The Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup returns on Friday after a weekend off, with a full schedule of derby fixtures spread across three days.
Benetton will be looking to follow up their shock victory over Glasgow in Round 1 when they visit Zebre on Friday, before the Warriors welcome Edinburgh for an 1872 Cup decider and Ulster head to Munster later that evening.
Ulster will be keen to bounce back from their recent defeats while Munster hope to build on a big win over Leinster, who visit Connacht on Saturday having suffered defeat to the Westerners when the teams last met in Dublin in January.
The Welsh derbies round off the weekend, as the Ospreys visit Parc y Scarlets on Saturday night before the Dragons take on Cardiff Blues in the capital on Sunday, with Dean Ryan’s men hoping to build on their own strong start to the competition.
Cardiff Blues vs Dragons – Match Preview
The Dragons have been in encouraging form of late, having won three of their last four matches and thumped the Scarlets 52-32 in their Rainbow Cup opener.
But they head to the capital having lost their last 10 meetings with the Blues, although they have been generally tight affairs, with only one of the last five producing a winning margin greater than five points.
The Dragons, who last triumphed at the Arms Park on Boxing Day 2014, have won their last two matches against Welsh opposition and have not won three such fixtures in row since 2011.
Location:
Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff 1pm
Officials:
Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU, 52nd competition game) Assistant Referees: Dan Jones, Mike English (both WRU) TMO: Sean Brickell (WRU)
Overall Guinness PRO14 head to head record:
Played 34, Cardiff won 26, Dragons won 8.
Did you know?
- Cardiff Blues have lost their last two matches against London Irish in the European Challenge Cup and at Ospreys in the Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup.
- The Blues have won three of their last four matches played at Cardiff Arms Park.
- Dragons only defeat in their last four matches was 39-43 at home to Northampton Saints in the European Challenge Cup.
- Dragons have won three games on the road this season, in Treviso in November, Glasgow in December and Ospreys in March.
- Dragons have won their last two matches against fellow Welsh regions and have not won three in succession against such opponents since 2011.
- Cardiff Blues have won their last ten fixtures against Dragons since the Men from Gwent’s 25-21 victory in the quarter final of the European Challenge Cup at Rodney Parade in April 2015.
- Dragons most recent success at Cardiff Arms Park was 23-17 on Boxing Day 2014.
