For the second year in-a-row, Leinster opened the defence of their crown against a side making their Heineken Cup debut.

It says much about the continuing allure of the Munster vs Leinster rivalry that 46,280 people turned up at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday night to assess how Rob Penney’s more expansive game plan would match up to the more established wide threat posed by the European champions.

The Aviva Stadium is set to rock for the first time this season on Saturday night with the arrival of a new-look Munster side for the first of their seasonal encounters with Leinster in the RaboDirect Pro 12.

As Ireland bid a hasty retreat from New Zealand for the second time in eight months, they do so with a heavy heart and a feeling of what might have been.

It’s now or never for the Irish rugby squad if they wish to create history and beat New Zealand on their own hollowed turf.

Gut wrenching is the word that comes to mind, and it’s as good as any to describe Irish emotions at the final whistle in Christchurch on Saturday.

Ireland have been here before, unfortunately with unnerving regularity.

IF THERE is one attribute that defines New Zealand rugby players, it’s that they never rest on their laurels for too long.

First the good news. New Zealand are in disarray or at least they should be.

Tomorrow morning the Irish squad board a plane in London for yet another long haul flight as they return to the home of the 2011 World Cup and the scene of Ireland’s international highlight of the season — Eden Park, Auckland.