NORTHAMPTON v LEINSTER

Franklin's Gardens - Saturday (3.0).

It is impossible to deny the ramifications as Leinster square up to Northampton on consecutive weekends. Today the Irish province face Northampton at Franklin's Gardens aware that a victory would provide them with a huge psychological advantage when the teams meet again at Donnybrook next Friday.

Defeat for the English club this weekend would leave them with three straight defeats and the reigning European champions would have all but renounced their defence - making the playoffs from any pool would require four victories and Northampton have but three games left.

Leinster demonstrated last week that they can cope with a pressure laden occasion and that augurs well for this afternoon's match. Biarritz may have been terrible on the night but the quality of rugby Leinster produced in sodden conditions highlighted the talent within the team. The absence of Kevin Putt is a blow but coach Matt Williams paid tribute to replacement scrumhalf Brian O'Meara's performance when introduced the last day.

A positive aspect of the performance was the Leinster defence and the improved concentration levels which ensured that they didn't offer up the soft tries that had undermined them against Edinburgh Reivers. It will need to be equally watertight again. Leinster's scrum, under the tutelage of Roly Meates has been excellent. They will face their toughest examination to date against a big Northampton eight.

Leinster's lineout has been equally effective with Malcolm O'Kelly outstanding and the input of Willie Anderson for a second successive week should enhance the rucking and mauling. Victor Costello's superb display against Biarritz offered his team a platform going forward and they will demand of him a similar effort.

The performance of the halfbacks will also be crucial. Eddie Hekenui enjoyed a fine game last week and looks to be settling into the team. It is his ability to dictate the pattern, employing the talent outside, and kicking his goals that may determine Leinster's fate.

Northampton and Leinster have suffered similar seasons in that they have both been wracked by injury. The English club welcomes back England captain and scrumhalf Matt Dawson after a lengthy absence but doubts remain about the availability of international wing Ben Cohen - his father is ill - while Tim Rodber is a definite absentee. At this juncture Leinster are considerably closer to a first choice XV than the home side.

Can Leinster win? Yes, but to do so would require them to refrain from giving away the bucket load of penalties that has been their wont this season, as Paul Grayson is about as good a place kicker as any of his contemporaries in the Northern Hemisphere.

- John O'Sullivan

NORTHAMPTON (squad): G Pagel, M Stewart, K Todd, S Brotherstone, J Phillips, O Brouzet, R Hunter, B Poutney, P Lam, G Seely, M Soden, M Dawson, A Hepher, B Cohen, A Bateman, L Martin, S Webster, P Grayson, J Bramhall, I Vass, M Allen.

LEINSTER: G Dempsey; D Hickie, B O'Driscoll, S Horgan, G D'Arcy; E Hekenui, B O'Meara; R Corrigan, S Byrne, E Byrne; B Casey, M O'Kelly; T Brennan, V Costello, L Toland (capt). Referee: C Thomas (Wales). Previous meetings: None. Results so far - Northampton: Lost to Biarritz (a) 37-30; lost to Edinburgh Reivers (h) 2322. Leading points scorer: Paul Grayson 17 (5 pens, 1 con). Leading try scorers: I Vass, A Hepher, M Stewart, R Hunter, B Cohen, T Rodber one each.

Results so far - Leinster: Lost to Edinburgh Reivers (a) 29-21; beat Biarritz (h) 35-9.

Leading points scorer: Eddie Hekenui 15 (3 pens, 3 cons).

Leading try scorer: S Horgan (2). Forecast: Leinster to win.

TOULOUSE v ULSTER

Stade Les Septs Deniers - Sunday (3.0). ULSTER would have viewed with some trepidation tomorrow's game against Toulouse at Stade Les Septs Deniers. The home side have lost their opening two matches and for a team that has made the playoff stages of every annual staging of the European Cup, they would have reacted desperately to protect a great record.

The analogy of the wounded animal and the danger it presents ordinarily would offer a fair description of the French side's predicament were it not for yet another spate of injuries. Already deprived of Emile Ntamack (another two weeks until fit) and Lee Stensness (out for the season), they will also be without backrow forwards Isatolo Maka and Sylvain Dispagne.

The casualty list also includes Xavier Garbajosa, Alain Penaud and Pierre Bondouy, all of whom face late fitness tests. From an Ulster perspective it represents excellent news and a marked contrast to their own position. Centre Jonathan Bell and flanker Russell Nelson were both passed fit with Paddy Johns the only absentee.

For 60 minutes against Saracens Ulster threatened victory before collapsing, cards style. Coach Harry Williams was very annoyed by the closing quarter and has taken steps to remedy such brittle defence. For Ulster there has never been a better time to take on Toulouse on French soil.

- John O'Sullivan

TOULOUSE: no team available.

ULSTER: G Henderson; J Topping, R Constable, J Bell, T Howe; D Humphreys (capt), B Free; J Fitzpatrick, R Weir, S Best; G Longwell, M Blair; R Nelson, T McWhirter, A Ward. Referee: N Williams (Wales).

Results so far - Toulouse: Lost to Saracens (h) 32-22; lost to Cardiff (a) 26-17. Leading points scorer: Michel Marfaing 29 (3 tries, 4 cons, 2 pens). Leading try scorers: M Marfaing 3. Results so far - Ulster: Beat Cardiff (h) 32-23; lost to Saracens (a) 55-25.

Leading points scorer: David Humphreys 42 (11 pens, 3 cons, 1 dr gl).

Leading try scorers: R Constable, T Howe, S Stewart one each.

Previous meetings: (1998-99) Toulouse 39 Ulster 3; Ulster 29 Toulouse 24; Ulster 15 Toulouse 13. Forecast: Toulouse to win.

European Shield

MONTFERRAND v CONNACHT

Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin Sunday (kick-off 2.0 Irish time).

Not surprisingly Connacht have wrung the changes since last week's chastening visit to Neath, but so too have Montferrand after the 1998 Shield winners' surprise setback at Beziers. That result merely underlines the importance of home advantage in French rugby and while Montferrand have also responded with a quartet of changes, this still leaves them with five internationals on the bench.

Just as pertinently Montferrand have eight internationals in their starting line-up, including the Wallaby hooker Marco Caputo, the Czech number eight Jan Machacek, the Italian scrum-half Allesandro Troncon and the Tongan centre Johnny N'gauno, not to mention four Frenchmen including their brilliant summer recruit Olivier Magne.

Connacht's leadership and line-out should benefit from the return of Mark McConnell, while Shane Stephens ought to add more of a ball-carrying threat for his support runners and pack to feed off, if given the chance, in what is a stronger looking selection. But the task looks too demanding.

- Gerry Thornley

MONTFERRAND: N Nadou; D Bory, J Bory, J N'gaumo, A Rougerie; E Nicol, A Troncon; A Galasso, M Caputo, A Tolofua, J Thion, E Lecomte, A Audebort, J Machacek, O Magne. Replacements: P Burnell, B Reidy, G Lecomte, C Dongieu, K Dalzell, G Merceron, J Marlu.

CONNACHT: R Lee; P Duignan, S Stephens, T Allnutt, D Yapp; E Elwood, J Ferris/B Shelbourne; J Screene, J McVeigh, M Cahill, R Frost, M McConnell, I Dillon, C Rigney, J O'Connor. Replacements: D Clare, AN Other, D Browne, G Schoeman, AN Other, M Smyth, M Murphy.

Referee: R Faccioli (Italy).

Previous meetings: None.

Results so far - Montferrand: Beat Neath (h) 55-17; lost to Beziers (a) 3-22.

Results so far - Connacht: Lost to Beziers (h) 14-16; lost to Neath (a) 0-45.

Forecast: Montferrand to win.