Who is playing, when and where?
Munster are playing Saracens on Saturday at 5.30pm at Thomond Park. At 8pm that night, Ulster are away to Leicester at Welford Road. On Sunday at 3.15pm, Leinster are playing La Rochelle at the Stade Marcel Deflandre. Here is a full list of the weekend’s fixtures:
Friday: Glasgow Warriors v Racing 92, Scotstoun, 8pm
Saturday: Stormers v Sale Sharks, DHL Stadium, 1pm; Exeter v Bordeaux-Bègles, Sandy Park, 3.15pm; Sharks v Toulouse, Kings Park, 3.15pm; Munster v Saracens, Thomond Park, 5.30pm; Stade Français v Northampton, Stade Jean Bouin, 5.30pm; Castres v Bulls, Stade Pierre-Fabre 8pm; Leicester v Ulster, Welford Road, 8pm
Sunday: Toulon v Harlequins, Stade Felix-Mayol; La Rochelle v Leinster, Stade Marcel Deflandre, 3.15pm; Bristol Bears v Benetton, Ashton Gate, 3.15pm; Bath v Clermont Auvergne, The Rec, 5.30pm
In the Challenge Cup, Connacht will play Lyon at 8pm at the Dexcom Stadium.
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How can I watch it?
You can watch Munster play Saracens on RTÉ2, coverage from 4.45pm, as well as Premier Sports. Ulster’s, Connacht’s and Leinster’s matches are all on Premier Sports. You can also follow coverage on the Irish Times website.
What is at stake?
Four sides progress to the last 16 from the six-team groups, with each of the Irish teams focused on different things.
Munster could still qualify with two defeats, but it would put their fate out of their hands, and they will hope for a result in one of the two remaining games to make sure of progression. A victory over Saracens would give them a shot of finishing in the top two of Pool 3 and that ever-so crucial home game in the knockout phase.
After two wins, Leinster will be focused on topping the pool and seeding for the Champions Cup knockouts. Victory over La Rochelle would set them up well for home knockout games, whereas defeat could leave them with away games in the latter stages, should they reach that far.
Ulster’s focus is on survival after two heavy defeats to quality French opposition. A defeat to Leicester and their Champions Cup campaign could be over.
Elsewhere, Toulouse’s encounter with a Springbok-boosted Sharks in Durban will be of interest to Leinster, should defeat cost Toulouse top seeding in the competition. In the Challenge Cup, Connacht can secure home advantage deep into the knock-out stages by beating Lyon.
What is the team news?
Tadhg Furlong will make his first start since October when Leinster take on La Rochelle with the prop in line to win his 150th cap at the Stade Marcel Deflandre. Key forward Will Skelton will miss the game for La Rochelle.
Munster will be without Peter O’Mahony for their clash with Saracens but Jack Crowley, Conor Murray and Jack O’Donoghue all return to the starting line-up.
Ulster’s Iain Henderson is another Ireland international returning from an injury lay-off as he will lead his team out against the Leicester Tigers at Welford Road.
Leinster (v La Rochelle): Jordie Barrett; Jamie Osborne, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, Jimmy O’Brien; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Cian Healy, Ronan Kelleher, Tadhg Furlong, Joe McCarthy, James Ryan, Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris (capt).
Replacements: Gus McCarthy, Andrew Porter, Rabah Slimani, RG Snyman, Jack Conan, Luke McGrath, Ross Byrne, Ciarán Frawley.
Munster (v Saracens): Mike Haley; Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Rory Scannell, Shane Daly; Jack Crowley, Conor Murray; Dian Bleuler, Niall Scannell, Oli Jager; Fineen Wycherley, Tadhg Beirne (capt); Jack O’Donoghue, Alex Kendellen, Gavin Coombes. Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, John Ryan, Stephen Archer, Tom Ahern, John Hodnett, Paddy Patterson, Billy Burns, Brian Gleeson
Ulster (v Leicester): Ethan McIlroy; Werner Kok, Ben Carson, Jude Postlethwaite, Zac Ward; Aidan Morgan, Nathan Doak; Andrew Warwick, John Andrew, Scott Wilson; Iain Henderson (capt), Cormac Izuchukwu; James McNabney, Nick Timoney, David McCann. Replacements: James McCormick, Eric O’Sullivan, Corrie Barrett, Kieran Treadwell, Harry Sheridan, John Cooney, Jack Murphy, Rory Telfer
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