Leinster captain Leo Cullen is backing fellow lock Devin Toner to make more giant strides in his game over the coming season as the European champions open their RaboDirect Pro12 campaign at Scarlets today (6.30pm).

Paul O’Connell is back to boost Munster’s prospects of defeating Llanelli Scarlets in Wales tonight and keep his side ahead of the posse in the race for a RaboDirect Pro12 semi-final place.

Munster Academy prop Dave Kilcoyne will make his first competitive start for the province when Tony McGahan’s men take on the Scarlets in tomorrow evening’s RaboDirect PRO12 meeting in Llanelli (6.30pm).

Fergus McFadden was the last-gasp hero for Leinster last night as he secured a tremendously hard-fought victory by nailing a long-distance penalty with the final kick of the game.

With a combined total of nine internationals released to them from Six Nations camps this week, both Leinster and Scarlets will be boosted by a plethora of faces keen to make an impression on international coaches at the RDS tonight.

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS are determined to complete their European revenge mission against Munster on Saturday after ending the Scarlets Heineken Cup hopes.

TWO tries by Stephen Ferris helped Ulster come back from an early bombardment by the Scarlets to claim much-needed RaboDirect Pro 12 League points at Ravenhill last night.

LEINSTER stopped the Scarlets from going to the top of the Magners League as they staged an amazing fight-back in the final 10 minutes.

WALES flanker Dan Lydiate has warned his Wales team-mates they need to make a big improvement if they are to avoid a thrashing by the All Blacks next week.

NICK EASTER will captain England in Saturday’s Investec Test against Samoa after manager Martin Johnson made four changes to the team that beat Australia.

MUNSTER enhanced their unbeaten home record with a deserved Magners League triumph over struggling Llanelli Scarlets at Musgrave Park last night.

LEINSTER-BOUND Isaac Boss wants to end his season with Ulster on a high by helping them to the inaugural knock-out stages of the Magners League.

THE highs and lows of professional rugby were very evident at the RDS on Saturday evening as Leinster clocked up their fourth win over the Scarlets who must be sick of the sight of them by now.

SHANE JENNINGS will captain a Leinster side that is boosted by the inclusion of the four other Ireland internationals in the pack for tonight’s Magners League encounter with the Scarlets at the RDS (6.30pm).

WALES star Stephen Jones gave national coach Warren Gatland an injury worry just four weeks before they play England at Twickenham as the Scarlets claimed a vital Magners League win at Rodney Parade.

SIMON EASTERBY has been ruled out of the remainder of the Scarlets’ Heineken Cup campaign.

SUCH was the magnitude of this performance that Leinster travelled to the Welsh valleys on Saturday with their Heineken Cup title hanging by a thread and yet they departed with their grip seemingly tighter than ever.

JOHNNIE BEATTIE has long been in the shadow of his father but he has revealed he is now also playing catch-up to his baby sister.

WITH only one win to date in the Magners League, Connacht will be desperate to utilise home advantage in tonight’s last fixture before the break for Guinness Internationals.

TOMÁS O’LEARY admitted on Saturday night that he is “a stronger player and person” after he returned from the horror injury which destroyed his Lions dream.

SIMON EASTERBY returns to the Llanelli Scarlets team for tomorrow’s Magners League clash with Munster (Parc Y Scarlets, 6.30pm).

MICHAEL CHEIKA admitted ill discipline cost Leinster dearly after the reigning Heineken Cup champions slumped to a shock opening day defeat to the Scarlets in the Magners League.

LEINSTER may have ended a run of near-misses and underachievement in glorious fashion by winning the Heineken Cup, but that will not stop Michael Cheika from imposing a change of playing style this season.

JOB done. Seven tries, just the one conceded and, most importantly, not an injury in sight.

The Scarlets coach Nigel Davies has named British & Irish Lions hooker Matthew Rees and out-half Stephen Jones in the side to play Leinster in the Magners League at The Rds on Friday night.

GORDON D’ARCY will have caught Ireland coach Declan Kidney’s eye as defending champions Leinster kept the heat on Magners League table-toppers Munster.

The Scarlets coach Nigel Davies has opted to leave Stephen Jones on the bench and retain Rhys Preistland at out-half ahead of their Magner’s League encounter with Connacht at The Sportsground on Friday evening.

The Scarlets coach Nigel Davies knows he needs a win at Ulster to keep alive their Heineken Cup hopes.

THE blows just keep on coming for Irish rugby.

WHILE his “galacticos” had been labouring at the Rugby World Cup in France, Michael Cheika’s set of replacement backs have been cutting a swathe through the first two rounds of the Magners League.

Ireland internationals Geordan Murphy and Shane Jennings will start for Leicester Tigers against Llanelli Scarlets in the Heineken Cup semi-final at the Walkers Stadium on Saturday.

ULSTER captain Justin Harrison wants his side to make history in Stradey Park this evening.

LIFIEMI MAFI makes his first start for Munster in tomorrow’s Magners League clash with Llanelli Scarlets in Stradey Park (Setanta Sports, 5.35pm).

ULSTER’S stand-in captain and resident hard man Justin Harrison wants the same performance from his players against Llanelli at Stradey Park tonight that they produced in humiliating Toulouse last week.

OSPREYS boss Lyn Jones has predicted “an encounter to remember” when his star-studded Welsh challengers tackle English champions Sale Sharks in a mouth-watering Heineken Cup clash this evening.

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.

New Zealand Maori 27 Ireland A 6