Glasgow Warriors v Munster
When: Tonight, 7:05
Where can I watch? TG4, BBC Alba [if you somehow have that]
The story so far: The return of Paul O’Connell could only have been timed better if the inspirational lock had returned before Munster planted themselves in the Pro12 mire. Defeats and draws against eminently beatable opponents has left Rob Penney’s men needing four wins to keep play-off hopes alive. Last weekend’s comfortable victory over Connacht was a return to form.
Glasgow were the league’s form side until they met Leinster at the RDS last Saturday. A pass adjudged forward by referee Nigel Owens in the last minute cost the Scots a win but they know a win will put them back atop the table for 24 hours at least.
Team news: O’Connell’s presence in the team for a second week running is a massive boost for Munster’s hopes. A strong backline featuring Ronan O’Gara and Doug Howlett is still without Keith Earls and Simon Zebo but should cause the Warriors problems. Dave Kilcoyne gets to show us why he should be Cian Healy’s national back-up while James Coughlan adds experience and girth to the back row.
Glasgow’s backline looks threatening, too, as Stuart Hogg, Ruairidh Jackson and Sean Maitland all feature after Six Nations duty. Josh Strauss caused mayhem in the first-half against Leinster and starts at blindside, with John Barclay at openside.
Glasgow: S Hogg; S Maitland, S Lamont, P Horne, DTH van der Merwe; R Jackson, N Matawalu; R Grant, P MacArthur, J Welsh; T Swinson, A Kellock (c); J Strauss, J Barclay, R Wilson.
Replacements: D Hall, O Fainga’anuku, M Low, T Ryder, R Harley, H Pyrgos, D Weir, M Bennett.
Munster: F Jones; D Howlett (c), C Laulala, J Downey, J Murphy; R O’Gara, D Williams; D Kilcoyne, M Sherry, BJ Botha; Donncha O’Callaghan, P O’Connell; P Butler, T O’Donnell, J Coughlan.
Replacements: D Varley, W du Preez, S Archer, B Holland, N Ronan, C Sheridan, I Keatley, I Dineen.
Leinster v Ulster
When: Saturday, 6:15
Where can I watch? RTE/BBCNI
The story so far: Ulster are grateful for their Pro12 winning streak, which lasted past Christmas, as it has allowed them a cushion following a poor run of form. Mark Anscombe’s men last won on 15 February, against Zebre, but defeats have followed against Glasgow and Edinburgh. Paddy Jackson’s kicking earned them a home draw against Treviso but he was wayward last weekend as the northern province lost at Murrayfield.
Leinster have timed their winning run well and last week’s win over Glasgow saw them reach the Pro12 summit. Players such as Ian Madigan, Aaron Dundon and Devin Toner have contributed to the streak while Ireland internationals floundered in the Six Nations but the big names are back in the selection mix.
Team news: The only weak-point in the Ulster backline is Stuart Olding, at inside centre, as Andrew Trimble has been excellent on the right wing since injury befell Tommy Bowe. Ruan Pienaar partners outhalf Paddy Jackson at half-back and may take the kicking tee for the crucial clash. John Afoa’s presence at scrum time will be sorely missed.
Brendan Macken gets another opportunity to demonstrate his abilities at outside back, alongside Gordon D’Arcy. Rob Kearney, Jamie Heaslip, Mike Ross and Cian Healy all return to the fold. It is a game too soon for Sean O’Brien to return so Shane Jennings lines out at openside.
Leinster: R Kearney; D Kearney, B Macken, G D’Arcy, I Nacewa; I Madigan, I Boss; C Healy, R Strauss, M Ross; D Toner, Q Roux; K McLaughlin, S Jennings, J Heaslip (c).
Replacements: S Cronin, J McGrath, J Hagan, L Cullen, R Ruddock, J Cooney, A Goodman, A Conway.
Ulster: J Payne; A Trimble, D Cave, S Olding, C Gilroy; P Jackson, R Pienaar; T Court, R Best, R Lutton; J Muller (c), D Tuohy; R Diack, C Henry, N Williams.
Replacements: R Herring, C Black, K McCall, L Stevenson, I Henderson, R Wilson, P Marshall, P Nelson.
Treviso v Connacht
When: Saturday, 7.00 [8pm local time]
Where can I watch? Live, in Italy
The story so far: Connacht were denied their first ever four-match winning streak when they were overpowered by Munster in Cork last week. The match against their inter-pro rivals was always going to be a tough ask but a victory against the Italians will boost their hopes of finishing seventh.
Treviso are six points clear, in seventh position, as best of the Pro12 rest. In recent weeks they have accounted for Munster and Cardiff Blues while they were unlucky not to beat Ulster at Ravenhill, drawing that match 29 apiece.
Team news: Franco Smith has made just four changes from the side that beat the Blues last week. Tobias Botes, Edoardo Gori and Luke McLean will bring some pep to the backline while Simone Favaro, recipient of a Brian O’Driscoll boot on national duty, starts at blindside.
Eric Elwood’s side, after being close to unchanged for long periods of the season, has inevitably succumbed to battle fatigue. The centre combination of Brian Murphy and Eoin Griffin will be severely tested in Italy but Mike McCarthy is back to add some grunt to the pack.
Treviso: L McLean; L Nitoglia, T Iannone, G La Grange, E Gori; A Di Bernardo, T Botes; A De Marchi, L Ghiraldini (c), L Cittadini; F Minto, C Van Zyl; S Favaro, A Zanni, D Budd.
Replacements: G Maistri, M Rizzo, J Roux, A Pavanello, P Daerbyshire, M Filippucci, F Semenzato, K Burton.
Connacht: R Henshaw; D Poolman, E Griffin, B Murphy, G Duffy (c); D Parks, K Marmion; B Wilkinson, A Flavin, R Loughney; M Kearney, M McCarthy; John Muldoon, E McKeon, G Naoupu.
Replacements: E Reynecke, D Buckley, N White, A Browne, D Heffernan, P O’Donohoe, M Nikora, F Vainikolo.
