Leinster fly out for Toulouse this morning fuelled by a stunning declaration of intent against Wasps eight days ago and, you would imagine, in the hope that they can jettison some of the hyperbole that has enveloped them along the way.

Jordan Larmour isn’t just blessed with fancy footwork. The man is a safe pair of hands as well.

Glasgow cruised into the European Champions Cup quarter-finals for the first time in their history after humiliating Leicester 43-0 at Welford Road.

History does have a habit of repeating itself, especially in European Cup rugby. Ten years ago Ronan O’Gara stood over a match-winning penalty kick bang on the halfway line to deliver a rare win at Welford Road against a quality Leicester outfit. He nailed it.

Rassie Erasmus may not remember whether he played at Welford Road during his Springboks days but the Munster boss is canny enough to acknowledge his players cannot afford to turn up there today feeling in any way complacent.

Simon Lewis analyses the three key battles that could determine the winner at Thomond Park...

Leicester Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill has warned his squad they will have to overcome a Munster side galvanised by the death of Anthony Foley.

Leicester boss Richard Cockerill praised Freddie Burns’ “stardust” qualities after the fly-half inspired Tigers’ 27-17 European Champions Cup victory over Racing 92 at Welford Road.

MUNSTER SELECTION

Long before Munster headed home from Bristol on Sunday, players and management knew that unless this is a tough week of soul-searching and preparation then their Champions Cup campaign will be unhinged over the next two weekends by in-form Leicester Tigers.

Leicester 40 Scarlets 23

Leicester put indifferent domestic form behind them as they made a strong start to their European Rugby Champions Cup campaign by sinking Ulster 25-18 at Welford Road.

England imploded at the Waikato Stadium to conclude their series against New Zealand with an error-ridden 36-13 defeat as the All Blacks amassed a record-equalling 17th successive victory.

Crusaders 7 England 38

England fly-half Owen Farrell has been ruled out of Saturday’s final Test against New Zealand due to a knee injury.

England slipped to a painful late defeat in their first Test against New Zealand knowing that a glorious opportunity to topple the world champions had eluded them.

By Peter O’ Dwyer

Danny Cipriani is set to make his first appearance in an England squad since 2008 when head coach Stuart Lancaster names the players selected for next week's training camp.

Today's lesson kids - don’t stage a pitch invasion in front of an angry fly-half.

England Saxons 8 Ireland Wolfhounds 14

Gloucester 7 Munster 20

ON THE face of it, an outstanding weekend for the Irish in Europe. However, while Ulster in particular, Leinster and Connacht have every reason to reflect with satisfaction on their performances, one feels that despite Munster’s 16 point win over Gloucester, nobody within the camp will be getting too carried away with this latest showing.

Gloucester director of rugby Nigel Davies looks set to abandon the principle of ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ and rotate his winning squad for tomorrow’s Heineken Cup showdown with Munster at Thomond Park (6pm).

Wing Jonny May’s late try gave Gloucester a dramatic Heineken Cup victory as Perpignan had their former Munster centre Lifeimi Mafi sent off.

A British and Irish Lions rugby star has apologised for playing a prank on British Prime Minister David Cameron during a team visit to Downing Street.

It is now more than a decade since the famous Miracle Match of 2003, but memories of that never-to-be-forgotten occasion will be revived when three survivors participate in today’s Seat Series clash of Munster and Gloucester at Thomond Park (kick-off 5pm).

France will take several positives from their 23-13 defeat by New Zealand on Saturday.

Richard III’s remains may have been discovered in a car park in Leicester earlier this week but Owen Farrell would do well to pay greater heed to Shakespeare’s Henry IV ahead of England’s visit to Dublin this weekend.

Toby Flood will be named in England's RBS 6 Nations squad today after a citing for an alleged tip tackle was dismissed at a Rugby Football Union hearing.

England 38 New Zealand 21

Saracens 28 Gloucester 23

England 38 New Zealand 21

Owen Farrell will start opposite fellow world player of the year nominee Dan Carter after being confirmed as England’s starting fly-half against New Zealand.

Connacht have launched a drive to hold on to Ireland second-row Mike McCarthy after it emerged Leinster are keen to sign him.

Fifty-cap England fly-half Toby Flood has been warned that he may have to accept a job-share arrangement with rising star George Ford when Leicester’s Aviva Premiership campaign opens on Sunday.

Ireland head coach Declan Kidney said that he was encouraged by what he saw from the Ireland Wolfhounds’ performance against the England Saxons on Saturday despite the 23-17 scoreline in favour of the Saxons.

If Declan Kidney was hoping his Irish Wolfhounds would upset the established order ahead of his RBS 6 Nations squad announcement today, he will have left Exeter on Saturday night slightly disappointed.

GLOUCESTER floored Heineken Cup heavyweights Toulouse at Kingsholm after a brilliant performance inspired by their try-hungry backs.

Harlequins 20 Gloucester 14

CONNACHT coach Eric Elwood has vowed that a heartbreaking late loss to English Premiership side Gloucester will not break his side’s spirit.