ML Preview: Re-arranged Round 11
Tue, 16 Mar 2010 22:01
Three games from Round 11, which was badly disrupted by snow at the start of the year, have been rearranged for this week - Wednesday, March 17, and Thursday, March 18.
The first sees Newport Gwent Dragons travel to Galway Sportsground to face Connacht on St Patrick's Day, a ground where the hosts have not lost since September and the visitors have not won since May 2004.
The Dragons will be anxious to secure the victory to continue their push for a coveted top four spot and maintain their challenge for a play-off place come the end of the regular season.
Thursday sees two further games in Ireland - Leinster host Glasgow Warriors, whilst Munster face Scarlets.
Just one match point separates top of the table Leinster and fourth-placed Warriors, although Leinster do have a game in hand over their opponents.
Any points gained in this game are in effect denied to the opposition, and with only one third of the season left, every result is becoming doubly critical. The Warriors have a poor away record in Dublin, whilst Leinster have not lost at the RDS since September 2008.
The final game pits current Magners League champions Munster against the 2003/04 Champions, Scarlets.
Just outside the play-off zone, three points adrift of fourth-placed Glasgow Warriors, Munster need the victory to keep in touch with the top four. The Welsh region has won only once before on Munster soil, in September 2003, so have a tough task ahead of them.
We look at this week's action!
Wednesday, March 17:
Connacht v Newport Gwent Dragons
(Sportsground, Galway - Kick-off: 18.30 GMT)
Connacht have lost just one of their last four games in all competitions: 17-19 at Ospreys in the Magners League on 21 February. Connacht's most recent defeat at the Sportsground was 6-30 to Ulster on 25 September.
Newport Gwent Dragons are undefeated in their last four games in all competitions since their 23-32 reversal at home to Gloucester in the European Cup on 24 January. Dragons have not lost to a team from Ireland since a visit to Munster in the Magners League on 27 September.
The last three games between the two sides have all been won by the home side on the day, whilst Newport Gwent Dragons' only previous victory at the Sportsground was 32-14 on 1 May 2004.
rugby365.com Prediction: This is a close call, so close that even home ground advantage make it tough to separate the teams. We'll lean towards a close home win - Connacht by less than 10 points.
Teams:
Connacht: 15 Gavin Duffy, 14 Liam Bibo, 13 Niva Ta'auso, 12 Keith Matthews, 11 Fionn Carr, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Conor O'Loughlin, 8 George Naoupu, 7 Ray Ofisa, 6 John Muldoon (captain), 5 Mike McCarthy, 4 Michael Swift, 3 Jamie Hagan, 2 Adrian Flavin, 1 Brett
Wilkinson.
Replacements: 16 Ronan Loughney, 17 Robbie Morris, 18 Bernie Upton, 19 Mike McComish, 20 Kieran Campbell, 21 Miah Nikora, 22 Aidan Wynne.
Dragons: 15 Martyn Thomas, 14 Will Harries, 13 Mathew Watkins, 12 Ashley Smith, 11 Aled Brew, 10 Jason Tovey, 9 Wayne Evans, 8 Grant Webb, 7 Gavin Thomas, 6 Toby Faletau, 5 Hoani Macdonald, 4 Rob Sidoli, 3 Ben Castle, 2 Tom Willis (captain), 1 Hugh Gustafson.
Replacements: 16 Steve Jones, 17 Pat Palmer, 18 Andrew Coombs, 19 Adam Brown , 20 Tom Riley, 21 James Arlidge, 22 James Leadbeater.
Referee: Andrew Macpherson (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland), Ollie Hodges (Ireland)
Thursday, March 18
Leinster v Glasgow Warriors
(RDS, Dublin - Kick-off: 19.30 GMT)
Leinster are unbeaten in their last seven matches in all competitions since a 14-30 defeat against Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade in the Magners League on December 6.
The Leinstermen have not been beaten at the RDS in the Magners League since Munster were the visitors on 28 September 2008.
Glasgow Warriors are without a victory since beating the Dragons 29-25 at Firhill Arena in the European Cup on 15 January.
The Warriors' most recent win outside of Scotland in the Magners League was 25-13 at Ulster on December 4.
The last six clashes between the two teams have all been won by the home side on the day. Glasgow Warriors have never won in 11 previous trips to Dublin to play Leinster in all competitions.
rugby365.com Preditcion: This is easy. Leonster's form and home ground advantage will make this an easy win for them. Leinster by 15 points or more.
Teams:
Leinster: 15 Girvan Dempsey, 14 Simon Keogh, 13 Eoin
O'Malley,
12 Fergus McFadden, 11 Isa Nacewa, 10 Shaun Berne, 9 Paul O'Donohoe, 8
Stephen Keogh, 7 Paul Ryan, 6 Kevin McLaughlin, 5 Malcolm O'Kelly, 4
Devin Toner, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Bernard Jackman (captain), 1 CJ van der
Linde
Replacements: 16 Richardt Strauss, 17 Stan Wright, 18 Trevor Hogan, 19 Eoin Sheriff, 20 Chris Keane, 21 Ian Madigan, 22 Michael Keating
Glasgow Warriors: 15 Bernardo Stortoni, 14 Hefin O'Hare, 13 Peter Murchie, 12 Peter Horne, 11 DTH van der Merwe, 10 Ruaridh Jackson, 9 Mark McMillan (captain), 8 Richie Vernon, 7 Calum Forrester, 6 James Eddie, 5 Daniel Turner, 4 Tim Barker, 3 Ed Kalman, 2 Dougie Hall, 1 Jon Welsh.
Replacements: 16 Fergus Thomson, 17 Moray Low, 18 Rob Harley, 19 Chris Fusaro, 20 Colin Gregor, 21 Dave McCall, 22 Chris Kinloch.
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: Michael Black (Ireland), Mark Hermin
(Ireland)
Munster v Scarlets
(Musgrave Park, Cork - Kick-off: 19.35 GMT)
Munster tripped up 22-31 at Newport Gwent Dragons last time out on March 6. The Munstermen's last nine matches in the Magners League have all been won by the home side on the day.
Scarlets won their most recent encounter 25-8 at home to Ulster in the Magners League on March 5.
The Welshmen's last win outside of Wales in the Magners League was 17-14 at Connacht on January 19 last year.
Munster have won their last eight clashes with Scarlets in all competitions since Scarlets' 24-15 victory in the quarterfinal of the European Cup on 30 March 2007. The Welsh region have won just once before on Munster soil: 19-12 at Thomond Park on 12 September 2003.
rugby365.com Prediction: Not many teams beat Munster at home and we doubt this game is going to be an exception to that rule. However, it may well be closer than expected. Munster to win by 10 to 15 points.
Teams:
Munster: 15 Scott Deasy; 14 Doug Howlett, 13 Tom Gleeson, 12
Jean de Villiers, 11 Ian Dowling; 10 Paul Warwick, 9 Peter Stringer; 8
James Coughlan, 7 Niall Ronan, 6 Nick Williams, 5 Billy Holland; 4 Mick
O'Driscoll (captain), 3 Julien Brugnaut; 2 Damien Varley, 1 Marcus Horan
Replacements: 16 Denis Fogarty, Donnacha Ryan, Alan Quinlan, Tommy O'Donnell, Duncan Williams, Jeremy Manning, Denis Hurley.
Scarlets: 15 Dan Newton, 14 Joe Ajuwa, 13 Regan King, 12
Jonathan Davies, 11 Andy Fenby, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Tavis Knoyle,8
David Lyons (captain), 7 Richie Pugh, 6 Josh Turnbull, 5 Dominic Day, 4
Lou Reed, 3 Deacon Manu, 2 Ken Owens, 1 Iestyn Thomas
Replacements: 16 Phil John, 17 Emyr Phillips, 18 Damian Welch 19 Rob McCusker, 20 Martin Roberts, 21 Daniel Evans, 22 Gareth
Maule
Referee: Neil Paterson (SRU)
Assistant referees: D Phillips (IRFU) D Connolly (IRFU)
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