Ahead of Saturday's eagerly awaited Heineken Champions Cup semi-final clash between Munster and Saracens we look back at previous titanic clashes between these two old rivals.

Talk to Len Dineen, they said. There’ll be stories, they said. Well, the Limerickman, who recently retired after 40 years as a rugby commentator, settled in ...

November 15 next is a date that has loomed large on the Irish rugby calendar for some time, yet you won’t find a fixture of any consequence on the day.

On June 24, a group of middle-aged men met at Ellis Park in Johannesburg. They swapped stories, posed for photos and then watched a film together.

Bryan Habana had just turned 12 when he chased Jonah Lomu into the bathroom of an upmarket hotel in Sandton, Johannesburg.

To host or not to host, that is the question. After witnessing first hand the buzz and excitement that has been so evident at the four games I have attended over the opening two weekends of World Cup action, I can think of nothing better than the prospect of Ireland hosting the event in eight years’ time, writes Donal Lenihan.

Thomond Park was more jammed that night than it ever has been since — they had to have a health and safety audit after that game, writes Ronan O’Gara.

Next year’s Rugby World Cup in England will mark 20 years since Nelson Mandela used the 1995 competition in South Africa to bring that beautiful country’s irreconcilable, almost-at-war cultures together.

Following Munster's heartbreaking defeat CHARLIE MULQUEEN picks 10 Munster matches that stand out most during the history of the competition.

They pride themselves up north in getting straight to the point and saying what they think, so let’s not beat about the bush — Jerome Garces got it right.

It’s doubtful in their professional careers if any of the Ulster or Saracens players have had to shovel dog pooh off pitches before training, but that was exactly Francois Pienaar’s experience when he first joined the English side.

He emerged into bright winter sunshine, stepped onto the lush field, and pulled on a cap.

A minute’s applause will take place at all football matches in the Premier League, Football League and FA Cup this weekend to mark the passing of Nelson Mandela.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter paid a moving tribute to his “dear friend” Nelson Mandela following the death of the former South African president.

New Zealand have dominated the International Rugby Board awards with Kieran Read being crowned player of the year.

Two students from Cork and Kerry will take part in a conference in South Africa next week which will be attended by celebrities including Bob Geldof and former UN Kofi Annan.

You could have substituted South African World Cup-winning captain John Smit’s comments after last week’s trip to Thomond Park with those expressed by his illustrious Springbok predecessor Francois Pienaar all of 13 seasons ago.

Munster backs coach Simon Mannix will look to Ronan O’Gara to lead by example against Saracens tomorrow following his five-star performance at Thomond Park last Saturday.

Former Australia and Saracens fly-half Michael Lynagh has been released from hospital, two weeks after suffering a stroke.

THE All Blacks never forgave Stephen Donald for the missed touch kick which ultimately condemned them to defeat by Australia in Hong Kong this time last year.

FORMER Ireland out-half David Humphreys raised concerns regarding Ireland’s capacity to field a competitive team at the 2016 Olympic Games when he launched the Heineken Kinsale Sevens last night.

South Africa is ready to stage a "Ferrari" of a World Cup as today's big kick-off approaches.

Matt Damon was not expecting to win Best Supporting Actor at this year's Oscars.

Matt Damon doesn’t plan on taking time off.

Matt Damon took six months to learn a South African accent.

Morgan Freeman was born to play Nelson Mandela, the former iconic President of South Africa - it’s just a pity that he hasn’t been given much to work with in this true story of the country’s Rugby World Cup campaign of 1995, during Mandela’s first term in office.

Nelson Mandela has seen ‘Invictus’ – but no one knows if he was happy with how he is portrayed in the film.

Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon and Clint Eastwood are among the guests expected at tonight’s UK premiere of Nelson Mandela movie 'Invictus'.

Matt Damon isn’t bothered about turning 40.

Matt Damon was worried about playing a rugby player in new film 'Invictus'.

Brad Pitt and Matt Damon will voice characters in ‘Happy Feet 2’.

I AM astounded that Brian O’Driscoll has been sensationally passed over for the International Rugby Board player of the year award for 2009 in favour of New Zealand’s Richie McCaw.

Ireland’s hopes of making the World Cup finals have suffered a blow after being drawn against France in the play-offs.

SOUTH AFRICAN rugby bosses have moved to defuse a potentially explosive row over the Springboks’ behaviour during the national anthem before Saturday’s test win over the British and Irish Lions.

IT’S A LIONS tour, but not as we know it. Something is missing. That manic fervour and commitment that the All Blacks were subjected to last November in Thomond Park has been strangely absent in the first five games of this tour – and it’s also missing off the field.

AT lunchtime today, if the weekend reports are correct, Paul O’Connell of Young Munster, Munster and Ireland will be named captain of the British and Irish Lions to tour South Africa this summer.

THE ENGLISH rugby team arrive in Croke Park today as rank outsiders. Their results and performances in the Six Nations so far have been well below the standards set by so many of their predecessors.

WALES coach Warren Gatland has hailed nominations for two of his Grand Slam stars to contest the IRB’s prestigious player of the year award.

THERE IS sufficient evidence to suggest that the international game as we know it in the southern hemisphere is under serious threat.

Francois Steyn has challenged his South Africa team-mates to write a fresh chapter in the annals of Springboks rugby by lifting the World Cup tomorrow night.

ENGLAND will face South Africa in the World Cup final on Saturday after the Springboks emphatically ended Argentina’s tournament hopes at Stade de France last night.

IT HAS taken John Smit the best part of four years but, finally, at the tail-end of his Springbok career, he has been able to silence the voices that dissented from his right to be in the team.