As Joe Schmidt named a 44-man squad to take part in a 24-hour training camp this weekend, Conor O’Shea was backing Ireland to cause an upset and beat the Springboks in South Africa this summer.

With 16 Glasgow Warriors players tied up with Scotland at the World Cup as against five Munster men with Ireland, there is little doubt that the home side will be at a distinct advantage when the teams meet in a repeat of last year’s Guinness Pro12 final at Thomond Park this evening (6pm).

There has been no cosy chat to compare likely team selections this time, but the respective sides named by Joe Schmidt and Vern Cotter for tomorrow’s World Cup warm-up between Ireland and Scotland in Dublin nonetheless made clear the fact the experimentation phase is far from over.

Jack Coonan, the highly-promising Leinster back-row forward and Connacht prop Nathan White, are the only uncapped players in the extended 46-strong Ireland squad announced yesterday by head coach Joe Schmidt. 

The Ireland coaching staff has today named an extended squad of 46 players for the upcoming RBS 6 Nations matches against Italy and France, as well as the Ireland Wolfhounds fixture against the England Saxons.

When it comes to dishing out plaudits, prop forwards are rarely if ever at the top of the pecking order.

Munster are keeping their fingers crossed that two experienced Irish Internationals, Keith Earls and Donnacha Ryan, will be available for their European Champions Cup games against Saracens and Sale Sharks next month.

Though an injury-weakened Ireland face a South Africa side unchanged from the one that beat New Zealand last month, Cian Healy believes his colleagues have nothing to fear.

Almost half a century has come and gone since Europe last belonged to Glasgow, when Jock Stein’s famously home-spun Celtic Bhoys beat Inter Milan in the 1967 final.

Munster welcome back more heavy artillery for Friday’s Guinness Pro12 clash with Zebre at Thomond Park, but coach Anthony Foley may have to wait longer than expected for Peter O’Mahony and Donnacha Ryan.

Munster will welcome back Ian Keatley, Simon Zebo and Andrew Conway for their Guinness Pro12 opener at home to Edinburgh on Friday, but hooker Damien Varley’s next appearance in the red jersey remains uncertain.

There’s two things you must consider after this game: Munster could have won the Heineken Cup this year, but to win a European Champions Cup next season, they will have to invest wisely.

Toulon 24 Munster 16

Munster warmed up for their Heineken Cup semi-final against Toulon with a bonus-point 32-23 victory over provincial rivals Connacht.

Charlie Mulqueen rates the Munster men's performance on the day.

Paul O’Connell issued a downbeat assessment of Munster’s chances of a Heineken Cup quarter-final victory over French giants Toulouse, saying his province should not be favourites at Thomond Park on Saturday.

Leinster 22 Munster 18

You can talk about your Brian O’Driscolls or your Paul O’Connells but, in one way at least, Mike Ross is the type of face that best fits the idea of the modern Irish rugby professional.

Paul O’Connell demonstrated just what a very special man he is on and off the pitch at the Stade de France on Saturday. As captain, leader, strategist and unrelenting ball carrier, the Young Munster man has no equal.

Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt has named Munster's Simon Zebo in his 33-man Ireland squad.

Munster 54 Cardiff Blues 13

Rob Penney looks certain to remain as Munster head coach for at least another season.

In the end, it was Ulster who got the bragging rights — just.

Munster’s fine recent run of form that has moved them seven points clear at the top of the RaboDirect Pro12 has left head coach Rob Penney with a few selection headaches for what is certain to be a very difficult game against Ulster at Ravenhill on Friday.

Munster 16 Scarlets 10

Munster moved to the top of Heineken Cup Pool 6 as they swept past a weakened Perpignan team 36-8 at Thomond Park today.

Munster 26 Gloucester 10

Munster coach Rob Penney has resisted the temptation to field his strongest side in response to last week’s second half meltdown at Treviso for this evening’s Rabo Direct clash with the Newport Gwent Dragons.

Paul O'Connell will sit on the Munster reserves bench for Saturday's game against Dragons.

The GAA are to honour the 15 outstanding hurlers from the 1980s who were unsuccessful in annexing an All-Ireland winner’s medal.

Some of the greatest hurlers never to win an All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship medal will have their contributions to the game acknowledged on All-Ireland finals day at Croke Park on Sunday week (September 8).

Rory Best will captain a senior Ireland squad featuring six uncapped players for the summer tour of the USA and Canada.

A coroner who frequently highlights the high level of suicide in the country believes appeals by the late Dónal Walsh to his peers not to take their lives will have a lasting impact.

Clermont 16 Munster 10

Munster 16 Leinster 22

Munster forward David Kilcoyne has come a very long way in a very short space of time.

Glasgow 51 Munster 24

Glasgow 51 Munster 24

It will be business as usual for Ireland head coach Declan Kidney as he picks over the wreckage of a disappointing and unprecedented RBS 6 Nations campaign and begins planning for a summer tour to North America.

After sensationally dropping Ronan O’Gara from his extended squad Declan Kidney has heightened the curiosity over the Irish number 10 jersey by delaying his choice of outhalf for Saturday’s encounter with France at the Aviva Stadium.