TOULON 24 CLERMONT AUVERGNE 18: Be careful what you wish for.

The denouement of the maiden European Champions Cup has arrived and for the third year in succession, there is no Irish interest in the final of the continent’s showpiece competition.

Paul O’Connell may harbour ambitions to live and work in France but for now the Ireland captain believes he has no option but to see out the remaining year on his IRFU contract.

Ireland captain Paul O’Connell would be “an invaluable addition” to Toulon, according to Australia wing Drew Mitchell.

If Jamie Heaslip had suggested before this Champions Cup semi-final that Leinster’s semi-final clash with Toulon would be akin to a boxing match, it may have conjured an image of a mismatch in the eyes of many observers.

This may be the Rugby Champions Cup’s inaugural season, but the feeling this weekend, as the two semi-finals are contested on French soil, is one of familiarity, given the identities of the four clubs involved.

Simon Lewis takes a look at how Toulon and Leinster compare as they face each other in the European Champions Cup semi-final.

Leinster can have the beating of Toulon if they can get it right in three areas, says Bernard Jackman.

They stand shoulder to shoulder with the All Blacks this morning — win for win, try for try, point for point. Ireland’s golden autumn now promises more, much more than a successful defence of the Six Nations title in the New Year.

Ulster 13 Toulon 23

Live-wire Ireland cap Stuart Olding is promoted from the bench as Ulster head coach Neil Doak makes two changes to the side facing all-conquering Toulon at the Kingspan Stadium this afternoon.

Toulon 23 Saracens 6

For three seasons this Munster squad have lived in the shadow of past glories. A win tomorrow would cement their place in the storied history of the province. They need to buy into that possibility, says Donal Lenihan, as he identifies three areas where Rob Penney’s men must excel

Four times his Grenoble side have played Toulon, three times they’ve won. The secret is simple.

Jonny Wilkinson looks set to be fit to play against Munster in Sunday’s Heineken Cup semi-final after coming through training without any reaction to a hamstring injury yesterday.

Leinster captain Jamie Heaslip knows they can use their big-game Heineken Cup experience to underpin a demanding quarter-final mission against reigning European champions Toulon on Sunday.

There are many ways of building this one up, were that even required, but it’s enough to point out merely that the last of the weekend’s four quarter-finals will bring together the last two Heineken Cup champions.

Kieran Read will captain New Zealand for the first time when the All Blacks tackle Italy on Saturday.

Dan Tuohy says Ireland are desperate to right the wrongs of the team’s past two weeks in New Zealand and finish their season on a high by beating the world champions.

Injured pair Jamie Heaslip and Gordon D’Arcy are out of Ireland’s Third Test against New Zealand.

It was always going to be a monumental challenge playing the world champions on their home turf, but any notions Ireland could catch the All Blacks cold on their first run-out of the season were quickly dispelled at Eden Park on Saturday.

First the good news. New Zealand are in disarray or at least they should be.

New Zealand coach Steve Hansen has drafted in seven new caps for the forthcoming Steinlager Series of three Test matches against Ireland.

New Zealand have announced a 35-player squad to attend two training camps ahead of the three-Test Series against Ireland in June.

MUNSTER boss Tony McGahan is looking to the players within the squad to fill the breach created by Doug Howlett’s season-ending injury before widening the search for replacements to continue the Heineken Cup campaign into the New Year.

AGE won’t be an issue for Doug Howlett in negotiating a new deal with Munster, even though his season has been brought to a premature halt because of injury.

New Zealand 37 France 17

New Zealand 41 Tonga 10

A number of New Zealand fringe players have been given their chance to impress along with a solid mix of experience for Friday’s World Cup opener against Tonga.

New Zealand coach Graham Henry has announced his 30-man squad for the Rugby World Cup with no place for quintet Sitiveni Sivivatu, Wyatt Crockett, Liam Messam, Jarrad Hoeata and Hosea Gear.

A host of fringe players will get the chance to stake a final claim for a place in New Zealand’s World Cup squad after being named in the starting XV for Saturday’s Tri Nations clash with South Africa.

THE touch judge who mistakenly advised Jonathan Kaplan to award Wales’ try against Ireland on Saturday is likely to be sanctioned by the IRB today.

Former All Blacks lock Ali Williams begins his quest to regain his international place in earnest when starting in the Blues’ side which will play the Crusaders at Eden Park on Saturday night.

NEW ZEALAND’S iconic midfielder Ma’a Nonu has been linked with a move to Munster after World Cup 2011.

THIS evening’s Ireland versus New Zealand match represents an occasion laden with milestones.

New Zealand lock Brad Thorn has been ruled out of tomorrow’s match with Ireland having failed to recover from a hamstring strain.

JUST as Scottish rugby was beginning to feel good about itself again after a string of impressive winning performances against Ireland and a double away to Argentina, the All Blacks came to town.

John Afoa, Corey Flynn, Liam Messam and Ma'a Nonu have been recalled to the New Zealand squad for the Tri-Nations series with Australia and South Africa.

IT’S THE same question every year. As sure as Cork and Kerry will produce a draw in the Munster football championship, we speculate as to who from the home nations is capable of producing any kind of a win on the annual summer sojourns to the southern hemisphere.

INJURIES and rich Super 14 form have prodded All Blacks coach Graham Henry into picking three new caps for the starting team for the Irish Test on Saturday, along with three more on the reserves bench.

Israel Dagg, Benson Stanley and Ben Franks will make their New Zealand Test debuts against Ireland on Saturday after being named in a new-look starting line-up for the one-off match in New Plymouth.

A decision on whether Jerry Flannery and Shane Horgan will join the Ireland squad in New Zealand is expected to be made tomorrow.

NEW ZEALAND coach Graham Henry clearly has one eye on the future when naming rising stars Aaron Cruden, Israel Dagg and Victor Vito in his squad for Tests against Ireland and Wales next month.

New Zealand coach Graham Henry had one eye on the future when he named rising stars Aaron Cruden, Israel Dagg and Victor Vito in his squad for Tests against Ireland and Wales next month.