Former Munster assistant coach Simon Mannix said he played no part in Paul O’Connell’s move to France and has denied he ever tried to sign the Irish captain for Pau.

Mike Prendergast knows France pretty well by now. 

New Munster signing Mark Chisholm will arrive in the province today to undergo a medical with supporters hoping this is the start of a beautiful relationship.

Whatever mystery remained over the end of Paul O’Connell’s rugby career evaporated last night as the Munster icon and Ireland captain signed a one-year deal with three-time European champions Toulon.

Saturday’s Champions Cup final proved a far better game than anticipated in advance. 

Toulon are after winning the European Cup for the third year in a row and owner Mourad Boudjellal has a cheque book which could sign any player in the world, but inside the dressing room Paul O’Connell is the one they want. 

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.

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.

Not a move endorsed by Julie Andrews, never mind rehearsed on the training field under the watchful eye of Joe Schmidt, but let’s start at the very end, writes Enda McEvoy. 

Everybody loves to see the schoolyard bully getting a bloody nose now and again and that’s exactly what happened when South Africa pitched up at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

Paul O’Connell has revealed Joe Schmidt has challenged Ireland to bulk up for next year’s World Cup, admitting “we could be bigger and more physical”

Coach Heyneke Meyer has announced the South African team that will play Ireland in Dublin on Saturday in the first of Ireland’s Autumn rugby internationals.

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.

Come Sunday the veins under Cedric Abellon’s war paint will be throbbing.

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

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.

Seán O’Brien’s decision to sign a new two-year deal with Leinster and Ireland is likely to have prompted an improved offer for Jamie Heaslip from Toulon, who have spearheaded the chase for the Ireland internationals.

Scotland 0 South Africa 28

It may be an all-French affair when ASM Clermont Auvergne and Toulon clash at the Aviva Stadium this evening in the 18th Heineken Cup final, but there will be no escaping an Irish tinge to events in Dublin.

Toulon 21 Leicester Tigers 15

Wealthy French club Toulon have signed South Africa star Bryan Habana on a three-year deal.

Toulon 62 Sale 0

Saracens boss Mark McCall has targeted an across-the-board improvement from his team in tomorrow’s Heineken Cup clash against Munster.

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.

AT least we were spared the usual platitudes that opposing international coaches have heaped on successive Irish teams over the years, praising our passion and commitment in defeat.

As he leans casually in a doorway at the South African team hotel in the Dublin suburbs, his near six feet and eight inches topped with a boyish mop of hair, the quiet presence of Eben Etzebeth appears at odds with his burgeoning reputation as the Springboks’ newest hard man.

Toulon 37 Montpellier 16

Australia prop Ben Alexander insists South Africa will take the loss of second row enforcer Bakkies Botha in their stride.

MARTIN JOHNSON insists England’s preparations for tomorrow’s clash with Romania will not be thrown off course by the arrival in Dunedin of Zara Phillips.

South Africa 87 Namibia 0

ENGLAND prop Andrew Sheridan and French fly-half David Skrela hobbled home from the World Cup just as Samoa entered the fray with a resounding win and New Zealanders fretted about the back of prized asset Dan Carter.

Bryan Habana and Victor Matfield have been ruled out of South Africa’s World Cup clash against Fiji in Wellington on Saturday.

Wales 16 South Africa 17

Veteran Bakkies Botha is a doubt for South Africa’s World Cup opener against Wales in Wellington on Sunday.

South Africa coach Peter De Villiers will rely on the core of the squad that became world champions four years ago after naming his 30-man World Cup squad tonight.

South Africa 9 Australia 14

MATT GITEAU’S chances of playing in a third Rugby World Cup have suffered a major blow after he was left out of Australia’s squad for Saturday’s Tri Nations opener against South Africa in Sydney.

South Africa coach Peter de Villiers has named a severely weakened 27-man squad for the away leg of their Tri Nations campaign due to injuries suffered by a host of key players.

CAN anyone stop the French Top 14 financial juggernaut? It’s a loaded question.