Glasgow Warriors counted the cost of missing World Cup stars as their Guinness PRO14 campaign opened with a 48-14 defeat to the Cheetahs.

Fifteen minutes after hanging up, Allister Coetzee rings back, eager to share one last thought.

A stranger perusing the team sheets in advance of this afternoon’s opening Champions Cup quarter-final might be forgiven for thinking that a Currie Cup fixture has been transported from Cape Town to Edinburgh.

Munster have the best record of the Irish provinces on the opening day of the league and Johann van Graan will be hoping to maintain that when they kick off their PRO14 campaign at home to the Cheetahs today at Thomond Park.

Munster head coach Johann van Graan has plenty of credit in the bank on the eve of the new campaign after steering the province through a difficult transition from the Rassie Erasmus regime midway through 2017-18.

Munster boss Johann van Graan has challenged his forwards to reach for new heights this weekend in order to counter a Racing 92 lineout defence he rates as second only to the All Blacks.

One of the key Castres players hoping to plot a shock win over Munster on Sunday in the opening round of the Champions Cup grew up in South Africa with Rassie Erasmus as one of his childhood heroes.

To say Munster boss Rassie Erasmus knows tomorrow’s opposition inside out is, for once, an understatement.

Many might feel intimidated facing a 6 ft 8 inch, 18-stone South African boasting a thick black beard and sporting a black eye.

Munster have added Rhys Marshall, Thomas du Toit and Cathal Sheridan to their squad.

Connacht coach Pat Lam says although his side are bottom of the PRO12 standings, their team spirit and unity will count for a lot when they look to bounce back this weekend.

When Allister Coetzee touched down in Port Elizabeth with his team last Sunday afternoon, he had a spring in his step, and not just from the previous night’s series-levelling victory over Ireland.

Chief executive Garrett Fitzgerald ushered in a new era for Munster Rugby by insisting incoming director of rugby Johan “Rassie” Erasmus would not undermine existing head coach Anthony Foley.

In a bid to capitalise on the greater interest in rugby this year thanks to the World Cup and Rugby Sevens' inclusion in the 2016 Olympics, Wicked Witch Software has announced that it will release Rugby Challenge 3 later this year.

New Munster loanee Pat Howard will be a man on a mission when he makes his home debut against Ulster on Friday night, looking to impress his coaches on two continents.

Western Province director of rugby Gert Smal has revealed South Africa captain and former Munster star Jean de Villiers set up the deal that will bring centre Pat Howard to Ireland on a three-month loan deal.

Munster’s personnel issues in midfield have prompted the signing of the young and inexperienced South African centre Pat Howard on a three-month contract from Western Province.

Still only 21, Serfontein has already established a reputation as something of a dump truck.

Temperatures in Johannesburg are expected to reach 26 degrees this week.

RABO DIRECT PRO12:

Bryan Habana will be giving his Toulon team-mates the inside track on Munster’s South African contingent, having played with BJ Botha, CJ Stander and Gerhard van den Heever.

Munster prop forward BJ Botha is expecting a massive personal battle in today’s Heineken Cup quarter-final at Thomond Park when he comes face to face with fellow World Cup winner Gurthro Steenkamp.

RABO DIRECT PRO12:

Ulster loosehead prop, Tom Court, will make his 150th appearance for Ulster in tomorrow’ RaboDirect PRO12 match against Cardiff Blues.

Joe Schmidt has chosen New Zealander John Plumtree as the man to take charge of Ireland’s forwards and the 48-year-old will join the Irish coaching set-up next month.

Ireland have appointed John Plumtree as their new forwards coach, the Irish Rugby Football Union has announced.

Munster have confirmed the signing of South African winger Gerhard van den Heever from the Stormers.

New Munster coach Rob Penney had no involvement in the signing of back-rower CJ Stander from South Africa, but yesterday he fully endorsed the decision to lure the Blue Bulls star to Ireland.

South African starlet CJ Stander has been welcomed to the Munster fold by chief executive Garrett Fitzgerald, who described the newcomer as a “a hugely exciting signing.”

Rob Penney’s back row options are set to improve with South African back row unit CJ Stander arriving at Munster today.

Munster’s hopes of versatile back-rower CJ Stander arriving early in Ireland have been dashed as his Blue Bulls side have secured a Currie Cup semi-final spot in South Africa.

Referees officiating in the Heineken and Amlin Challenge Cup competitions will adhere to the law trials in operation in the Aviva Premiership, the Top 14 and the RaboDirect PRO12 competitions.

Munster have signed former SA Schools captain and U-20 wing forward CJ Stander, it was announced today.

Munster last night put the finishing touch to their squad for next season when the province agreed terms with highly-rated Blue Bulls and South Africa Under-20 flanker CJ Stander.

Playing on European rugby’s most exclusive stage may be a rarity to Ulster but they pack more than enough experience to offset any big-game jitters according to Jonathan Bell who won the Heineken Cup with the province in 1999.

Gysbert Johannes Muller, to give the Ulster skipper his official moniker, reckons the Heineken Cup final at Twickenham on Saturday is the biggest game of his rugby life.