The fact that Edinburgh will be missing their main play-maker and most lethal finisher tonight will delight Munster as they prepare for the opening round of the RaboDirect Pro 12 at Musgrave Park (7.15pm).

RABODIRECT PRO12: Edinburgh 24 Connacht 32

Rob Penney has been able to name Ireland internationals Donncha O’Callaghan and Mike Sherry in his first competitive squad for Munster’s RaboDirect Pro12 opener at Edinburgh tomorrow night.

Last year’s county champions O’Donovan Rossa were knocked out at the Carbery U21AFC semi-final stage on Saturday at Leap.

Coach Mike Ruddock praised his men for maintaining their composure and seeing off the challenge of a weak Scotland side at Dubarry Park last night to set up a Grand Slam decider away to England next Friday.

IT says a lot about the strength of a squad that can eke out home and away Heineken Cup victories, then make 13 changes and come away with a bonus-point RaboDirect Pro12 win against one of Europe’s form teams.

SOME not so clever defending made this victory more difficult than it should have been for Leinster but it also contributed to a hugely entertaining game of rugby.

LEINSTER have named 10 Irish internationals in their starting line-up for tonight’s clash against Michael Bradley’s Edinburgh in Murrayfield.

IRELAND achieved their second win from three in the Six Nations U20 Championship with a decisive victory over Scotland at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium in Inverness last night.

MIKE RUDDOCK’S Ireland U20s will take the field in Inverness tonight (7.30pm) with relative confidence, despite the recent home defeat by high-flying France.