Jacob Stockdale’s interception of a wayward Aaron Shingler offload on 28 minutes was expertly finished by the Ireland wing to notch his second try of the first-half and establish a 12-point cushion that allowed the Irish to release the pressure valve that had been tightening for the past week.

Simon Lewis looks at how Wales and Ireland shape up ahead of their World Cup warm-up.

In a PRO14 final of real quality, illuminated by nine smashing tries, Leinster turned on the class in their final appearance of the season to achieve what even their stellar side that dominated Europe between 2009 and 2012 found beyond them — a European and domestic double.

The key issues that will decide Champions Cup semi finals.

Munster are closing in on appointing an American football strength and conditioning coach as head of athletic performance, causing surprise and disappointment within Munster and Irish rugby circles that indigenous candidates have been overlooked again.

We look back at a fascinating 2018 tournament. 

Ireland 37 - Wales 27: Warren Gatland can always be relied on to offer a pithy comment or a smartly-aimed barb and they were much in evidence as the Wales coach reflected on a first Six Nations defeat to Ireland since 2014.

Ireland stormed ever closer to a NatWest 6 Nations title showdown with England by dismissing Wales 37-27 in Dublin.

Worcester wing Josh Adams will make his Wales debut in Saturday's NatWest 6 Nations opener against Scotland.

Wales are hopeful that wing George North will be in the selection mix for Saturday’s NatWest 6 Nations opener against Scotland.

The Scarlets secured a European Champions Cup quarter-final place as Pool Five winners after toppling Toulon.

Peter Jackson discusses ’What’s Hot and What’s Not’ in this weekend’s review. 

Wales star Sam Warburton is set to miss the rest of this season after undergoing a second operation in three months.

Wales boss Warren Gatland looks set to field three home Test match debutants in the starting line-up for Saturday’s clash against Australia.

Leinster 16 Scarlets 27: And, just like that that, Leinster’s season is over.

Scarlets reached their first ever Guinness PRO12 final after defeating much-fancied Leinster 27-15 at the RDS despite having Steff Evans sent off before half-time.

Clermont beat Bordeaux in a cracker in Ulster's pool.

CHAMPIONS CUP: YOUR TEAM-BY-TEAM WEEKEND GUIDE

Change is the order of the day for Leinster head coach Leo Cullen, who has chosen a completely new starting line-up for his side’s latest Guinness Pro12 encounter against Scarlets at the RDS this evening.

European Champions Cup

Leicester 40 Scarlets 23

Jamie Heaslip returns as captain as Leinster take on Scarlets in the RDS tomorrow in an afternoon game.

Manu Tuilagi has been warned to expect an aerial bombardment as New Zealand seek to expose the England wing’s inexperience in his new position.

Wales flanker Aaron Shingler is to undergo further treatment on an ankle injury.

Scarlets 20 Harlequins 22

Connacht 21 Scarlets 24

Scarlets 19 Leinster 42

Leinster 32 Scarlets 5

Sam Warburton has been named on the Wales replacements’ bench for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash against Italy in Rome.

HT: Wales 3 Ireland 23

RBS Six Nations: IRELAND V WALES

It is a game that has the atmosphere of a finale rather than a championship opener but that makes Ireland’s need to hit the ground running in Cardiff today (1:30pm) all the more relevant.

Where Cardiff clash will be won and lost

Cardiff Blues 6 Scarlets 9

James Downey has no doubt about the size of Munster’s challenge when Heineken Cup rivals Saracens attempt to storm their Thomond Park fortress tomorrow.

Wales 12 Australia 14

Scarlets 13 Leinster 20

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.

Scarlets 45 Leinster 20