This week's biggest matches to watch on Rugby Pass

Huge games around the clock this weekend as the Six Nations gets very interesting and the NRL and Super Rugby schedules produce some gems.

NRL: Broncos vs Cowboys (Friday, March 10, 5:05 pm HKT)
Get your ‘Tie at 80 minutes’ bets on now! The Queensland derby has produced a freakish run of nailbiters, cliffhangers and golden point heartstoppers over the last couple of season and there’s no indication this Friday will be any different. Both teams enjoyed opening round wins last week – Anthony Milford led the Broncos to victory over the Sharks while the Cowboys took the two points with a wild golden point try against the Raiders.

Six Nations: Wales vs Ireland (Saturday, March 11, 4:05 am HKT)
Wales have sprung no surprises with their 23 for this week’s Six Nations opener, so expect nothing different or innovative from them on the hallowed turf of the Principality Stadium. This is a match the home side need a win if they are to avoid their worst tournament in a decade. But Ireland, despite their opening day setback at Murrayfield, still have a strong shout of winning the tournament, and will be determined to keep their chances alive with a win here.

Super Rugby: Blues vs Highlanders (Saturday, March 11, 2:35 pm HKT)
Chiefs vs Hurricanes on Friday night will probably be the match of the round as far as quality rugby goes, but Blues vs Highlanders the following night arguably has more riding on it. There’s a sense of desperation about this clash – the Highlanders are 0-2 to start the season and if they fall to 0-3 in the fiercely competitive New Zealand conference they could be playing catch-up all season. The Blues came crashing back to earth against the Chiefs last week after tricking everyone into believing in them by beating the Rebels in Round 1. Too early to say whoever loses this game is stuffed?

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Six Nations: Italy vs France (Saturday, March 11, 9:30 pm HKT)
Conor O’Shea’s Italy silenced more than a few critics with their ‘Fox’ tactic against England last time out, and had yet more cheering on their audacity – but it’s hard to see whether the Azzurri will be able to buy a win at home against even a misfiring France this week. Guy Noves has gone back to the past in an attempt to rediscover something approaching consistency, calling up Francois Trinh-Duc to a national training camp after the Toulon man finally returned from an injury that has kept him on the sidelines since November. Les Bleus remain frustratingly free of the flair they briefly threatened to rediscover at the tail-end of last year – but should still prove too strong for their hosts.

Six Nations: England vs Scotland (Sunday, March 12, 12:00 am HKT)
This year’s Calcutta Cup game at Twickenham has all the hallmarks of a modern classic. Scotland are playing arguably the most attractive attacking rugby in the Six Nations this year, and are out to lift the famous trophy for the first time since 2008. But they have not won at the ‘Cabbage Patch’ in 34 years – and England, for all their problems in this year’s tournament, are still three-from-three. That said, the fact that the words ‘Scotland’, ‘win’, and ‘Twickenham’ are being linked without a hint of a smirk should tell you everything you need to know. Word is the Scots are plotting something as cunning as ‘The Fox’ to test their opponents’ ability to think on their feet. Regardless of what they have come up with, expect an open, fast-flowing, thrill-a-minute game, as Stern Vern’s men clearly believe attack is the best form of defence. Eddie Jones’s side will surely be up for that particular fight.

Top 14: Bordeaux vs Grenoble (Sunday, March 12, 1:30 am HKT)
Last November Bordeaux hammered La Rochelle 26-0, to move into second place in the Top 14, four points behind the side they had just beaten. Since then, Rafa Ibanez’s side has lost six and drawn one in the Top 14 to plunge to 11th in the table. They remain 12 points clear of the drop zone, but their league form suggests this buffer could disappear very quickly – and 13th-placed Grenoble could take a huge bite out of it if they spring a shock this week. Bernard Jackman’s Alpsmen have been rooted to the wrong end of the table pretty much all season, but they picked up their fifth win of the season last week at home to Racing 92, so right now are probably in a much better collective frame of mind than their hosts.

Top 14: Clermont vs Montpellier (Monday, March 13, 12:00 am HKT)
Two sides that lost away from home last weekend will look to return to winning ways in this clash between second and fourth. But while Clermont came off second best at play-off chasing Castres, Montpellier – for all their South African beef – were well beaten at 12th-placed Lyon. While defeat will not be the end of the world for Jake White’s men, it looks an awful lot like this will be another difficult day at the office. With chasing teams Pau, Toulon and even the struggling Racing 92 all enjoying home advantage, they could even drop – temporarily at least – out of the play-off places. That is how close it is at the top of the French league.