Six things to keep an eye on in this year’s Six Nations

Munster target their 100th European Cup victory at Allianz Park, the home of Saracens, tomorrow — and do so as underdogs: writes Charlie Mulqueen.

Simon Mason turned up at Lansdowne Road bright and early for the game of his life, a net of balls slung over his shoulder.

Italy believe they’ll play a significantly weakened Irish team in today’s Six Nations showdown because Brian O’Driscoll is unfit to play.

The victorious Leinster Rugby team arrived back at Dublin airport in the early hours of this morning to a rapturous welcome from fans.

Leinster centre Brian O’Driscoll revealed some “inspirational” words from man-of-the-match Jonathan Sexton helped men in blue turn the Heineken Cup final on its head as they beat Northampton 33-22 in Cardiff.

Leinster 33 Northampton 22

Wales 19 Ireland 13

FROM one Lions fly-half to another, Neil Jenkins paid tribute to Ronan O’Gara as he prepared to join his Welsh star in the 1,000-point club.

Ronan O’Gara has been hailed as “a legend of the game” as he prepares to join an exclusive club in Test match rugby.

Dan Lydiate admits there is no hiding place from the damaging number of penalties Wales have conceded in this season’s RBS 6 Nations Championship.

New Zealand 66 Ireland 28

New Zealand playmaker Dan Carter believes putting the All Black jersey back on will bring the best out of him ahead of the season-opening Test against Ireland on Saturday.

BETTER than winning the Heineken Cup, better than playing for Italy, better than playing for the Barbarians and beating the world champions.

Jonny Wilkinson has broken Neil Jenkins’ world record of points scored in Test rugby in today’s RBS 6 Nations match against Scotland.

Italy coach Nick Mallett has told his players to forget Mauro Bergamasco's 13-week ban for eye-gouging and instead focus on beating France on Sunday.

Three home wins is the least beleaguered Irish coach Eddie O’Sullivan requires from the Six Nations.

England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson has insisted personal milestones are "just not important" in the context of his country's stuttering World Cup campaign.

ITALY’S Prime Minister Romano Prodi has never been a great football fan, unlike his opposite number Silvio Berlusconi, who is both president and owner of AC Milan, as well as most of the country’s TV stations.

LEICESTER’S back-to-back victories over Heineken Cup champions Wasps has helped make them favourites to win this year’s title.

Man of the match Paul O’Connell was satisfied with Munster’s 36-8 Heineken Cup victory at home Castres, declaring it was “job done”.

Ireland international Ronan O’Gara became the Heineken Cup’s leading points scorer as Munster gained full revenge on Castres, scoring five tries in a 36-8 Pool Four triumph at Thomond Park.

THE MOST influential player the Heineken Cup has seen since its inception in 1995/96?

MUNSTER go into their third successive day of intensive preparation for Saturday’s crucial Heineken Cup tie against Castres Olympique at Thomond Park with coach Alan Gaffney still none the wiser about the composition of his team.

Former Wasps flanker Paul Volley came back to haunt Munster and help Castres to a 19-12 pool four Heineken Cup win at Stade Pierre-Antoine tonight.

RONAN O’GARA is set to create a new Heineken Cup record when Munster clash twice with Castres in the tournament next month.

LAWRENCE DALLAGLIO took stock of England’s demise during their demoralising southern hemisphere tour, but vowed: “We shall rebuild and come back a much stronger side.”

Munster forward Frankie Sheahan has paid Heineken Cup semi-final opponents Wasps a glowing tribute, by declaring: “They have been English rugby’s form team for the past two years.”

Munster coach Alan Gaffney has warned his players to keep their discipline - or risk being kicked out of the Heineken Cup.

Stade Francais veteran Diego Dominguez and massive centre Brian Liebenberg have been passed fit to play Munster on Saturday.

REGARDED by many as the minnows of the Six Nation’s championship, Italy arrive in Dublin today with designs on being the ultimate party poopers.

Leicester 13 Stade Francais 26

Italian master Diego Dominguez starred as Stade Francais wiped out the memories of their 2001 Heineken Cup final defeat by Leicester with an impressive display at Welford Road this evening.

IT’S rolling towards five years since Ulster became the first and only Irish side to win the European Cup. They haven’t been back since, in fact they haven’t even managed to negotiate the pool stage of the competition since David Humphreys lifted the trophy at Lansdowne Road in 1999.

Ulster coach Alan Solomons refused to throw in the towel in the Heineken Cup despite his side’s cruel 13-10 defeat against Stade Francais in Paris.

Stade Francais 13 Ulster 10

Leeds 0 Edinburgh 23

Ulster 22 Stade Francais 20

Stade Francais 26 Leicester 15

AZZURRI coach John Kirwan caused a sensation in Italian rugby yesterday when he omitted stand-off Ramiro Pez from his World Cup squad.

AUSTRALIA coach Eddie Jones has called for Irish referee Dave McHugh to strictly police the breakdown and clamp down on any infringements in order to promote the fast, running rugby style he wants to play against England on Saturday.

WALES captain Jonathan Humphreys has been ruled out of Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations Championship showdown with France in Paris, almost certainly ending his international career.

CLIVE WOODWARD has dismissed any prospect of complacency creeping into England’s performance when they tackle potential Twickenham fall-guys Italy on Sunday.