Following on from two rounds of European competition, the focus this weekend returns to the Magners League,
starting with three games on Friday night, one each in Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
Table topping Munster, who retained their lead despite losing to Leinster in front of a record crowd at the Aviva
Stadium last round, welcome Benetton Treviso to Thomond Park. The two sides have met before in European
competitions, and Munster will be looking to continue their 100% record against the Italian outfit.
Edinburgh are in action in Scotland where they face third placed Ulster, the only remaining unbeaten team in the
League, whose last loss was also in Scotland.
Friday’s final game is an all-Welsh affair, second placed Cardiff Blues hosting the team currently occupying the
final Play-Off spot, Scarlets. Blues, who are building an impressive home record at the City Stadium, will be aware
Scarlets lost their last game against another Welsh side, Ospreys, in the last round.
The action on Saturday switches to Galway with an all-Irish feature between Connacht and Leinster at the
Sportsground. Having played at two national stadiums in the last three weeks, the Aviva and Wembley Stadiums,
the confines of the Sportsground may prove more intimidating for the Dubliners.
Also on Saturday Aironi travel to Wales to play Newport Gwent Dragons. Both sides are the wrong end of the
table, and victory for either will boost their confidence before the Autumn Internationals kick-in.
The round wraps up on Sunday with reigning champions Ospreys travelling to Scotland to face Glasgow Warriors,
where the hosts will be hoping to reverse their loss in the Play-Off semi-final last season.
For live scoring from all Round 6 games click onto www.magnersleague.com.
Cardiff Blues v Scarlets
Cardiff Blues are currently the best home side in the Magners League and have won their last six games in all
competitions at Cardiff City Stadium since Gloucester won there in the LV= Cup on 14 March. The Blues have lost
just one of their last eight encounters with fellow Welsh regions: 0-26 at Ospreys on New Year’s Day.
Scarlets 18-21 defeat to Ospreys in round five ended a three game winning run in the Magners League. Scarlets’
only victory on the road in the Magners League in 2010 was 27-14 at Rodney Parade in their most recent away
game.
The two teams met three times last season with the Blues victorious on each occasion. Scarlets have won twice
before on Blues soil – both at the Arms Park in 2004 and 2009.
Edinburgh v Ulster
Edinburgh Rugby have won their last two games in the Magners League, at home to Leinster and at Aironi,
however the Scotsmen have won just once at Murrayfield in their last four matches in all competitions.
Ulster’s eight match unbeaten run came to an end in Biarritz on Sunday but in the Magners League the
Ulstermen, the League’s only remaining unbeaten side, haven’t lost since a visit to Glasgow on 16 April.
The two teams have already met this season with Ulster triumphing 29-21 at Ravenhill on 17 September. Ulster
have now won their last three encounters with Edinburgh in all competitions.
Munster v Benetton Treviso
Munster lead the Magners League after five rounds, and have won their last three home games in all
competitions. The Munstermen have a perfect played 10, won 10 record against Italian teams.
Benetton Treviso have lost their only two away games this season, at Ospreys in the Magners League and at
Perpignan in the European Cup. Italian teams are yet to tally a single league point on their travels in the Magners
League this season.
The two teams have met on four previous occasions with Munster easily victorious each time.
Connacht v Leinster
Connacht beat Bayonne 16-13 at the Sportsground in the Amlin Challenge Cup on Friday, to end a three game
winless run. Connacht’s only defeat in their last five home games in all competitions was 12-19 to Toulon in the
semi-final of last season’s European Challenge Cup.
Leinster have won their last three games since their 24-32 reversal in Edinburgh on 24 September. The
Leinstermen have lost only one of their last six encounters with fellow Irish provinces: 13-27 at the Sportsground
in this equivalent fixture last season.
The last four games between the two teams have all been won by the home side on the day, whilst Leinster’s
most recent victory in Galway was 16-10 on 29 February 2008.
Dragons v Aironi
Newport Gwent Dragons’ only win in their last nine games was 23-11 at home to Glasgow on 12 September.
Dragons have lost their last two matches at Rodney Parade, to Scarlets and Toulouse, but have not lost three in a
row at the famous old ground since 2007.
Aironi are still searching for a maiden victory, and in fact have not scored a try since their trip to Llanelli on 17
September. Italian teams have a creditable won 2, lost 3 record at Rodney Parade, with Parma winning there 24-
15 in a European Play-Off match in June 2006 and Treviso being victorious 24-22 in the European Cup in
December 2007.
Glasgow v Ospreys
Glasgow Warriors’ only victory in their last six matches in all competitions was 21-13 at home to Newport Gwent
Dragons in the European Cup two weeks ago.
Ospreys have won three of their last four games, but have not managed to win outside Wales since their victory in
the Magners League Grand Final in May. The Welshmen have lost only one of their last six games against
Scottish opponents.
The Warriors have not beaten Ospreys since a 9-6 victory at Firhill on 29 February 2008.