Preview: Magners League, Round Three
It’s an odd Magners League weekend but with four of the five matches being played on Friday night it can mean only one thing… It’s going to be one hell of a Friday night. rugby365 previews all the Magners League Round Three action…
After two rounds of action the Magners League table makes very pleasing reading for anyone from Scotland while, perhaps not so happy, fans of Connacht, Cardiff or Munster will be shaking their heads in disbelief seeing their favourite sides occupying the last three spots on the log.
Every week more and more of the British and Irish Lions start to return to action – adding experience, skill and power to their teams and making every contest that much more enticing.
While the clash between the Ospreys and Leinster might immediately strike you as the one to watch, both the game at Ravenhill and the clash at the Parc y Scarlets could well end up being the one we are all talking about come Monday morning.
Magners League Round Three:
Friday, 18 September
Connacht v Cardiff (19:00) (18.00 GMT) – The Sportsground – Two defeats, one to Edinburgh and another to Munster, would not have been the start to the new season which Dai Young would have been looking for. Connacht though are perhaps in an even worst predicament after two defeats of their own, the second a 62-13 drubbing at the hands of Edinburgh last weekend.
The return this week of Jamie Roberts for Cardiff should really not be underestimated. The star for the tourists during the recent British and Irish Lions tour, Roberts, playing alongside the experienced Gareth Thomas, will offer his team a wonderful attacking option and bring a wealth of power and strength to their midfield.
Perhaps the most interesting thing about Young’s selection this weekend comes at flyhalf. Sam Norton-Knight, after plenty of pre-arrival chatter, had a rough first day against Edinburgh two weeks ago and is still left on the bench in favour of Ceri Sweeney. Many might have thought that now, facing a team most expect his team to comfortably beat, would have been the time for Young to reintroduce Norton-Knight to his starting lineup.
Connacht, on the other hand, will be looking to put last week behind them and come out all guns blazing in front of their home fans.
The return of Brett Wilkinson will almost certainly help the Irishmen in the tight exchanges but it is there backline who will have to be at their best defensively if they are to withstand the onslaught from the likes of Roberts, Ben Blair and Leigh Halfpenny.
rugby365 prediction: Connacht are at home, making it possible that there will be an upset but any betting man would have to put his faith in the Blues to take this one. The visitors by 10 to 15…
Ospreys v Leinster (19.05) (18.05 GMT) – Liberty Stadium – On paper, perhaps the match of the weekend? Neither team is back up to full strength quite yet but that certainly doesn’t mean that we can’t expect a quality contest.
Both teams have endured distinctly average starts to the new season, winning one and losing one each, and will be targeting this early season clash as an opportunity to make a serious statement for the campaign to come.
The Ospreys, typically, are full of firepower. Their new Director of Rugby Scott Johnson has come in for plenty of criticism this week but if his backline fires, as they have the potential to do, he will be nothing but smiles come full time.
The return of Lee Byrne is of course a massive boost for the home side – his work alongside Nikki Walker and Tommy Bowe will no doubt be crucial to the contest. Other teams news sees All Black Marty Holah captain the team in the absence of Ryan Jones while Lions long forward Alun-Wyn Jones could make his first appearance of the new season after being named on the bench.
Leinster are still Brian O’Driscoll-less but are packed full of talent with the likes of Gordon D’Arcy. Isa Nacewa and Eoin Reddan in their backline. Meanwhile, in the pack, there is a first start for new recruit Nathan Hines.
The Australian born Lion was impressive in South Africa over the summer and will be looking to make a good first impression this weekend.
rugby365 Prediction: The Ospreys were incredibly poor last weekend and another performance like that would see them well and truly beaten by this Leinster side. That though is unlikely. The Ospreys have too many quality players to buckle for a second straight weekend. The presence of Byrne alone is enough for us to hand it to the Ospreys… but by less that 5.
Dragons v Warriors (19.30) (18.30 GMT) – Rodney Parade – The Warriors, quite simply, are in form. Two wins, two good wins, against two quality outfits, in the opening two rounds of the new season – Sean Lineen could not have wished for a better start.
Munster first, then the Scarlets – this week it looks set to be another Welsh region, the Dragons. But do not expect is all to be as easy as that. With a couple tough weeks having gone in quick succession, the Glasgow head coach has made six changes to his starting lineup for this Friday nights big clash.
The Dragons meanwhile are without both their captain and vice-captain. Former Chiefs star and club captain Tom Willis is a long term casualty while his replacement, Luke Charteris, was ruled out earlier this week. With both players currently out, 22 year-old centre, Ashley Smith, has been entrusted with the armband.
Up front, in the absence of Willis and Charteris, coach Paul Turner will be looking to the likes of Rob Sidoli and Gavin Thomas to lead the Dragons’ challenge.
rugby365 Prediction: The Dragons got their season underway with a great victory over Ulster at Rodney Parade before, last weekend, falling short at the RDS. It’s hard to know exactly what to expect but, with Lineen’s men firing on all cylinders, it’s hard not to back them to win by six or more.
Ulster v Edinburgh (20.00) (19.00 GMT) – Ravenhill – Sitting top of the table after two impressive victories, Edinburgh will head to Ravenhill full of confidence. A narrow win away at Cardiff, following up with a comprehensive thumping of Connacht at Murrayfield, Rob Moffat’s men are proving to everyone just how competitive a side they are going to be this season.
Ulster, on the other hand, still have some questions to answer with regard to how they might fare this season. Disappointing at Rodney Parade but impressive at Liberty Park, Brian McLaughlin will be hoping his team can carry the momentum from last weeks win over the Ospreys into their first match at Ravenhill this Friday night.
One massive boost for the home side this weekend will no doubt be the return of Lions flank Stephen Ferris. The Irish international was in inspired form last season and his presence will certainly make a massive difference for the Ulsterman.
Showing a clinical edge, the Gunners put over 60 points past Connacht last weekend and there is no doubt that experienced fullback Chris Paterson will once again be a central figure for his franchise in Belfast. Lethal from the kicking tee, the Scottish international will punish any errors from Ulster.
rugby365 Prediction: Form and common sense seem to suggest that the Scottish side head to Ireland as the favourites. Form and common sense though have little right having any say when it comes to playing rugby at Ravenhill.
Playing at home for the first time this season, expect a bruising performance from the White Knights – Ulster to win by four.
Saturday, 19 September
Scarlets v Munster (18.30) (17.30 GMT) – Parc y Scarlets – The Scarlets will be looking to make the most of their home advantage this weekend when they welcome a still-not-quite-firing-Munster to Parc y Scarlets. The Scarlets themselves have had mixed fortunes so far this season, recording a good win over Leinster on day one, only to go down to Glasgow last weekend at Firhill.
Determined to turn their stadium into a fortress, the Scarlets have made three changes to their starting lineup for this weekend’s only Saturday matchup.
Last weeks sin-bin villain Simon Easterby, now a player coach at the Welsh region, comes into the starting lineup from the bench while Rhys Thomas and Gareth Maule have also returned to the starting team.
The defending Champions secured a solid enough victory last weekend but are still without a number of their Lions and new recruit Jean De Villiers. They will though be boosted by the presence on the bench of scrumhalf Tomas O’Leary.
Two players to watch this weekend, as always, are the two right wings – Sean Lamont (Scarlets) and Doug Howlett (Munster). Lamont has been impressive so far for his new club this season while Howlett is a constant threat in the Munster lineup.
rugby365 Prediction: The Scarlets have been impressive so far this season but this will be another tough encounter. While both sides have fantastic firepower out wide this battle is going to be won or lost up front. Munster to win by eight.
by rugby365
