Weekend Preview

With leagues and competitions worldwide now back in earnest, we preview the pick of the action from another huge weekend of global rugby.

Pro 12

Our preview begins in Scotland, where second takes on third in the Pro12in Glasgow. Both Connacht and Glasgow enter their game on Friday night with a perfect record this season, and both sides will be desperate to keep these respective records alive. Glasgow have been thoroughly impressive, only really being pushed at home against Leinster in the opening game this season. Connacht have been no less impressive, albeit for different reasons. While Glasgow have blasted past opponents Connacht have shown real grit and determination to grind out a number of tight victories. In team news, ex-Northampton and Munster man James Downey makes his debut in a much changed Glasgow side, who also welcome back captain Alastair Kellock. Kellock not featured since last seasons Pro 12 final. Connacht travel with a much more settled side, with only Danie Poolman and Ian Porter coming in to the starting line up, giving last week’s standout performer Kieran Marmion a rest at scrum half. Glasgow should have the fire power at home to dispatch Connacht, but expect a typically proud and gritty performance from the Irish province.

Also on Friday, Leinster will look to get their stuttering season back on track as they welcome Cardiff to the RDS. A big win sandwiched in between two narrow defeats so far this term will be deemed not good enough by Leinster’s high standards, and the Irish province will be looking for a bonus point win tonight to ease nerves around the province. Cardiff sit just one place below the Irish side in the table after a similar start to the season, but are rank outsiders against a team who they have not beaten in the past 5 outings in Dublin. The big team news sees Aussie lock Kane Douglas make his bow for Leinster in the second row.

Rugby Championship

Southern hemisphere rugby resumes this weekend, beginning with Australia’s visit to South Africa on Saturday. Australia arrive on the back of two successive wins in the competition, one being the narrow victory over the Boks in Perth three weeks ago. That match will be etched in the South Africans memory, having given up a big half time lead to go down by a solitary point. If recent history is anything to go by then we are in for a tight encounter, with the Aussies leading 5-3 over the last 8 games played.  2011 was the last time the Wallabies won on South African soil however, showing how tough the Boks have become to defeat at home in recent years. Both sides are relatively unchanged from their most recent outings, and with both teams with big points to prove, expect a lively affair at Newlands.

Later on Saturday Argentina welcome all conquering New Zealand to La Plata, still searching for a maiden victory in the competition. All though it feels like we say it every week, the Argentinians are surely close to sucuring that all important win, as their performances and confidence seem to grow by the match. As good as they may be, at home especially, one feels that this All Black side will not be denied a victory which would  secure them a third Rugby Championship in succession. A bonus point is needed for the visitors, who welcome back Beauden Barrett after Aaron Cruden's much documented mid-week antics saw him miss his flight to Argentina. Keven Mealamu, Sam Whitelock and Jerome Kaino also return to the kiwi side, while  Tomas Cubelli, Thomas Lavanini and Benjamin Macome start for the Argentines in their only changes.