Heineken Cup

In addition to Garry Ringrose and Ronan Kelleher, who were sidelined for the final game against England a fortnight ago, and Johnny Sexton, Caelan Doris has ...

O’Mahony starts on his return from international duty with John Hodnett and Gavin Coombes completing the starting XV. It was an amazing day, to see what it means to the crowd, the players, and the work they put in. Dan McFarland can call upon an experienced bench with last week’s hat-trick hero Tom Stewart, Eric O’Sullivan, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Harry Sheridan, and Marcus Rea covering the forwards. Fullback Mike Haley, Calvin Nash and Shane Daly start in an unchanged back three. Scottish loose-head Rory Sutherland also returns to the side. Because of the derby factor on top of that, you can think back to some of those games over the years, whether it’s Leinster-Ulster, or Ulster-Munster, the different dynamics that have played out, they’re hugely exciting games. The latter’s second-row partner Alan O’Connor captains the side. There were a good chunk of guys who played a couple of weeks ago in the England game. we had a group that represented well in the Stormers game last Friday, so it’s about merging those two together. if there is a next week.” It’s going to be a good test. “Our last game together was here against Racing, so we’re ten weeks on, here we are back again.

Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers) v Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh). The Champions Cup kicks off with an intriguing battle between these two international fly-halves ...

Toulouse will have to watch out for the Springbok and his partnership with youngster Canan Moodie, which has thrived this season. Arendse, meanwhile, is the slightly quicker and more agile full-back, using his footwork and pace to weave his way through and around defences. The Ospreys showed with their victory at Leicester Tigers in January that they can win big games away from home in the [Champions Cup](https://www.planetrugby.com/tournament/european-champions-cup), so Itoje and Sarries better beware of Jones and co. The 28-year-old Chief has shaken off the injury which forced his withdrawal against Bath last Sunday, which means a full-blooded battle is on the cards between the two, who are both are very quick, athletic and have tremendous footwork. Henshaw undoubtedly plays in the better team and will have the platform to work from, but McCloskey has rarely played poorly for Ulster. His opponent on the other hand tends to go searching for work and is effective in the midfield off first-phase ball. With that in mind, there is perhaps more on the line than just a last-16 Champions Cup tie, as they will want to impress national team head coach Farrell ahead of the World Cup. It is a shame that Albert Tuisue is out, otherwise his clash with Gregory Alldritt would have been box office, so in his absence, we’ve gone for two talented wings who are on the fringes of international selection. The Frenchman is also an outstanding finisher, and he will tend to stay on his wing, waiting for the opportunity to pounce. With Wilco Louw on the opposite side, their first-choice front-row is one of the better units in the Premiership, but can they tame Steven Kitshoff and Malherbe? It is going to be a brutal battle up front this weekend, and leading the charge will be these South African locks. At his best, Pollard is key for both club and country, and he quite frankly is a level above Kinghorn in that sort of form.

TV and live-stream information as BT Sport brings you live coverage of every game from the last 16 of the Heineken Cup.

Stalwart for club and country Alun Wyn Jones, 37, is out of contract in the summer after 18 years with the club. "Leinster was a real challenge in an organisational front and La Rochelle have lots of rockstars on the pitch. "We managed to be able to slow it down in past games. He said: “I’ve coached in France and it doesn’t get any tougher. Speaking to the press prior to his side's trip to Durban, Rowntree reflected on the second of two narrow defeats to Toulouse in this season's competition, saying: "That was like a Test match. We can influence the game in how we play. It's going to be tough going, but we are very motivated. Reflecting on last Friday's bitterly disappointing defeat to 14-man Newcastle Falcons, Skivington said: "I don't think it was a good look for us and we were pretty angry about it. The last two years we have beaten them twice. We played well in patches in the other games but weren't good enough to beat them this year. It's going to need a similar performance or a better performance this week. So, all those aspects, we have to respect."

The Six Nations is done and dusted for another year but fear not, rugby fans, as the game's biggest club competition returns to our screen this evening.

Starting the Six Nations in flying form, McCloskey filled the gap left by an injured Henshaw to such a high standard that many wondered if the Ulsterman had finally realised his immense potential. Returning to full fitness, Snyman will help offset the loss of injured Irish international star Tadhg Beirne. Munster’s heavy defeat to Glasgow will have brought the squad back to earth following their incredible run of wins over the past few months. Should any of the Stormers, Sharks or Bulls progress, there will be calls for celebration or a new force in the competition. In total, eight former champions are heading into this weekend’s round of sixteen. Their battle with Pollard and the Tigers' backrow of Hanro Liebenberg, Tommy Reffell and Olly Cracknell will make for a fascinating subplot. Key to this will be their backrow of Scotland captain Jamie Ritchie, Hamish Watson and Bill Mata. Having returned from injury, the Springbok flyhalf has reminded fans of his ability to dominate a game. Jampacked with quality from one to twenty-three, Toulouse are regarded as one of the competition favourites again this season. Facing perhaps the closest iteration to themselves, the challenge facing reigning URC Champions, the DHL Stormers could be one of the most intriguing clashes of the season. Both sides have announced fully loaded squads for the clash, which is fitting given the importance both sides have placed on the competition to date. Finishing 3rd in their respective groups, the DHL Stormers and Cell C Sharks will break new ground as they host the first-ever Champions Cup knockout games outside of Europe.

IOL Sport breaks down just what will happen should the South African teams win or lose in the EPCR Challenge Cup this weekend.

The last four will play at the end of April. Victory for both Munster and the Bulls on the weekend will see the quarter-final hosted in Ireland, most-likely Musgrave Park. Even if they manage that feat, they will remain in France to face either Stade Francais or Lyon.

For the first time in the tournament's history, the Champions Cup will see one-off Last 16 games played to decide who progresses.

Saracens have won all 11 Premiership and European home games they have this season while Toulouse are unbeaten in 12. Though their domestic form has been hugely inconsistent, Exeter Chiefs will be confident of beating Montpellier in the 12:30pm kick-off In contrast, Tigers have won their last five, winning each of their last three by more than 20.

The South African franchises will have mixed results as they play European Cup knockout rugby for the first time, writes Nick Mallett.

Get 14 days free to read all our investigative and in-depth journalism. Thereafter you will be billed R75 per month. Nick Mallett

The Leicester Tigers and a red-hot Handre Pollard welcome Edinburgh to Welford Road in Heineken Cup action on Friday night.

“That doesn’t change this week because it’s a knockout game. ALSO READ:

A try early in the second half from Jasper Wiese helped Leicester Tigers beat Edinburgh 16-6 in their Champions Cup round-of-16 clash on Friday.

[Leicester](https://www.planetrugby.com/team/leicester-tigers) got the job done in the rain. [Wiese](https://www.planetrugby.com/tag/jasper-wiese) picked up the pieces from a messy line-out and bulldozed his way through down the right to touch down in the corner. [Champions Cup: The key head-to-heads to watch during the last-16 ties](https://www.planetrugby.com/news/champions-cup-the-key-head-to-heads-to-watch-during-the-last-16-ties) It was the final half-chance of a scrappy first half as Leicester retained their 3-0 lead going into the break, but this was quickly cancelled out as the visitors flew out of the traps in the second half. The hosts then pressed for the opening try, only for a series of pick-and-goes from their forwards close to the try-line to come to an end when the ball was knocked forward. Leicester began on the front foot and had the first points of the game after five minutes through a Pollard penalty, slotted without fuss from in front of the posts.

Leicester Tigers hold off a spirited Edinburgh to win 16-6 and book their place in the quarter-finals of the Champions Cup.

Saracens v Ospreys (15:00) Stormers v Harlequins (15:00) They charged at rucks and threw the ball around with more freedom.

Check out our five takeaways from the Champions Cup round-of-16 clash between Leicester Tigers and Edinburgh at Welford Road on Friday night.

From an international perspective, the watching representatives of both the English and Welsh coaching teams will be writing glowing reports over a few of their players. The lineouts were a lottery for both teams, with eight turnovers (four apiece) recorded during an evening that demanded unreasonable precision for both hookers and jumpers, but a lot of that pressure came from Ritchie at the front, his light frame getting really high on Montoya’s throws. A word for Pollard – not only was his kicking from hand pinpoint – one touch finder of 40 metres flat sticks in the mind, but as his troublesome hamstring gets more reliable so the variety of break and pass is coming back into his game. Tigers also realised that the Edinburgh back three really only had one dominant catcher, Boffelli, and provided they kicked short enough to prevent Duhan van der Merwe and Darcy Graham space to run the return lines, then the rewards for controlled kicking strategy were there for the taking. They controlled the contestables and kicked wonderful distance to put immense pressure down the Edinburgh flanks in the air. It’s worth noting that Guy Porter didn’t receive a phase pass until the 29th minute such was the level of error and forward attrition!

Jasper Wiese scored the game's only try as Leicester beat Edinburgh 16-6 to reach the quarter-finals with Handrè Pollard weighing in with 11 points.

The Argentina full-back then put Edinburgh ahead after 50 minutes with another kick at goal after Pollard was penalised for offside. A creaking lineout also prevented the Tigers from capitalising on their early territorial dominance, with Edinburgh’s struggles under the high ball repeatedly gifting them possession. It was the final half-chance of a scrappy first half as Leicester retained their 3-0 lead going into the break, but this was quickly cancelled out as the visitors flew out of the traps in the second half.

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Back-rower Jasper Wiese came off the bench to score the only try as two-time European champions Leicester edged Edinburgh 16-6 to reach the Champions Cup ...

"The boys did the hard work to get the ball and I just went over to finish it for them. The breakdown was massive for us, we dug hard -- I don't really know what to say." [@LeicesterTigers]' Jasper Wiese bounds through the Edinburgh defence for the first try of the match ??