Who is playing, when and where?
Leinster are playing Harlequins in the last 16 of the Champions Cup in Croke Park on Saturday at 3pm. Later that evening, Munster travel to the Stade Marcel Deflandre to play La Rochelle at 5.30pm. On Sunday, Ulster play Bordeaux Bègles at Stade Jacques Chaban-Delmas; that one kicks off at 12.30pm.
Friday
Northampton v Clermont Auvergne, 8pm
Saturday
Toulon v Saracens, 12.30pm
Leinster v Harlequins, 3pm
Castres v Benetton, 3pm
La Rochelle v Munster, 5.30pm
Glasgow v Leicester, 8pm
Sunday
Bordeaux Bègles v Ulster, 12.30pm
Toulouse v Sale, 3pm
How can I watch it?
You watch Leinster on free-to-air; their clash at Croker will be on RTÉ2 from 2.15pm. It is also on Premier Sports. Munster’s game against La Rochelle, and Ulster’s game against Bordeaux Bègles, are on Premier Sports. You can also catch live coverage of the games on the Irish Times website.
How are the Irish provinces looking, and what are their chances?
It is fair to say that Leinster expect to beat Harlequins at home. They have only lost one game in all competitions all season; that was without a full-strength team in South Africa in the URC. While Harlequins are not to be underestimated - at seventh in the English Premiership table and scraping through to the Champions Cup knockouts - the Irish province will be heavy favourites.
How did Leinster’s young guns outmatch the Sharks?
The same can’t be said of Ulster, who will be rank outsiders to beat Bordeaux after losing 40-19 to them in Belfast in December. Going away from home will make it even more difficult, so expectations will be low.
The other game should be more even, if tricky, for Munster. Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle have an excellent recent European pedigree with a couple of Champions Cup titles, but haven’t been at their usual standard this season in Europe or the top 14. Ian Costello’s men will hold out hope of a famous victory on the west coast of France.
Who would the Irish provinces play next if they win?
Munster could play Ulster in the quarter-finals if both teams win their games, but it is more likely the southern province would play the formidable Bordeaux away if they win. Leinster would play Glasgow Warriors or Leicester Tigers if they win, at home in Dublin.
What is the team news?
Caelan Doris will captain a Leinster side heavily bolstered by the return of several Ireland internationals for their Champions Cup last-16 clash against Harlequins.
Doris is among 13 Ireland internationals named to start Saturday’s game at Croke Park (kick-off 3pm), slotting back into his number eight spot.
Leinster: Hugo Keenan; Jamie Osborne, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Rabah Slimani; Joe McCarthy, RG Snyman; Jack Conan, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris (capt). Replacements: Gus McCarthy, Jack Boyle, Tadhg Furlong, Ryan Baird, Max Deegan, Luke McGrath, Ross Byrne, Jordie Barrett.
Harlequins: Leigh Halfpenny; Tyrone Green, Oscar Beard, Ben Waghorn, Nick David; Marcus Smith, Will Porter; Fin Baxter, Jack Walker, Titi Lamositele; Joe Launchbury; Chandler Cunningham-South; Jack Kenningham, Will Evans, Alex Dombrandt (capt). Replacements: Sam Riley, Wyn Jones, Simon Kerrod, Irné Herbst, George Hammond, Danny Care, Jamie Benson, Luke Northmore.
Tadhg Beirne, Peter O’Mahony, Jean Kleyn, Thaakir Abrahams and Andrew Smith all return to the starting fray for Munster, while Seán O’Brien switches to inside centre having started last Saturday’s URC win over Connacht at MacHale Park on the wing.
La Rochelle: Dillyn Leyds; Jack Nowell, Teddy Thomas, Ulupano Seuteni, Hoani Bosmorin; Ihaia West, Tawera Kerr-Barlow; Reda Wardi, Pierre Bourgarit, Uini Atonio; Thomas Lavault, Will Skelton,; Levani Botia, Oscar Jegou, Gregory Alldritt (capt). Replacements: Quentin Lespiaucq, Alexandre Kaddouri, Aleksandre Kuntelia, Ultan Dillane, Judicael Cancoriet, Matthias Haddad, Antoine Hastoy, Jules Favre.
Munster: Thaakir Abrahams; Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Seán O’Brien, Andrew Smith; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron, Oli Jager; Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne (capt); Peter O’Mahony, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes. Replacements: Niall Scannell, Josh Wycherley, Stephen Archer, Fineen Wycherley, Tom Ahern, Conor Murray, Rory Scannell, Alex Kendellen.
Ireland international hooker Rob Herring is set to become the first Ulster player to make 250 appearances for the province this Sunday as they named their team.
Bordeaux Bègles: Romain Buros; Damian Penaud, Yoram Moefana, Ben Tapuai, Pablo Uberti; Joey Carbery, Maxime Lucu; Jefferson Poirot, Maxime Lamothe, Ben Tameifuna; Cyril Cazeaux, Adam Coleman; Mahamadou Diaby, Guido Petti, Pete Samu. Replacements: Romain Latterrade, Matis Perchaud, Sipili Falatea, Pierre Bochaton, Bastien Vergnes Taillefer, Yann Lesgourgues, Rohan Janse Van Rensburg, Matthieu Jalibert.
Ulster: Michael Lowry; Zac Ward, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale; Jack Murphy, John Cooney. Andrew Warwick, Rob Herring, Tom O’Toole; Alan O’Connor, Kieran Treadwell; James McNabney, Nick Timoney, David McCann. Replacements: Tom Stewart, Callum Reid, Scott Wilson, Matthew Dalton, Matty Rea, Nathan Doak, Aidan Morgan, Stewart Moore.
