Magners League: Round 11 Preview
Having now passed the midway point in this season’s Magners League, the situation in the league table could not be tighter, with just five match points, or the equivalent of a bonus point win, separating the five teams in the top half of the table.
With four of those top five teams facing each other this weekend – Scarlets v Leinster and Munster v Edinburgh – there is a lot riding on the results of this round of games.
Leaders Munster will be looking to keep up their impressive record against the Scotsmen, having only lost just once to them in their last 10 encounters in all competitions.
Things are too close to call between Scarlets and Leinster, not only have both teams won four out of their last five games, but prior Magners League meetings between the two of them are evenly split at five apiece.
Elsewhere, the weekend kicks off with the visit of Glasgow Warriors to Cardiff where the Blues will be hoping the trend of the home team winning on the day in Magners League clashes will continue.
However, the Warriors’ most recent away game saw them defeat European giants Toulouse in the Heineken Cup.
Round 11 finishes with a televised ‘double header’ on Sunday. Both games feature teams from Wales against Ireland – the Ospreys hosting Connacht and Ulster are on the road to the Newport Gwent Dragons.
After losing to Munster last time out at the Liberty Stadium, and with that top spot in the table, the Ospreys will be keen for a victory to keep up their title challenge.
Meanwhile, Connacht, Ulster and Dragons are all looking for points to lift them from the wrong end of the table.
MAGNERS LEAGUE – ROUND 11 FIXTURES:
Friday, February 20:
Cardiff Blues v Glasgow Warriors, Arms Park, 7.05pm (live BBC Wales/Setanta Sports Ireland)
Saturday, February 21:
Scarlets v LEINSTER, Parc y Scarlets, 5.30pm (live S4C/Setanta Sports Ireland)
MUNSTER v Edinburgh, Musgrave Park, 7.30pm (live Setanta Sports Ireland)
Sunday, February 22:
Ospreys v CONNACHT, Liberty Stadium, 2.15pm (live S4C/Setanta Sports Ireland)
Newport Gwent Dragons v ULSTER, Rodney Parade, 4.10pm (live S4C/Setanta Sports Ireland)