Indisputably, this was up there with the very best that Munster have achieved in their rich and storied relationship with the Heineken Cup.

Hopes, plans, dreams — all scaled back yesterday at the Aviva.

BRIAN O’DRISCOLL and George Hook got into a war of words last night on Twitter.

RTE’s Head of Sport Ryle Nugent on his experiences as a match commentator, the challenges imposed by an event in the wee small hours and some of the broader issues affecting the national broadcaster.

LEO CULLEN won a Premiership title and EDF Energy Cup and also played in a Heineken Cup final with Leicester Tigers but some of the Leinster captain’s fondest memories of his time in the East Midlands are reserved for his days on the club’s training pitches.

ONLY yesterday morning one of the great cliches was set free once again and allowed to snort its way across breakfast tables everywhere.

England 35 Barbarians 26

THE waiting is over.

England scrum-half Paul Hodgson believes London Irish face “a truly monumental task” to keep alive their Heineken Cup dream at Twickenham tomorrow.

NO OTHER rugby tournament worldwide can match the drama and excitement of round six of the Heineken Cup. After five intense rounds of competition – encompassing 60 games – only two teams, Biarritz and Toulouse, have officially qualified for the quarter-finals.

Leicester 22 South Africa 17

Martin Johnson will name one of the most inexperienced England teams in memory to face Australia at Twickenham on Saturday – and that is despite the return of Jonny Wilkinson.

MARTIN JOHNSON finds himself in the rare position of being an England coach finalising his Test selection without having to fret over the fitness of Jonny Wilkinson.

FATE, eh? Leo Cullen signed for Leicester Tigers four years ago hoping to further his career, and now his old muckers are all that stand between him and the European club game’s highest honour.

Leicester Tigers coach Richard Cockerill recalls Alesana Tuilagi and Martin Castrogiovanni to the team for Saturday's Heineken Cup Final against Leinster at Murrayfield.

HE’S Leinster’s John Hayes, is Bernard Jackman, or at least the John Hayes of a few years ago. Of all his team-mates, Jackman is the player most abused, most castigated and most belittled by many of rugby’s commentators, yet he is the player most appreciated by those who know best – his own.

Leicester 10 London Irish 9

TOBY FLOOD believes Leicester’s presence at the business end of the Heineken Cup has more than justified his move from his beloved Newcastle Falcons.

LEICESTER head coach Richard Cockerill is unconcerned about his side being underdogs for Sunday’s Heineken Cup semi-final with Cardiff Blues at the Millennium Stadium.

Dan Carter kicked 16 points to steer Perpignan to Heineken Cup victory over Leicester at Stade Aime Giral.

NEW ZEALAND lock Brad Thorn has warned Danny Cipriani his celebrity lifestyle may thwart his ambition of becoming the next Dan Carter.

England’s top players have agreed a new four-year commercial deal that will incorporate the next World Cup.

Martin Johnson has dropped Mike Tindall and Ben Kay on his first day in charge as England’s new team manager.

England have made wholesale changes to their back division for Saturday’s second Test against New Zealand.

DONNCHA O’CALLAGHAN is issuing a call to arms to Munster supporters this week as his side bids for a win that would see them head for another Cardiff final, scene of their great triumph of 2006.

Scotland repeated their victory over England in 2006 with another courageous defensive performance to regain the Calcutta Cup at Murrayfield.

Jonny Wilkinson looks set to clear a second major hurdle tomorrow by keeping his place in the England team for next Sunday’s RBS 6 Nations clash against Italy.

England 19 Wales 26

Gloucester number eight Luke Narraway will make his Test debut in a surprise selection for England's RBS 6 Nations Championship opener against Wales at Twickenham on Saturday.

Fabien Pelous hopes Leicester will feel the heat when they take on Toulouse in a crucial Heineken Cup clash tomorrow.

Leicester 14 Toulouse 9

LEINSTER produced the goods atthe RDS on Saturday, when their emphatic victory served notice to double Heineken Cup champions Leicester Tigers — not to mention Edinburgh and Toulouse — that it’s all to play for in Pool 6.

Leinster 22 Leicester Tigers 9

Irishmen Geordan Murphy will make his 50th Heineken Cup appearance for Leicester Tigers in their Heineken tussle with Leinster at The RDS on Saturday.

Mark Cueto has reflected on the moment England’s dream of making World Cup history drifted into oblivion, claiming: “It was 100% a try.”

TOMORROW’s World Cup final could be Victor Matfield’s last opportunity to pick up a major piece of silverware — and he is determined to grab it with both hands.

South Africa coach Jake White this morning named an unchanged starting XV for Saturday’s World Cup final against England.

PHIL VICKERY has underlined England’s determination to complete one of the greatest comebacks in sport, declaring: “This team is here to make its own history.”

Mark Cueto will replace the injured Josh Lewsey in England’s team to play South Africa in the World Cup final on Saturday.

Leicester centre Dan Hipkiss could today be handed a place in England’s World Cup final team – barely two months after making his Test debut.

ENGLAND captain Phil Vickery has called for “a sacrifice of body and soul” from his players when they target a second successive World Cup final appearance tonight.

Brian Ashton looks set to break new ground during his 15-Test reign as England head coach later today – by naming an unchanged team.

Andy Farrell has been recalled to the England side for Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final against Australia at Stade Velodrome in Marseille.

MARTIN CORRY will lead England into their most important Test match since the 2003 World Cup final on Friday night, claiming: “Captaincy is not something I strive for.”