Magners League: Round 15 Preview

It is a huge weekend for the Magners League – especially here in Ireland where probable sell-out crowds at the RDS in Dublin and at Ravenhill in Belfast will see crucial battles at either end of the league table.

On Friday night it is the basement battle with Connacht facing Ulster. The westerners have not won in Belfast since 1960 and Ulster will be looking to bounce back from consecutive league defeats and move at least eight points clear of Connacht with a game in hand.

Also on Friday there will be local rivalries rekindled in Wales and Scotland. Cardiff Blues will be looking to bounce back from Heineken Cup disappointment against Llanelli Scarlets at the Arms Park, with both teams still harbouring title hopes.

Meanwhile. Glasgow Warriors will be looking to narrow the gap on their neighbours when Edinburgh travel to the Firhill Arena, where a record crowd is expected.

With the Ospreys playing in the EDF Energy Cup on Saturday there is only one more game this weekend – and what a game it is.

Heineken Cup semi-finalists Munster travel to Dublin on Saturday evening to face leaders Leinster, knowing they need a win if Michael Cheika’s side are to be pegged back in their hunt for the Magners League title.

The Munster men have not won a league match in Dublin for four-and-a-half years and if that trend continues Leinster could be as much as 15 points clear at the league’s summit, by the end of the round.

MAGNERS LEAGUE – ROUND 15 FIXTURES:

Friday, April 11 –

Ulster v Connacht, Ravenhill, 6.30pm (live Setanta Sports Ireland)

Cardiff Blues v Llanelli Scarlets, Arms Park, 7.10pm

Glasgow Warriors v Edinburgh, Firhill Arena, 8pm (live Setanta Sports 2)

Saturday, April 12 –

Leinster v Munster, The RDS, 6.30pm (live Setanta Sports Ireland)