The challenges facing the three Irish provinces in European quarter-finals this weekend.

The line between triumph and disaster is seldom more than gossamer thin in the Six Nations.

Maro Itoje and Alun Wyn Jones will shift from friends and former room-mates to rivals when England host Wales on Saturday.

England’s quest for an unprecedented hat-trick of Six Nations titles was launched by a 46-15 victory over Italy that produced a late flurry of tries.

It says much about Munster’s growing confidence and maturity as a squad that Ian Keatley could share a laugh with his captain after committing two knock-ons inside a minute.

Leicester Tigers 16 Munster 25: Munster planted one boot firmly in the Champions Cup quarter-finals as they grabbed an invaluable away win at Welford Road last night and gave new boss Johann van Graan a benchmark performance for the rest of the season.

For all the good news coming out of Munster in the past couple of days, the appearance of centres Matt Toomua and Manu Tuilagi on the Leicester Tigers teamsheet yesterday lunchtime will have offered a sobering counterpoint ahead of tomorrow’s Champions Cup re-match at Welford Road.

The big guns are back for Munster’s Champions Cup showdown with Leicester Tigers at Thomond Park tonight (7.45pm) and what a noise there has been around them these past few days.

Withover 70 Test appearances for England under his belt and a further 200 racked up in a Leicester Tigers shirt, Ben Youngs has experienced a range of atmospheres during his career.

Peter O’Mahony has urged Munster supporters to forget last year’s 38-0 European drubbing of Leicester at Thomond Park and brace for impact when the Tigers return to Limerick on Saturday.

Leicester romped to a seven-try European Champions Cup victory as they ran Castres ragged at Welford Road.

The British and Irish Lions must head to New Zealand without one of the most destructive forwards in world rugby after England number eight Billy Vunipola withdrew from the squad through injury.

Leicester and England scrum-half Ben Youngs has pulled out of the British and Irish Lions squad for family reasons.

Two minutes to go, four points to the good and the noise of over 51,000 people ringing in your ears.

Here is the possible make-up of a squad charged with targeting a first Test series triumph against the All Blacks since 1971.

Dublin hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for English sides in the Six Nations era, writes Simon Collings.

Billy Vunipola is being targeted for a return to action against Ireland in their Six Nations tournament climax in Dublin next month.

England extended their winning run to 16 Tests as wing Elliot Daly's late try clinched a dramatic RBS 6 Nations victory over Wales in Cardiff.

Ben Youngs has urged England to continue rebuilding Twickenham into a fortress as they stand on the brink of a team-record 15th successive Test victory.

History does have a habit of repeating itself, especially in European Cup rugby. Ten years ago Ronan O’Gara stood over a match-winning penalty kick bang on the halfway line to deliver a rare win at Welford Road against a quality Leicester outfit. He nailed it.

Theresa May and the rest of Europe still remain bamboozled about this Brexit conundrum.

Simon Lewis analyses the three key battles that could determine the winner at Thomond Park...

England overcame an alarming start to register a record-equalling 14th successive victory by beating Australia at Twickenham.

Eddie Jones insists the key to defeating Fiji and extending England’s winning streak to 12 Tests is to “bore them to death”.

Eddie Jones' unbeaten England ended a 10-year wait for victory over South Africa.

Eddie Jones has placed his players on standby to round up any loose cockerels at the Stade de France as England prepare for fun and games from opponents intent on denying them the Grand Slam.

England edged to the brink of a first RBS 6 Nations title for five years with a 25-21 victory over Wales but were forced to survive a late fightback that evoked memories of the final-quarter collapse against their old rival at last autumn's World Cup.

England boss Eddie Jones is hoping to turn uncapped lock Maro Itoje into a “BMW”, with the Saracens man set to see action in Rome tomorrow.

England have selected Danny Care at scrum-half and Joe Marler at loosehead prop for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations match against Scotland.

Ireland and Lions scrum-half Conor Murray has given Munster a massive boost ahead of their must-win Champions Cup clash at Leicester by saying a new deal to keep him at the province was “almost a no-brainer”.

Conor Murray is “the heartbeat” of the Munster side and Leicester will target the scrum-half in today’s crucial European Champions Cup tie at Thomond Park, according to opposite number Ben Youngs.