Ian Madigan endured a tormenting day with the boot for Leinster against Wasps last weekend but the man who knows his kicking abilities best has backed him to bounce back against Italy on Saturday week, says Brendan O’Brien.

Simon Zebo and Andrew Conway both crossed twice as Munster dominated their Champions Cup dead rubber against a young Sale outfit at Thomond Park.

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.

Jonathan Sexton hopes to have his contract situation sorted out in the next few weeks amid growing speculation he may remain with Racing Metro 92 in France for at least a third season.

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.

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

Ireland out-half Jonathan Sexton said he is feeling very fresh despite a hectic first season in France and always intended to travel to Argentina for the two-match series.

The IRFU stuck to their guns last night — as expected — by naming number ten Jonathan Sexton in Joe Schmidt’s extended squad ahead of Saturday’s Six Nations meeting with Italy in Dublin.

Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt has named Munster's Simon Zebo in his 33-man Ireland squad.

Leinster CEO Mick Dawson described the retention yesterday of Jamie Heaslip and that of Sean O’Brien last week as a “huge statement” in the battle to keep the best Irish players at home with the provinces.

Munster motored their way to a home Heineken Cup quarter-final as they brushed Edinburgh aside 38-6 at Thomond Park.

Racing Metro have signed Wales scrum-half Mike Phillips on a two-and-a-half-year deal.

Racing Metro have signed Wales scrum-half Mike Phillips on a two-and-a-half-year deal.

Word is expected today on whether Jonathan Sexton will be reeled back to France to play his 14th club game of the season this weekend or if the Irish out-half is finally afforded some desperately-needed downtime before the November internationals.

Anecdotal evidence that the IRFU has shown greater urgency in tying its top players up to new contracts was given a concrete footing yesterday with the confirmation that an offer has already been made to Jamie Heaslip.

During the summer, Ronan O’Gara, his wife Jessica and their four kids left Cork for a new life in the French capital. Tony Leen found a family adjusting well, and the former kicker revelling in his role as coach.

It’s not easy to create a stir when your panel extends to 42 names, but Joe Schmidt’s first Irish squad announcement yesterday did at least throw up a handful of interesting talking points.

Leinster coach Matt O’Connor is confident Jamie Heaslip and Sean O’Brien will not follow in Jonathan Sexton’s footsteps and swap their home province for the Top 14.

Like so many Premier League fans, Brian Quinn found himself hunched over more than one screen last weekend as the world’s most commercially successful domestic football tournament resumed.

It was just after 10.30am yesterday morning when five contented but almost comatose Irish Lions appeared at the arrivals gate of Dublin Airport leaning on their luggage trolleys for support as much as pushing them.

Life in Paris, and his new career with Racing Metro 92, became that bit more real this week for Ronan O’Gara, who spent two days in the French capital where he met with the club’s new coaches, Laurent Travers and Laurent Labit.

Ulster 18 Leinster 24

Conor Murray believes it’s time for Munster’s new brood to grasp the nettle and create their own bit of Heineken Cup history.

Edinburgh 3 Racing Metro 15

There are four Irish coaches responsible for the fortunes of non-Irish teams in this season’s Heineken Cup and, by a quirk of fate, three of them will be plotting the downfall of Irish teams in round two this weekend.

Leinster coach Joe Schmidt has told Munster they can all but guarantee themselves at least eight invaluable pool points by beating Racing Metro 92 in their Heineken Cup opener.

Rob Penney has declared Munster’s period of transition to be well and truly over as the province turns its focus towards Saturday’s meeting with Leinster and, beyond that, the opening rounds of the Heineken Cup.

Paul O’Connell delivered some positive sound bytes when questioned about his fitness yesterday but the Munster and Ireland lock remains a major doubt for the province’s opening Heineken Cup fixture next month.

Leinster Rugby will open their bid for an historic three Heineken Cup titles in a row with a home match against tournament newcomers Exeter Chiefs at the RDS on Saturday, October 13, it was announced today.

Ireland Under-20s 18 France Under-20s 7

PHIL GODMAN kicked a last-minute drop-goal for Edinburgh last night to clinch victory over Racing Metro and keep them at the top of Pool 2 in the Heineken Cup.

IRELAND referee Alain Rolland can expect a red-hot reception when he takes charge of the Heineken Cup clash between Scarlets and Northampton Saints next month.

A TOP All-Ireland League rugby player will not appeal the 12 month ban he received for a doping violation.

Racing Metro 20 Cardiff Blues 26

Andrea Masi returns at full-back in Italy’s only change for Sunday’s World Cup showdown with Ireland at Otago Stadium.

IN A report which underlines just why the Top 14 is capable of attracting the best players from all over the world, it has been revealed 11 of the biggest clubs in Europe in terms of revenue are French.

HAVING quit rugby union for rugby league and then come back again, France centre Fabrice Estebanez has finally made up his mind what he wants to do: shine at the World Cup.

LEINSTER and Munster will again be among the top seeds for next week’s Heineken Cup draw, after European Rugby Cup (ERC) yesterday confirmed the tiers for the 2011/12 tournament.

Heineken Cup champions Leinster will be joined as top seeds in next season’s competition by Toulouse, Munster, Cardiff Blues, Biarritz and Leicester.

RICHARD COCKERILL wasn’t the first Leicester coach to dismiss the significance of an iconic Irish stadium when he glossed over the return of five of his players to the Aviva this evening so soon after their Six Nations trauma with England.

LEINSTER will be seeking their 25th Heineken Cup victory (*excluding 2009 semi-final and final) on the road against Racing Metro 92 at Stade Yves Du Manoir tonight.

QUALIFICATION already secured, Leinster travel to Paris this week intent on taking care of the last vestiges of unfinished business in Pool Two of the Heineken Cup — securing a home berth for the quarter-finals.