This Week’s Biggest Matches On Rugby Pass

We preview the best matches to catch on Rugby Pass this weekend, including a monstrous Premiership match-up, an all-Irish encounter in the Guinness Pro12 and the climax of Super League XXI.

Pro12: Leinster vs Munster (Saturday October 8, 9:05pm HKT)
It’s an all-Irish weekend in the Guinness Pro12 this weekend as Connacht host Ulster and Leinster take on Munster. Season form suggests undefeated Ulster should be too good for Connacht, who – a bit like Leicester City in the EPL – are finding the competition tough after unexpectedly winning their maiden title last season. Leinster vs Munster is harder to pick, with both sides having notched four wins from their opening five games. Leinster come in off a hard-fought 16-13 win in Cardiff last weekend while Munster easily dispatched lowly Zebre 49-5.

TRC: South Africa vs New Zealand (Saturday October 8, 11:05pm HKT)
The Springboks are back baby! South Africa reverted to type against the Wallabies in Pretoria last weekend, uninventive but effective in kicking their way to an 18-10 win and breaking their three-game losing streak in the process. They are now the only thing standing between the All Blacks and a perfect 30-point Rugby Championship campaign in Durban this weekend. After ransacking the Pumas in the first half the New Zealanders held out a late surge to retain a 3-try buffer and pick up the bonus point. Scoring three more tries than a Springboks side who look to have rediscovered their love of relentless, suffocating defence may be a tougher ask.

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Super League: Warrington vs Wigan (Sunday October 9, 1:00am HKT)
When Wigan staged their freakish 12-man comeback to beat Wolves a few weeks ago you kind of knew the two sides were destined to meet again before the season was done. Here they are, then, set to meet at Old Trafford to decide Super League XXI. Wolves booked their place in the showpiece event with an 18-10 win over St Helens last weekend while Warriors were too good for Hull FC, winning 28-18 at DW Stadium. In three games this season Wolves have beaten Wigan twice, but it’s that one Wigan win three weeks ago that is sure to be be at the forefront of everyone’s minds on Saturday.

Top 14: La Rochelle vs Toulon (Sunday October 9, 2:45am HKT)
La Rochelle’s reign as Top 14 leaders may end up being short-lived. Their loss at Stade Français last weekend let Clermont back into top spot and this weekend they host the club directly below them on the table in the resurgent Toulon. After a haphazard start to the season Diego Dominguez’s side have hit their straps in the last couple of weeks, claiming two big scalps in Clermont and Montpellier. Those results both came at home – the real test of their newfound form will come on the road at La Rochelle this weekend.

Aviva Premiership: Saracens vs Wasps (Sunday October 9, 10:00pm HKT)
It’s only Round 6 but we could already have the match-up of the Premiership season on our hands here. Saracens and Wasps are undeniably the two best sides in the competition at the moment, with just a single loss between them through five rounds. Last time they met in the Premiership was back in February in a game which produced a ridiculous 64-23 scoreline with Wasps going a bit ballistic running in eight tries to two. New Saracens fly half Alex Lozowski was wearing yellow and black that day – look out for him to make a big statement against his former club.