The Magners League is back.

thomond2006

The Provinces return to Magners League action this week. Here are the fixtures:

Edinburgh v Connacht Fri 27 Mar
Glasgow v Munster Fri 27 Mar
Leinster vs Ulster Sun 29 Mar

Hard to read these games until the squads are released, will the Irish players be eligible to play this week?

If not, a trip to Firhill could be a potential banana skin for Munster as they prepare to meet Leinster in the ML next week and the Ospreys in the HC QF, two games that will make or break Munster's season.

If Leinster are missing their internationals (Heaslip, D'Arcy, BOD, Kearney, Fitzgerald) , then you could fancy Ulster to cause a surprise who are only likely to be missing Ferris (Wallace and Best were only on the bench).

bleg

of course the internationals are available

NickNolte

Yeah, I'd say most of the internationals will be back to the grindstone. I'd say the residual buzz of the Grand Slam amongst the provinces will be palpable at every match.

chupacabra

COME ON ULSTER!! >:3

Anyone know if Tipoki is fit again? Id like to see Earls drop to fullback or the wing for a few games.

Amazotheamazing

Internationals have the week off.

bleg

according to the echo the munster internationals are joining up with the squad tomorrow.

[Jackass]

Squads are expected to be named today (Tuesday), but according to RTE sport the starting 15 and bench players are being given the week off. So they will not take part in this weeks action.

Slight worry for Leinster, Nacewa is still injured, so it'll probably be a backline of O'Donoghue, Sexton, Keogh, Contepomi, McFadden, Horgan & Dempsey - Rocky at 8 with Jowit / O'Brien at 6 and Toner, Hogan / Cullen / O'Kelly in second row depending on fitness, front row of Healy, Jackman & Wright / CJ depending on fitness.

Luke looks like he could be out for up to 4 weeks and could miss 2 biggest games and make or break games of Leinsters season - Munster & Quins - CJ is struggling to get back for them, as is Cullen, Nacewa is 50/50 for Quins I think with knee injury and I'm not sure on the details of Jackmans injury woes. Potentially 5 big players out.

The international rest will obviously hurt Munster the most with the guts of their first team missng, but they've a big squad and a very good squad so I doubt it'll derail them in Glasgow anyway - but we can always live in hope!

zenmonk

Don't know about that Glasgow are a decent side this season and turned Leinster over at home too.
Ulster v Leinster is also a banana skin for Leinster.
A losing BP for Munster would be a realistic expectation but maybe they can nick it.