Worcester Warriors 26

Even at 38, there is simply no stopping Peter Stringer who tonight equals Ronan O’Gara’s record for European appearances.

Leinster survived a late scare from Bath at the Aviva Stadium today to book a place in the Champions Cup semi-finals.

Leinster survived a late scare from Bath at the Aviva Stadium today to book a place in the Champions Cup semi-finals.

AMLIN CHALLENGE CUP FINAL:

Following Munster's heartbreaking defeat CHARLIE MULQUEEN picks 10 Munster matches that stand out most during the history of the competition.

Munster 24 Ulster 10

Rob Penney has opted to leave Ronan O’Gara on the bench for Munster’s RaboDirect PRO12 meeting with league leaders Ulster in Thomond Park tomorrow (5.30) with Ian Keatley retaining the number 10 jersey.

Connacht 12 Munster 16

Rob Penney might think it strange to be still working his rugby brain in the build up to a day when Santa Claus and kids are king, but he knows he better get used to it.

James Coughlan will lead a much changed Munster side when they resume their RaboDirect PRO12 campaign against Connacht in Galway on Saturday (5.15pm).

Munster coach Rob Penney has made 10 changes from the starting team defeated by Saracens last week for tomorrow’s RaboDirect derby with Connacht at the Sportsground in Galway.

Munster coach Rob Penney is expecting fireworks at Thomond Park tonight when his side battle for a RaboDirect Pro12 top four spot against Glasgow Warriors.

Munster boss Rob Penney has recalled his international big guns following the conclusion of Ireland's autumn internationals for Saturday's game at home to Glasgow Warriors

Munster 6 Scarlets 13

Ian Keatley returns to the Munster fly-half berth tomorrow as the province eyes the chance to nick points off second-placed Scarlets as RaboDirect Pro12 action returns to Musgrave Park (5:15pm).

Munster head coach Rob Penney has made six changes to his starting XV for Sunday’s RaboDirect PRO12 clash with Scarlets at Musgrave Park (5.15pm).

Leinster ‘A’ 12 Munster ‘A’ 18

Cardiff Blues 18 Munster 24

The return to home comforts at Cardiff Arms Park tonight is no guarantee to help the Blues end a dismal run of defeats by Munster, but director of rugby Phil Davies remains hopeful the visitors might find it hard to grind out a result there.

Having been released from Ireland’s Carton House training camp, Ronan O'Gara will take his place on the starting XV for Munster's RaboDirectPRO12 game against Cardiff Blues at the Arms Park on Friday (7.05pm).

Munster 19 Aberavon 11

Munster A coach Ian Costello has the luxury of being able to name what is arguably his strongest team for today’s British and Irish Cup clash with Aberavon in Tralee (1pm).

Having shown no ill effects from a full training session yesterday, Paul O'Connell has been named in Munster's starting XV for their opening Heineken Cup game against Racing Metro on Saturday in the Stade de France (1.35pm).

There hasn’t been much talk about it recently, but Munster are still embarrassed about the capitulation to the Ospreys in last season’s RaboDirect semi-final.

After seven months of breaking the pain barrier to rescue his career, Niall Ronan is delighted to be back in action for Munster. Surgery and a long rehab programme may have helped mend cruciate ligament damage but it also put Ronan’s resolve to the test.

After a man-of-the-match performance at second-centre against the Dragons, Keith Earls will wear the number 13 jersey again on Saturday for Munster’s RaboDirect PRO12 meeting with defending champions Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium (6.30pm).

Munster 33 Dragons 13

Rob Penney may now have a defeat on his record as Munster head coach, but the New Zealander sends a much-changed team out tonight at Thomond Park (8pm) against Newport Gwent Dragons confident his players are heading in the right direction with a big month coming up in October.

Munster will reunite Peter Stringer and Ronan O’Gara at half-back for the first time in 19 months as head coach Rob Penney shuffles his deck for tomorrow night’s RaboDirect Pro12 clash with Newport Gwent Dragons at Thomond Park (8pm).

Peter stringer and Ronan O’Gara will form a familiar halfback partnership for Munster’s RaboDirect PRO12 meeting with the Dragons in Thomond Park on Saturday (8pm).

Ulster Ravens 17 Munster A 19

Munster head coach Rob Penney has resisted the urge to start returning Test backs Ronan O’Gara, Conor Murray and Keith Earls in tomorrow night’s RaboDirect Pro12 tussle with Ulster, having named the Ireland trio on the bench for the Ravenhill derby.

Munster 19 Treviso 6

Donncha O'Callaghan will not feature in Munster’s RaboDirectPRO12 game against Treviso in Thomond Park tonight (8pm) as his wife has been admitted to Cork University Hospital and is expected to give birth to their second child.

Stephen Archer and Dave O’Callaghan will make their first starts of the season tomorrow night when Munster make their home debut of the season against Treviso at Thomond Park (8pm).

Stephen Archer and Dave O’Callaghan will start in place of BJ Botha and Paddy Butler as Rob Penney makes just two changes for Munster’s RaboDirect PRO12 clash with Benetton Treviso in Thomond Park Stadium on Friday (8pm).

When Rob Penney was still coaching Canterbury to NPC success back in New Zealand, he received a delegation of coaches from Edinburgh, eager to pick the Kiwi’s brains and discover the secrets of his success.

Donncha O'Callaghan and Mike Sherry have been named in Rob Penney’s first competitive 23 man squad for the visit to Murrayfield to take on Edinburgh in the RaboDirect PRO12 on Saturday (8pm).

Munster 10 London Irish 34

Rob Penney will be more concerned with a progress report than anything else when Munster take on London Irish at Musgrave Park this evening (7pm).

Paul O’Connell appears set to step down as Munster captain as the province begins a new era under head coach Rob Penney.

Munster head coach Rob Penney will expect his squad take a step further along the road to readiness for the season ahead when they face Bristol at Musgrave Park tonight (7pm).

New coach Rob Penney has made four changes to his starting 15 for Munster’s second pre-season friendly against Bristol at Musgrave Park on Friday at Musgrave Park (7pm).

A tough day at the office for Munster’s youngsters, who fell heavily to French second division outfit Stade Rochelais at the Stade Marcel Deflandre in searing heat last night.

Doug Howlett will be back in Munster colours here in La Rochelle this evening (6.30pm) for the first time in eight months after recovering from a career-threatening Achilles tendon injury.

Doug Howlett could be set for his first outing in a Munster jersey in more than eight months having been named in a 32-man squad for the province’s opening pre-season friendly.

Newly-appointed Munster manager Niall O’Donovan is optimistic the province will regroup to become a major European force again.

WHILE Tony McGahan had the luxury of naming an unchanged Munster squad for this Saturday’s Heineken Cup tie against Castres in Toulouse, the head coach downplayed hopes of a quicker than expected recovery for his long-term injured.

Munster named an unchanged squad for the trip to Toulouse and the Heineken Cup Round Two game with Castres Olympique on Saturday (4.40pm, French time).