Potentially seismic back-to-back clashes with Clermont Auvergne await Munster in December after the fixtures for the new European Rugby Champions Cup were confirmed yesterday.

Clermont 22 Leicester 16

THE end is in sight, even if we are not quite there yet.

Talking to Jonny Sexton the other day, we started swapping secrets about psychological baggage from Leinster clashes with Munster.

HERE’S a news flash from France on attitudes to the Heineken Cup — it doesn’t move the discussion dial here. And it is seldom lunchtime chat either for the players with clubs who kick off the road to Cardiff this weekend.

NEED to know how the Lions mess with your head? On the morning of Warren Gatland’s tour squad announcement I was watching Sky Sports News thinking ‘my name could get called out here’.

Joe Schmidt’s elevation to the post of Ireland head coach was lost a little in the inevitable hype that surrounds the announcement of a Lions squad last week.

Munster will sell naming rights to Thomond Park if the right offer is tabled — but at the moment, the commercial arm of the operation if putting all its efforts into securing a shirt sponsor for next season.

It was only the quarter-final, but Munster’s Heineken Cup resurgence felt like so much more yesterday.

SO, the only two sides in the Six Nations showing a degree of consistency are at opposite ends of the table.

It was inevitable this day would arrive; the only question being who would be the one brave enough to see it through to its conclusion.

Biarritz 9 Harlequins 16

WITH just four teams qualified at this stage and all the second-placed sides still mathematically fighting for the knockout stages, the Heineken Cup has delivered once again.

As a goal-kicking Test fly-half, it is little wonder Racing-Metro head coach Gonzalo Quesada should give a nod to the most prolific number 10 in Heineken Cup history.

WITH all of the posturing and brinkmanship going on at the moment between the Premiership rugby umbrella in England and the rest of the European participants, we should cherish this Heineken Cup while we have it. With just two seasons left on the existing accord, it is inevitable the current format will be tweaked, if only for the warring factions on all sides to save face. In the meantime, let’s enjoy what we have and concentrate on matters on the pitch.

Leinster played some sparkling rugby when they spanked Cardiff in the Heineken Cup quarter-final on Saturday, but, according to out-half Ian Madigan, there’s even better to come.

Italy coach Jaques Brunel has made six changes to the squad that lost against Wales in Cardiff last weekend for their final RBS Six Nations game against Scotland in Rome on Saturday.

Captain Ross Ford believes a Scotland win in Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash with Ireland in Dublin is necessary for the squad to retain belief that they are moving in the right direction.

Italy coach Jacques Brunel has made four changes to face Ireland in Saturday’s RBS Six Nations match at the Aviva Stadium.

The temperatures in Rome may have plummeted but England captain Chris Robshaw has warned Italy his men will be prepared to fight fire with fire in today’s RBS 6 Nations clash.

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.

Richard Cockerill admitted his frustration after Leicester failed to secure the bonus point against Aironi in northern Italy.

Ulster 16 Clermont-Auvergne 11

Italy coach Nick Mallett has made 11 changes to his starting line-up for Saturday’s World Cup warm-up match against Scotland at Murrayfield.

NO sooner has the curtain gone down on one rugby season than the planning has begun for the new campaign.

Leinster’s Scotland forward Nathan Hines has signed for French side Clermont-Auvergne for next season.

Italy coach Nick Mallett has made four changes to the side that lost their RBS 6 Nations opener against Ireland for Saturday’s game against England at Twickenham.

SARACENS crashed to a 25-10 defeat at the hands of French champions Clermont-Auvergne in their Heineken Cup opener in Leinster’s pool on Saturday.

IN the not-too-distant past, there was a time when a Heineken Cup fixture on French soil was approached with quivering trepidation.

IF ONLY we could have rugby like this every weekend.

IF THE recent Six Nations defeat to Scotland has taught us anything, it’s that despite all the heroics and accumulation of trophies last season, Irish rugby has no divine right to silverware.

Brian O’Driscoll and Shane Horgan make a return to the Leinster side to play Clermont-Auvergne in Friday night's Heineken Cup Quarter Final at The RDS (kick off: 8pm).

Clermont-Auvergne coach Vern Cotter has selected a formidable side to play Leinster in the Heineken Cup quarter-final at the RDS on Friday night.

LUKE FITZGERALD’S recovery is on course for an end of season return, but in the meantime he has been helping his side prepare for tomorrow night’s Heineken Cup clash with Clermont-Auvergne.

IT is one of those delicious sporting ironies that Leinster’s reign as European champions could be brought to a shuddering end by the man who will lead them into battle next season.

Italy coach Nick Mallett has made no changes to the starting XV that lost their last RBS 6 Nations match to England for the game against Scotland in Rome on Saturday.

LEINSTER will kick off the Heineken Cup quarter finals, with the ERC pencilling in their appetising quarter final against Clermont-Auvergne for Friday night, April 9 (8pm).

AND then there were eight.

DANNY CIPRIANI has been left out of England’s squad for the summer Test series against Argentina – but there is a recall for 2003 World Cup-winning hooker Steve Thompson.

Leicester scrum-half Julien Dupuy has been called up by France for the first time ahead of Les Bleus’ summer tour to the southern hemisphere.

Scotland lock Nathan Hines will have no regrets about snubbing Perpignan in their hour of need to take his place in the British and Irish Lions squad for this summer’s tour to South Africa.

France will go with an unchanged squad for their last match in the RBS 6 Nations Championship, against Italy in Rome on Saturday.

Italy coach Nick Mallett has handed uncapped Giulio Rubini a starting berth for Saturday's RBS 6 Nations game against Wales in Rome.