MICHAEL CHEIKA accepts that Leinster’s disappointing away form must improve if they are to claim the Magners League title next month.

STEPHEN KEOGH has been ruled out of the Leinster team for tonight’s crucial Magners League clash with Glasgow at Hughenden.

ENGLAND, based on this display, will be handing over the William Webb Ellis trophy early in the autumn.

Peter Stringer is still struggling with a fractured hand for the RBS 6 Nations clash with England at Croke Park on Saturday.

Leinster’s Girvan Dempsey has edged out Geordan Murphy for the Ireland full-back jersey and will win his 70th Test cap in Sunday’s RBS 6 Nations opener against Wales.

Munster hooker Jerry Flannery has returned to the Ireland squad for the RBS 6 Nations Championship after recovering from a shoulder injury.

LEINSTER coach Michael Cheika admits Felipe Contepomi could make a sensational early return from injury for his side’s Magners League visit to Thomond Park next week.

DENIS Hickie makes his 50th Heineken Cup appearance for Leinster tomorrow, while Christian Warner gets the nod at out-half.

IT could be the most important decision he makes this season so it was no wonder yesterday that Michael Cheika refused to reveal who would wear Felipe Contepomi’s vacant shirt for the Heineken Cup encounter with Pool Two leaders Agen on Saturday.

LEINSTER can count themselves unlucky not to have doubled their pickings at a gale-lashed Ravenhill on Saturday after holding Magners League leaders Ulster to a draw following a game of real old-fashioned rugby.

Ireland have included teenage prospect Luke Fitzgerald as one of nine changes for Sunday’s Lansdowne Road farewell against the Pacific Islands.

Ireland have made four changes for Sunday’s clash with Australia at Lansdowne Road.

Ulster prop Simon Best will captain Ireland A for next Wednesday’s clash with Australia at Thomond Park.

SINCE turning professional during the summer, Luke Fitzgerald simply hasn’t had time to sit and reflect on the heights he has reached in such a remarkably short period of time.

MICK O’DRISCOLL has paid the price for a lack of game time with Munster by being omitted from Eddie O’Sullivan’s 32-man Ireland squad for the forthcoming internationals against South Africa, Australia and the Pacific Islands.

IT may seem like a strange claim to make just days after losing to the previously pointless Borders, but Michael Cheika firmly believes his Leinster side is already better than last year’s model.

Coach Michael Cheika has spoken about Leinster’s need “to maintain their consistency” this week as the province make a less than glamorous trip to The Borders in the Magner’s League on Friday night.

LEINSTER have finalised their squad to face Munster in tomorrow night’s Magners League clash at Lansdowne Road (Setanta Sports, 7.30pm).

JAMIE HEASLIP is confident Leinster can put their poor start to the season behind them this evening by recording a much-needed win against Connacht in the Magners League at the Sportsground (6.30pm).

BRIAN O’DRISCOLL looks set to lead a host of Ireland internationals into action for the first time this season after being named in the Leinster squad to face Connacht in the Magners League at the Sportsground tomorrow.

LLANELLI moved back to the top of the Magners League after holding off a spirited second-half fightback from Leinster at Stradey Park.

PROMISING full-back Danny Riordan — he will be 22 on Monday — has received a timely birthday with his inclusion in the Connacht side to play Edinburgh Gunners in the Magners League at the Sportsground tomorrow night.

BRIAN O’MEARA will be back in Munster colours this season for the first time in six years, having been drafted into the squad on a part-time basis as scrum-half cover.

SHANE HORGAN accepts the chances of Leinster stealing the Celtic League title tonight are slim but, whatever the outcome, the winger is determined that he will leave for New Zealand next month with no regrets.

TWO of Ireland’s senior Triple Crown heroes — Malcolm O’Kelly and Simon Easterby — have been ruled out of Ireland’s summer tour to New Zealand and Australia.

LEINSTER head to the Millennium Stadium earlier than anticipated but still in the hunt for some silverware.

ALAN QUINLAN could return to bolster Munster’s Celtic League bid, a month ahead of his expected return from injury.

LEINSTER will channel their Heineken Cup anger towards beating the Ospreys and cementing their spot at the summit of the Celtic League at Lansdowne Road tonight (7.30).

LEINSTER bid to bounce back from the disappointment of their Heineken Cup defeat by Munster when facing the Neath Swansea Ospreys in the Celtic League at Lansdowne Road on Saturday (7.35pm).

LEINSTER bid to bounce back from the disappointment of their Heineken Cup defeat by Munster when facing the Neath Swansea Ospreys in the Celtic League at Lansdowne Road on Saturday (7.35pm).

THE Irish Rugby Union Players Association (IRUPA) announced their nominations for Irish rugby’s BT sponsored Players Player of the Year.

LEINSTER will be at full strength for their Heineken Cup semi-final dress rehearsal against Llanelli Scarlets in the Celtic League at Lansdowne Road tomorrow night (7.10).

Border Reivers 34 Leinster 35

MICHAEL CHEIKA has challenged his players to prove their dismal show in Wales two weeks ago was a one-off when Leinster take on Connacht in the Celtic League on Sunday.

AFTER the emotional turmoil of Paris and the shock of Mike Ruddock’s departure there may be a temptation to gloss over this weekend’s round of Celtic League fixtures.

MICHAEL CHEIKA reiterated his commitment to nurturing Irish talent in the wake of Leinster signing Australian scrum-half Chris Whitaker from the NSW Waratahs in a two-year deal.

Leinster 62 Borders 14

MICHAEL CHEIKA has dismissed two recent sideline incidents involving himself and assistant coach David Knox as storms in a teacup and claims the Australian pair will not be altering their style of management.

Brian O’Driscoll and Paul O’Connell have been named in Ireland’s squad for the 2006 RBS 6 Nations after making encouraging progress on their return from injury.

LEINSTER resist the urge to rest key players for Saturday’s Celtic League visit to Stradey Park, despite their fast-approaching make or break Heineken Cup fixture with Glasgow.

ANTHONY FOLEY looks certain to lead Ireland against the All Blacks at Lansdowne Road on Saturday week. The Munster captain should take over in the absence of injured Brian O’Driscoll and Paul O’Connell.

LEINSTER will be aiming to rediscover their winning touch against Cardiff Blues at the RDS today (5.30pm), just a week before they open another Heineken Cup campaign at the same venue.

Coach Michael Cheika has gone for an extended 28-man Leinster Squad ahead of their trip to Munster on Saturday.