Ultimate Rugby Weekend Lowdown

Ultimate Rugby Weekend Lowdown

It is the final weekend of domestic league action before the European campaign kicks off next weekend and there are some mouth-watering games in store for us.

Leinster host arch-rivals Munster on Saturday at the Aviva Stadium in front an almost sell-out attendance at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, the Welsh regions face off against each other and Dai Young's Wasps travel to Allianz Park hurting after back-to-back home defeats.

Over in France, Wesley Fofana returns to action after nine months out of the game with a torn achilles, just in time for the Champions Cup. Holders Clermont travel to the Stade Ernest Wallon to face an improving Toulouse outfit.

Game of the Weekend 

Guinness Pro14 - Leinster v Munster, Saturday, 2pm - Aviva Stadium


The two sides sit second in their respective conferences with four wins and a defeat from the first five rounds of play. Leinster's Lions' found the going tough on return to the matchday squad last weekend v Edinburgh in a close fought victory and there is hope that another week's training in UCD will help to further gel the squad ahead of 'El Clasico'. Munster welcomed back Conor Murray, CJ Stander & Peter O' Mahony for their bonus-point win over Cardiff at Thomond Park. Leinster forward Josh van der Flier stoked the furnace mid-week by declaring that 'we don't like Munster very much and they don't like us'. This one is bound to be a exhilarating encounter and one that certainly should not be missed as the season kicks into full gear.

Aviva Premiership - Saracens v Wasps, Sunday, 3pm - Allianz Park


Both sides started the season as pre-tournament favourites but it hasn't be plain sailing for the Premiership giants. Saracens lie in third place with four victories from their first five, while Wasps languish in eighth position with three defeats from their first five games. A spate of injury trouble has depleted Dai Young's squad of first-team regulars but the Coventry-based club head North in hope of inflicting Saracens first home defeat since March 2016. The home side begin the clash as 13 point favourites and you wouldn't back against them surpassing that amount.

Top 14 - Toulouse v Clermont, Sunday, 8pm - Stade Ernest Wallon

Toulouse failed to secure a valuable bonus-point against Top 14 newcomers Agen at home last weekend which would of left the squad bitterly disappointed following their dominant performances at home this season. Franck Azema's ASM Clermont recorded a third successive defeat on the road as Castres brushed them aside with ease, Les Jaunards have already tasted defeat to UBB & La Rochelle which leaves them in ninth position. However, it isn't all doom & gloom for the reigning champions, Wesley Fofana is set to return to action after a nine-month layoff with a torn achilles. The 44-times capped centre will pair up with Damian Penaud in midfield, a partnership that many believe will be crucial to Les Bleus return to success. 

Player to Watch 

Guinness Pro 14

Friday, Ulster v Connacht - Tom Farrell (Connacht) - The former Leinster academy prospect has started the new season in impressive form for the Irish province. Farrell created a host of problems for the Scarlets defence last weekend as he linked up promisingly with Bundee Aki in midfield. He beat eight defenders, made three clean breaks and four offloads at the Parc y Scarlets as the Connacht backline managed to secure four tries. 

Aviva Premiership - Denny Solomona (Sale Sharks) - The Auckland-born wing has scored five tries from his opening five appearances this season. Solomona has taken to union like a duck to water and has now scored 16 tries in 20 games following the cross-code switch. Sale travel to Harlequins on Friday night and it is another chance for Solomona to show Eddie Jones what he can offer.

Top 14 - Antoine Dupont (Toulouse) - Following his summer switch to Toulouse from Castres, Dupont has re-ignited his side's backline after a few seasons in the doldrums. He was a stand-out at the Stade Félix Mayol as Toulon edged a valiant effort from his side but the dimunitive scrum-half returns to the startling line-up this weekend against Clermont. He wll test himself against the seasoned professional Morgan Parra in the process. 

Potential Upset

Sale Sharks to beat Harlequins - Steve Diamond's side make one change from the starting XV that ran in eight tries in their 57-10 thrashing of Gloucester. The victory was their highest Premiership score in 13 years, the last four Premierships meetings between the two clubs have all been won by the home side, however, Sale did taste victory at the Stoop last season in the Anglo-Welsh Cup. Byron McGuigan has scored 6 tries already this season, the highest in the Premiership, Solomona is one behind with five - expect a shoot-out.

Bet of the Weekend

Scarlets to dispatch Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium by more than three points - Scarlets (-3) Last year's champions head into the Welsh Derby off the back of a bonus-point victory over Connacht at the Parc y Scarlets. Dan Biggar lines out for his 150th Ospreys appearance but the form of the Scarlets in recent months is hard to ignore. Scarlets are averaging 4.8 tries a game to Ospreys 1.6 - Steve Tandy's last victory came in the first game of the season against Zebre and we believe they might have to wait a little longer to notch their second.

 

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