LEADERS ENJOY REST WEEK

Munster, who collected a sixth successive Celtic League win last weekend – their eighth in all competitions – will be hoping to narrow the gap at the top when they travel to Edinburgh Rugby on Friday night.

Edinburgh showed their ability to pull of a shock when they pipped the Dragons at Rodney Parade last week and will take heart from the fact that they conquered the Munstermen home and away last season. However should the Irish province gain a win in their first ever visit to Murrayfield they could close to within two points of the leaders.

The Dragons will also want to keep up the pressure at the top when they face Connacht in Galway on Sunday. The home side will have been heartened by their narrow win over the Ospreys last Sunday and this could be another fascinating clash as Connacht look to build the momentum as they bid to be one of the top three Irish teams.

Friday’s other games see Leinster entertain Glasgow and Cardiff Blues against The Borders. Should the Dragons slip up again Leinster, who have not lost at home in their last 10 outings, will be hoping to move into third place – although Glasgow will themselves have aspirations of a top three place as they are currently only a point behind Leinster.

Both the Blues and the Borders hold unenviable records and something will have to give at Netherdale. The Borders last won on March 5th and last beat Welsh opponents in November 2003. However the Blues have also not won away since last March – a run of nine matches.  Recent form would suggest it will be the Welshmen who will have lost their unwelcome record by Friday evening.

The round finishes on Sunday with what 12 months ago would have been a top of the table clash – but is now more of a basement battle with Ulster in ninth place and Llanelli Scarlets in eighth, both locked together on 17 points.