Celtic League – Munster Travel To Stradey.

The final round of games in the Celtic League, before the Six Nations internationals, take place this weekend with second placed Munster travelling to Wales and an engagement with Llanelli.

The final round of games in the Celtic League, before the Six Nations internationals, take place this weekend with second placed Munster travelling to Wales and an engagement with Llanelli at Stradey Park

Munster are five points behind leaders Neath-Swansea Ospreys and coach Alan Gaffney will have his international contingent available to him although those involved with the Irish squad will not rejoin their Munster colleagues until, Thursday, the day before the squad travel to Wales.

The Scarlets have lost their last three matches to Northampton, Toulouse and Edinburgh, but have not lost at home in the Celtic League since Connacht were the visitors on October 9th. Their coach Gareth Jenkins will be looking for his side to atone for the 23 nil defeat they suffered last weekend in Scotland.

Leinster v Newport-Gwent Dragons. Leinster have lost their last two games in the Celtic League to Munster and the Borders. In Dublin, Leinster have not lost in their past 14 matches since March, whilst they haven t lost at Lansdowne Road since Sale were the visitors in the European Cup in January 2004.

The Dragons last eight matches have all gone with home field advantage, with the last time the Newport based side tasted success on the road being when they visited Edinburgh on 31 October. All three previous clashes between the two have been won by the home side, with the Dragons being victorious 34-13 when they last met at Rodney Parade on 1 October.

The Borders v Connacht. The Borders are going for a third Celtic League victory in a row for the first time in their history following back to back successes over Edinburgh and Leinster. The Borders have won their last three home games at Netherdale in the competition.

Connacht have suffered four successive defeats in the Celtic League, with their last win in the competition being 19-14 over the Dragons in Galway in November. Connacht were held scoreless on their only previous visit to Scotland this season 0-35 at Glasgow on 17 December. The Borders have won only one of their five previous encounters with Connacht 40-29 at Netherdale in March 2004.

Cardiff Blues v Edinburgh Cardiff Blues have secured back to back wins – over Ulster and Connacht but they have not won three in a row since last February/March. The Blues have never lost a home match to a Scottish side.

Edinburgh Rugby have also won successive matches against Perpignan and the Scarlets whilst they have not won three on the bounce since their European Cup run last January. Edinburgh have not won on the road since a 17-16 win over the Dragons at Rodney Parade on 19 November and have never won in four previous visits to the Arms Park.

Glasgow Rugby v Neath-Swansea Ospreys. Glasgow s only win in their last nine matches was 35-0 over Connacht on 17 December. At home the Glaswegians have won four in a row at Hughenden in the Celtic League since Munster beat them there on 9 October.

The Ospreys have won four of their last five games in all competitions the loss being to Munster in the European Cup on 8 January. The Ospreys have won on six of their past seven visits to Scotland with their only loss in this period being in this equivalent fixture last season. All three previous encounters between the two have been won by the home team, with The Ospreys triumphing 40-17 at St Helen s in October.