Anthony Foley is confident Keith Earls will not be in harm’s way as Munster return to European competition this Saturday, despite suffering a second concussion in 10 weeks last weekend.

Scarlets 25 Munster 22: Anthony Foley may find himself scratching his head over this one for some time to come after Munster gave up a 10-point lead to lose a game they did not trail in until the final second.

A strong finish from Munster secured a 35-27 win in Cork and denied Cardiff Blues only their second away victory in the Guinness PRO12 since last September.

With 16 Glasgow Warriors players tied up with Scotland at the World Cup as against five Munster men with Ireland, there is little doubt that the home side will be at a distinct advantage when the teams meet in a repeat of last year’s Guinness Pro12 final at Thomond Park this evening (6pm).

Munster 12 Connacht 28: Connacht scrum-half Kieran Marmion could hardly be blamed for feeling more than a little aggrieved last week when he was released back to Connacht by Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt without having had a reasonable chance to press his claims for a place in Ireland’s World Cup squad.

Last week, Tyler Bleyendaal, Munster’s major signing from New Zealand, made his first appearance in the red jersey after dealing with 12 months of deep frustration because of a career-threatening injury. He came through in style.

Francis Saili, Munster’s big name signing from Auckland, is set to make his first appearance in the red jersey in Friday’s friendly against Connacht at Thomond Park.

Munster coach Anthony Foley last night revealed that Tommy O’Donnell is ‘crestfallen’ after being ruled out of Ireland’s Rugby World Cup .

A look around the UL Bowl yesterday quickly indicated that Munster should be in a much better position regarding player availability this season than was the case for the Guinness Pro 12 final against Glasgow Warriors only ten weeks ago.

Munster are keeping their fingers crossed that two experienced Irish Internationals, Keith Earls and Donnacha Ryan, will be available for their European Champions Cup games against Saracens and Sale Sharks next month.

Munster head coach Anthony Foley has thrown down the gauntlet to JJ Hanrahan by asking the reportedly unsettled young playmaker to provide the cutting edge needed to inflict a famous victory over Clermont Auvergne at Stade Marcel Michelin tomorrow (3:15pm Irish time).

Munster head coach Anthony Foley has made four changes to the side that were beaten at home last weekend by Clermont as the province head to France for the return fixture on Sunday.

Munster coach Anthony Foley is still praying for a miracle that one of his international loosehead props can recover for this weekend’s crucial weekend trip to Clermont Auvergne.

Versatile back Johne Murphy is poised to start at outside centre for Munster in their must-win Champions Cup clash with Clermont Auvergne at Thomond Park tomorrow if head coach Anthony Foley decides Andrew Smith is not fit.

Rory Best will start for Ulster against Munster in tomorrow's match at Thomond Park while Munster coach Anthony Foley has named a strong squad bolstered by a number of returning internationals.

New Munster loanee Pat Howard will be a man on a mission when he makes his home debut against Ulster on Friday night, looking to impress his coaches on two continents.

Anthony Foley has made 11 changes to the starting fifteen that

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Anthony Foley has made two changes to the side that claimed a last-gasp

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Anthony Foley has named his squad for Munster’s first game in the new European Champions Cup competition - an away match against Sale Sharks.

Anthony Foley knew one thing only too well as the dust settled on Munster’s excellent victory over Leinster in the Guinness Pro12 at the Aviva Stadium last Saturday.

After an appearance from the bench last Saturday, Captain Peter O’Mahony is set to return to Munster’s starting 15 for the first time since April.

Peter O'Mahony and Damien Varley are both named as replacements in the Munster squad meeting Leinster in Dublin on Saturday.

Munster 14 Ospreys 19

Half-backs Dan Biggar and Rhys Webb led Ospreys to a hard-earned 19-14 Guinness PRO12 victory over Munster at Thomond Park.

The new rugby season could hardly have begun in a more contrasting fashion for Anthony Foley and Steve Tandy, the respective head coaches of Munster and Ospreys who renew their rivalry in the Guinness Pro 12 at Thomond Park this evening, kick-off 6.30pm.

Even though Anthony Foley was far from optimistic about Keith Earls’ prospects of being given the all clear at his consultation with a top Swedish consultant in London on Monday next, the Munster head coach has included the Ireland and Lions centre in his 38-man European Champions Cup squad.

Anthony Foley has been waiting for this week ever since his appointment as head Munster coach, and now that the first game of the new season — albeit a friendly against Gloucester at Kingsholm on Saturday — is almost here, the buzz about the man and all those around him was only too apparent at Cork IT yesterday.

Thomond Park plays host to rugby of a slightly different variety this weekend when 12 teams battle for the inaugural Limerick World Sevens.

There was a time when it hardly mattered who played on the wing for Munster. The chances were they would hardly ever see the ball.

Munster Sevens coach Colm McMahon is banking on his players’ enthusiasm to make up for any lack of experience when the province hosts the Limerick World Club Sevens tournament at Thomond Park this weekend.

Colm McMahon, coach of the Munster team facing up to some of the finest teams in the world in the Limerick World Club Sevens at Thomond Park on August 9th and 10th, is under no illusions as to the extent of the challenge awaiting them.

Munster coach Colm McMahon is confident South Africans CJ Stander and Gerhard Van Den Heever will play key roles when they take on powerful opposition in the inaugural Limerick World Club 7s at Thomond Park on August 9-10.

Glasgow Warriors coach Gregor Townsend landed a selection surprise at Munster’s door ahead of tonight’s RaboDirect Pro12 semi-final at Scotstoun by dropping some star names from his in-form side.

RABO DIRECT PRO12:

Edinburgh have issued a worrying decree — Munster will have to fight for a productive result in Scotland tonight.

Munster have made 11 changes to the side that lost to Toulon in the semi-finals of the Heineken Cup for their penultimate league game against Edinburgh.

Bryan Habana will be giving his Toulon team-mates the inside track on Munster’s South African contingent, having played with BJ Botha, CJ Stander and Gerhard van den Heever.

Ireland tighthead prop Declan Fitzpatrick has returned to Belfast following a heart scare which forced him off during Ulster’s defeat at Glasgow on Friday.

Connacht 23 Munster 32

Munster warmed up for their Heineken Cup semi-final against Toulon with a bonus-point 32-23 victory over provincial rivals Connacht.