It was while gazing through the NFL schedule for 2014, which was revealed earlier this week, and other gridiron-related matters that our eyes happened to stray across a well-worn quote from John Madden, the Hall of Fame ex-coach, broadcasting legend and the face of millions of American football computer games around the world.

ATTITUDE

Ospreys 25 Leinster 19

Ulster full-back Jared Payne has been hit with a two-week ban following his sending off during last Saturday's Heineken Cup quarter-final loss to Saracens.

Leinster will look to the latest crop of academy graduates and not the open market as the province looks to bounce back from their Heineken Cup quarter-final loss to Toulon.

Limerick is preparing for a tasty €10m economic French dressing as thousands of Toulouse supporters throng the city today in advance of the Heineken Cup quarter-final clash with Munster in Thomond Park tomorrow.

Munster hooker Damien Varley is confident his injured foot — and indeed Munster’s all round game — will be just fine when the province welcomes European giants Toulouse to Thomond Park for Saturday’s Heineken Cup quarter-final showdown.

Leinster’s Ian Madigan insists there was nothing to celebrate last night at the Aviva Stadium.

RABODIRECT PRO12:

Munster motored their way to a home Heineken Cup quarter-final as they brushed Edinburgh aside 38-6 at Thomond Park.

Another week, another new tournament on the horizon.

While it’s customary to reflect on rugby events at this time of year, I no more than you have an appetite for that.

Harlequins 17 Racing Metro 3

It was one of the biggest wins in Heineken Cup history and one of the biggest shocks of the sporting year.

Having failed in three successive League finals, there is an almost manic desire on Leinster’s part to rectify that situation tonight

Monday afternoon and Damian Varley was still feeling the pain — physical and emotional — from Saturday’s bruising RaboDirect Pro12 encounter with old rivals Leinster.

Ulster 31 Dragons 5

Munster winger Simon Zebo has been praising Paul O'Connell in the aftermath of yesterday's victory over Harlequins in the Heineken Cup quarter-final.

By Daniel Pitcher

Mark Anscombe knows he has his work cut out for him, as he prepares his Ulster side for battle against Saracens in the Heineken Cup quarter finals.

Yesterday’s statement by the IRFU thanked Declan Kidney’s “unquestionable commitment, passion, professionalism and success he has delivered to Irish Rugby to date”.

Glasgow 51 Munster 24

Munster, Ulster and Leinster have all given steps up to inexperienced squad members in naming their additional players for the European knockout stages next month, as former provincial Heineken Cup winners Peter Stringer and Rocky Elsom boosted squads elsewhere.

Young Munster 9 Cork Constitution 10

Munster coach Rob Penney has backed Simon Zebo to tour Australia with the Lions this summer.

For any man who can cover 9.4 metres of ground per second under their own steam, carrying a rugby ball, suggestions of being too laid back appear somewhat incongruous.

Harlequins head coach John Kingston believes his side’s recent success was built on their stunning victory at Thomond Park two years ago and insists that the spectre of Bloodgate will have no impact on their Heineken Cup quarter-final against Munster in April.

Ulster head coach Mark Anscombe believes powerhouse flanker Stephen Ferris may return to action around the middle of February, leaving the door open for the back rower to feature in Ireland’s Six Nations campaign.

An Irish company is leading a rugby revolution that could see a number of high-profile stadia install artificial pitches within the next five years.

Glasgow 27 Northampton 20

Ospreys 15 Leicester 15

Conor O’Shea believes outgoing Connacht coach Eric Elwood deserves hero status out west but does not want to add to the legacy of his former Ireland team-mate this weekend.

The prospect of avenging the shock Heineken Cup quarter-final defeat by Ulster at Thomond Park last April will loom large in the minds of the Munster players when the teams meet in Saturday’s (5.30pm) eagerly awaited RaboDirect Pro 12 showdown at the same venue.

Ospreys 17 Toulouse 6

It’s s strange one.

Ronan O'Gara returns to the Munster squad for the first time since the Heineken Cup quarter final game with Ulster for Friday's RaboDirect PRO12 semi-final clash with Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium (7.35pm).

Paul O’Connell is a major doubt for Ireland’s summer tour to New Zealand after the Munster captain was ruled out for the next four to six weeks due to a knee injury.

Stephen Ferris and Rory Best will be rested for Ulster’s RaboDirect PRO12 meeting with Munster in Thomond Park on Saturday (7.30pm) and so are not included in the 32 man preliminary squad.

Jamie Heaslip is one of three survivors in the starting XV from last weekend's Heineken Cup quarter final and the Naas man will skipper the Leinster team to face Edinburgh in Friday night's RaboDirect PRO12 clash in the RDS (KO: 7.45pm).

Munster number 8 James Coughlan might miss the RaboDirect PRO12 game against Glasgow Warriors on Saturday, after suffering a bone fracture to his left hand during the Heineken Cup quarter-final loss to Ulster.

Ulster’s try-scoring hero Craig Gilroy has been fending off suggestions that his superb touchdown against Munster on Sunday will put him on the Ireland tour of New Zealand this summer.

Edinburgh captain Greig Laidlaw hailed the record-breaking Murrayfield crowd for helping them over the line in their “exhausting” Heineken Cup win over four-times champions Toulouse.

Paul O’Connell admitted the province need to regain the “cup rugby mentality which Munster teams have had in the past” after yesterday’s Heineken Cup quarter-final defeat by Ulster at Thomond Park.

Barry O’Mahony has been plucked from the relative obscurity of club rugby to fill the number seven position for Munster A in the British and Irish Cup semi-final clash with Leinster at the RDS this evening (6pm).