The short side: Big game, back-row battle and new leaders

Colin Newboult
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The short side returns to Planet Rugby as we study the main talking points ahead of this weekend’s action in the Premiership, PRO14 and Top 14.

Premiership game to watch – Newcastle Falcons v Worcester Warriors

There are perhaps more enticing games to view in terms of quality on show but the basement battles are what separate the Top 14 and Premiership from the PRO14 and Super Rugby. It gives England’s top-tier an extra edge and this encounter could be crucial in the outcome of the season, with Newcastle currently nine points adrift of the Warriors following a poor campaign. The Falcons stunned everyone by qualifying for the play-offs in 2017/18 but find themselves teetering on the brink of falling into the Championship – providing they don’t ring-fence the Premiership of course. A triumph over one of their closest challengers would aid them significantly but a defeat may signal the end of their latest spell in the top-flight.

PRO14 game to watch – Benetton v Edinburgh

On paper, there are much bigger sides in the PRO14 but few games are as important as this one this weekend. Scarlets v Munster is an important contest but this encounter is a crucial intra-conference duel with Benetton in second and Edinburgh four points behind them. The Italians have impressed over the current campaign and showed their ability with a 57-7 thrashing of the Dragons in Round 16, while the Scots are a dangerous beast, despite their inconsistencies. They enjoyed a fine first campaign under Richard Cockerill but have struggled to find the required levels domestically in 2018/19. Cockerill’s men evidently have the quality, as displayed by their Champions Cup performances, but they have suffered some poor defeats this season, particularly recently, going down to the Southern Kings in late January.

Player to watch – Quinn Roux (Connacht)

The second-row featured against England, coming on for Devin Toner, before he started in Rome, but Joe Schmidt evidently has other plans for the upcoming encounter with France. Munster’s Tadhg Beirne, who featured versus the Ospreys in his first game back following injury, has been kept in Ireland’s camp and looks likely to be involved in the fourth round of the Six Nations instead of the Connacht man. It is a kick in the teeth for Roux but an excellent performance on Saturday would send a message to Ireland’s head coach and could alter the New Zealander’s mind.

One-v-one battle to watch – Jono Ross (Sale Sharks) v Dave Ewers (Exeter Chiefs)

Two players who enjoy the physical side of the game go head-to-head on Saturday as Sale take on Exeter in a crucial clash for the hosts. While the Sharks were thrashed by Northampton Saints two weeks ago, by recent form it was an aberration and they now have an opportunity to put themselves in top-four contention. They have successive home matches against two sides who are without their England players and Ross, who himself harbours international ambitions, will attempt to make a statement against a similarly ambitious flanker. Ewers has been unfortunate with injuries, which has hampered his chances of turning out for the Red Rose, but a good run of form will certainly alert Eddie Jones.

Subplot of the weekend – Inexperienced skippers

Lewis Ludlam and Kieron Fonotia of Northampton and the Scarlets respectively have been entrusted to lead their sides for the first time. In Ludlam’s case, it is a particularly intriguing call. The Saints do not lack for experience but Chris Boyd has done an excellent job of providing an environment for their young players to thrive. The flanker, who starred for England at the 2015 World Rugby U20 Championship, struggled for opportunities under the previous regime but Boyd’s arrival has seen him get the game time he should have received a couple of years ago. As for Fonotia, the Samoan is older than the Saints man but has been handed the captaincy due to the absence of Ken Owens and Jake Ball. Both have big games, facing Saracens and Munster respectively, so it will be interesting to see whether they can exert their influence on proceedings.

Best of the rest

There are some potentially excellent games in the Premiership this weekend with Leicester Tigers hosting Wasps the standout. The teams may not be what they once were but it is an encounter that never fails to get the pulses racing, particularly following the latter’s move to Coventry, which means it now counts as a Midlands derby. Elsewhere, Sale v Exeter, Bath v Harlequins and Saracens v Northampton could all thrill for a variety of reasons, while in the PRO14, Connacht’s clash with the Ospreys pits two teams looking to go on a run of form and get themselves into the top three of Conference A.

In the Top 14, it is all about the play-off battle with Stade Francais looking to build on their fine victory over La Rochelle when they take on league leaders Toulouse on Sunday. Meanwhile, Jono Gibbes’ men will attempt to bounce back from that disappointing home loss away at Racing 92 in the round’s first match. Finally, the late game on Saturday sees Lyon host fellow top-six challengers Castres at the Matmut Stadium de Gerland.

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