missing players because of injury and struggling to find their form, Dai Young's men finally scored their first win of the new season last weekend against the Scarlets.
rugby365 Prediction: Sean Lineen's squad have shown some good signs this season but a confident Blues side remain a dangerous proposition in the Magners League. Blues should have the edge by five.
Leinster v Munster (18.30) (17.30 GMT) - RDS - Game of the weekend? Well it's hard to say it isn't! The two Irish and European giants find themselves sitting in second and third on the table after both recording good victories last weekend.
Leinster, since going down in Round One to the Scarlets, has slowly started to find their form this season. Edging out Edinburgh last weekend, the Heineken Cup Champions will welcome back Brian O'Driscoll this weekend and will certainly want to claim an early victory over one of their major rivals.
Munster's season has followed a similar pattern. A disappointing performance in the first round of the new campaign has been followed up by three hard fought victories.
Boosted last weekend by the arrival of Jean de Villiers and the return to form of No.8 Nick Williams, Tony McGahan will almost certainly have more of his Lions back in his squad for this Saturday's encounter as well.
The two big winners of the 2008/09 season, Leinster / Munster matches rarely disappoint.
rugby365 Prediction: Leinster by five... we don't quite know why, but a cut feeling is all we have to go on this week. Should be a fantastic contest.
Sunday, 04 October
Ospreys v Edinburgh (17.05) (16.05 GMT) - Liberty Stadium - Despite their defeat last weekend, the Gunners remained at the top of the table and look good value for it.
Their hosts this weekend though are the constantly under pressure Ospreys. Scott Johnson's men might have recorded a good victory last weekend but they remain the biggest target for the Welsh press.
Gavin Henson's future remains the biggest off-field issue at the club but it is on the field where they need to continue to focus their attentions. Full of attacking potential, Ryan Jones' men came from behind last weekend to beat one Scottish region - can they do the double this weekend?
Edinburgh have made their intentions clear already this season. Determined to lie down for no one, Rob Moffat's men are set to be playoff contenders this season. The real test this weekend though is for the Ospreys - playing at home, can they answering some of their critics and put on a show for their home fans?
rugby365 Prediction: The Ospreys are at home and, while Edinburgh are a quality outfit, would still expect to claim a victory this weekend. And they might be right. The Welsh side should take it by eight.
by rugby365