It’s that most magical time of the year, as the yuletide song goes, and football certainly gave us a good dose of that old black stuff yesterday.

This may be a pool of death Munster are facing into as the 25th Heineken Champions Cup campaign gets underway this weekend but the fixture schedule has at least handed Johann van Graan’s side the most palatable of introductions, albeit away, with a trip to off-form Ospreys.

Stephen Larkham earned himself a deserved reputation as one of the most stylish rugby players of his generation when representing Australia on 102 occasions.

Europe experienced a truly miraculous few months 30 years ago. At a precipice, blood could have flowed. The floodgates of change opened instead, writes Carl Bildt

The inspiration for the design "comes from the wall of silence and respect afforded to all who play in Thomond Park and the deafening wave of sound created by Munster’s Red army in full flight".

Listening to Joey Carbery talk of Munster’s limitless potential would cheer even the most pessimistic member of its Red Army of supporters, never mind the joy to be derived from the former Leinster fly-half’s love of life at his new province.

At face value, European rugby’s semi-finals bore all the hallmarks of sell-out occasions: The champions of England against the Red Army in one, the holders at home in Dublin against the most famous of French clubs in the other.

Ahead of Saturday's eagerly awaited Heineken Champions Cup semi-final clash between Munster and Saracens we look back at previous titanic clashes between these two old rivals.

No doubt as to what was the dominant angry shout of the past week: “That was never a pen!” (Well, leaving aside Neymar’s dad yelling at King Eric.)

Amidst the 101 different things we like about Ole is his refreshingly succinct and honest style in front of the microphones.

We want to think of it as ancient history, but it isn’t. It was unspeakable, unforgiveable, and it has to be unforgettable.

Peter Jackson gets over the gain line, behind the headline.

“The best means you can do your best work at Munster, whatever the role,” the province’s Strategic Plan 2018-2021 declares.

What constitutes a ‘good season’ to you? One asks, because José Mourinho raised the question after United’s efficient and occasionally rousing victory at the new Wembley on Saturday.

The heartache continues. This is six semi-final defeats in European competition since Paul O’Connell lifted the Heineken Cup in Cardiff ten years ago, writes Donal Lenihan.

There’s a lot left to be decided on the pitch, but it could be advantage Leinster in the stands if there is an All-Ireland Champions Cup final.

And so the Munster Miracles keep on coming, as if put together on some sort of supernatural assembly line cranked into use only in times of deepest trouble.

Duncan Williams is an experienced, highly-regarded rugby player. But he hasn’t always seen it that way.

Cork Constitution captain Niall Kenneally insists that his side will have to go back to square one as they aim to retain their Ulster Bank League crown in 2017/18.

A performance of Messiah, 275 years after the famous oratorio made its debut in this country, will be one of the highlights of Kilkenny Arts Festival, writes Cathy Desmond.

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Should we expect anything special from a team that started the Champions Cup campaign as 50-1 outsiders to upset a Saracens side widely regarded as one of the best club sides in the world?

The Irish have done European rugby many mighty favours over the years and now they are about to do the mightiest one of all.

The Red Army are on proper full-scale excited manoeuvres week, via massed visits to Blackburn, St Etienne, and Wembley, with the scent of silverware in spring nostrils.

Ankle trouble continues to dog bang-in-form Munster flanker Tommy O’Donnell. He looked to be in serious trouble when hobbling off in the New Year’s Eve win over Connacht and so it came as a pleasant surprise when the Tipperary man reported fit for Saturday’s game against Racing 92 and duly performed like a man inspired.

Munster return to Paris this weekend for the first time since the unexpected death of their beloved head coach, Anthony Foley, who passed away on Sunday, October 16, sparking an outpouring of grief across the country. 

Munster have dominated Leinster in recent years, but the province’s head coach Adam Griggs believes his side are ready to buck that trend in today’s ladies’ interprovincial title decider at Donnybrook (2.30pm).

Munster must plan without Peter O’Mahony for this afternoon’s Guinness PRO12 tie against Treviso at Thomond Park.