Crucial Celtic League Games

Munster face a brace of Celtic League games in the space of five days in Wales where they will take on Ospreys on Friday night in Swansea and Llanelli Scarlets in Stradey Park the following Tuesday

The highlight of round 20 in the Celtic League this weekend will be
the meeting of second placed Ulster and third placed Cardiff Blues at
Ravenhill late on Friday evening. Both sides know that they need to
take the points to keep up the pressure on top of the table Leinster,
who travel to Glasgow on Sunday. However something will have to give
in Belfast with Ulster looking to continue an unbeaten run of six
games in all competitions, while the Blues have won their last six
Celtic League games.

The round opens earlier on Friday evening with Edinburgh Gunners in
Galway to play Connacht, the hosts first Celtic League game at the
Sportsground under lights. A sixth consecutive home win for the Irish
side could see them lifted off bottom spot should Glasgow Warriors
lose on Sunday, however Gunners know that they need just three points
to ensure they finish the season as top Scottish side.

Friday’s third game has Munster, currently fourth, travelling to the
Ospreys. The home side have won their last five games at the Liberty
Stadium and will need to continue that run if they are to keep their
hopes of an automatic Heineken Cup place alive, although they have
failed to record a win over Munster since September 2004.

Llanelli Scarlets will be looking for a return to form when they face
Border Reivers in Saturday’s only game. The Scarlets have won just
one of their last four Celtic League games but will be hoping to keep
their Heineken Cup hopes alive as the Reivers, who are battling with
Glasgow Warriors for the second Scottish Heineken Cup place, have
never won in 16 previous trips to Wales.

With the Newport Gwent Dragons taking four points for the free
weekend the final game of the round pits leaders Leinster against
Glasgow Warriors. The omens point to Leinster maintaining their top
spot – Warriors have won only two of their previous 13 meetings, and
have lost their last five games, whereas the Dublin side are unbeaten
in their last four league games.