Leinster vs Wasps, Saturday 15:15

The weekend kicks off with a bang in Dublin as the respective leaders of the Pro12 and Premiership meet in the form of Leinster vs Wasps at the Aviva Stadium. Joe Launchbury, James Haskell, Nathan Hughes and Elliot Daly will all return to the scene of England’s Six Nations heartbreak two weeks ago intent of gaining revenge of the Irish, with Jonathan Sexton looking to plot the downfall of the English once again.

Sexton is joined by a number of his international colleagues in Jack McGrath, Tadhg Furlong, Devin Toner, Sean O’Brien, Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose in the starting XV, but the most eye-catching inclusion comes at full-back where 21-year-old Joey Carbery starts in the absence of the injured Rob Kearney, with Zane Kirchner named among the replacements.

Jonathan Sexton will hope to plot the downfall of the English for the second time in three weeks (Getty)

Wasps will be confident that they can avoid the same fate as England though thanks to their star-studded back line that sees the dangerous trio of Willie le Roux, Christian Wade and Kurtley Beale form the back three once again.

Munster vs Toulouse, Saturday 17:45

Two-time winners Munster host four-time champions Toulouse in a collision of two European giants at Thomond Park, with the Irish side handed a quadruple boost as it welcomes back its Irish contingent.

Peter O'Mahony can back-up his dominant showing in the final round of the Six Nations (Getty)

Scrum-half Conor Murray has recovered from the shoulder injury that forced him to miss the Irish victory over England two weeks ago to start, and he’s joined in the squad by fellow internationals CJ Stander, Keith Earls and the France-bound Donnacha Ryan. The provincial side will be led by the influential Peter O’Mahony, who can make another major statement for British and Irish Lions inclusion on Saturday.

Toulouse meanwhile have struggled this season in the top 14, but don’t let that form lull you into thinking they’ll go down easily. The side are packed full with French internationals, with former Les Bleus captain Thierry Dusautoir set to lead the side from blindside flanker, and Scotland lock Richie Gray back in the side.

British and Irish Lions captain candidates Show all 6 1 /6 British and Irish Lions captain candidates British and Irish Lions captain candidates Alun Wyn Jones Jones is probably still the leading candidate for the captaincy, even if his, and Wales’, Six Nations was not what they were hoping for. Jones took the Welsh armband from Sam Warburton for the championship but at times looked uneasy at making a call, such as when he was overruled when Wales opted to go for the corner against Scotland, rather than taking the shot at three points. Jones captained the Lions in the deciding third Test against Australia in 2013 and is a guaranteed starter if fit – something Gatland is keen for his captain to be, although not a necessity. AFP/Getty Images British and Irish Lions captain candidates Sam Warburton Had Wales not finished fifth in the championship with three defeats, there is a good chance Warburton would have been named player of the tournament. The way he reacted to losing the Wales captaincy and moving to blindside flanker has been phenomenal and he is now the bookies’ favourite after his performances and having already led the Lions to a tour victory. Of Warburton’s chances, Gatland said: “He's a different captain to some other players. He leads by example. He doesn't say a lot but he has had that experience. He's one of the guys potentially in contention, definitely.” However, he has been so good without the burden of the armband, would giving it to him hinder his performances? Getty Images British and Irish Lions captain candidates Dylan Hartley Before his red card for Northampton in December, Hartley was the frontrunner for the armband but now his place on the plane is not even assured. For England, Jamie George has impressed and could usurp his captain’s position over the next 12 months, with Hartley arguably not even the third most impressive Hooker the home nations boasted during this year’s Six Nations. However, his grit and fire has been one of the reasons for England’s success under Eddie Jones and it is that sort of personality which could be vital in the hotbed of New Zealand. Getty Images British and Irish Lions captain candidates Rory Best The way Best led Ireland to ending England’s unbeaten run shows that he has the ability to motivate the players around him in tough and gritty situations. He has also captained a side to a win over the All Blacks, the only candidate who is able to say that. Best is certainly a viable candidate but the question mark that remains hanging over him is if he is good enough to start at hooker against the All Blacks? Hartley, Best, George and Wales’ Ken Owens are all in with a shout. AFP/Getty Images British and Irish Lions captain candidates Owen Farrell Farrell was player of the tournament after a stunning Six Nations. His kicking is up there with Leigh Halfpenny’s as amongst the best in the world and he has the right mentality of a captain having been schooled under Eddie Jones. Farrell looks certain to start at 12 for the Lions and would make a fierce captain. However, having not captained an international side from the start, how would he fare leading the most intense tour the Lions have embarked on? It is a tough challenge for the most weathered of captains, never mind a novice. AFP/Getty Images British and Irish Lions captain candidates Conor Murray An outside shout for captain but the way he controls the game from around the ruck shows his importance to the Lions. He, like Best, has experience of beating the All Blacks and of a winning Lions Tour (like everyone on this list, other than Hartley). He has captaincy experience but while he was a certain starter a month ago, the performances of Rhys Webb have given Gatland a real decision to make. He said he wants to pick his squad first and then his captain and that could go against Murray in the decision-making process if Webb is now considered ahead of him. Getty

Saracens vs Glasgow Warriors, Sunday 13:00

Saracens’ biggest change for this weekend comes in the additional 5,000 fans that will pack into Allianz Park as the reigning European champions expand the stands for what should prove a glorious affair of running rugby.

Sarries name an unchanged starting line-up from the one that put over 50 points past Bath last weekend, with the only change coming on the bench as Ben Spencer returns from a leg injury.

Stuart Hogg and Jonny Gray will both want to lay down a marker ahead of the Lions tour (Getty)

However, they will meet their match when it comes to natural talent as Glasgow pose a serious threat when they get the ball in hand. 12 Scotland internationals will start for the Warriors, with the dangerous Stuart Hogg and Tommy Seymour looking to impress in a game that many will be watching with one eye on Lions Test selection. With 15,000 watching on in Barnet, it could well prove to be the game of the weekend.

Clermont Auvergne vs Toulon, Sunday 16:15

An all-French affair wraps up the weekend where anything but a Clermont Auvergne victory will come as a shock. Toulon may still be able to boast a star-studded line-up, but they are not the same team as the one who used to dominate this competition and find themselves down in fourth in the Top 14.

Clermont may not be top of the league due to La Rochelle’s brilliant run of form, but they remain an unstoppable force at the Stade Marcel-Michellin. The match represents a repeat of the 2013 European Cup final, and while Toulon just edged the game that day, the same is unlikely to happen this weekend.

Camille Lopez will prove key to Clermont's hopes (Getty)