Provinces’ form lends extra spice to derby clashes, says Quinn Roux

Connacht lock Quinn Roux has been in Ireland long enough to appreciate the festive inter-pro clashes have a special edge but he can’t recall a time when all four provinces have gone into the derbies in such flying form.

All four recorded double wins in December in Europe for the first time and Roux expects that to crank up the intensity as they tackle each other in the coming weeks.

“I can’t remember any time like this, all of the Irish provinces getting two wins (in Europe). And that’s obviously very healthy for Irish rugby. It will be a massive weekend and I take it everybody is looking forward to it.