Celtic League – Munster Travel To Rodney Parade

Munster play their third last Celtic League game in Newport on Friday against a Dragons side who, already assured of Heineken Cup rugby next season, will be aiming for a home ‘quarter’.

Friday 25th March Newport Gwent Dragons v Munster. At Rodney Parade, 7.05pm live on BBC Wales. Referee: Rob Dickson (SRU). Munster play their third last Celtic League game in Newport on Friday against a Dragons side who, already assured of Heineken Cup rugby next season, will be aiming like Munster, for a home quarter Celtic Cup spot.

The Newport based team have won their last six matches at Rodney Parace since losing their only Celtic League match at the venue against Edinburgh on November 19th.

Munster will be out to claim a bonus point win and ensure their place as the top Irish seeds in next year s Heineken Cup, but what is more relevant is that they will hand the Ospreys the Celtic League title without the Welsh side having to play should Munster not pick up at least 3 points from this match.

Munster s only win in their last nine visits to Wales was 20-18 over the Ospreys at the Gnoll in the Heineken Cup in October.

Munster won 25-16 when the two sides met in Cork earlier this season but the last time they visited Rodney Parade they were beaten out the gate by the then Mike Ruddock coached Dragons.

Friday 25th March Leinster v Llanelli Scarlets. At Lansdowne Road, 5pm live on Setanta Sports. Referee: Iain Ramage (SRU). Leinster won 26-21 against Connacht in Galway on Sunday and will need to win again in their final home Celtic League match of the season if they are to keep up the pressure on Munster as number 1 Irish seeds for next season s Heineken Cup and also keep challenging for a home tie in the quarter-finals of the Celtic Cup. The Dubliners have won their last six matches at Lansdowne Road in all competitions. The Scarlets are on a run of three successive victories over Munster, Connacht and the Blues, and need just two more league points to ensure their qualification for next season s Heineken Cup. Llanelli Scarlets have won their last two matches against Leinster, but the Irishmen won on the Scarlets only previous trip to Dublin to face Leinster.

Friday 25th March Ulster v The Borders. At Ravenhill, 7.30pm. Referee: Phil Fear(WRU). Ulster are in a dogfight with Connacht, who have a bye this weekend, for the third placed Irish team and two points from this match for the Belfast boys will take them ahead with just two games each to play. Ulster have struggled lately, recording only one win in their last five matches 30-3 at home to Glasgow on March 4th. The Borders are now only playing for pride but nevertheless would like to end their unwanted record of never having won an away match in Celtic League history. Ulster have won all three previous matches they have played against the Borders, but the last two have been very close 19-15 in April 2004 and 20-19 in November 2004.

Saturday 26th March Neath-Swansea Ospreys v Edinburgh Rugby. At The Gnoll, 5.30pm live on S4C. Referee: Alain Rolland (IRFU). The Ospreys may have already claimed the title on Friday night if Munster do not obtain at least three points at Rodney Parade. Even if the Irishmen do that the Neath-Swansea outfit will just need to record a win in this match to lift the trophy. The Ospreys have won their last three matches against the Borders, Leinster and the Dragons, and have won their last six home games. Edinburgh have won five of their last six encounters and have won on two of their past three visits to Wales. The Ospreys have won all three matches they have played against Edinburgh in the Celtic League, but lost both others in the Heineken Cup. Edinburgh have visited the Gnoll on five previous occasions with their only win being 31-20 over Neath in the European Cup in November 1999.