Three key areas where Munster must impose themselves this evening

Clermont Auvergne may be the envy of most clubs in Europe with the wealth of talent at their disposal but while that depth is apparent at out-half, filling the 10 shirt on Saturday is their biggest concern at the moment.

We’ve been spoilt over the years with the frequency of Munster and Leinster being paired with Toulouse and Clermont Auvergne in either the pool or knockout stages of the Heineken Cup. At its best, French club rugby is irresistible and in those two outstanding sides, we have been exposed to the very best it has to offer.

Clermont Auvergne coach Vern Cotter has cranked up the heat ahead of Saturday’s Heineken Cup semi-final by claiming Paul O’Connell was protected by officials over the incident with Dave Kearney.

French Top 14 club Racing Metro continue to distance themselves from strong indications in Ireland that a deal has been agreed with Leinster fly-half Jonny Sexton, with club president Jacky Lorenzetti suggesting yesterday he was negotiating with another international fly-half.

Clermont Auvergne 46 Exeter 3

Ask a Kiwi, Aussie or Springbok to talk about Ireland and the response is guaranteed to mention Brian O’Driscoll and/or that hoary old nod to passion. Beyond that, the well of platitudes tends to dry up.

Andrew Trimble hopes JP Pietersen will be only too aware of his name by the end of Saturday’s Guinness Series opener between Ireland and South Africa.

As Ulster adapt to being favourites for a Heineken Cup semi-final, champions Leinster face the sternest test in the defence of their title and an all-Irish final hangs in the balance.

Copious praise has been thrust at Clermont Auvergne this week, but perhaps the most notable aspect to the French side is its patience.

Bridesmaid. It’s a word that seems to provoke equal amounts of fear and loathing from members of the opposite sex, much to the incomprehension of men everywhere.

Clermont Auvergne’s French international out-half, David Skrela, will miss Sunday’s Heineken Cupsemi-final against Leinster.

Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall put English rugby’s European failure down to the gulf in the salary cap between the Aviva Premiership and the rest.

Saracens 3 Clermont Auvergne 22

Saracens rugby director Mark McCall is hoping his side can push on from the quarter-finals and become one of Europe’s elite clubs.

THIS was meant to be the game that topped the bill this weekend: a revitalised Ulster side against one of the French powerhouses with both sides gunning for the win required to take them through to the next round and leave the other scratching for a slot in the Amlin Challenge.

Leicester 23 Clermont Auvergne 19

Fly-half Ian Humphreys was left to thank his forwards despite scoring all the points in Ulster’s 16-11 victory over Clermont Auvergne to open their Heineken Cup campaign.

Ulster 16 Clermont-Auvergne 11

PERCEPTIONS can really mess with the head sometimes.

ENGLAND prop Andrew Sheridan and French fly-half David Skrela hobbled home from the World Cup just as Samoa entered the fray with a resounding win and New Zealanders fretted about the back of prized asset Dan Carter.

France fly-half David Skrela has joined England prop Andrew Sheridan in being ruled out of the Rugby World Cup with a shoulder injury.

France 47 Japan 21

DECLAN KIDNEY today pares his squad to the 30 players he will take to the Rugby World Cup and will hope the chosen ones can inject a little more focus into Ireland’s final preparations.

Ireland 22 France 26

WITH just two days separating the games against Connacht and France, Declan Kidney’s resources were always going to be stretched this week, so yesterday’s injury update from Carton House was timely and welcome in equal measure.

France coach Marc Lievremont has made true on his promise to ring the changes for this weekend's return friendly against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium, by making 13 changes to the side that started in Bordeaux on Saturday.

THIS is a time to accentuate the positives and from an Irish perspective there were plenty of those to cling to despite a second defeat in a row for a team struggling to find its feet with the World Cup looming.

Jamie Heaslip denied that revenge was used as a motivating factor for Leinster in their pulsating Heineken Cup semi-final victory over Toulouse at the Aviva Stadium.

Leinster 32 Toulouse 23

Toulouse coach Guy Novès has made four changes to his side, from the one that defeated Biarritz in their Heineken Cup quarter-final clash in San Sebastian, for tomorrow’s last four match with Leinster at the Aviva Stadium, kick-off 3.30pm.

LEINSTER captain Leo Cullen has branded losing as “unacceptable” as he prepares to lead his team on a mission to heal the scars of last season’s Heineken Cup semi-final defeat against defending champions Toulouse at the Aviva Stadium tomorrow.

HAVING watched Toulouse make heavy weather of beating Biarritz and Northampton struggle to dispose of Ulster, Leinster could be forgiven for believing they are on course for a second Heineken Cup in three years.

HEINEKEN Cup champions Toulouse booked a semi-final date with 2009 winners Leinster in Dublin after a thrilling 27-20 extra-time victory over Biarritz at Estadio Anoeta yesterday.

Biarritz 20 Toulouse 27

Victory for Leinster tomorrow could catapult them to a second Heineken Cup success, believes Donal Lenihan. The outlook is not so promising for Ulster however. Munster? The future starts here.

Each of the protagonists, bar Italy, can legitimately talk up their Six Nations chances, writes Donal Lenihan.

Wasps 21 Toulouse 16

FRANCE coach Marc Lièvremont insists his Grand Slam champions can recover from their disastrous autumn series and win back-to-back Six Nations titles.

Biarritz prop Sylvain Marconnet has been recalled by France coach Marc Lievremont to his 30-man squad for the defence of their RBS 6 Nations crown.

GLASGOW WARRIORS’ French misery continued as their European dreams were shattered following a 36-10 loss to Toulouse last night.

Toulouse 36 Glasgow Warriors 10

Glasgow Warriors 16 Toulouse 28

Mathieu Bastareaud has been left out of France’s squad for their upcoming internationals against Fiji, Argentina and Australia.