Magners League: Round 9 Preview

Round 9 of the Magners League kicks off on Friday night with three of the Irish provinces in action – Ulster at Benetton Treviso, Connacht at Edinburgh and Munster at the Dragons. Leinster complete the round on Sunday with a trip to defending champions, the Ospreys.

Benetton Treviso welcome third-placed Ulster to Stadio di Monigo where the hosts have won four out of their five Magners League games so far, including victories over two Irish provinces.

In Scotland, Edinburgh are also building a good home record, but Connacht, who were denied victory in the last minute of their game last Friday, will be keen to compete a ‘Scottish double’ having beaten Glasgow Warriors on Scottish soil earlier this season.

Over in Wales, Rodney Parade is the destination for table-topping Munster when they take on the Newport Gwent Dragons. The men of Gwent will be looking for back-to-back victories over their visitors as they bid to maintain their good home record against Irish sides.

Saturday sees an early kick-off at the City Stadium in Cardiff where the Blues take on Glasgow Warriors. The 1.30pm time slot is designed to allow fans to follow the national side’s progress against the All Blacks later in the day, but the Blues must be hoping it signals a change to their fortunes on the pitch.

The focus returns to Italy for the second game of the day where Aironi are still looking for their first Magners League victory. However, the second-placed Scarlets will be a hard team to overturn.

The round wraps up at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday evening as Leinster set out to avenge their defeat to the Ospreys in last season’s grand final.

The same four teams, Munster, the Scarlets, Ulster and the Cardiff Blues, have been in the play-off zone for the last four complete rounds, although their placings have changed.

The Blues are keeping Leinster out of the top four courtesy only of points difference. A narrow victory over the Scarlets last Sunday saw Munster pull seven points clear at the top of the table.

MAGNERS LEAGUE – ROUND 9 FIXTURES:

Friday, November 26 –

Benetton Treviso v ULSTER, Stadio di Monigo, 7.05pm (6.05pm Irish time) (BBC Two Northern Ireland/Dahlia TV)

Edinburgh v CONNACHT, Murrayfield, 7.05pm

Newport Gwent Dragons v MUNSTER, Rodney Parade, 7.05pm (live RTE Two/BBC Wales)

Saturday, November 27 –

Cardiff Blues v Glasgow Warriors, Cardiff City Stadium, 1.30pm

Aironi Rugby v Scarlets, Stadio Zaffanella, 7.05pm (Dahlia TV)

Sunday, November 28 –

Ospreys v LEINSTER, Liberty Stadium, 5pm (live TG4/S4C)