England 42 Ireland 15

Leinster fans will be smiling today with the news of their pool draw for next season’s European Rugby Champions Cup.

Following Munster's heartbreaking defeat CHARLIE MULQUEEN picks 10 Munster matches that stand out most during the history of the competition.

Jamie Heaslip has left the door open on a possible move abroad and his horizons, far from being limited to France, stretch as far as Japan and the southern hemisphere.

Mike Ruddock may have only two players who served in last year’s championship available to him this time around as he goes into tonight’s Six Nations opener against Scotland at Dubarry Park, but the Ireland U20 boss is unconcerned.

Damien Varley will take over Munster’s number two shirt for the foreseeable future after the province confirmed yesterday that Mike Sherry will miss the next six months due to a ruptured cruciate ligament in his left knee.

Damien Varley may be a close friend and Garryowen clubmate of Michael Sherry but intends to fight him tooth and nail as first choice Munster hooker.

Connacht coach Pat Lam has confirmed today that outhalf Miah Nikora will miss the next five months with injury.

Few rugby players are more vociferous in their support of the RaboDirect PRO12 than Leinster’s Eoin Reddan.

Italy’s Sergio Parisse will captain the Barbarians against the British and Irish Lions in Hong Kong this Saturday.

Having being omitted from Warren Gatland’s Lions squad, Perpignan fly-half James Hook could line out against the British and Irish outfit, having been named in the provisional Barbarians squad.

Ian Madigan was named the Bank of Ireland Leinster Players’ Player of the Year at the annual awards ceremony in the Mansion House, Dublin on Saturday.

Brian O’Driscoll will return to action for Leinster in Saturday evening’s RaboDirect PRO12 interprovincial clash against Munster in Thomond Park (6.30pm) and he may be joined by flyhalf Jonathan Sexton.

AMLIN CHALLENGE CUP QUARTER-FINAL:

AMLIN CUP QUARTER-FINAL:

Dave Kearney says Leinster must learn from the mistakes made in their defeat to Ulster if they are to get a result against London Wasps on Friday (8pm).

Leinster management has confirmed that flyhalf Jonathan Sexton is “unlikely” to make the starting XV for Friday’s Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final against London Wasps at Adams Park (8pm).

SATURDAY

Form and fitness may be accepted prerequisites when choosing any squad but Warren Gatland will have little of either to go on in the case of Jonathan Sexton when he announces his British and Irish Lions touring party next month.

With news of Jamie Hagan’s departure to London Irish, Leinster have reaffirmed their confidence in hooker Michael Bent on foot of a glowing report from forwards coach Jonno Gibbes.

Munster, Ulster and Leinster have all given steps up to inexperienced squad members in naming their additional players for the European knockout stages next month, as former provincial Heineken Cup winners Peter Stringer and Rocky Elsom boosted squads elsewhere.

Felix Jones and Damien Varley are the latest Munster players to commit to the province with both agreeing contract extensions.

Wasps flanker James Haskell will make his first RBS 6 Nations start in nearly two years when England tackle Ireland in Dublin on Sunday.

Munster sensation Simon Zebo, inset, and Ulster’s Rory Best are the only Irish players in contention for the ERC European Player of the Year Award.

Earning a home tie in the Heineken Cup quarter-finals is a massive advantage — just one in four of all the last-eight matches have been won by the away team.

Soul II Soul.

Referees officiating in the Heineken and Amlin Challenge Cup competitions will adhere to the law trials in operation in the Aviva Premiership, the Top 14 and the RaboDirect PRO12 competitions.

Munster Development contracted prop Alan Cotter is set to replace John Ryan at London Irish after Ryan proved a huge success while at the London club on a temporary three week contract.

At the third time of asking, Ireland finally triumphed over arch-rivals England in the Junior World Cup in Cape Town yesterday, a victory that puts them into a final play-off for fifth place against France later this week.

Ireland U20s captain Niall Scannell warned his Junior World Championship giantkillers that this week’s upset of South Africa will count for nothing against England this evening.

Leinster 30 Ospreys 31

When the Heineken Cup celebrated its 15th birthday two years ago, fans were asked to select their most memorable games from the tournament’s history.

Second-half drop goals from half-backs Luke McGrath and Paddy Jackson against Wales set the Ireland U20s on a Grand Slam journey back in February but the duo are not underestimating the final road block.

Owen Farrell will start at fly-half for England in Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations game against Wales after Charlie Hodgson failed to recover from a finger injury.

Former France international Sebastien Chabal has confirmed he will move to Australia to play Super Rugby in the coming weeks.

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.

Chris Robshaw will captain an unchanged England team into Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash with Italy in Rome’s Stadio Olimpico.

England’s interim head coach Stuart Lancaster will name at least eight uncapped players in his 22-man squad to face Scotland in Saturday’s Calcutta Cup showdown.

By Ian Cusack

WALES international Nicky Robinson contributed 17 points to help London Wasps claim a valuable 25-11 home win over Bayonne in the Amlin Challenge Cup last night.

DENIS LEAMY is a doubtful starter for Munster’s return to RaboDirect Pro12 action this weekend when the province faces Edinburgh at Thomond Park on Saturday night (8.30pm).

Irish qualified lock Ed O'Donoghue has left Leinster to sign for London Wasps.

Glasgow Warriors 26 Bath 21

ALL rational thinking suggests that only the Thomond Park factor can save Munster from a second Heineken Cup defeat at the venue when Northampton Saints come calling on Saturday.