By New Year’s Eve, we had disconnected the television at the house in Paris, so I had to slip next door to a pub-restaurant I knew prided itself on multi-screen sports. Montpellier-Brive was on one channel and off in the corner, with a few quiet seats underneath it was coverage of Racing 92’s trip down to Oyonnax.

Leinster are the team to beat, the No. 1 in Europe’s power rankings. And Munster are No. 2, writes Ronan O’Gara.

Joey Carbery won’t be leaving Leinster anytime soon.

Ronan O’Gara doesn’t believe Peter O’Mahony will leave Munster, but warns if the sums don’t stack up at home, maybe the UK is a better option for him.

It’s not good when people who are investing trust in you feel they are out of the loop, writes Ronan O’Gara.

Is there any particular autumn international I’d buy a ticket for?

Given how precious and frail dressing-room confidence can be, you’ll take all the positive bounces you can get, even if they are not of your making.

In his weekly column, Ronan O’Gara throws some light on Simon Zebo's much talked about move to France and reflects on an emotional clash with Munster.