Magners League Preview: Round Three
The Magners League’s early season pace-setters, Cardiff Blues, will be looking to bounce back from their defeat by Leinster last weekend when they travel to Cork to face unbeaten Munster in one of the highlights of the league’s third round of fixtures.
Munster will being aiming for their seventh straight league win on Friday – but they lost out to the Blues twice last season – while the Cardiff-based region could score a fifth win in their last six away games.
Leinster, who inflicted that defeat on the Blues last Friday night, will have a third consecutive win in their sights when the Llanelli Scarlets come to the RDS. Should Michael Cheika’s men succeed, it will give them a 17th straight home win – equalling the Magners League record currently held by Cardiff.
Also on Friday night, former England boss Andy Robinson will make his debut as a Magners League coach as he takes charge of an Edinburgh side – buoyed by their win over Ulster last weekend – against the Ospreys.
The defending champions are travelling north looking to build on the opening win of their title defence, against Glasgow last weekend.
After successive away defeats, the Warriors will be glad to get back to Glasgow for Friday’s fourth fixture. The Warriors have won their last four home games in the league, while Connacht have a poor recent record in Scotland having not won there in for over a year.
Michael Bradley’s charges have also lost four of their last five games against the Glasgow side.
The final tie of the round, on Saturday evening, sees Ulster travel to Rodney Parade knowing they have won their last four games against the Newport Gwent Dragons – but seeking their first away league win since early April.
A defeat for the Dragons will see them set an unwelcome record for the region of four straight league defeats.
MAGNERS LEAGUE ROUND THREE FIXTURES:
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5 –
Edinburgh v Ospreys, Murrayfield, 7.30pm
Glasgow Warriors v Connacht, Firhill, 7.30pm (live on Setanta Sports 2)
Leinster v Llanelli Scarlets, RDS, 7.10pm (live on Setanta Sports Ireland/BBC Wales)
Munster v Cardiff Blues, Musgrave Park, 7.30pm
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6 –
Newport Gwent Dragons v Ulster, Rodney Parade, 5.30pm (live on S4C)
—
– Magners League Fixtures/Results
– Magners League Latest Match/Training Photos