Hugh Cahill / 04 December 2009 Free Bet

"Rumours that O'Gara has lost his hunger and appetite for the game are completely wide of the mark. This is his chance to prove his doubters wrong and I am convinced he will do just that."

Three Magners League fixtures stand out this weekend as decent potential to make a few quid.

Traditionally, players coming back to their clubs from international duty tend to be given the royal treatment from their respective coaches; time to lick their wounds and rest up ahead of the next round of the Heineken Cup in two weeks time.

There are arguments for and against this tactic. The pros are obvious; players get that extra week to recharge the batteries after a physically draining November test series and can channel their attentions solely towards being focused for the forthcoming Heineken Cup match, without the risk of injury in the Magners League. The negatives, however, can be a lot more damaging. It has been over a month since most of the clubs/provinces have had the chance to put out their strongest starting fifteen together. That's a long time in one rugby season.

In any sport, team unity and familiarity are crucial elements to developing winning runs and performing at the optimum level. Having seven, eight, nine guys coming back in to a club squad and expecting them to automatically gel together again after a four or five week absence can be asking a lot. It doesn't always happen. This week Leinster have opted to rest virtually all of their Irish Internationals for their game against the Dragons in Wales. Munster, by comparison, have thrown everyone available straight back into their starting team to play the Ospreys.

For Leinster supporters, Sunday is a great chance to see some of the academy players in action. Former Ireland under 20 internationals Rhys Ruddock, Dominic Ryan and Ian McKinley provide a glimpse of what the future may hold for the province. They are young and loaded with talent and ability, but for betting brains they will hardly inspire much confidence. McKinley, in particular, has been selected at fly half - a crucial position - and will presumably be handed the place kicking duties. Rodney Parade is not the easiest place to go and make your senior debut and I feel he might struggle to rise to the occasion.

Munster travel to the Ospreys on Saturday with an almost full strength side. Tony McGahan, who recently extended his term as head coach for another two years, will approach this game like any other and I'm convinced there is a big performance coming from the red army. Ronan O'Gara will be itching to get out there and show why he must be Ireland's selection to start at ten in the 6 Nations. There is no better man to lay down a marker and remind Declan Kidney what he missed out on in the games against Fiji and South Africa.

Rumours that O'Gara has lost his hunger and appetite for the game are completely wide of the mark. This is his chance to prove his doubters wrong and I am convinced he will do just that. Paul O'Connell and Donnacha O'Callaghan lead the pack in the second row and I really fancy Munster to come out of Swansea with a win. It will be tight, but the visitors will shade it.

My final selection this weekend is Ulster at home to Glasgow on Friday night. The Warriors have won their last three matches against Irish opponents but Ulster did the Magners League double over Glasgow last season. Brian McLaughlin has named a strong side for the Ravenhill encounter and I fully expect Ian Humphries to run the show at fly half. Darren Cave and Tomci Nagusa have the pace and skill to give Glasgow a lot of headaches out wide and with Chris Henry captaining the side in the pack, Ulster will not be short of aggression and leadership in the physical battles.

Recommended Bets:

1 points Ulster to beat Glasgow @ 1.47
1 point Munster to beat Ospreys @ 1.71
1 point Dragons to beat Leinster @ 1.55
1 point Ulster, Munster, Dragons treble @ best odds.