A postmortem into Munster’s Heineken Cup loss to Racing Metro last week has revealed a startling statistic: Racing kicked the ball 61 times while Munster, despite the wet conditions, only punted the ball up field on 30 occasions.

THE competition for scrum-half places in Declan Kidney’s rugby World Cup squad is intensifying but Isaac Boss is relishing the battle for places over the next four weeks of intense preparation for the tournament.

IRELAND captain Brian O’Driscoll is making good progress in his effort to prove his fitness to face South Africa at the Aviva Stadium in eight days.

LEINSTER’S Heineken Cup hopes received a major boost yesterday with the news that both Brian O’Driscoll and Eoin Reddan will return for the province in tomorrow’s Magners league game away to Connacht.

I’M AFRAID there’s a bit of a problem with Munster’s Heineken Cup semi-final against Biarritz, which is now slated for Sunday, May 2, in San Sebastian, in northern Spain.

MUNSTER flanker Alan Quinlan says the disappointment of missing out on a Lions tour as a result of an eye-gouging incident will live with him forever.

With a name like Ian Fleming, you hardly expect Munster’s Heineken Cup minder to reveal where the trophy sleeps at night. It didn’t stop MICHAEL MOYNIHAN trying, though.

MUNSTER’S Heineken Cup heroes will be greeted by as many as 40,000 faithful fans tonight as Cork hosts a homecoming celebration for Declan Kidney’s all conquering team.

MUNSTER’S Heineken Cup opponents Bourgoin have been hit with the news that their benefactor wants to end his involvement with the club at the end of this season.

MUNSTER’S Heineken Cup opponents, Bourgoin, produced one of the shock results of the French Championship weekend when defeating champions Biarritz 9-0 at Stade Pierre-Rajon on Friday night.

THE Irish coach, Eddie O’Sullivan, is looking forward to welcoming back stalwarts Malcolm O’Kelly, Simon Easterby and Frankie Sheahan for the autumn international series of games.

Munster’s Heineken Cup victory over Biarritz cost Darren Clarke a share of the lead going into the final round of the Nissan Irish Open.

MUNSTER’S Heineken Cup final opponents Biarritz hope Benoit August will escape suspension for the Cardiff showdown thanks to the support of an unlikely source — Danny Grewcock, the Bath second row August is accused of gouging in their semi-final meeting.

RTÉ’s coverage of Leinster’s and Munster’s Heineken Cup quarter-finals clashes last Saturday drew record audiences for the broadcaster.

MUNSTER coach Alan Gaffney is facing an attacking crisis a month before the province’s Heineken Cup quarter-final against Biarritz.

ROB HENDERSON has been ruled out of Munster’s Heineken Cup Pool Four clash with Neath Swansea Ospreys at Thomond Park this evening (5.15pm, RTE and Sky Sports).

Gloucester 55 Ulster 13