A ragged Ireland hobbled to defeat last Saturday after what, for long periods of the game, may have been the team’s best performance of the 2008 RBS Six Nations.

Regardless of the sport, there’s no such thing as a meaningless game between Ireland and England.

Ireland played a horrible game of rugby last Saturday in Dublin and deservedly lost against Wales in a match whose quality fizzled out well before the relief of the final whistle.

The forecast is for cold weather over Croke Park tomorrow, but at pitch level it will be a different story.

Former Ireland and Munster full-back Dominic Crotty casts his eye over Ireland's clash with Scotland this weekend in the 2008 RBS 6 Nations.

It may seem strange to say, especially when the more experienced team loses an international, but Ireland can take a lot from this game.

Facing Ireland this weekend as they march into the den that is the Stade de France will be a lion, not an experienced and expert hunter, but a lion nonetheless.

Ireland enjoyed - if that’s the correct word - an opening-day win against Italy at Croke Park last Saturday.

Nick Mallett, the new Italian coach, is the latest in a long line of foreign coaches to be airlifted in to try and help Italian rugby finally gain some form of consistency.

Dominic Crotty looks for the positives from the defeat inflicted on Ireland in Murrayfield last Saturday.

Dominic Crotty writes about the main tasks facing the Irish XV that take on Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday.

IN WHAT has certainly been a stellar year for the Irish international and Munster out-half, Ronan O’Gara will today break the hearts of Munster’s female fans by marrying his long-term girlfriend at a lavish wedding in Cork.

Munster's South African centre and full back want to create their own piece of Thomond Park magic today. Edward Newman and Charlie Mulqueen spoke to Springboks, Trevor Halstead and Shaun Payne.

THE Munster management are concerned over the whereabouts of Brian Lima after their recent big name signing for the concluding stages of the Celtic League and Heineken Cup failed to turn up this week.

SHE stood before us, a statuesque, 5ft 11 vision of Aryan loveliness.

MUNSTER hope to sign captain Jim Williams for another season. In the aftermath of Sunday’s Heineken Cup semi-final defeat to Wasps, it was suggested 35-year-old Williams was ready to either retire or move on to Japan.

DECLAN Kidney is now considered "a primary target" to replace Dean Richards as director of rugby at Leicester.

Galwegians 8 Garryowen 27

Munster 29 Borders 21

Belfast Harlequins 50 Garryowen 17

Garryowen 15 Shannon 28

IT’S derby day in the AIB League, especially down south where Munster’s division one sides are in direct opposition.

Cork Con 24 Garryowen 8

Munster, Ulster and Leinster have announced their squads for the 2003/2004 Heineken European Cup season.

Munster 22 Celtic Warriors 21

Munster 26 Glasgow 10

Munster 26 Glasgow 10

Jason Holland, Martin McPhail and Denis Leamy return from injury for Munster against Glasgow at Musgrave Park on Friday night.

Munster have two injury worries ahead of the visit of Glasgow in the Celtic League this week.

Gwent Dragons 29 Munster 6

Munster will show six changes in personal from last week in their bid to get their Celtic League season back on track against Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade on Friday night.

Munster coach Alan Gaffney has decided to select right wing Martin McPhail against Ulster in Friday evening's Celtic League clash at Musgrave Park.

Glasgow 18 Munster 14

Toulouse13

Munster fly out to Toulouse at lunchtime today for their semi-final Heineken Cup semi-final clash.

KILLIAN KEANE was the master craftsman of Garryowen’s sensational 36-16 AIB League victory over Ballymena at Dooradoyle on Saturday.

Munster have named their 22-man squad for the game against Connacht at Thomond Park tomorrow night (ko 6.30pm).

Scottish internationals Gary Armstrong and Doddie Weir head up a strong Borders side for the game on Wednesday evening against Munster at Thomond Park.

MUNSTER will begin their preparation for the Heineken Cup quarter-final meeting with Leicester with a game against Scottish Borders in Thomond Park next Wednesday (7.30).

THIS story just gets better and better. Forget Leinster’s remarkable, flawless record for just a moment and taste the vengeance wafting through the air.

MUNSTER’S worst fears may not, after all, be realised and the chances are that they will be able to select the side to meet Gloucester at Thomond Park on Saturday from the 24 players available to them for last week’s Heineken Cup game in Perpignan.

Munster coach Alan Gaffney names his side today ahead of Friday's Celtic League semi-final with Ulster at Thomond Park.

ULSTER keyman David Humphreys has recovered from the injury that kept him out of the side's Heineken Cup game against Biarritz on December 14 and will lead the province against Munster in the Celtic League semi-final at Thomond Park on Friday night, kick-off 7. 35.

Garryowen 6 Galwegians 20