Full previews of the third and vital round of the EDF Energy cup.

FRIDAY 31 OCTOBER TO SUNDAY 2 NOVEMBER

EDF ENERGY CUP - POOL A

London Wasps v Newport Gwent Dragons

At Adams Park, Sunday 3pm.

London Wasps won 26-13 at Newcastle in the EDF Energy Cup, but the Londoners have won just once at home so far this season: 25-11 over Castres in the European Cup on 12 October. Wasps have won all five previous game at Adams Park in the EDF Energy Cup. Wasps only loss to a Welsh team in their last six encounters was 20-36 at Cardiff Blues in the EDF Energy Cup on 30 September 2006.

Newport Gwent Dragons have lost their last two games in all competitions. The Dragons only win in their last eight away games was 16-14 against Ulster at Ravenhill on 19 September. The Newport based side have won just one of their last six matches in the EDF Energy Cup: 25-14 over Newcastle on 3 October. The Dragons have never won in eleven previous visits to England in all competitions.

The only previous meeting between the two teams was a 3-all draw in round 1 of the EDF Energy Cup at Rodney Parade last season.

Newcastle Falcons v Gloucester Rugby

At Kingston Park, Sunday 3pm.

Newcastle Falcons’ only win in their last five games was 63-0 at home to Spanish side El Salvador in the European Challenge Cup on 11 October. The Falcons have lost their last three games in the EDF Energy Cup.

Gloucester Rugby have won four of their last five games in all competitions. Gloucester have lost their last two away matches since a 21-17 win at Bath on 13 September. The west countrymen have won their last three games in the EDF Energy Cup.

Newcastle’s only win over Gloucester in their last 12 encounters since 2003 was 19-12 at Kingston Park in the Premiership on 13 April 2007.

Possible EDF Energy Cup Permutations

• Gloucester need just two match points to secure a semi-final berth for the first time.
• Should Gloucester lose with no bonus points then the Dragons can only progress provided they beat Wasps with a bonus point.
• Wasps will reach the last four if they beat the Dragons and Gloucester get no points.
• Newcastle cannot make it to the semi-finals.
 
EDF ENERGY CUP - POOL B

Cardiff Blues v Bath Rugby

At Arms Park, Friday 7.35pm. Live on BBC Wales

Cardiff Blues have won their last five matches in all competitions. The Blues are unbeaten at the Arms Park since Edinburgh won there 11-10 in the Magners League on 4 January. Cardiff Blues have won their last three games in the EDF Energy Cup and have never been beaten at the Arms Park in the competition. The Blues have won the last five games they have played against English teams.

Bath Rugby have won their last two games since their 16-18 defeat in Toulouse in the European Cup on 12 October, this represents their only away loss this season.

The only previous meeting between the two teams was at the same stage in last season’s EDF Energy Cup where the Blues won 14-6 at the Rec. Bath’s last visit to the Arms Park was on 16 November 1996 in the quarter-finals of the European Cup with Cardiff RFC winning 22-19.

Leicester Tigers v Sale Sharks

At Welford Road, Friday 7.35pm

Leicester Tigers have won all five previous home games they have played in the EDF Energy Cup, and have never failed to make the semi-finals of this competition.

Sale Sharks cannot progress to the last four and have lost four of their last five matches in all competitions. However the Sharks have won four of their last five away games. Sale’s only win in their last six games in the EDF Energy Cup was 25-10 at home to Bath in round two last season.

Sale have won their last two games against Leicester including a 14-11 victory at Welford Road in the Guinness Premiership on 23 February.

Possible EDF Energy Cup Permutations

• Should Cardiff Blues not lose they will make it to the semi-finals.
• Bath need to beat the Blues and not allow the Cardiff based teams two bonus points to finish above them in the table.
• Leicester’s faint hope of qualification for the last four would happen only if the Tigers win with a bonus point, Cardiff Blues do not gain a point and Bath win without a bonus point.
• In the case of a three way tie on nine points (set up with a 5 point win for Leicester and a 4-1 win for Bath) whoever scores the more tries in the Cardiff v Bath game would progress.
• Sale cannot qualify for the last four.
 
EDF ENERGY CUP - POOL C

London Irish v Ospreys

At Madejski Stadium, Sunday 3pm. Live on BBC Wales

London Irish have won their last three matches in all competitions, whilst the Exiles’ only loss at Madejski Stadium since March was 16-20 to Bath in the Premiership on 20 September. London Irish have won two of their last three games in the EDF Energy Cup, but have not beaten a Welsh side in this competition since their 27-23 victory over the Blues in Reading on 4 December 2005.

Ospreys have won four of their last five games in all competitions, but have lost their last two away games. The reigning EDF Energy Cup champions have won their last seven matches in this competition.

The only previous meeting between the two teams was in round two of the EDF Energy Cup at Liberty Stadium last season when Ospreys triumphed 51-16.

Worcester Warriors v Harlequins

At Sixways, Sunday 3pm.

Worcester Warriors’ defeat at Ospreys on Sunday ended a three game winning run in all competitions. The Warriors home record in EDF Energy Cup ties is a disappointing won 2, lost 3.

Harlequins only win in their eight previous EDF Energy Cup games was 10-8 at London Irish on 28 October 2007.

Worcester’s most recent win over Harlequins was 23-22 at Twickenham Stoop in the EDF Energy Cup on 3 November 2007.

Possible EDF Energy Cup Permutations

• Ospreys require two match points to ensure qualification for the semi-finals.
• London Irish must beat Ospreys by four clear match points and then hope that Worcester do not win to qualify themselves.
• Worcester could still progress if they get a bonus point win and Ospreys get nothing from their trip to London Irish.
• The Warriors could also make the last four in a three way tie on nine points, set up by a Worcester win scoring less than four tries and a 4-0 win by Irish, with Ospreys kept tryless.
• Harlequins cannot make it to the semi-finals.
 
EDF ENERGY CUP - POOL D

Bristol Rugby v Saracens

At Memorial Stadium, Saturday 2.30pm.

Bristol Rugby have won just one of their last 15 games in all competitions: 39-11 at home to Toulon in the European Challenge Cup on 17 October. Bristol are unbeaten in their last three home matches in the EDF Energy Cup.

Saracens have won six of their last seven games in all competitions. Sarries have won back to back away games including the 23-16 victory when they visited Memorial Stadium in the Premiership on 1 October. Saracens have only ever won one away game in the EDF Energy Cup: 46-28 at Leeds on 26 October 2007.

Bristol’s only victory in their last six encounters with Saracens was 18-3 at Memorial Stadium in the Guinness Premiership on 6 January 2008.

Northampton Saints v Scarlets

At Franklin’s Gardens, Saturday 2.30pm. Live on BBC

Northampton Saints’ three game winning run was halted at Saracens on Sunday. The Saints have won their last 20 home games in all competitions since Gloucester won 7-5 at Franklin’s Gardens on 3 March 2007. Northampton’s last home defeat in the EDF Energy Cup was 12-24 to Worcester on 30 September 2006. The Saints have lost just one game at home to a Welsh team: 9-18 to the Scarlets in the European Cup on 1 February 2004.

Scarlets have won their last four matches in the EDF Energy Cup since Bristol beat them 11-18 at Memorial Stadium on 29 October 2007. The Welshmen’s record in England in all competitions is won 4, lost 8.

The two teams have clashed on four previous occasions with Scarlets winning both games in the European Cup in season 2003/04, and the Saints taking both encounters the following year in the same competition.

Possible EDF Energy Cup Permutations

• Scarlets must avoid defeat to progress to the last four.
• A Saints win would be enough for a Northampton semi-final appearance provided Saracens do not also win.
• A three-way tie on nine points would see Scarlets through courtesy of the bonus point they require in a loss at Franklin’s Gardens.
• Bristol cannot make it to the semi-finals.

HOW THE POOL WINNERS ARE DECIDED
(a) The pool winner will be the team with the highest number of match points in each
pool.
(b) If two teams in the same pool end the pool stage equal on match points, then
qualification will be determined by the results of the match played between the two
sides.
(c) But if the match is a draw:
(i) the team which has scored the greater number of tries in the match; and
(ii) if tries are equal, the team with the best points difference from all three matches
(d) If three teams in the same pool at the end the pool stage are equal on match points,
then qualification will be determined by the results of the matches played between those
three teams concerned (i.e. A v B, A v C, B v C,) as follows:
(i) the team which has earned the greater number of match points from the matches;
(ii) if match points are equal, the team which has scored the most tries in the matches;
and
(iii) if tries are equal, the team with the best points difference from all the matches in the
pool stage.
(e) If all four teams in the same pool end the pool stage equal on match points, then
qualification will be determined by:
(i) most tries scored in the pool stage; or
(ii) if tries are equal, the best points difference from all the matches in the pool stage.
(f) If qualification is still unresolved, qualification will be based on:
(i) if points difference is equal, the team with the fewest number of players shown a red
card in the pool stage; or
(ii) if the number of players shown a red card in the pool stage is equal, the team with
the fewest number of players shown a yellow card in the pool stage; or
(iii) if still unresolved, by the toss of a coin.

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