Weekend Preview

On the eve of another huge weekend of rugby, we preview the pick of games from across the globe

The Rugby championship

If last weekend we began to see the Rugby Championship take shape, then this weekend there can be no doubt which team has become the tournaments front-runners. New Zealand’s professional sweeping aside of the plucky Argentinians put them firmly in control of the competition, and this weekend they welcome a battered and bruised South African side to Wellington. While the Boks have never won at the Westpac Stadium, the home side will be wary of a South African backlash following last weekend’s last minute defeat to the Wallabies. The South Africans will know that this match represents a pivotal moment in the development of this team on the road to RWC 2015, as Handre Pollard replaces Morne Steyn at 10. The more attacking Pollard will attempt to set alight the Boks back-line, which is mostly unchanged. New Zealand have also gone for a change at 10, with Aaron Cruden recovering from a pectoral injury to take back the ten shirt from Beauden Barrett.

In the competitions second game of the weekend, the fast improving Argentinians travel to the Gold Coast to face the Wallabies. The Aussie side will be in high spirits after last weekend’s result, but underestimate their visitors at their peril. This Argentinian side is surely close to its maiden Rugby Championship victory, having been more than competitive in their last two tests against South Africa and New Zealand respectively. Add to that the return of Manuel Montero, a genuine star of world rugby, then there would be little surprise from many if the Pumas came away with four points. Australia are counting the cost from their monumental victory of the Boks, with most notably Adam Ashley-Cooper absent from the match day squad this weekend.

Guinness Pro 12

Round 2 of the Guinness Pro 12 kicks off tonight, and if last weekend’s explosive action is anything to go by, we are in for another round of attacking and physical rugby. We begin with Leinster who, smarting from a surprise defeat to Glasgow last weekend, welcome the Scarlets to the RDS on Saturday. Club captain Jamie Heaslip returns to the fray, alongside fellow Irish internationals Rob Kearney, Mike McCarthy and Devin Toner, who all start for a strong Leinster side. The Scarlets will travel to Dublin buoyed by an impressive attacking display last weekend, which was only good enough for a draw against Ulster. Regan King is absent for the Welsh province, and is replaced by Gareth Owen in their only backline change.  Elsewhere Munster make the journey to Italy for what is sure to be a difficult match against Treviso, while league leaders Ospreys head to Rodney Parade for an all welsh derby against the Newport Gwent Dragons.

Aviva Premiership

There were a number of close calls in last weekend’s Aviva Premiership, but in the end it was the usual suspects who came away with victories from Round 1. Saracens will be looking to continue that trend tonight when they travel to the Twickenham stoop to play Harlequins. In what is surely the match of the weekend Quins make one injury enforced change, with Ollie Lindsay Hague coming in for Ugo Monye. On the opposite wing Marland Yarde comes in for his Quins debut following his summer move from neighbours London Irish. Sarries also make one change with Jackson Wray replacing Kelly Brown at blindside flanker.