Ireland’s Jared Payne returns to a strong Ulster’s match-day squad for tomorrow’s difficult Pro12 trip to Treviso.

Guinness Pro12: Treviso 24 Leinster 24

Jordi Murphy and Dave Kearney make their first starts of the season in Leinster’s Guinness Pro12 clash away to Benetton Treviso at Stadio Monigo tomorrow (2.30pm).

Treviso 6 Connacht 9

Connacht’s seasonal ambitions could well come down to games such as this evening’s in Italy at Stadio Monigo (7pm, Irish time).

GUINNESS PRO12:

Munster head coach Anthony Foley is demanding his players step up to the plate at the Stadio Monigo tonight (7pm Irish time) and beat Benetton Treviso, despite losing lock Paul O’Connell on the eve of the game.

RABO DIRECT PRO12:

Connacht 38 Treviso 6

Treviso 3 Ulster 35

Ulster 48 Benetton Treviso 0

There was obviously a good reason for this RaboDirect Pro12 game to be handed the same kick-off slot as Ireland-New Zealand tomorrow but, for the life of us, it is impossible to think of one.

Ulster 29 Treviso 29

Treviso 34 Munster 10

Leinster 40 Treviso 5

Treviso 15 Ulster 16

Connacht 18 Benetton Treviso 3

Former Stormer Danie Poolman makes a timely first start for Connacht against Italian visitors Benetton Treviso at the Galway Sportsground today (5pm).

Treviso 18 Leinster 19

Munster 19 Treviso 6

Brian McLaughlin praised the fighting spirit of his team after Ian Whitten’s late try rescued Ulster against Treviso on Saturday.

Wales kept their Grand Slam mission on course after seeing off a determined Italy outfit at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday.

Wales are optimistic captain Sam Warburton will be fit to lead his team’s RBS 6 Nations title bid against France next Saturday.

Captain Ross Ford believes a Scotland win in Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash with Ireland in Dublin is necessary for the squad to retain belief that they are moving in the right direction.

Much of the talk leading into this tie surrounded the immediate future of Tomás O’Leary, after French TV claimed the Ireland international had inked a deal with Perpignan.

Munster coach Tony McGahan has chosen what can only be construed as a team hell-bent on winning the first of four important RaboDirect Pro12 games away to Treviso today.

Vive la France.

There might well be a new broom brushing away the cobwebs of the Marc Lièvremont era but looking at Philippe Saint-André’s first XV as France coach, it’s not immediately clear if all that much has changed.

IT’S much change for Munster and minimum alterations for Treviso in advance of tonight’s RaboDirect Pro12 clash at Thomond Park.

CONNACHT racked up their eighth loss on the trot, falling to Italian visitors Treviso in the Galway Sportsground last night, once again paying the price for a poor start.

Andrea Masi returns at full-back in Italy’s only change for Sunday’s World Cup showdown with Ireland at Otago Stadium.

ITALY coach Nick Mallett isn’t holding out much hope for victory against Australia tomorrow.

Italy coach Nick Mallett has made 11 changes to his starting line-up for Saturday’s World Cup warm-up match against Scotland at Murrayfield.

Italy coach Nick Mallett has named a 30-man squad for the World Cup in New Zealand.

CONNACHT climbed into eighth place in the Magners League table after securing a third successive win at the Galway Sportsground last night.

CONNACHT will be looking to grab this evening’s opportunity at the Galway Sportsground (7.05pm) to again leapfrog Magners League opponents.

Leinster 30 Treviso 5

MUNSTER squandered the opportunity to solidify their position at the summit of the Magners League standings as they slumped to a one-point defeat at the hands of Treviso at the Stadio di Monigo yesterday.

ULSTER got the massive fillip they wanted ahead of next week’s crucial home Euro date against Biarritz with a comfortable Magners League victory over Treviso, despite failing to register a point in the second half.

TWO tries for the second game running from Craig Gilroy helped Ulster to victory away to Benetton Treviso in their Magners League clash at the Stadio di Monigo last night.

CHRIS HENRY is determined that Ulster continue where they left off against Cardiff Blues last week and continue their quest for Magners League glory.