Italy coach Jacques Brunel has made two changes to the side that lost the RBS 6 Nations opener against France for the game against England in Rome on Saturday.

GAVIN HENSON was denied a happy return to the Liberty Stadium as the Ospreys continued their home dominance over city rivals Cardiff Blues with a 17-12 victory in a scrappy RaboDirect PRO12 encounter.

Benetton Treviso ran out comfortable winners over struggling Aironi Rugby today.

THEY soothed our senses, purified our pores and massaged the nine-to-five from our system.

Munster will field their strongest side of the season for the visit of Aironi when the RaboDirect PRO12 resumes tomorrow night in Musgrave Park (8.30pm).

The Henieken Cup draw has been kind to Leinster with the champions grouped alongside Bath, Glasgow and tournament debutants Montpellier.

Heineken Cup champions Leinster will be joined as top seeds in next season’s competition by Toulouse, Munster, Cardiff Blues, Biarritz and Leicester.

Springbok Ruan Pienaar will start at out-half for Ulster against Aironi in Friday's Magners League match at Ravenhill (kick-off 7.05pm).

BIARRITZ gained revenge over Aironi Rugby last night with a convincing Heineken Cup victory in their return Pool 4 match at Parc des Sports Aguilera.

Biarritz 34 Aironi 3

Aironi Rugby 17 Scarlets 34

Dragons 20 Munster 6

Raphael Ibanez runs the rule over the tournament newcomers –- Aironi Rugby, Racing Metro 92 and Toulon.

KEITH EARLS is expected to return to the active roster for Munster this week after a frustrating and lengthy injury layoff.

Ireland internationals Ronan O'Gara, Tomas O'Leary and Donncha O'Callaghan make their first appearance this season in the Munster squad ahead of the Magners League trip to Edinburgh for the game in Murrayfield on Friday night (7.05pm).

Munster 33 Aironi 17

FORMER Munster and Ireland hooker Frankie Sheahan believes there is a culture of picking players on reputation rather than talent amongst the Irish provinces, and has argued that youth must be given its head.

Denis Leamy retains the captaincy for Munster’s Magners League opener against Aironi Rugby in Musgrave Park on Saturday (7.30pm).

WORLD Champions South Africa will herald a new rugby era at the Aviva Stadium when they face Ireland in the first of the Guinness November internationals.

THE Aviva Stadium is set to host the glamour clash of Leinster and Munster in the Magners League.

MY worst fears have been realised.

RONAN O’GARA hailed the character of the Munster squad after clawing their way to a Magners League semi-final showdown with Leinster.

AND then there were 12 – finally.