ROUND one of the Heineken Cup provided more drama and close calls than is normally the case.

I SHOULD have been surprised, but I’m not. In the wake of Munster’s narrow win over Montauban on Friday night in Thomond Park, a complaint I heard over and over again in the meditation centres I occasionally frequent was that Tony McGahan should never have mentioned the plan to collect five points.

South Africa are attempting to bring southern hemisphere rugby into line with the rest of the global game by taking a stand against Australia and New Zealand over Experimental Law Variations (ELVs).

Ray Ofisa, Michael Roberts, Daniel Riordan and Fionn Carr have all recovered from injury to take their places in a 29-man Connacht squad to play London Welsh at the Sportsground on Friday (kick off: 6.30pm).

New Ireland Coach Declan Kidney and Ireland Manager Paul McNaughton will travel to New Zealand and Australia to watch Ireland play during their two-match summer tour.

Coach Michael Bradley has named the Ireland team to play the Barbarians in Kingsholm, Gloucester next Tuesday in their summer tour warm up game.