After the highs of the autumn internationals, the focus shifts back to the provinces as they face into a pivotal two weekends of European action.

This set of reverse fixtures, playing the same sides at home and away in consecutive weeks, can be pivotal in determining qualification for the quarter-finals. Recent history is at least encouraging – not since 2015-16 has an Irish side lost both of the wraparound fixtures, with Munster and Leinster going down to Leicester and Toulon respectively. Last year, there were eight wins from eight.

However, there is a fear that, coming so soon after international duty and the physical and emotional energy expended, it’s a case of having to jump on to a moving carousel for the international players. There is little or no room for error and a defeat can be a huge blow to hopes of qualification.

The hope will be that the momentum gained from Ireland’s wins will have a trickle-down effect. Given the temperament shown in that impressive November clean-sweep, there is no real reason for that not to be the case. In truth, having games of such magnitude to focus on is probably the ideal situation rather than there being a sense of anti-climax.

It looked to be a case of brand-new season, same old Leinster, when they dismantled Wasps at the RDS in their opening Pool 1 game, but a week later in Toulouse they found themselves beaten by a point. They do have the consolation of having picked up a losing bonus point there and a winning one against Wasps while the French side haven’t managed any, so there are two between the teams as action resumes.

Bath should be the perfect opponents for the reigning champions as they lost at home to Toulouse and then drew with Wasps. Lying sixth in the English Premiership, they have only won once since the end of September and Leinster should have too much for them on Saturday afternoon at the Recreation Ground.

If that does come to pass – and it should, going on the sheer quality available to Leinster, even with injuries to Seán O’Brien, Jordan Larmour and Dan Leavy – the game at the Aviva a week later should see an already eliminated Bath put up little resistance.

French exam

Munster’s test is likely to be tougher but, by the same token, if things go well for them then top spot in their group will be within reach. A draw at Exeter followed by a win over Gloucester means Munster are top of Pool 2, two points ahead of this week’s opponents Castres.

The French side lost at Gloucester in their opener and then bounced back with a win against Exeter. Their form has been patchy and they come into Sunday’s clash at Thomond Park off the back of a home defeat to lowly Agen in the Top 14.

While Leinster’s strength in depth has been clear to see for a while, evidenced by two or more of their players battling for the same Ireland position, Munster have been building a squad too and they had three wins from three in November despite many of the bigger guns being absent.

Conor Murray should be refreshed after his return from injury and Keith Earls’ hat-trick against Edinburgh last week showed that he had no hangover from the internationals. Limerick has never been a popular place for French sides to visit and a win on Sunday will leave them well set ahead of the trip to France six days later.

Ulster’s must-win

Ulster, with a home win over Leicester and a defeat at Racing 92 behind them, lie third in Pool 4 ahead of a set of games against Scarlets, who have just a losing bonus point to their name. The Welsh side simply have to get something from the first game, but it’s close to do or die for Ulster as well, given that only three of the five second-placed sides advance to the quarter-finals.

The sides met at Parc y Scarlets in the Pro14 just a fortnight ago, with the home side’s 29-12 win seeing them move above Ulster into second place in Conference B. Ulster were without the likes of Rory Best, Iain Henderson, Jacob Stockdale and Will Addison though and will present a tougher proposition this time round. Whether they will have enough to take the win – a bonus point is almost essential too – is another story.

Out west

For Connacht, Saturday sees them host Perpignan in Pool 2 of the Challenge Cup and the possibility of Paddy Jackson’s first outing on Irish soil since the conclusion of his trial.

Sale Sharks are in a comfortable position at the top of this pool, having had bonus-point wins against Connacht and Perpignan to sit on 10 points, six ahead of the western province. Connacht are currently ranked fifth of five second-placed teams, so bonus points are a must and a win this week would leave Perpignan with little to play for in the return game.

Connacht do at least come in after wins against the Dragons and the Kings in the Pro14, while Perpignan have lost 11 of 11 domestically, with only a European draw against Bordeaux-Bègles to show for their efforts. That’s unlikely to change this week.

Obviously, it’s impossible to know just what will happen but with things in such a good place internationally, it should be the case that the provinces follow suit.