Preview: Magners League, Round 14
Fri, 28 Mar 2008 13:46
The countdown to the end of the Magners League season could start in earnest this weekend with Saturday's top-of-the-table clash at Stradey Park - when leaders Leinster face second-placed Llanelli Scarlets.
This game can be classed as a real '10-pointer', with Leinster either extending their considerable lead, or seeing their rivals for the title start chasing them down.
There is a similar swing of fortunes in prospect at Murrayfield, where fourth plays fifth - when Cardiff Blues travel to the capital city to face Edinburgh on Friday.
A win is vital for the home side if they are to continue their recent good form and mount a late challenge for the title.
Also on Friday Connacht will be looking to rewrite over 20 years of history and claim a success against third placed Munster who, with a game in hand over the leaders, are still in the running for two trophies this season - the Magners League and the Heineken Cup.
Friday's third game will see Ospreys and Ulster meeting for the fourth time this season, an Ulster victory will make it honours shared and keep them clear of the bottom of the table.
Finally in Wales on Sunday victory could see the Newport Gwent Dragons overtake their visitors, Glasgow Warriors, and depending on results elsewhere further their European ambitions by elevating them to the third placed Welsh team.
We look at all the Round 14 action!
Friday 28 March
Ospreys v Ulster
(Liberty Stadium, Swansea - 19.10 GMT)
Referee: Peter Allan (SRU)
Touch Judges: James Jones (WRU), Huw David (WRU)
TMO: Hugh Watkins (WRU)
Form guide: Ospreys only defeat in their last nine games in all competitions at Liberty Stadium was 19-26 to table topping Leinster on November 23. Ulster suffered their biggest ever league defeat at Munster on Saturday, and have won just once away from home since April 2007: 30-13 at Connacht on 23 November. Ulster's last win in Wales was 32-15 at the Dragons in the Magners League on 9 September 2006. The two sides have already met on three occasions this season, with Ospreys winning home and away in the European Cup, but Ulster taking the Magners League encounter 17-16 at Ravenhill in September.
Teams:
Ospreys: 15 Johnny Vaughton, 14 Nikki Walker, 13 Sonny Parker, 12 Andrew Bishop, 11 Shane Williams, 10 James Hook, 9 Justin Marshall, 8 Filo Tiatia (captain), 7 Ben Lewis, 6 Jonathan Thomas, 5 Ian Evans, 4 Ian Gough, 3 Cai Griffiths, 2 Huw Bennett, 1 Duncan Jones.
Replacements: 16 Richard Hibbard, 17 Paul James, 18 Alun-Wyn Jones, 19 Tom Smith, 20 Rhys Webb, 21 Shaun Connor, 22 Jonathan Spratt.
Ulster: 15 Bryn Cunningham, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Andrew Trimble, 12 Paddy Wallace, 11 Mark
Bartholomeusz, 10 Niall O'Connor, 9 Isaac Boss, 8 Stephen Ferris, 7 Kieron Dawson, 6 Matt McCullough, 5 Ryan Caldwell, 4 Justin Harrison, 3 Tom Court, 2 Rory Best (captain), 1 Bryan Young.
Replacements: 16 Neil Brady, 17 Declan Fitzpatrick, 18 Grant Webb, 19 Roger Wilson, 20 Kieran Campbell, 21 Rob Dewey, 22 Marc McCrea.
rugby365.com prediction: Two teams near the bottom of the table with nothing to lose. It could be entertaining, but you would be silly to bet against the Welsh glamour club, even if they haven't performed in the Magners League. Ospreys to win by 15 or more.
Connacht v Munster
(Sportsground, Galway - 19.30 GMT)
Referee: Simon McDowell (IRFU)
Touch Judges: Colin Stanley (IRFU), Eanna O'Dowd (IRFU)
TMO: M Black (IRFU)
Form guide: Connacht have lost their last three matches in the Magners League since a 20-18 victory at home to the Scarlets on 4 January. Connacht have won just one of their last 24 games against fellow Irish provinces since March 2004: 22-12 over Ulster in Galway on New Year's Eve 2005. Munster have won three of their last four games in the Magners League. Munster have also won six of their last seven encounters against fellow Irish provinces. Connacht have not beaten Munster since an 11-9 victory at Musgrave Park in the Irish Interprovincial Championship on 22 November 1986.
Teams:
Connacht: 15 Gavin Duffy, 14 Matt Mostyn, 13 Mel Deane, 12 Keith Matthews, 11 D Riordan, 10 Andy Dunne, 9 Conar O'Loughlin, 8 Colm Rigney, 7 Jonny O'Connor, 6 John Muldoon, 5 Andrew Farley (C), 4 David Gannon, 3 Robbie Morris, 2 Andrew Flavin, 1 Brett Wilkinson.
Replacements: 16 John Fogarty, 17 Brian McGovern, 18 Andrew Browne, 19 Liam Casserly, 20 Connor McPhillips, 21 Troy Nathan, 22 Darren
Yapp.
Munster: 15 Denis Hurley, 14 Doug Howlett, 13 Lifeimi Mafi, 12 AN Other, 11 Ian Dowling, 10 Paul Warwick, 9 Peter Stringer, 8 Anthony Foley (captain), 7 David Wallace, 6 Alan Quinlan, 5 Mick O'Driscoll, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 3 John Hayes, 2 Jerry Flannery, 1 Tony Buckley.
Replacements: 16 Frank Sheahan, 17 Marcus Horan, 18 Paul O'Connell, 19 Donnacha Ryan/Denis Leamy, 20 Tomas O'Leary, 21 Ronan O'Gara, 22 Kieran Lewis/Rua Tipoki.
rugby365.com prediction: In Irish derbies anything can happen and Munster will be weary, but Connacht don't seem to have what it takes. We'll go for a comfortable Munster win - by 15 points or more.
Edinburgh Rugby v Cardiff Blues
(Murrayfield, Edinburgh - 19.30 GMT)
Referee: Alan Lewis (IRFU)
Touch Judges: Rob Dickson (SRU), John Ferns (SRU)
Form guide: Edinburgh Rugby have lost just one of their last seven games in the Magners League: 7-11 at home to Munster on 15 February. Edinburgh have suffered only one reversal in five matches against Welsh sides this season: 13-19 at home to the Dragons on 12 October. Cardiff Blues have won just one of their last five encounters in the Magners League: 25-22 at home to Munster on 1 March. The Blues have lost their last two matches against Scottish teams. Edinburgh won 11-10 when the two teams met at the Arms Park in January and are going for a league double over the Blues for the first time since season 2004/05.
Teams:
Edinburgh: 15 Hugo Southwell, 14 Simon Webster, 13 Ben Cairns, 12 Nick De Luca, 11 John Houston, 10 Phil Godman, 9 Mike Blair, 8 David Callam, 7 Allister Hogg (captain), 6 Simon Cross, 5 Craig Hamilton, 4 Matt Mustchin, 3 Craig Smith, 2 Andrew Kelly, 1 Gavin Kerr.
Replacements: 16 Steve Lawrie, 17 Augusto Allori, 18
Fergus Pringle, 19 Ben Gissing, 20 Ben Meyer, 21 Calum MacRae, 22 Andrew Turnbull.
Cardiff Blues: 15 Ben Blair, 14 Jamie Roberts, 13 Tom Shanklin, 12 Gareth Thomas, 11 Tom James, 10 Dai Flannigan, 9 Jason Spice, 8 Xavier Rush, 7 Martyn Williams, 6 Mamma Molitika, 5 Paul Tito, 4 Deiniol Jones, 3 Taufa'ao Filise, 2 Gareth Williams, 1 Gethin Jenkins.
Replacements: 16 John Yapp, 17 T Rhys Thomas, 18 Scott Morgan, 19 Ben White, 20 Richie Rees, 21 Nicky Robinson, 22 Marc Stcherbina.
rugby365.com prediction: This is a close call and in close calls you go for the home team ... it's the logical choice. The Blues to win by single digits.
Saturday, 29 March
Llanelli Scarlets v Leinster
(Stradey Park, Llanelli - 17.30 GMT)
Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (IRFU)
Touch Judges: Hugh Watkins (WRU), Simon Harris
(WRU)
TMO: Tony Rowlands (WRU)
Form guide: Llanelli Scarlets have won their last five Magners League games at Stradey Park since the Dragons won there 30-23 on 1 September. The Scarlets have lost their last four matches in all competitions against the Irish provinces. Leinster, who are flying high at the top of the Magners League have won their last eight matches in the competition. The Irishmen have suffered just one reversal at the hands of the Welsh regions this season: 23-52 at home to today's opponents, the Scarlets, on 5 October. The Scarlets have the chance to be the first team to achieve a league double in the same season in the series of matches between these two teams.
Teams:
Llanelli Scarlets: 15 Morgan Stoddart, 14 Dafydd James, 13 Regan King, 12 Gavin Evans, 11 Mark Jones, 10 Stephen Jones, 9 Dwayne Peel (captain), 8 Alix Popham, 7 Gavin Thomas, 6 Dafydd Jones, 5 Scott
MacLeod, 4 Lou Reed, 3 Bruce Douglas, 2 Mahronri Schwalger, 1 Phil John.
Replacements: 16 Ben Broster, 17 Matthew Rees, 18 Adam Eustace, 19 Nathan Thomas, 20 Gavin Cattle, 21 Ceiron Thomas, 22 Matthew Watkins.
Leinster squad:
Forwards: Brian Blaney, Leo Cullen, Keith Gleeson, Cian Healy, Jamie Heaslip, Trevor Hogan, Bernard Jackman, Shane Jennings, Cameron Jowitt, Stephen Keogh, Stephen Knoop, Ollie le Roux, Malcolm O'Kelly, Stan Wright
Backs: Michael Berne, Gary Brown, Felipe Contepomi, Girvan Dempsey, Luke Fitzgerald, Shane Horgan, Chris Keane, Rob Kearney, Jonathan Sexton, Christian Warner, Chris Whitaker, Cillian Willis
rugby365.com prediction: Leinster remains a dangerous team regardless of where the game is play. But we feel the Scarlets have enough form to sneak a win - the Scarlets by less than 10.
Sunday, 30 March
Newport Gwent Dragons v Glasgow Warriors
(Rodney Parade, Newport - 16.05 GMT)
Referee: Alain Rolland (IRFU)
Touch Judges: David Bodliy (WRU), David Williams (WRU)
TMO: Gareth Simmonds (WRU)
Form guide: Newport Gwent Dragons have not won a game since their 18-16 victory at Glasgow in the Magners League on 4 January, whilst the Dragons have won just once at Rodney Parade in all competitions since October. Glasgow Warriors' only win in their last six encounters in the Magners League was 9-6 at home to the Ospreys on 29 February. Glasgow are winless away from home in the Magners League this season, and have not won in Wales since a 57-30 victory at Stradey Park in April 2005. In nine previous encounters between the two sides Glasgow have won just once: 48-20 at Hughenden in March 2004.
Teams:
Newport
Gwent Dragons: 15 Kevin Morgan, 14 Gareth Wyatt, 13 Rhodri Gomer Davies, 12 Ashley Smith, 11 Richard Fussell, 10 Aled Thomas, 9 Andy Williams, 8 Colin Charvis (captain), 7 Jamie Ringer, 6 Joe Bearman, 5 Luke Charteris, 4 Adam Jones, 3 Rhys Thomas, 2 Steve Jones, 1 Adam Black/ Dai Pattison
Replacements: 16 Ben Daly, 17 Gethin Robinson, 18 Peter Sidoli, 19 Michael Owen, 20 Paul Emerick, 21 Martyn Thomas, 22 Wayne Evans
Glasgow Warriors: TBC
rugby365.com prediction: Welsh rugby is at a high and we feel there will be more to celebrate in the valleys. The Dragons to win by 10 to 15 points.
With thanks to magnersleague.com
