Magners League / Hugh Cahill / 23 October 2008 / Leave a comment

Newstalk's resident rugby expert, Hugh Cahill, takes you through the best betting opportunities for this weekend's Magners league action...

After a fantastic weekend for Irish sides in the Heineken Cup, it's back to the grind this week in the Magners League.

Leinster travel to Glasgow on the back of their 41 - 11 demolition of Wasps last Saturday and there's no doubt that confidence will be flying high. What we witnessed at the RDS was Leinster's most convincing and clinical display in the competition so far. They were ruthless from 1 to 22 and after 80 minutes of brilliant rugby, they left little doubt of their intentions this season.

Perhaps the biggest criticism leveled at them in the past has been their lack of mental focus in the big games. We've seen it so often; capable of genius but so often going missing when the crunch games come around. Not so this time. The aggression they displayed against the English league champions was wonderful to watch. Wasps, albeit an ageing side, were left helpless as the Leinster pack dominated proceedings upfront and the backs ran riot out wide.

Michael Cheika was proud of the performance and rightly so. They go into Friday's game against Glasgow knowing that they have to continue in this vein. It's no use stuffing Wasps in that manner and then falling to Glasgow in the league. Success comes after sustained performances - and there's no better way to kick on from last weekend, than with a convincing win against the Warriors.

Brian O'Driscoll will sit this one out after picking up a knee injury last weekend and Leo Cullen will also miss out with a fractured collarbone. That's two of the more experienced players in the squad gone - captain and vice captain - and it remains to be seen if that will impact their performance in Scotland. Shane Horgan, Malcom O'Kelly, Girvan Dempsey and Felipe Contepomi will all need to step up to the plate and hammer home the importance of continuing their recent good form.

The Warriors concede almost as many points as they score and Leinster's backs are in devastating form right now. Glasgow can be a tricky side to play against, but, if Cheika has the players in the right frame of mind, I don't see anything but a comfortable Leinster win at the Firhill Arena.

Also on Friday night, Connacht entertain Edinburgh at the Sportsground. These two sides had contrasting fortunes last weekend; Connacht losing to London Irish in the European Challenge Cup and Edinburgh with a surprise win against Castres in France. Edinburgh are not as bad a side as they suggested against Leinster in the Heineken Cup in Murrayfield two weeks ago. It was an off day and all teams are allowed one now and then. That they managed to go to Castres and get a win last weekend says volumes about Andy Robinson's ability to lift their heads and refocus after a poor performance. Edinburgh are an extremely unpredictable side to play against because they love to throw the ball about and the pace they have out wide can cause havoc when they're on song.

Michael Bradley needs to keep the penalty count down - Chris Patterson is not afraid to punish sides with the boot. Connacht came crashing back down to earth on Friday night with the defeat to London Irish. The previous wins against Leinster and Dax seemed to have turned the corner on what was otherwise a poor enough start to the season, but consistency has always been a huge problem for the Western province and it's been a source of frustration for their fans that they haven't been able to take advantage of Ulsters poor form in the league.

Edinburgh's form has also been shaky this season, but their win against Castres in France was very impressive and it could be the kick start they need to get some league points on the board.

It's always been a tough, physical battle when Munster and Ulster clash and this time out in Ravenhill should prove no exception. Matt Williams can't seem to buy a good run these days (one win in four league games so far, and back to back defeats in the Heineken Cup) and I don't expect that to change on Saturday. Tony McGahan is likely to give a lot of his Edgeley Park heroes a bit of a rest, but even still, Munster should have too much for an Ulster team on a slippery slope towards Challenge cup rugby next season.

Competition for places in the Munster squad is such that when the fringe players are given a chance to shine, they'll be going all out to make sure they do just that. Williams can't afford to rest too many of his lot and despite the home advantage, I don't see anything but a Munster victory on Saturday.

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Treble: Leinster, Edinburgh, Munster @ [3.0]