Irish sides can plan ahead

The penultimate Saturday before Christmas could emphatically shape the destiny of the three Irish provinces in this season's Heineken European Cup after ERC yesterday released the times, dates and television arrangements for the fourth weekend of the tournament.

Ulster will be the first into action on December 17th when they travel to Vicarage Road to face Saracens, just eight days after the reverse fixture takes place. Mark McCall's charges will entertain the English club, who boast Ireland hooker Shane Byrne and former Irish defence coach Mike Ford among their number at Ravenhill.

Saracens lead the group with two victories in as many matches and these back-to-back matches for Ulster represent a chance to guarantee they'll be at the business end of affairs when the final brace of matches in the pool stages takes place in January.

Leinster, having hosted Bourgoin at the RDS the previous week, travel to France to the Stade Pierre Antoine, where they won last season (3pm kick-off, Irish time).

Munster host the Dragons at Thomond Park.

Reigning European Cup champions Toulouse will be first into action in front of the cameras when round four is played on that second match weekend in December.

Dimitri Szarzewski, the Stade Francais Paris hooker, will appear before an independent disciplinary committee as a result of a citing lodged against him following the Pool Three match between Stade Francais and Leicester Tigers last Saturday.

Ray Wilton (Wales), the appointed match-citing Commissioner, has recommended to ERC the citing should go before an independent hearing. The citing against Szarzewski is for alleged contravention of Law: 10.4 (a)/10.4 (k) in the second half of the game. The law states: Law 10.4 (a) Punching or striking. A player must not strike an opponent with the fist or arm, including the elbow, shoulder, head or knee(s). Law 10.4 (k) Acts contrary to good sportsmanship. A player must not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship in the playing enclosure.

The hearing will be held as soon as is practicable.

Meanwhile, Leinster must plan without captain and their outstanding player this season, Felipe Contepomi, for Sunday's Celtic League tie against Edinburgh at Donnybrook (3.0). Contepomi will play for Argentina against South Africa in Buenos Aires on Saturday. His absence is likely to mean a promotion for UCD's Eoghan Hickey when the team is announced today.

Also absent will be Christian Warner, who is out for the season with cruciate ligament damage, hooker Bernard Jackman (hip) and blindside flanker Ciarán Potts (medial ligament in his knee), the latter pair sustaining the problems in the European Cup victory over Glasgow last Sunday.

Connacht could be without Keith Matthews and John Hearty for their Celtic League clash with Glasgow at Hughenden on Friday. Matthews missed their European Challenge Cup win away to Montpellier while Hearty damaged a hamstring in that match.

Munster and Ulster reported no more than the usual bumps and bruises ahead of their matches against the Cardiff and the Ospreys respectively: both matches take place on Friday night, the former at the Arms Park with Ulster at Ravenhill.