Pulse Check: URC Return
No wiggle room for provinces in this truncated spring block
Are the walls falling in, or do we just need to wait it out?
With all the oxygen that the Six Nations vacuums up, it’s easy to forget about the run of the mill provincial action. You may remember a classic weekend of EPCR action in January, but the domestic form? Connacht v Leinster is noteworthy, but anything from round 11?
I’ll jog your memory: Munster lost to Glasgow, while Leinster, Ulster and Connacht defeated Edinburgh, Cardiff and Zebre respectively. Anything else of note? Probably not.
So as we return to action in Galway and Limerick for one week only, here is a quick run down on expectations, form, injuries and everything in between ahead of the URC’s return.
Leinster (2nd)
It’s rare that we go this deep into the season without the perennial log-toppers sitting pretty at the summit. However, Leo Cullen’s men are still making up ground on a rocky start where they collected six points from the first four games; and trail 2024 champs Glasgow by four points through 11 games.
The Dublin based province have welcomed back Harry Byrne, Jimmy O’Brien and Robbie Henshaw from injury, but still have about 22 players absent for this weekend’s trip to Cardiff. So the baton gets handed to the Max Deegans or RG Snymans of this world to guide an inexperienced team through the week and the result.
Two wins over the next two games (Cardiff and Glasgow) would see Leinster move top of the table ahead of a business end where they seek a first league and cup double since 2018; but anything post Six Nations will be dependent on the potential injury toll post championship.
Squad to face Cardiff:
Jimmy O’Brien; Joshua Kenny, Rieko Ioane, Robbie Henshaw, Ruben Moloney; Harry Byrne, Fintan Gunne; Jerry Cahir, John McKee, Andrew Sparrow; Alan Spicer, Brian Deeny; Max Deegan (capt), Scott Penny, James Culhane.
Gus McCarthy, Alex Usanov, Rabah Slimani, RG Snyman, Josh Ericson, Luke McGrath, Charlie Tector, Andrew Osborne.
Ulster (4th)
Much better than last year; but still firmly in the thick of the annual logjam, Richie Murphy’s Ulster are on a very healthy seesaw. They have a favourable run in with Ospreys this weekend before taking on Connacht (H) and Zebre (A) before Europe.
Having the Challenge Cup focus could distract this squad come late spring, but for now they remain on track for a home knockout clash in the league.
They travel to Bridgend without their Irish contingent, but you would imagine will have enough in the tank to come out unscathed.
Squad to face Ospreys:
Mike Lowry; Werner Kok, James Hume, Jude Postlethwaite, Zac Ward; Jack Murphy, Nathan Doak; Eric O’Sullivan, Tom Stewart, Scott Wilson; Iain Henderson (capt), Charlie Irvine; Matthew Dalton, David McCann, Bryn Ward.
Rob Herring, Angus Bell, Bryan O’Connor, Harry Sheridan, Marcus Rea, Conor McKee, Jake Flannery, Ben Carson.
Munster (6th)
To the enigma province next, and Munster’s task is to stay within reach of the top four at least for this week. First up, Zebre come to Limerick seeking to go back-to-back on the province they turned over in Parma last season.
Clayton McMillan’s men were 5/5 on the season before the first international break (November) but then went 3/10 in the Winter block just gone. Having failed to host a home knockout game in the URC in three of the past four seasons, they will be targeting a winning run to close the season.
Zebre first before a South African trip post-Six Nations means they’ll need five points here, and probably 4-6 points down south.
Squad to face Zebre:
Mike Haley; Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Dan Kelly, Shane Daly; JJ Hanrahan, Paddy Patterson; Michael Milne, Niall Scannell, Michael Ala’alatoa; Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley; Gavin Coombes, Jack O’Donoghue (capt), Brian Gleeson.
Lee Barron, Josh Wycherley, John Ryan, Edwin Edogbo, Alex Kendellen, Ethan Coughlan, Tom Wood, Seán O’Brien.
Connacht (12th)
Arguably the most important game of the weekend comes in Galway as 12th placed Connacht host top of the table Glasgow. Franco Smith is still not Scotland coach, and for as long as they remains the case; they will be one of the toughest teams to beat in this league.
As for Connacht, they know a win here would do wonders for their slim, but alive, European hopes. A trip to Ravenhill before home showdown with the Ospreys at the end of March means Lancaster’s squad need to pick up at least one win, but probably two in the coming weeks.
Unlike the other provinces, Connacht are without just one Irish international (Finlay Bealham) so are as locked and loaded as they’ve been in a mid spring showdown in years, presenting a chance for a massive scalp.
Squad to face Glasgow:
Sam Gilbert; Shane Jennings, Harry West, Cathal Forde, Finn Treacy; Josh Ioane, Caolin Blade; Denis Buckley, Dylan Tierney-Martin, Sam Illo; David O’Connor, Joe Joyce, Paul Boyle (capt), Sean O’Brien, Sean Jansen.
Matthew Victory, Billy Bohan, Jack Aungier, Josh Murphy, Cian Prendergast, Colm Reilly, Jack Carty; Bundee Aki.