Who is playing, when and where are they on?
All four Irish provinces are in Champions Cup action on Saturday, so you could watch all four games over nine hours in you were so inclined. Connacht are up first playing Lyon at the Matmut Stadium in Lyon at 1pm, Munster take on Toulon at Stade Felix Mayol at 3.15pm, Leinster play Stade Français at the Aviva Stadium at 5.30pm and Ulster complete the action against Toulouse at the Kingspan Stadium at 8pm.
How do you watch the games?
All the games are on TNT Sports, but Leinster’s game is also on RTÉ2, and there will be a live blog of that match also on The Irish Times website.
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What is the current state of play?
In Group 1, there is a sorry look to the table from a Connacht point of view with just one try bonus point from two games and comfortably at the bottom of the placings. They need a win to breathe life in their campaign.
In Group 2, Ulster had a brilliant victory over Racing 92 in the previous round to make up for an earlier loss to Bath. Another big European night at Ravenhill is required to beat Antoine Dupont’s mighty Toulouse.
In Group 3, Munster are in fifth place and need something to happen quickly as their injury-hit side faces bottom of the table Toulon in the south of France.
In Group 4, Leinster are in good shape after two victories and could set themselves up to top the group should they beat Stade Francais with a bonus point.
Team news
The Irish provinces have been hit with some bad injury blows this week – Mack Hansen for Connacht, Jimmy O’Brien for Leinster and Jean Kleyn for Munster have all been hit with injuries that could rule them out for the season. Leinster’s misfortune is offset somewhat by the returns of James Lowe and Tadhg Furlong.
For Connacht, Hansen is also joined on the sidelines by talented young centre Cathal Forde, who has also suffered a shoulder injury and will be further assessed next week, while there are hopes scrumhalf Caolin Blade, who is undergoing return-to-play protocols, will be available.
On the injury front for Munster, already resigned to being without 11 players, Munster can at least call on the return of inspirational Peter O’Mahony. Joey Carbery and Niall Scannell also feature in the team. RG Snyman, Jack O’Donoghue and Diarmuid Barron are among those still out with injury.
There is better news for Ulster, who have no new injuries to report.
Toulon v Munster
Toulon: Melvyn Jaminet, Jiuta Wainiqolo, Duncan Paia’aua, Waisea Nayacalevu, Leicester Fainga’anuku; Dan Biggar, Ben White; Dany Priso, Christopher Tolofua, Kieran Brookes; Matthias Halagahu, David Ribbans (capt); Cornell du Preez, Facundo Isa, Selevasio Tolofua.
Replacements: Jack Singleton, Bruce Devaux, Beka Gigashvili, Brian Alainu’uese, Jules Coulon, Jules Danglot, Jérémy Sinzelle, Seta Tuicuvu
Munster: Simon Zebo; Calvin Nash, Antoine Frisch, Alex Nankivell, Shane Daly; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, John Ryan; Tom Ahern, Tadhg Beirne (capt); Peter O’Mahony, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Eoghan Clarke, Josh Wycherley, Stephen Archer, Brian Gleeson, Alex Kendellen, Conor Murray, Joey Carbery, Seán O’Brien.
Leinster v Stade Français
Leinster: Hugo Keenan; Jordan Larmour, Garry Ringrose (capt), Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe; Ciarán Frawley, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Joe McCarthy, Jason Jenkins, Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris.
Replacements: Rónan Kelleher, Cian Healy, Michael Ala’alatoa, James Ryan, Jack Conan, Luke McGrath, Sam Prendergast, Tommy O’Brien.
Stade Français: Léo Monin; Peniasi Dakuwaqa, Stéphane Ahmed, Noah Nene, Kylan Hamdaoui; Zack Henry, Brad Weber; Clément Castets, Lucas Peyresblanques, Hugo Ndiaye, PH Azagoh; JJ van der Mescht; Mathieu Hirigoyen, Ryan Chapuis, Giovanni Habel-Kuffner.
Replacements: Mamadou Meité, Vasil Kakovin, Paul Alo-Emile, Giorgi Tsutskiridze, Andy Timo, Jules Gimbert, Paul Gabrillagues, Joris Segonds.
Lyon v Connacht
Connacht: JJ Hanrahan; Andrew Smith, Tom Farrell, Tom Daly, Shayne Bolton; Jack Carty (capt), Michael McDonald; Peter Dooley, Dylan Tierney-Martin, Jack Aungier; Darragh Murray, Joe Joyce; Cian Prendergast, Jarrad Butler, Sean Jansen
Replacements: Tadgh McElroy, Denis Buckley, Dominic Robertson-McCoy, Oisín Dowling, Conor Oliver, Matthew Devine, David Hawkshaw, Shane Jennings.
Ulster v Toulouse
Ulster: Mike Lowry, Rob Baloucoune, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale, Billy Burns, John Cooney; Steven Kitshoff, Tom Stewart, Tom O’Toole, Kieran Treadwell, Iain Henderson (capt), Dave Ewers, Sean Reffell, Nick Timoney.
Replacements: John Andrew, Andrew Warwick, Marty Moore, Al O’Connor, Matty Rea, Nathan Doak, Luke Marshall, Will Addison.
Toulouse: Blair Kinghorn; JC Mallia, Dimitri Delibes, Pita Ahki, Matthis Lebel; Thomas Ramos, Antoine Dupont; Cyril Baille, Peato Mauvaka, Dorian Aldegheri; Richie Arnold, Emmanuel Meafou; François Cros, Anthony Jelonch, Alexandre Roumat.
Replacements: Julien Marchand, David Ainu’u, Nepo Laulala, Joshua Brennan, Jack Willis, Paul Graou, Santiago Chocobares, Setariki Bituniyata
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