Ian Keatley has been charged with helping lift Munster into the quarter finals of the Heineken Cup after his expected elevation to the team that meets Racing Metro at Thomond Park tomorrow (12.45pm).

Ian Keatley will replace Ronan O’Gara at flyhalf in the only change Munster boss Rob Penney has made for Sunday's crucial meeting with Racing Metro at Thomond Park (12.45pm).

A hamstring injury has forced Johne Murphy to withdraw from the Munster squad as they prepare to face Cardiff Blues in the RaboDirect PRO12 tonight.

Signed by an outgoing coach, Munster new boy Sean Dougall had more than most to prove to incoming boss Rob Penney when the New Zealanader succeeded Tony McGahan this summer.

Ronan O'Gara will become Munster's most capped player when he takes the field for the province’s RaboDirect PRO12 game against Cardiff Blues in Musgrave Park on Saturday (7.30pm).

Munster 24 Ulster 10

Rob Penney has opted to leave Ronan O’Gara on the bench for Munster’s RaboDirect PRO12 meeting with league leaders Ulster in Thomond Park tomorrow (5.30) with Ian Keatley retaining the number 10 jersey.

Rob Penney has made just one change to his starting XV for the return game against Saracens in Vicarage Road on Sunday with Casey Laulala coming into the side in place of the injured Keith Earls.

Munster head coach Rob Penney has made seven changes to his starting XV from the side that took the field against Edinburgh in Round 2 for tomorrow’s Heineken Cup showdown with Saracens at Thomond Park (6pm).

A new back row, a substitute referee and a familiar rallying cry for Munster ahead of tomorrow’s must-win clash with Saracens as Conor Murray called on the new generation to dish out a Heineken Cup hammering of their own at Thomond Park.

Munster 31 Glasgow Warriors 3

Munster coach Rob Penney is expecting fireworks at Thomond Park tonight when his side battle for a RaboDirect Pro12 top four spot against Glasgow Warriors.

Munster boss Rob Penney has recalled his international big guns following the conclusion of Ireland's autumn internationals for Saturday's game at home to Glasgow Warriors

Munster 6 Scarlets 13

Ian Keatley returns to the Munster fly-half berth tomorrow as the province eyes the chance to nick points off second-placed Scarlets as RaboDirect Pro12 action returns to Musgrave Park (5:15pm).

Cardiff Blues 18 Munster 24

The return to home comforts at Cardiff Arms Park tonight is no guarantee to help the Blues end a dismal run of defeats by Munster, but director of rugby Phil Davies remains hopeful the visitors might find it hard to grind out a result there.

Having been released from Ireland’s Carton House training camp, Ronan O'Gara will take his place on the starting XV for Munster's RaboDirectPRO12 game against Cardiff Blues at the Arms Park on Friday (7.05pm).

As expected, a fit again Donncha O'Callaghan has been named in the Munster line-up for the Heineken Cup clash with Edinburgh at Thomond Park Stadium on Sunday (12.45).

Munster coach Rob Penney has made six changes from the side that started against Ospreys for tomorrow's RaboDirect PRO12 clash with Leinster in Dublin (6.30pm).

There hasn’t been much talk about it recently, but Munster are still embarrassed about the capitulation to the Ospreys in last season’s RaboDirect semi-final.

After seven months of breaking the pain barrier to rescue his career, Niall Ronan is delighted to be back in action for Munster. Surgery and a long rehab programme may have helped mend cruciate ligament damage but it also put Ronan’s resolve to the test.

Munster 33 Dragons 13

Munster will reunite Peter Stringer and Ronan O’Gara at half-back for the first time in 19 months as head coach Rob Penney shuffles his deck for tomorrow night’s RaboDirect Pro12 clash with Newport Gwent Dragons at Thomond Park (8pm).

Peter stringer and Ronan O’Gara will form a familiar halfback partnership for Munster’s RaboDirect PRO12 meeting with the Dragons in Thomond Park on Saturday (8pm).

Munster head coach Rob Penney has resisted the urge to start returning Test backs Ronan O’Gara, Conor Murray and Keith Earls in tomorrow night’s RaboDirect Pro12 tussle with Ulster, having named the Ireland trio on the bench for the Ravenhill derby.

Dave Kilcoyne, BJ Botha and Donncha O’Callaghan represent the three changes Rob Penney has made for his side’s visit to Ravenhill on Friday for their RaboDirect PRO12 meeting with Ulster (7.05pm).

Munster 19 Treviso 6

Donncha O'Callaghan will not feature in Munster’s RaboDirectPRO12 game against Treviso in Thomond Park tonight (8pm) as his wife has been admitted to Cork University Hospital and is expected to give birth to their second child.

Stephen Archer and Dave O’Callaghan will make their first starts of the season tomorrow night when Munster make their home debut of the season against Treviso at Thomond Park (8pm).

Stephen Archer and Dave O’Callaghan will start in place of BJ Botha and Paddy Butler as Rob Penney makes just two changes for Munster’s RaboDirect PRO12 clash with Benetton Treviso in Thomond Park Stadium on Friday (8pm).

When Rob Penney was still coaching Canterbury to NPC success back in New Zealand, he received a delegation of coaches from Edinburgh, eager to pick the Kiwi’s brains and discover the secrets of his success.

Rob Penney has been able to name Ireland internationals Donncha O’Callaghan and Mike Sherry in his first competitive squad for Munster’s RaboDirect Pro12 opener at Edinburgh tomorrow night.

Donncha O'Callaghan and Mike Sherry have been named in Rob Penney’s first competitive 23 man squad for the visit to Murrayfield to take on Edinburgh in the RaboDirect PRO12 on Saturday (8pm).

Munster 10 London Irish 34

Rob Penney will be more concerned with a progress report than anything else when Munster take on London Irish at Musgrave Park this evening (7pm).

Paul O’Connell appears set to step down as Munster captain as the province begins a new era under head coach Rob Penney.

Munster got themselves up and running with this pre-season friendly victory over English second-tier opposition last night but for new head coach Rob Penney there was more than a hint of running before they have learned to walk as he tries to stamp his template on the province’s game.

Munster head coach Rob Penney will expect his squad take a step further along the road to readiness for the season ahead when they face Bristol at Musgrave Park tonight (7pm).

New coach Rob Penney has made four changes to his starting 15 for Munster’s second pre-season friendly against Bristol at Musgrave Park on Friday at Musgrave Park (7pm).

A tough day at the office for Munster’s youngsters, who fell heavily to French second division outfit Stade Rochelais at the Stade Marcel Deflandre in searing heat last night.

Doug Howlett will be back in Munster colours here in La Rochelle this evening (6.30pm) for the first time in eight months after recovering from a career-threatening Achilles tendon injury.

Doug Howlett could be set for his first outing in a Munster jersey in more than eight months having been named in a 32-man squad for the province’s opening pre-season friendly.

Newly-appointed Munster manager Niall O’Donovan is optimistic the province will regroup to become a major European force again.