EDF Energy Cup First Round Preview

Pool A
Gloucester Rugby v Newcastle Falcons
At Kingsholm, Saturday 3pm
Gloucester Rugby are riding high atop the Guinness Premiership table despite having suffered their first reversal this season at the hands of London Irish on Sunday. Gloucester have won their last 15 matches at Kingsholm in all competitions since Agen won there in the European Cup on this weekend 12 months ago.
Newcastle Falcons have slipped to successive defeats in the Premiership and the Falcons away form continues to give concern, with just one victory on the road since last November: 50-6 at Padova in the European Challenge Cup on 20 January.
Newcastle won the last time the clubs met at Kingston Park in April, ending a seven match winless run for the Falcons against Gloucester. Both teams won their final two EDF Energy Cup pool matches last season but neither progressed into the semi-finals.

Newport Gwent Dragons v London Wasps
At Rodney Parade, Saturday 5.30pm live on S4C
Newport Gwent Dragons lie in 4th spot in the Magners League having won their last two matches against Ulster and Edinburgh. The Dragons have won all three previous EDF Energy Cup matches they have played at Rodney Parade, against Leicester, Worcester and Northampton.
London Wasps, who carried off this title in 2005/06, have made a slow start to their Guinness Premiership campaign and currently lie in 10th place with a won 1, drawn 1, lost 4 record. Wasps have not beaten a Welsh side on their own soil since a 17-12 victory over the now defunct Celtic Warriors at Bridgend in the European Cup in January 2004.
The two sides have not met in a competitive match before. 

POOL B
Cardiff Blues v Sale Sharks
At Arms Park, Friday 7.10pm live on BBC Wales
Cardiff Blues head the Magners League table having been defeated just once in their last seven encounters: 19-30 at home to Leinster on 28 September. The Blues reached the semi-finals of the EDF Energy Cup last season having won all three of their pool games.
Sale Sharks' last eight matches have been won by the home side on the day, with the Sharks obtaining just one away win in any competition in the last 12 months: 29-11 at Calvisano in the Heineken Cup on 13 January. Sale also reached the semi-finals of the EDF Energy Cup last season after winning all three of their pool games. The Sharks' only win in Wales since 2001 was at Newport Gwent Dragons in the European Cup in October 2005.
The two sides have met just twice before in the pool stages of the 2003-04 European Cup with each side winning its respective home match.

Bath Rugby v Leicester Tigers
At The Rec, Sarurday 2.15pm
Bath Rugby have won their last four matches in the Premiership to place them in 2nd spot in the league table. Bath were semi-finalists in this competition in 2005/06, but unfortunately lost all three pool games in the EDF Energy Cup last season. Bath are undefeated in their last 13 matches at the Rec in all competitions.
Reigning EDF Energy Cup holders Leicester Tigers begin their defence having secured a 28-20 victory over Worcester in the Premiership on Saturday. The Tigers' currently occupy 5th spot in the Guinness Premiership table with a won 4, lost 2 record.
The two clubs have already met this season, with Leicester running out 26-16 victors in the Premiership at Welford Road on 22 September.

POOL C
Worcester Warriors v Ospreys
At Sixways, Saturday 2.30pm live on BBC Network
Worcester Warriors are still without a victory in the Guinness Premiership this season, but did win two of their three pool fixtures in last season's EDF Energy Cup, beating Northampton and Newport Gwent Dragons.
Ospreys were runners up in the EDF Energy Cup last season, and are the reigning Magners League champions. The Welshmen made a shaky start to the defence of their league crown with three straight defeats, but are now unbeaten in their last three matches. Ospreys have won five of the last six games they have played against English opposition.
Worcester have played just two competitve matches against Welsh teams - both against the Dragons in this competition, losing 10-33 at Rodney Parade in 2005/06 and winning 23-10 at Sixways last season.

 
London Irish v Harlequins
At Madejski Stadium, Sunday 3pm
London Irish inflicted a first Premiership loss on leaders Gloucester has Sunday in Reading. The Exiles' only previous victories in this competition both came at Madejski Stadium; against Cardiff Blues two seasons ago and Saracens last year.
Harlequins lie in 4th place in the Guinness Premiership table with a won 4, lost 2 record so far, but 'Quins have lost their last five away matches since a 28-15 victory at Northampton in February. Harlequins lost all three of their matches in the EDF Energy Cup last season. The two sides have already met this season with Harlequins winning 35-27 in the opening weekend double-header in the Premiership at Twickenham. 'Quins were victorious on their last visit to Madejski Stadium: 27-26 over Montferrand in the final of the European Challenge Cup in May 2004.
 
POOL D
Bristol Rugby v Lllanelli Scarlets
At Memorial Stadium, Sunday 3.10pm live on BBC Wales
Bristol Rugby have won three of their last four games in the Guinness Premiership and have lost just once in their last seven encounters at Memorial Stadium. Bristol's only previous win in the EDF Energy Cup was at this stage last season: 22-15 at home to Bath.
Llanelli Scarlets have won four of their last five matches in the Magners League to find themselves in 2nd place in the league table. The Scarlets were semi-finalists in this competition in 2005/06 but gained just one victory in last season's EDF Energy Cup: 26-7 at home to Harlequins in round 1. Llanelli Scarlets have won just one of their last six matches in England: 32-25 against London Irish in Reading in the European Cup on 20 October 2006.
The two sides have not met before in a competitive match.