All the details ahead of the final round of Celtic League games
Friday 15 April
CARDIFF BLUES v THE BORDERS
At the Arms Park, 7.05pm. Referee: Alan Lewis (IRFU).
HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT MEETINGS
Friday 26 September 2003 (Celtic League) at Netherdale
The Borders 22: Kevin Utterson(T) Gareth Morton(C/4P) Clark Laidlaw(D)
Cardiff Blues 20: Donavan Van Vuuren(T) Nick Macleod(D) Nick Robinson(4P)
Friday 27 February 2004 (Celtic League) at Arms Park
Cardiff Blues 59: Jamie Robinson(4T) Jim Brownrigg(T) Jonny Vaughton(T) Tom
Shanklin(T) Craig Quinnell(T) Nick Robinson(T/6C) Nick Macleod(C)
The Borders 13: Craig Moir(T) Gareth Morton(C/2P)
Friday 26 November 2004 (Celtic League) at Netherdale
The Borders 35: Jonny Weston(T) Calum MacRae(T) Alistair Warnock(T/3C/2P) Kelly Brown(T) Charlie Hore(P)
Cardiff Blues 25: Robin Sowden-Taylor(T) Ryan Powell(T) Craig Morgan(T) Lee
Thomas(2C/2P)
PREVIEW
Cardiff gained an excellent victory at home to Ulster last week and will need another win against the Borders if they are to stand any chance of a trip to face the Ospreys in the Celtic Cup quarter-finals. The Blues have struggled against Scottish opponents this season with their only victory coming at home to Glasgow on 13 November. The Borders have, for some weeks, been playing for pride, but they gave Munster a run for their money last Sunday at Netherdale in pulling out to a 20-0 lead after 33 minutes only to see the Irishmen stage a terrific comeback to win 38-23. The Borders have had the better of their three meetings with the Blues, gaining two wins to the Welshmen's one. The Scots have a chance to inflict their first "double" over an opponent in a season, having beaten the Blues 35-25 at Netherdale in November.
Friday 15 April
ULSTER v LLANELLI SCARLETS
At Ravenhill, 7.05pm live on Setanta Ireland & BBC Wales. Referee: Andrew Ireland (SRU).
HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT MEETINGS
Friday 6 February 2004 (Celtic League) at Ravenhill
Ulster 10: Bryn Cunningham(T) Adam Larkin(C/P)
Llanelli Scarlets 9: Gareth Bowen(2P) Mike Phillips(D)
Friday 14 May 2004 (Celtic League) at Stradey Park
Llanelli Scarlets 23: Matthew Watkins(T) Stephen Jones(D/5P)
Ulster 16: Neil McMillan(T) David Humphreys(C/3P)
Sunday 28 November 2004 (Celtic League) at Stradey Park Llanelli Scarlets 22: Phil John(T) Gareth Bowen(C/5P)
Ulster 9: Adam Larkin(3P) Paul Steinmetz(P)
PREVIEW
Ulster need a win to ensure their participation in the Celtic Cup and to put themselves out of reach of Connacht as the third Irish team. The Celtic League's best supported team seem to have got over their early season hiccup at "fortress" Ravenhill to record seven straight wins in all competitions at the famous old ground. A victory for Llanelli Scarlets would almost certainly ensure a 4th place finish and therefore a home Celtic Cup quarter-final tie. The Scarlets, however, have lost their last two matches against Leinster and Glasgow, whilst their only win on the road in their last five games in all competitions came at Connacht in February. All three previous matches between the two sides have been won by the home team.
Saturday 16 April
NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS v CONNACHT
At Rodney Parade, 5.30pm live on S4C. Referee: Alan Williamson (SRU).
HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT MEETINGS
Sunday 23 November 2003 (Celtic League) at Rodney Parade
The Dragons 28: Steve Jones(T) Ben Breeze(T) Hal Luscombe(T) Lee
Jarvis(2C/3P)
Connacht 19: Bernard Jackman(T) Mark McHugh(C/4P)
Saturday 1 May 2004 (Celtic League) at Sportsground
Connacht 14: Matt Mostyn(2T) Eric Elwood(2C)
The Dragons 32: Nathan Brew(T) Percy Montgomery(T/3C/2P) Hal Luscombe(T) Craig Warlow(T)
Sunday 28 November 2004 (Celtic League) at Sportsground Connacht 19: Matt Mostyn(T) Paul Warwick(C/D/3P)
The Dragons 14: Gareth Baber(T) Craig Warlow(3P)
PREVIEW
Newport Gwent Dragons will be all out for victory to attempt to secure a home tie at Rodney Parade in the Celtic Cup quarter-finals. The Dragons form of late is a concern though in slipping to three successive losses scoring just 11 points and conceding 87 in the process. Connacht will be looking anxiously at Ulster's result at home to the Scarlets on Friday to see if there is anything for the Galwaymen still to play for in the Celtic League and Cup, or concentrate on their 2nd leg European Challenge Cup tie at Sale. Connacht will be hoping for a repeat of the result when they last played the Dragons ay the Sportsground in November when the home side won 19-14. Eric Elwood, who retires at the end of the seaon, is in line to become the first Connacht player to appear in 50 Celtic League matches.
Saturday 16 April
GLASGOW RUGBY v LEINSTER
At Hughenden, 7.30pm live on Setanta Scotland. Referee: Phil Fear (WRU).
HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT MEETINGS
Friday 26 November 1999 (European Cup) at Hughenden
Glasgow Rugby 29: Shaun Longstaff(2T) Tommy Hayes(T/3C/P) Roland Reid(T)
Leinster 17: Mark McHugh(2C/P) Shane Byrne(T) Penalty Try(T)
Friday 7 January 2000 (European Cup) at Donnybrook
Leinster 44: Peter McKenna(T) Denis Hickie(T) Brian O'Driscoll(T) John
McWeeney(T) Emmet Farrell(T/4C/2P) Gary Halpin(T)
Glasgow Rugby 17: Glenn Metcalfe(T) Tommy Hayes(2C/P) Gordon Simpson(T)
Friday 17 August 2001 (Celtic League) at Donnybrook
Leinster 39: Girvan Dempsey(T) Gordon D'Arcy(T) Andy Dunne(T) Brian
O'Meara(3C/6P)
Glasgow Rugby 11: Tommy Hayes(2P) Andy Nicol(T)
Friday 7 December 2001 (Celtic League Semi-final) at Lansdowne Road Leinster 35: Girvan Dempsey(T) Denis Hickie(T) Brian O'Driscoll(T) Shane
Horgan(T) Nathan Spooner(3C/2P) Brian O'Meara(P)
Glasgow Rugby 13: Michael Bartlett(T) Tommy Hayes(C/2P)
Friday 6 September 2002 (Celtic League) at Hughenden
Glasgow Rugby 25: Stuart Moffatt(T) Jon Steel(T) Tommy Hayes(T/C/2P) Calvin
Howarth(C)
Leinster 21: Kieran Lewis(T) Brian O'Meara(C/3P) Ben Gissing(T)
Friday 31 October 2003 (Celtic League) at Hughenden
Glasgow Rugby 10: Rory McKay(T) Calvin Howarth(C) Dan Parks(P)
Leinster 31: Peter McKenna(T) Gordon D'Arcy(T) Aidan Kearney(T) Brian
O'Meara(2C/4P)
Friday 2 April 2004 (Celtic League) at Donnybrook
Leinster 31: Ben Gissing(T) James Norton(T) James Downey(T) Brian
O'Meara(2C/4P)
Glasgow Rugby 30: Glenn Metcalfe(T) Dan Parks(T/3C/3P) Gordon Bulloch(T)
Friday 26 November 2004 (Celtic League) at Donnybrook
Leinster 22: David Holwell(T/2C/P) Shane Jennings(T) Ben Gissing(T)
Glasgow Rugby 16: Colin Shaw(T) Calvin Howarth(C/3P)
PREVIEW
Glasgow have already qualified for the Celtic Cup but a further victory in this match could even mean that their game would be at home. The Glaswegians have won their last two matches against the Blues and the Scarlets but they have not beaten an Irish team since December when the lowered the colours of Connacht at Hughenden. Leinster have already ensured a 3rd place finish in the Celtic League and a home Celtic Cup quarter-final match against the side finishing 6th so it could be that they would face Glasgow again in that fixture. The two sides have clashed on six previous occasions in the Celtic League with Glasgow winning just once - 25-21 at Hughenden in September 2002.
Saturday 16 April
MUNSTER v EDINBURGH RUGBY
At Thomond Park, 7.30pm. Referee: Nigel Williams (WRU).
HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT MEETINGS
Friday 17 August 2001 (Celtic League) at Myreside
Edinburgh Rugby 22: Duncan Hodge(4P) Simon Taylor(T) Gordon Ross(C/P)
Munster 25: Jeremy Staunton(C/5P) Jason Holland(D) David Wallace(T)
Friday 13 September 2002 (Celtic League) at Meadowbank Edinburgh Rugby 21: Brendan Laney(C/2P) Derrick Lee(T) Chris Paterson(T) Duncan Hodge(D)
Munster 28: Jeremy Staunton(C/7P) Rob Henderson(T)
Friday 7 November 2003 (Celtic League) at Meadowbank
Edinburgh Rugby 20: Andrew Dall(T) Allister Hogg(T) Brendan Laney(2C/2P)
Munster 9: Conrad O'Sullivan(3P)
Friday 16 April 2004 (Celtic League) at Musgrave Park
Munster 17: Shaun Payne(T) Jason Holland(4P)
Edinburgh Rugby 28: Allister Hogg(T) Hugo Southwell(T) Todd Blackadder(T) Alasdair Strokosch(T) Alistair Warnock(C/2P)
Friday 26 November 2004 (Celtic League) at Murrayfield
Munster 11:Shaun Payne(T) Paul Burke(2P)
Edinburgh Rugby 0
PREVIEW
Munster have already secured runners-up spot in the Celtic League and a home Celtic Cup tie against the side finishing 7th in the league. The Irishmen have won their last three games in the Celtic League, and are out to remain the only side in the Celtic League unbeaten at home this season. Edinburgh will also play in the Celtic Cup competition, but a good victory in this match allied to other results going their way could even mean that their quarter-final match would be at Murrayfield. The Capital side have won just one of their last six away games in all competitions - 17-12 at the Blues on 28 January. Munster and Edinburgh have clashed on five previous occasions in the Celtic League with the home side being victorious just once when Edinburgh won 20-9 at Meadowbank in November 2003.
Bye Week - NEATH-SWANSEA OSPREYS.