Provinces face into critical back-to-back weekends

As a mark of respect to the late Nelson Mandela, ERC has requested all clubs playing in this weekend’s Heineken and Amlin Challenge Cup matches observe a minute’s silence prior to kick-off. At such a tempestuous, potentially ruinous time for European club rugby, never has there been a greater need for reaching across the divide.

In this weekend’s match programmes, ERC independent chairman Jean-Pierre Lux took issue with the statement from Premier Rugby (PRL) on Thursday evening explaining next season’s boycott of any competition run by ERC suggesting the clubs were outvoted by the Unions on commercial matters.

“In fact,” writes Lux, “on decisions regarding the commercial strategy for ERC and its tournaments, the bodies representing the English, French and Welsh clubs have 10 out of 18 Board votes, and also have a leading role through the chairmanship of our Commercial sub-committee.”

In any event, the jewel in Europe’s club crown returns for the pivotal back-to-back rounds. Three of the make-or-break, head-to-head, back-to-back clashes see meetings between group pacesetters, notably this evening’s reprise of the memorable 2011 final between Northampton and Leinster at Franklin’s Gardens.

Leinster coach Matt O’Connor restores nine more of his players who featured for Ireland against the All Blacks, bringing the total to 13 in what is, uniquely amongst any team competing in European rugby this season, an indigenous starting XV of Irish players.

Jim Mallinder has arguably assembled a better team and squad than in 2011, most notably with the acquisition of the remarkable George North.

North is recalled
Back from his Welsh commitments, North is recalled, as is fullback James Wilson, the in-form and seemingly more disciplined Courtney Lawes and flanker Phil Dowson.

Franklin’s Gardens has been sold out for weeks, a whiff of cordite and all that, before next Saturday’s rendezvous in the Aviva.

Ulster kick-off at the same time at home to Treviso and, seeking to press home their advantage in Pool 5 after their excellent win in Montpellier, welcome back fit-again Johann Muller and Jared Payne, as well as Ruan Pienaar, who was rested last week. The only other change to the team that started last weekend’s win in Zebre sees Sean Doyle preferred at openside, with Mike McComish moving to the bench.

Munster’s need is the more acute at home to Perpignan on Sunday. Conor Murray, Casey Laulala and Johne Murphy return to the side, with Keith Earls moving to the wing, while Damien Varley replaces the the unfortunate Mike Sherry, who Munster yesterday confirmed will be sidelined for an estimated six months due to his damaged anterior cruciate ligament, with Peter O’Mahony and Sean Dougall returning to the backrow.

Surprisingly, Stephen Archer has again been preferred to BJ Botha, while Shannon hooker Duncan Casey could make his competitive debut for the province from the bench.

At a good time
At face value, Munster would appear to be meeting Perpignan – who have lost on all four previous visits to Thomond Park (three times) or Musgrave Park – at a good time. Coach Patrick Arlettaz has made seven changes, five of them enforced, after South African wing Wandile Mjekevu (sprained ankle), French secondrow Romain Taofifenua (twisted knee) and Georgian prop Giorgi Jgenti (fractured wrist) were all injured during last Friday's 30-23 defeat at home to Clermont.

USAP already had six other players on the treatment table while their former Munster centre Lifeimi Mafi and Tonga prop Sona Taumalolo are both suspended. Joffrey Michel is promoted to the right wing, with the Top 14’s leading try scorer, the electric newly capped French wing Sofiane Guitoune, moving to the other flank, in a team captained from fullback by James Hook.

Not a moment too soon, flanker John Muldoon returns to the Connacht line-up for his side’s daunting clash away to Toulouse tomorrow. Brett Wilkinson and George Naoupu are also restored.

“This is probably the biggest challenge we face as a team, playing a side as successful as Toulouse in their back yard,” admitted Pat Lam. “We understand what we’re up against and after our performance last week; I’ve seen a real determination and doggedness by everyone to step up.”

Guy Noves makes nine changes, which still leaves the four-time winners with a back three of Yoann Huget, Clément Poitrenaud and Hosea Gear. Captain Thierry Dusautoir in also back.

Toulouse have won all seven homes games this season, all but one with bonus points, and the bookies make this the most lobsided of the weekend, with Connacht 25-point underdogs and 20/1 to win. However, no less than the other Irish provinces, this competition does bring the best out of Connacht.