CELTIC LEAGUE HOTS UP

The Dublin side will be looking to bounce back from their Heineken Cup semi final defeat to Munster at the same stadium when the Welsh region travels to Lansdowne Road. Leinster have the best home record in the competition, while the Ospreys, who are currently the second placed Welsh side, have won only one in their last six away games.

That fixture concludes this round which opens on Friday night with three games, including Heineken Cup finalists Munster’s trip to Border Reivers, where a win would take them at least temporarily above third placed Cardiff Blues. Should the Reivers score a victory it will be first ever over Munster.

Also on Friday night The Glasgow Warriors travel to the Newport Gwent Dragons. Both sides will be looking for a win after extended losing runs as they look to challenge for a Heineken Cup place next season.

Friday’s third game sees the Llanelli Scarlets looking to end a run of five away defeat when they travel to Edinburgh Gunners. The Scarlets still have two games in hand over their fellow Welsh sides and could still finish as top Welsh team should they take the points at Murrayfield. In contract the Gunners could be well on the way to confirming  their place as top Scottish side with victory over the Welsh region.

The fifth game of the round sees form team the Cardiff Blues looking to book their Heineken Cup spot for next year. They have taken 23 points from a possible 25 in their last five league games and need only two more to confirm their place in Europe’s elite competition next season.