All the details for this weeks games
Friday 12 November
EDINBURGH RUGBY v NEATH-SWANSEA OSPREYS
At Murrayfield, 7.30pm - Referee: David Keane (IRFU)
HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT MEETINGS
Friday 17 October 2003 (Celtic League) at The Gnoll
The Ospreys 42: Shaun Connor(T) James Storey(T) Gavin Henson(2C/6P) Scott
Gibbs(T) Andy Newman(T)
Edinburgh Rugby 18: Derrick Lee(T) Hugo Southwell(T) Alistair Warnock(C/2P)
Friday 12 December 2003 (European Cup) at St Helen's
The Ospreys 16: Scott Gibbs(T) Dave Tiueti(T) Shaun Connor(2P)
Edinburgh Rugby 32: Todd Blackadder(T) Craig Joiner(T) Chris
Paterson(T/3C/2P) Hugo Southwell(T)
Friday 23 January 2004 (European Cup) at Meadowbank
Edinburgh Rugby 33: Allister Hogg(2T) Brendan Laney(2T/2C/3P)
The Ospreys 15: Gavin Henson(5P)
Friday 12 March 2004 (Celtic League) at Meadowbank
Edinburgh Rugby 31: Hugo Southwell(2T) Dougie Hall(T) Craig Joiner(T) Ander
Monro(4C/P)
The Ospreys 35: James Storey(T) Stefan Terblanche(T) Andrew Millward(T) Richie Pugh(T) Gavin Henson(3C/3P)
PREVIEW
Edinburgh had a bye week last week following back to back European Cup losses to Perpignan and the Dragons. They did however win last time out in the Celtic League - 35-24 at Connacht on 16 October. Edinburgh's only victory in their last nine matches against Welsh opposition was 35-16 over Cardiff Blues at Murrayfield on 2 October. After beginning the season with seven straight wins the Ospreys have now slipped to three successive defeats against Castres, Munster and the Dragons. They have however lost just one of their past six encounters with Scottish sides - 31-34 to Glasgow at Hughenden on 14 May. Honours are even at two wins apiece in previous meetings between the two in all competitions.
Friday 12 November
THE BORDERS v ULSTER
At Netherdale, 7.30pm - Referee: Phil Fear (WRU)
HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT MEETINGS
Friday 28 November 2003 (Celtic League) at Ravenhill
Ulster 46: Andy Ward(2T) Ryan Constable(2T) Bryn Cunningham(T) Paul
Shields(T) Paddy Wallace(5C/2P)
The Borders 5: Nikki Walker(T)
Friday 30 April 2004 (Celtic League) at Netherdale
The Borders 15: Semo Sititi(T) Iain Fairley(T) Tanner Vili(C/P)
Ulster 19: Simon Best(T) Neil Best(T) David Humphreys(D/2P)
PREVIEW
The Borders have failed to pick up any league points since they grabbed two in losing 27-29 at Connacht on 2 October, whilst they have won just one of their past eleven encounters with Irish sides - 40-29 over Connacht at Netherdale last March. Ulster's recent form has been worse than the Borders, securing just one league point from their last five outings since they beat Connacht on 18 September. This match will complete Ulster's three visits to Scotland this season having already beaten Edinburgh at Murrayfield but lost to Glasgow at Hughenden. Last season both matches went the way of Ulster with the Northern Irishmen winning 46-5 at Ravenhill and 19-15 at Netherdale.
Saturday 13 November
CARDIFF BLUES v GLASGOW RUGBY
At the Arms Park, 5.30pm live on S4C - Referee: George Clancy (IRFU)
HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT MEETINGS
Friday 5 September 2003 (Celtic League) at Hughenden
Glasgow Rugby 23: Gareth Maclure(T) Sam Pinder(T) Euan Murray(T) Calvin
Howarth(C/D/P)
Cardiff Blues 13: Nick Macleod(T) Nick Robinson(C/2P)
Friday 13 February 2004 (Celtic League) at Arms Park
Cardiff Blues 29: Jonny Vaughton(2T) Nick Walne(T) Nick Robinson(T/3C/P)
Glasgow Rugby 19: Alan Bulloch(2T) Joe Beardshaw(T) Colin Gregor(2C)
PREVIEW
Cardiff Blues "stopped the rot" with a first win in five matches with a 14-10 victory over the Scarlets at the Arms Park on Sunday and now take on Glasgow Rugby in their third successive home match at the venue. The Blues won all three games last season against Scottish sides at the Arms Park. Glasgow Rugby have now put together back to back Celtic League wins over Ulster and the Borders, whilst they have not won three in a row in the competition since September 2002. The Glaswegians last win in Wales was 19-9 over the Celtic Warriors at Brewery Field in September 2003, they have won only once on six previous visits to Cardiff in all competitions - 44-35 over Cardiff RFC in the Celtic League in August 2002.
Saturday 13 November
MUNSTER v NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS
At Musgrave Park, 8.05pm live on Setanta Ireland - Referee: Mike Hall (SRU)
HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT MEETINGS
Friday 17 October 2003 (Celtic League) at Rodney Parade
The Dragons 29: Jamie Ringer(T) Adam Black(T) Craig Warlow(2C/D/4P)
Munster 6: Jeremy Staunton(2P)
Friday 12 March 2004 (Celtic League) at Thomond Park
Munster 6: Mossie Lawlor(2P)
The Dragons 16: Andy Marinos(T) Percy Montgomery(C/3P)
PREVIEW
Munster's renaissance continued with a sixth successive win at Ravenhill last Saturday, with the team being unbeaten since Leinster lowered their colours at Donnybrook on 18 September. Munster however have not won in their last three matches at Musgrave Park with their last win at the ground being over Leinster in February. The Dragons are also in fine form with six consecutive Celtic League wins since they lost to Cardiff Blues 8-18 at the Arms Park on 11 September. The Dragons have won six of their past seven meetings against Irish teams with the exception being the 39-56 loss to Leinster at Lansdowne Road in May. Last season the Dragons achieved a Celtic League double over Munster winning 29-6 at Rodney Parade and 16-6 at Thomond Park.
Sunday 14 November
LLANELLI SCARLETS v LEINSTER
At Stradey Park, 5.30pm live on BBC Wales - Referee: Andrew Ireland (SRU)
HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT MEETINGS
Friday 7 November 2003 (Celtic League) at Donnybrook
Leinster 31: Christian Warner(T) John McWeeney(2T) Brian O'Meara(2C/4P)
Llanelli Scarlets 20: Tal Selley(T) Ian Boobyer(T) Barry Davies(2C) Gareth
Bowen(2P)
Friday 16 April 2004 (Celtic League) at Stradey Park
Llanelli Scarlets 51: Dwayne Peel(2T) Barry Davies(2T) Garan Evans(T) Jon
Thiel(T) Stephen Jones(6C/3P)
Leinster 20: John McWeeney(2T) Shane Horgan(T) Felipe Contepomi(P) Brian
O'Meara(C)
PREVIEW
The Scarlets have now slipped to five successive losses in all competitions with just a 37-16 win against Edinburgh to show for their efforts since the opening weekend of the season.
Leinster will be bidding to emulate Connacht and become the second Irish side to triumph at Stradey Park this season, but the Dubliners have lost on their last four visits to Wales in 2004.
Last season the home side comfortably took the two Celtic League encounters
- Leinster winning 31-20 at Donnybrook and the Scarlets 51-20 at Stradey Park.
Bye Week - CONNACHT.