EDF Energy Cup - : EDF Energy Cup Round 1 Previews

James Hook will be looking to help Ospreys to an opening round win

EDF Energy Cup Round 1 Previews

30 September 2008, 11:07 am

By Jonathan McConnell

The 2008-09 EDF Energy Cup kicks off this weekend - with holders The Ospreys operning up on Sunday afternoon against Harlequins at Liberty Stadium. Meanwhile last seasons loosing finalists Leicester Tigers face Bath on Saturday afternoon.

POOL A
Newport Gwent Dragons v Newcastle Falcons
At Rodney Parade, Friday 7.05pm. Live on BBC Wales.

Newport Gwent Dragons have won their last two games against Ulster and Edinburgh in the Magners League. The Dragons have not won in their last four EDF Energy Cup ties since a 26-7 victory over Northampton Saints at Rodney Parade on 7 October 2006. Newport Gwent Dragons have lost their last four matches against English teams in all competitions.
Newcastle Falcons play at Gloucester on Tuesday evening. The Falcons only loss in their last five games against Welsh opponents was 20-22 at the Scarlets on 9 October 2005.
The Dragons have lost all three previous encounters they have had with Newcastle including a 29-24 defeat at Kingston Park in the 2nd round of last season’s EDF Energy Cup.

Gloucester Rugby v London Wasps
At Kingsholm, Saturday 2.30pm. Live on BBC One.

Gloucester Rugby entertain Newcastle at Kingsholm on Tuesday evening. Gloucester’s only reversal in their last five games in the EDF Energy Cup was 26-29 to Wasps in a pool game at Adams Park in last season’s competition. Gloucester have never lost a home game in the EDF Energy Cup.
London Wasps play host to Bath in the Guinness Premiership on Wednesday. Wasps have won seven of their last eight games played on opposition soil, but in the EDF Energy Cup the Londoners have not won on the road since a 30-26 victory at London Irish on 2 October 2005. Wasps reached the semi-finals last season where they perished at the hands of Leicester.
Wasps have lost the last two games they have played against Gloucester and have not won at Kingsholm since a 37-32 triumph in the Premiership on 6 May 2006.

POOL B
Bath Rugby v Leicester Tigers
At The Rec, Saturday 2.15pm

Bath Rugby visit London Wasps on Wednesday evening, whilst at the Rec Bath have won seven of their last eight matches. Bath’s only win in their last seven games in the EDF Energy Cup was 20-14 over Leicester at the Rec in last season’s opening round.
Leicester Tigers entertain Northampton Saints on Wednesday evening. The Tigers have won their last three away games in all competitions since losing 25-28 at Newcastle in the Premiership on 4 May. Leicester, who were finalists in last year’s EDF Energy Cup, have lost three of the four away games they have ever played in this competition.
Bath have won their last two matches against the Tigers, whilst Leicester’s only win at the Rec since 2003 was 19-12 in the Premiership on 25 March 2006.

Sale Sharks v Cardiff Blues
At Edgeley Park, Saturday 3pm

Sale Sharks visit London Irish in the Guinness Premiership on Wednesday night. The Sharks’ only defeat at Edgeley Park in their last seven matches was 7-17 to London Irish in the Premiership on 10 May. Sale’s only win in their last four EDF Energy Cup encounters was 25-10 over Bath at Stockport in round 2 last season. Sale have lost three of the last four matches they have played against Welsh opponents.
Cardiff Blues have won two of their last three games in the Magners League, but have been defeated in their last two away matches at Ospreys and Munster. The Blues have not lost a game to an English team since the 20-42 reversal at Leicester in the Heineken Cup on 3 November 2007. Cardiff Blues have won twice before on English soil in the EDF Energy Cup: 40-29 at Saracens in October 2006 and 14-6 at Bath in round 3 last season.
All three previous encounters between the two sides in all competitions have been won by the home side on the day, including the 32-15 Blues victory at the Arms Park in last year’s opening round.

POOL C
Worcester Warriors v London Irish
At Sixways, Sunday 3pm

Worcester Warriors entertain Harlequins on Thursday evening. The Warriors have won just three of their previous nine EDF Energy Cup ties with only one of those victories being at Sixways: 23-22 against Harlequins in round 2 last season.
London Irish host Sale Sharks on Wednesday night. The Exiles have won three of their last four away games. London Irish’s last game in the EDF Energy Cup was also against Worcester where they gained a 48-27 victory at Madejski Stadium to end a four game losing streak in the competition.
Worcester have not beaten London Irish since a 20-15 win at Madejski Stadium in the Premiership on 11 September 2005.

Ospreys v Harlequins
At Liberty Stadium, Sunday 3.05pm. Live on BBC Wales

Defending EDF Energy Cup champions, Ospreys, have won four of their last five matches in the Magners League. Ospreys only defeat in their last eleven EDF Energy Cup ties was 35-41 to Leicester in the 2007 final at Twickenham. The Welshmen have won four of their last five games against English teams in all competitions, whilst the only English side to win at Liberty Stadium in the EDF Energy Cup is Bath, 27-20, on 9 October 2005.
Harlequins visit Worcester on Thursday evening. ‘Quins only previous victory in the EDF Energy Cup was 10-8 over London Irish at Madejski Stadium on 28 October 2007, whilst their most recent victory over a Welsh side was 31-27 over Caerphilly in the Parker Pen Challenge Cup at the Stoop on 19 October 2002.
Ospreys have won all three previous encounters with Harlequins in all competitions including a 19-8 victory at the Stoop in round 3 of the EDF Energy Cup last season.

POOL D
Northampton Saints v Bristol Rugby
At Franklin’s Gardens, Saturday 3pm

Northampton Saints visit Leicester Tigers on Wednesday night. The Saints are unbeaten in their last 19 home games in all competitions since the 5-7 loss to Gloucester in the Premiership on 3 March 2007.
Bristol Rugby host Saracens on Wednesday evening. Bristol have not won on the road since a 28-8 victory at Newcastle in the Premiership on 16 March. Bristol’s only win in their last five EDF Energy Cup ties was 18-11 over the Scarlets at Memorial Stadium on 28 October 2007.
Bristol won both of the most recent encounters with Northampton in season 2006-07 in the Premiership, whilst the Saints last win at Memorial Stadium was 19-16 in the Premiership on 30 April 2006.

Saracens v Scarlets
At Vicarage Road, Sunday 3pm

Saracens visit Bristol on Wednesday night. Saracens have won three of their last four “home” games although two of these wins were gained at the Milton Keynes stadiummk and Twickenham. Saracens have lost all four previous games they have played against Welsh opponents in the EDF Energy Cup.
Scarlets have lost their last two games in the Magners League, but both were away from home in Scotland, against Edinburgh and Glasgow. Scarlets have won only one of their last eight games played in England: 32-25 at London Irish in the European Cup on 20 October 2006.
The two sides have met just once before: in round 3 of the EDF Energy Cup last season at Stradey Park where the home side won 36-32.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
EDF Energy Cup Round 2: 24-26 October 2008
EDF Energy Cup Round 3: 31 October, 1-2 November 2008
EDF Energy Cup Semi-finals: 28-29 March 2009
EDF Energy Cup Final: 18 April 2009 at Twickenham (2.30pm)