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.
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?
The teams will follow when they are announced later in the week.
On the Leinster front, there was a positive medical bulletin ahead of the game as Hugo Keenan, Ciarán Frawley, Jack Conan and Thomas Clarkson have all recovered from injury and are available for selection. Tadhg Furlong is due to step up his rehabilitation and could still play if all goes well.
For Munster, there is good news for Diarmuid Barron (shoulder), Diarmuid Kilgallen (wrist), Jack O’Donoghue (shoulder) and Conor Murray (elbow) as they all return to team training this week.
Ulster have several players missing through injury, including Robert Baloucoune, Stuart McCloskey, Tom Stewart, Jacob Stockdale and Michael Lowry, while Rob Herring is a doubt with a calf injury. Tom O’Toole is suspended after his red card against Munster last month.
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