Ahead of Saturday's eagerly awaited Heineken Champions Cup semi-final clash between Munster and Saracens we look back at previous titanic clashes between these two old rivals.

MIKE Prendergast would have had some head on him this week. That sort of bould Limerick ‘I told you so’ head.

Simon Lewis shares the highlights of Ireland v Wales

Weekend review

Wales are determined to begin a two-year World Cup countdown today by ending their dismal run of defeats against Australia.

RBS Six Nations

The immediate response on the final whistle at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium was one of acute disappointment given Ireland finished this gruelling series camped on the South African line after a 19-phase onslaught in search of what could have been a winning score and a series clincher. It was that tight.

Scotland 9 England 15: Eddie Jones has urged England to build momentum behind their RBS 6 Nations quest by giving Italy a “good hiding” in Rome.

Welshman Nigel Owens has been appointed to referee Saturday’s Rugby World Cup final between New Zealand and Australia at Twickenham, with Ireland’s John Lacey taking charge of the bronze medal match between South Africa and Argentina.

Ireland v Canada

Welshman Nigel Owens, regarded by many pundits as the world’s leading rugby union referee, has been appointed to oversee Ireland’s crucial Rugby World Cup Pool D clash with France.

Gordon D’Arcy hasn’t given up on making Ireland’s World Cup squad later this year.

Pascal Pape will be formally charged today over an incident which threatens to bring his Six Nations’ campaign to an abrupt end.

RBS Six Nations: Scotland 23 Wales 26: Wales claimed an eighth successive victory over Scotland as they revived their RBS 6 Nations title hopes following a thrilling 26-23 win at Murrayfield.

NOW that’s what I call a test match. Such was the intensity, endeavour and commitment to keeping the ball alive that the opening half of Saturday’s memorable clash passed in a flash. There were so many moments of brilliance in that period alone, those in the stands barely had time to draw breath.

The referee for the opening test between Ireland and Argentina last weekend says he has fond memories of a season he spent playing for Highfield in the All-Ireland League.

Melbourne Rebels 0 British & Irish Lions 35

Melbourne Rebels 0 British and Irish Lions 35

Cian Healy’s British and Irish Lions tour could be over in the next 24 hours.

WESTERN FORCE 17 BRITISH & IRISH LIONS 69

The English contingent on this summer’s British & Irish Lions tour of Australia will be reacquainted with referee Steve Walsh when he takes charge of the opening game of the trip against the Barbarians.

Warren Gatland will not bring his Wales coach Shaun Edwards on the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia next year.

England 54 Fiji 12

Leicester 33 Saracens 27

SCOTSMAN Bryan Redpath knows he can mastermind Glasgow’s Heineken Cup demise tonight when his Gloucester team arrive north of the border.

Harlequins were plunged into fresh controversy just 46 seconds into the new season and they will find themselves back in familiar territory – in front a disciplinary hearing – in the coming days.

Saracens 16 London Irish 13

ANDREW HIGGINS came off the bench to rescue Bath’s Heineken Cup campaign with a 67th-minute try as they edged out Newport Gwent Dragons 13-9 in Pool Five.

SARACENS continued the English romp through the European Challenge Cup with a clinical 53-3 win over French side Mont de Marsan at Vicarage Road yesterday.

World Cup winner Mark Regan will captain the Barbarians against England at Twickenham on Sunday.

Ireland 39 Barbarians 14

All Blacks' flanker Jerry Collins is the latest addition to the Barbarians squad for Tuesday's match against Ireland at Kingsholm, Gloucester.

Munster's Frederico Pucciarello, Leinster's Ollie Le Roux and Ulster's Justin Harrison have been named in a 30-man Barbarians squad for games against Belgium, Ireland and England.

Saracens 16 Munster 18

Saracens 7 Munster 15

RICHARD HILL limped up the steps and into the Vicarage Road press room some distance behind his team-mates in order to speak to the media.

ALAN GAFFNEY was handed a reunion with old friends Munster later this month as his Saracens staged this upset victory over the Heineken Cup favourites at Vicarage Road yesterday and ensured the Irish province a return trip to Coventry’s Ricoh Arena for the Heineken Cup semi-final.

England international Andy Farrell faces three months on the sidelines after suffering a shoulder injury in Saracens’ Heineken Cup quarter-final victory over Ospreys.

Saracens 19 Ospreys 10

SARACENS reached their first ever Heineken Cup quarter-final last night as they ended Glasgow’s remote chances.

Glasgow Warriors 17 Saracens 21

Saracens 45 Biarritz 16

Brian Smith is confident London Irish can put a frustrating away day at Welford Road behind them and blow Guinness Premiership form team Sale Sharks off course tomorrow.

Newcastle head coach John Fletcher believes yesterday’s thrilling 22-19 triumph at Saracens showed Jonny Wilkinson exactly why he should remain in the north-east.

Viadana 26 Saracens 34