Looking ahead to the Irish derbies

Connacht go into this crucial Conference B showdown with Munster on the back of three straight victories, but they will need to improve after being given an unexpected fright by Benetton last week – a late Bundee Aki try averting what would have been disaster.

Munster have also won three in a row to leave them on the brink of booking their place in the final and have recent history on their side having won the last six meetings with Connacht. 

They were 20-11 winners in Cardiff last weekend when Billy Holland came off the bench to become their second most-capped player, with the 35-year-old announcing on Tuesday he will retire at the end of the season.

Leinster will have one foot in the final if they can come out on top in this crunch clash with Ulster.

The leaders remained firmly in control of Conference A last weekend as they secured a 40-21 bonus-point win at home to Glasgow while Ulster were unable to pick up the extra point against the Ospreys.

Leinster came out on top 24-12 when these teams met at the RDS Arena in January, scoring all four tries in the match, but Ulster have won their last 17 PRO14 fixtures at the Kingspan Stadium including a 14-13 win on Leinster’s last visit in April 2019.