With no victories and just nine bonus points to their name, Italian outfit Zebre are guaranteed a bottom place finish in this season’s RaboDirect PRO 12 but Leinster captain Leo Cullen is taking nothing for granted ahead of Sunday’s clash in Italy.

With Leo Cullen named among the replacements, Shane Jennings has been entrusted with skippering Leinster for their RaboDirect PRO 12 clash with the Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade tomorrow evening (7.00pm).

Cardiff Blues 22 Connacht 26

Connacht received a welcome boost today with a number of players returning from injury as the province resumed training after a week off to begin preparations for their RaboDirect PRO 12 meeting with the Scarlet on February 8.

Brian O’Driscoll, Rob Kearney and Luke Fitzgerald have all been named in Leinster’s starting XV for tomorrow night’s RaboDirect PRO 12 meeting with Edinburgh at Murrayfield (7.35pm).

Connacht head coach Eric Elwood has made three personnel changes up front for Saturday’s RaboDirect PRO 12 meeting with Edinburgh at the Sportsground (5pm).

The Munster medical team will be keeping an eye on the progress of back rowers Tommy O’Donnell, James Coughlan and Niall Ronan ahead of Sunday’s RaboDirect PRO 12 meeting with the Scarlets in Musgrave Park.

Cardiff Blues 19 Ulster 48

None of Connacht’s new big-name signings feature in today’s opening RaboDirect Pro 12 clash against Cardiff at the Galway Sportsground (5pm).

The Ireland Management has today announced the squad for the summer tour game against the Barbarians in Gloucester on May 29.

The IRFU has clarified that the PCRG (Professional Contracts Review Group), following discussions with Leinster Rugby, approved the extension of Isa Nacewa’s contract on March 27 and that the contract is in line with the non eligible player policy framework.

Michael Bradley reckons his Edinburgh side can relish the freedom of being the only Heineken Cup semi-finalist not expected to progress to the decider.

Benetton Treviso 23 Ulster 27

Munster and Ireland full-back Felix Jones makes his return to the competitive arena for the first time in almost six months when he turns out for Shannon against Young Munster in tonight’s (7.30pm) Ulster Bank League tie at Thomond Park.

Cardiff Blues 28 Newport Gwent Dragons 9

Aironi 6 Glasgow Warriors 18

Irish captain Brian O’Driscoll has been omitted from what is otherwise a first-choice Leinster team to face Munster in the RaboDirect PRO 12 at the Aviva Stadium (8pm).

Tony McGahan has announced an almost identical extended squad to face Leinster in Friday’s RaboDirect PRO 12 meeting in Dublin (8pm) as that which was named ahead of the Aironi clash.

Connacht 20 Cardiff Blues 26

Scarlets 24 Ulster 17

KEVIN McLAUGHLIN returns from injury to boost Leinster against Connacht in this evening’s RaboDirect Pro 12 clash at the RDS (5pm).

The Leinster medical team have reported no fresh injury concerns ahead of Saturday’s RaboDirect PRO 12 clash with Connacht at the RDS (5pm).

NEW South African signing Tonderai Chavhanga gave the Newport Gwent Dragons plenty to cheer about in their RaboDirect Pro 12 clash with Ulster at Rodney Parade.

Newport Gwent Dragons 22 Ulster 9

Edinburgh 19 Connacht 14

COUNT the numbers, do the math and the danger is that Munster could struggle for the duration of the World Cup.