Pro12 title holders Leinster have made seven changes to their starting line-up as they aim to begin the traditional Christmas interprovincial period with victory over Connacht at the RDS tonight.

Munster coach Anthony Foley is still praying for a miracle that one of his international loosehead props can recover for this weekend’s crucial weekend trip to Clermont Auvergne.

Munster kick off their A campaign at Donnybrook today (1pm) with new head coach Mick O’Driscoll welcoming an important addition to his backroom staff in Doug Howlett.

Anthony Foley’s first year as Munster head coach seems to be lurching from one crisis to another.

RABO DIRECT PRO12: Ospreys v Leinster

Leinster A 47 Munster A 15.

Revenge will be in the air when Munster A take on Leinster A in tonight’s B&I cup quarter-final clash at Donnybrook, (7pm) a repeat of last season’s final four encounter where Leinster came out on top.

Munster prop forward Stephen Archer will miss the province’s Heineken Cup semi-final against Clermont Auvergne this weekend after sustaining a wrist injury in the RaboDirect PRO12 defeat to Dragons last Friday.

Paul O’Connell is edging closer to being available for Munster’s Heineken Cup quarter-final against Harlequins at The Stoop on April 7.

Champions Munster bid to become the fourth team guaranteed a place in the B&I Cup quarter-finals when they host Plymouth Albion at Temple Hill, Cork, tonight (7pm).

Leinster and Ireland hooker Richardt Strauss is facing four weeks on the sidelines after sustaining an arm injury in the province’s Heineken Cup defeat to Clermont Auvergne on Saturday.

Munster head coach Rob Penney revealed yesterday that talismanic lock Paul O’Connell was “still a wee way away” from full fitness.

Munster development prop Alan Cotter has joined Bath Rugby on loan from today until the end of the month.

Munster A Schools 13 Leinster A Schools 22

These are testing times for Munster.

Brendan Macken was the star of the show at Anglesea Road yesterday with a hat-trick as Leinster A, on World Cup-winning All Black Brad Thorn’s debut, comfortably dispatched Connacht A.

LEINSTER eased into the British & Irish Cup semi-finals at a canter at Donnybrook yesterday.

IRELAND added the final piece to Declan Kidney’s new backroom team yesterday with the appointment of Michael Kearney as team manager.

The IRFU have announced Michael Kearney as the new Manager for the Ireland rugby team.

A MEDICAL study claims protective skull caps do nothing to protect against concussion.

MUNSTER took the last qualification spot in the British and Irish Cup courtesy of Leinster yesterday.

MUNSTER are not a great team.

MUNSTER’S new signing, Will Chambers, and scrum-half Tomas O’Leary will both see game time for the Munster A team in the Sportsground, Galway, today against Connacht (kick-off 2pm).

MUNSTER A coach Anthony Foley expects the sternest test of the season in tomorrow’s clash with Leinster A at Donnybrook (2.30pm).

MUNSTER coach Tony McGahan clearly sees stability as the key to Magners League success this season.

AFTER a frustrating year when medics struggled to get to the root of a hip problem, one of Leinster’s rising young stars, Eoin O’Malley, has learned the art of patience.

MUNSTER A will set down in another temporary home at Nenagh tonight (7.30pm) for the second of their British and Irish Cup assignments against top English side Bristol.

GARRYOWEN joint coach, Greg Oliver reckons scrum-half Conor Murray possesses all the attributes to don the Munster senior No 9 jersey.

BRAGGING rights will be at stake as Munster A take on Ulster Ravens at Musgrave Park this afternoon (2pm), but both sides will also be treating the clash as a dress rehearsal for the upcoming British and Irish Cup, which starts the weekend after next.

LEO CULLEN is back to provide a captain’s guiding hand for Leinster in Saturday’s Magners League Halloween clash with Cardiff Blues at the RDS.

MUNSTER’S bid to get their Magners League defence back on the track against Edinburgh at Murrayfield on Friday night next is not helped by the fact that they will definitely be without Doug Howlett, Marcus Horan and Tony Buckley, all of whom left the field prematurely during last Saturday’s Heineken Cup victory over Treviso.

Michael Cheika has co-operated with the wishes of Ireland coach Declan Kidney by selecting Gordon D'Arcy in the centre for Leinster against The Scarlets in Saturday evening's Magners League clash at Parc y Scarlets (KO: 5.30pm).

FOR ALL Brian O’Driscoll’s outrageous natural talent, Mike Ruddock insists it is his strong work ethic that has swept him to the brink of a special milestone.

For all Brian O’Driscoll’s outrageous natural talent, Mike Ruddock insists it is his strong work ethic that has swept him to the brink of a special milestone.

Ballymena's Chris Henry, recently, awarded a ful-time contract, will lead Ulster A out against Leinster A at Ravenhill on Friday evening, kick off 6.30pm.

AFTER long spells out of action, International Gerry Flannery and Mossie Lawlor are back in the Munster picture with both named as reserves for the province’s A game against Leinster at Donnybrook today at 2pm.

Leinster A 51 Ireland U-20 15

Dolphin number eight James Coughlan will lead Munster A into battle with their Leinster counterparts in an 'A' interprovincial at The Sports Bowl in University of Limerick on Thursday (2.30 kick-off).

DECLAN KIDNEY has frequently admitted the part of his job he least likes is picking the team for the bigger matches.

CONNACHT fly-half Paul Warwick is to join Munster at the end of the season. The 26-year-old will be Ronan O’Gara’s understudy next season after agreeing terms with Kidney’s men.

Niall Ronan has been selected in the centre for Leinster A against Ulster A at Suttonians tomorrow afternoon.

Rob Kearney, Cameron Jowitt and Brian Blaney have all been included in Leinster's squad to play Munster in the Magner's League at Lalsndowne Road on Friday night.

DENIS LEAMY undergoes an MRI scan on an injured ankle in Cork today and hopes to be play in Munster’s Heineken Cup quarter-final with Perpignan at Lansdowne Road on April 1.