This time 12 months ago Jack Conan’s focus hardly strayed further than earning a second provincial cap.

Munster Rugby officials have hit back at criticisms over attendance figures, citing a year-on-year increase in the numbers who attended the province’s regular season home games.

Johnny Sexton will put his black eye and facial stitches in the firing line in Paris tonight as he bids to clock up some more game time ahead of Ireland’s RBS 6 Nations showdown with England in eight days. 

Guinness Pro12: In the absence of their big name international stars, Leinster’s side for Sunday’s Guinness Pro12 tie against Newport Gwent Dragons at the RDS will have an unfamiliar look to it.

Sean O’Brien is on track to feature for Ireland against France in the second round of the Six Nations after it was revealed this afternoon that he suffered no more than a minor hamstring strain in Rome on Saturday.

1 Authority at half-back.

Joe Schmidt has rolled the dice for tomorrow’s RBS 6 Nations opener in Italy as his Ireland squad begins its title defence at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico.

“We certainly didn’t necessarily see Sean (O’Brien) starting this week but we felt he did well in the Wolfhounds game.“

Joe Schmidt has declared his confidence in Munster out-half Ian Keatley, who will wear the number ten jersey for Ireland against Italy on Saturday.

Joe Schmidt finally had some good news to share as he named a trimmed-down Ireland squad for the first two rounds of the RBS 6 Nations, with first-choice scrum-half Conor Murray expected to be fit to face Italy in Rome on Saturday.

Whatever Dominic Ryan’s personal fortunes regarding a place in Ireland’s RBS 6 Nations squad, the Leinster and Irish Wolfhounds back-rower was clear there would be plenty to work on ahead of Saturday’s championship opener in Italy.

Ireland Wolfhounds 9 England Saxons 18

All the talk before tonight’s Ireland Wolfhounds clash with England Saxons has been about who might do enough to break into the full squad for the Six Nations, writes Ronan O’Gara.

The journey is supposed to end at Twickenham in the World Cup Final on October 31, but it begins in earnest at Musgrave Park.

Keith Earls has more reason than most to feel that opportunity will knock for him in an Irish Wolfhounds jersey tonight, writes Simon Lewis.

Maro Itoje will sit his biggest rugby exam yet with England Saxons on Friday night, but only if he meets his university coursework deadline first.

Joe Schmidt has challenged Ian Keatley and Ian Madigan to help him not have to pick first-choice fly-half Johnny Sexton once he is cleared to return from a 12-week concussion lay-off.

Sean O’Brien is on course to feature in the first half of Ireland’s RBS 6 Nations title defence, according to boss Joe Schmidt.

Ireland’s concerns over who will occupy the scrum-half berth for the Six Nations opener against Italy in Rome next week appear to be far less acute today with the news from camp both Conor Murray and Eoin Reddan are expected to be fit.

Jack McGrath has apologised to Rory Best for a stamp which earned him a three-week ban earlier this month.

Sean O’Brien remains in contention to end an injury-plagued 14 months by making a comeback for the Irish Wolfhounds against England Saxons.

Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt’s options at scrum-half for the RBS 6 Nations are still no clearer after Conor Murray and Eoin Reddan received their first medical assessments from the national team’s medical staff.

Luke Fitzgerald believes Europe’s big guns will fear facing Leinster in the Champions Cup knockout phase after Matt O’Connor’s side secured a home quarter-final clash with Bath.

Jack Coonan, the highly-promising Leinster back-row forward and Connacht prop Nathan White, are the only uncapped players in the extended 46-strong Ireland squad announced yesterday by head coach Joe Schmidt. 

The Ireland coaching staff has today named an extended squad of 46 players for the upcoming RBS 6 Nations matches against Italy and France, as well as the Ireland Wolfhounds fixture against the England Saxons.

Stuart Lancaster has pledged to “make it absolutely crystal clear” to Dylan Hartley that any more lapses in discipline could blow England’s RBS 6 Nations chances.

Cian Healy and Sean O’Brien could kick-start their fight for Six Nations fitness in Ireland Wolfhounds’ clash with England Saxons.

Stuart Lancaster has pledged to "make it absolutely crystal clear" to Dylan Hartley that any more lapses in discipline could blow England’s Six Nations chances.

Danny Cipriani and Nick Easter have the chance to reignite their Test careers in England’s 34-man Six Nations training squad, with Sam Burgess also handed World Cup lift-off.

Leinster have opted against registering either Cian Healy or Sean O’Brien for Europe ahead of Saturday’s round six visit to Coventry, where they meet Wasps to decide who finishes top of Pool 2 in the Champions Cup.

Ulster hooker Rob Herring will look to grab the attention of Ireland boss Joe Schmidt tomorrow as the province face a daunting trip to European champions Toulon.

Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt has named the team for the first Test against Argentina in Resistencia on Saturday (kick-off 3.40pm local time/7.40pm Irish time).

Ireland hopeful Robin Copeland is in danger of missing the summer tour to Argentina after he was cited.

Brian O’Driscoll may be calling time on his stellar career at the end of the season but his former Ireland team-mate Peter Stringer is set for at least another year.

Saying ‘yes’ was the easy part, but having fulfilled his ambition to be Munster head coach Anthony Foley will lean on the coaches he faithfully served as he prepares to take charge of his beloved province next season.

RABO DIRECT PRO12:

The Connacht team to face Glasgow Warriors in Sunday's round 13 RaboDirect PRO12 clash at Scotstoun Stadium (KO: 2pm) has been named.

Jordi Murphy can breathe a sigh of relief.

Joe Schmidt has kept his options open for filling the Ireland back-row vacancy created by injury to Sean O’Brien but has culled wings Simon Zebo and Craig Gilroy from his squad to face Scotland in Sunday’s Six Nations opener.

Richardt Strauss’ rapid recovery from heart surgery offers Ireland a “bonus” hooker for the RBS 6 Nations, according to head coach Joe Schmidt.

England Saxons 8 Ireland Wolfhounds 14

Joe Schmidt has invited Ireland’s second string to do the maths and work out there are still plenty of places up for grabs heading into the final preparations for Sunday’s Six Nations opener with Scotland.

England Saxons 8 Ireland Wolfhounds 14

“Follow that,” quipped Robin Copeland two days ago as he wrapped up his media duties at Ireland’s team base and breezed out the door past Tommy O’Donnell.