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EDF Energy Cup Round Three Preview

EDF Energy Cup Round Three Preview

Newport Gwent Dragons v Gloucester Rugby
At Rodney Parade, Friday 7.30pm
Newport Gwent Dragons are without a win in their last five matches since beating Edinburgh at Murrayfield 19-13 in the Magners League on 12 October. The Dragons have never lost a home game in the EDF Energy Cup.
Gloucester Rugby have won their last three games since the 26-29 slip up to London Wasps in the last round of the EDF Energy Cup on 4 November. Gloucester have lost just one of their last 13 matches against Welsh opponents since 1996: 19-49 to Ospreys at Liberty Stadium in the 2nd round of last season's EDF Energy Cup.
The two sides have never met before in competitive rugby.

London Wasps v Newcastle Falcons
At Adams Park, Saturday 2.30pm
This is a winner takes all game at Adams Park - the victors progressing to the semi finals of the EDF Energy Cup at the Millennium Stadium on 22 March.
Newcastle have only won once away from home since January: 71-10 against Spanish outfit El Salvador in Valladolid in the European Challenge Cup on 10 November.
The two sides also met in the Premiership at Adams Park last Sunday where Wasps ran out 35-12 victors. The Falcons have never won in six previous visits to Adams Park.
Brief synopsis:
. Newport Gwent Dragons and Gloucester Rugby cannot make the semi-finals.
. There is the possibility of a three way tie on nine points in this pool, but in that instance Wasps would progress if Gloucester win their match, and the Falcons would prevail if Newport win theirs!
. Whoever wins the London Wasps v Newcastle Falcons game on Saturday will reach the last four.

Bath Rugby v Cardiff Blues
At the Rec, Friday 7.40pm. Live on BBC Wales
Bath Rugby have won eight of their last nine matches in all competitions and could progress to the semi-finals of the EDF Energy Cup provided they win, Leicester lose and Sale do not score more match points than Bath on the evening. Bath are undefeated at the Rec in any competition since a 12-19 reversal to Bristol in the Premiership on 18 November 2006.
Cardiff Blues have won just one of their last four encounters and have not won in England since a 40-29 victory against Saracens at Vicarage Road in last season's EDF Energy Cup. The Blues will reach the last four with a victory provided Leicester get no points from their match against Sale.
The two sides have not met since the Cardiff Blues region was formed in 2003.

Leicester Tigers v Sale Sharks
At Welford Road, Friday 7.40pm
Leicester's only loss in their last four matches was at Leinster in the European Cup on 10 November. The Tigers have won all four previous EDF Energy Cup matches at Welford Road, and will make it to the last four with another victory.
Sale Sharks have won their last four games since losing 15-32 at Cardiff in the 1st round of this season's EDF Energy Cup.
Leicester have won the last three encounters between the two clubs since Sale won the Premiership final at Twickenham on 27 May 2006. The Sharks' last win at Welford Road was 43-28 in the 6th round of the RFU Knockout Cup in November 2003.
Brief synopsis:
. A Leicester Tigers victory will see them reach the semi-finals of the EDF Energy Cup for a third successive season.
. A Sale win would be enough for the Sharks provided Cardiff Blues do not also win. Should Bath beat the Blues with a bonus point then Sale would also need a bonus point to progress.
. Cardiff Blues will reach the last four provided they win and Leicester get no points.

London Irish v Worcester Warriors
At Madejski Stadium, Sunday 3pm
The two sides are playing for pride as neither side can reach the semi-finals of this season's EDF Energy Cup.
London Irish will be out to prevent a fifth successive defeat in the EDF Energy Cup, whilst Worcester Warriors will be attempting to win back to back EDF Energy Cup games for the first time following their 23-22 victory at Harlequins on 3 November.
London Irish have won the last three encounters between the two clubs since the Warriors only previous victory at Madejski Stadium: 20-15 in the Premiership on 11 September 2005.

Harlequins v Ospreys
At Twickenham Stoop, Sunday 3.10pm. Live on BBC Wales
Only one result can take Harlequins to the last four of the EDF Energy Cup - a five match points to nil victory over Ospreys. Should the Londoners fail to get a bonus point win or if Ospreys manage to tally a single bonus point the Welshmen will go to the Millennium Stadium.
'Quins are without a win in their last four encounters, whilst their only victory in their five EDF Energy Cup matches to date was at London Irish in round 1.
Ospreys have lost back to back matches at Gloucester and at home to Leinster, but have won three times away to English teams in the pool stages of the EDF Energy Cup: at Bristol, Bath and Worcester.
The two sides have met just twice before in the pool stages of the 2004/05 European Cup with Ospreys taking both legs, 24-7 at Swansea and 46-19 at the Stoop.
Brief synopsis:
. Neither London Irish or Worcester can make it to the semi-finals of the EDF Energy Cup.
. The Ospreys need just one match point or prevent Harlequins picking up a maximum to reach the last four.
 

Llanelli Scarlets v Saracens
At Stradey Park, Saturday 2.30pm. Live on BBC Network
Saracens require just two points to claim a semi-final spot in EDF Energy Cup for the first time. Llanelli Scarlets have won all four previous home games they have played in the EDF Energy Cup, and need to keep that record intact to give themselves a chance of reaching the semi-finals. The Scarlets have lost their last three matches in all competitions.
Saracens have tallied at least one match point from every game they have played this season but have not won a game in Wales since a 22-18 victory at Pontypridd in the European Cup on 17 December 1999.
The two sides have never met in competitive rugby before.

Bristol Rugby v Leeds Carnegie
At Memorial Stadium, Sunday 3pm
This game has no bearing on who will progress to the semi-final stage of this season's EDF Energy Cup.
Bristol's only home defeat in their last nine matches in all competitions since last March was 13-26 to Leicester in the Premiership on 16 September.
Leeds Carnegie won their last away outing 23-20 at Dax in the European Challenge Cup but are still searching for that elusive first ever victory in the EDF Energy Cup.
Leeds have won just once in five previous visits to Memorial Stadium: 17-12 in the Premiership on 2 February 2003.
Brief synopsis:
. Neither Bristol or Leeds can reach the last four of the EDF Energy Cup.
. The only way Llanelli Scarlets can make the semi-finals is to win with Saracens getting no bonus point, or to win with maximum points and prevent Saracens claiming two bonus points.

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