Magners League: Round 15 Preview
Round 15 of the Magners League kicks off at Firhill on Friday night when visitors Ulster will be looking to complete their first ‘season’s double’ over Glasgow Warriors since the 2005/06 season.
Ulster will meet stiff resistance from a Glasgow side who returned to winning ways with their 38-21 victory over the Scarlets last time out.
Also on Friday it is the battle of the capital city teams as Edinburgh host Leinster at Murrayfield, a ground where the home team has not lost in their last six Magners League outings.
The two teams have met on three occasions already this season – once in the Magners League and twice in the Heineken Cup – with Leinster victorious each time, and their confidence is bound to be high following their success in Europe last weekend.
Saturday sees a West Wales derby when the Ospreys travel to Llanelli to face the Scarlets at the Parc y Scarlets.
The Ospreys will be hoping to put an end to their poor run of form that has seen them win just one of their last four matches – 16-13 in Ulster on April 3.
The Scarlets will face them with confidence having won their last four home games against fellow Welsh regions.
The round wraps up with the all-Ireland clash between Munster and Connacht at a sold-out Thomond Park, also on Saturday.
Connacht turned over Munster 12-6 at the Sportsground on December 28 but have never managed to achieve back-to-back wins over their illustrious neighbours.
Munster will be tough opponents and are in a rich vein of form as shown in their impressive European quarter-final victory over the Ospreys last Sunday.
MAGNERS LEAGUE – ROUND 15 FIXTURES:
Friday, April 17 –
Glasgow Warriors v ULSTER, Firhill Arena, 7.30pm
Edinburgh v LEINSTER, Murrayfield, 7.45pm (live Setanta Sports Ireland/Setanta Sports 2)
Saturday, April 18 –
Scarlets v Ospreys, Parc y Scarlets, 5.30pm (live S4C/Setanta Sports Ireland)
MUNSTER v CONNACHT, Thomond Park Stadium, 7.30pm (live Setanta Sports Ireland/Setanta Sports 2)