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.

After the heroics of Twickenham last weekend, Leinster returned to base camp at the RDS yesterday for the coronation.

When Leinster look back on their domination of European rugby over the last four seasons, they may well pinpoint that incredible Heineken Cup semi-final win over Munster in 2009 as their coming of age.

When Diego Maradona slalomed through the English defence to score that wonder goal at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, RTÉ’s Jimmy Magee provided the memorable soundtrack to genius... “Different Class. DIFFERENT CLASS.”

Getting the upper hand here will give one team an edge at Twickenham.

With two finals on their doorstep and not an Aviva Premiership team in sight, the natives are getting restless

At a time of year when things should be slowing down, last week proved one of the busiest for those charged with the responsibility of running the game in Munster.

Heady days for Leinster. Less than 24 hours after their Heineken Cup semi-final heroics in France the European champions announced that 18 players had inked new deals with the province.

IRELAND’s love-affair with the Heineken Cup is about to reach into the stratosphere, with a first ever all-Ireland final at the headquarters of English rugby in three weeks.

Ulster’s progress today to a Heineken Cup final depends on...