Ulster may have achieved their goal in leapfrogging Benetton in the chase for a Guinness PRO14 knock-out place, but there was mixed news in the aftermath of Saturday’s win over Southern Kings for coach Dan McFarland ahead of next week’s Champions Cup quarter-final with Leinster.

Voice of experience Cave nears end of line

“They hurt us when we were down there in Thomond Park, and there were a few young fellas playing who didn’t get the best experience of representing their province.”

With two man of the match awards to his credit in the RBS Six Nations U20 campaign, Jack O’Sullivan now makes the cut with Munster A for today’s B&I Cup quarter-final against Leinster at Donnybrook.

Garry Ringrose’s first start of the season and a debut for Kiwi flyer James Lowe give an exciting edge to the Leinster backline for the Guinness PRO14 trip to Treviso’s Benetton Rugby (3:30pm Irish time).

Leinster Head Coach Leo Cullen has handed a first start to Josh Murphy in tonight’s Guinness PRO14 clash with the Dragons at the RDS Arena (7.35pm).

It’s been something of a rollercoaster week for Munster, what with a face-saving draw on the road against Castres, the weakest of the French participants in this season’s Champions Cup, to complement the confirmation of a new head coach, writes Donal Lenihan.

Saturday’s European Champions Cup semi-final against holders Saracens should mark the most important day in Duncan Williams’ professional rugby career.

Leinster coach Leo Cullen is confident Johnny Sexton should be fit to feature in Saturday’s New Year’s Eve clash against Ulster at the RDS.

Leinster coach Leo Cullen has praised the work ethic of Joey Carbery and James Tracy following their call-ups to Joe Schmidt’s 34-man squad for the November internationals.

It was called Route 6’6”. With the stocks of tall second rows at a critically low ebb, Leinster launched the search for alternatives around about this time five years ago.

As if biggest game of the weekend needed any further spice, Munster head into the Aviva Stadium cauldron to face their fiercest rivals with the abrasive presence of captain Peter O’Mahony.

A full programme of races started the biennial Volvo Cork Week yesterday as strong winds gave way to moderate offshore breezes for the 100-boat fleet competing around the harbour.

High winds might have forced the cancellation of yesterday’s practice race, but the forecast for this morning’s official start to Volvo Cork Week is promising and the weather is predicted to steadily improve as the series progresses.

Former Munster lock, Ian Nagle will look to deliver on some of his untapped potential in the unfamiliar surroundings of the RDS next season, having committed himself to Leinster.

Good morning. Here’s everything you need to know before you start your day.

Hooker Duncan Casey has become the latest homegrown player to commit to Munster, signing a two-year contract as the province captured teenage centre Sam Arnold from Ulster for next season and saw former lock Ian Nagle rejoin the professional ranks with London Irish.

Cambridge 6 Oxford 12

A penultimate day to be remembered for all the best and not so good reasons was the hallmark of the ICRA Nationals Sovereigns Cup sponsored by Cork County Council at Kinsale yesterday.

In a perfect end to a season of victories, Anthony O’Leary of the Royal Cork Yacht Club emerged overall winner of the All-Ireland Sailing Championship at Howth yesterday.

If you happen to be in Cobh this afternoon, about lunchtime onwards watch out for a Cork Harbour tradition that has endured for the past 34 years.

A marathon end to the ICRA National Championships kept the 115-storng fleet at sea for eight hours yesterday as slightly fresher winds arrived to permit a four-race programme.

Another Munster campaign reaches its conclusion without silverware or even a final appearance to show for all the sweat, toil and trouble, leaving incoming head coach Anthony Foley and his squad with plenty to ponder over the summer months.

Denis Hurley and Johne Murphy have both signed one-year contract extensions that will see them remain with the province and the IRFU until June 2015.

Billy Holland has signed a two-year contract with Munster that will see him stay with the province until June 2016.

Keith Earls became the latest frontline Ireland player to sign a new IRFU contract, but will face an anxious wait to see whether he will play any part in the upcoming RBS 6 Nations.

Munster head coach Rob Penney is cautiously optimistic Conor Murray will be fit for Munster’s Heineken Cup clash with Gloucester at Kingsholm – and the Lions and Ireland scrum-half’s housemate Mike Sherry is also confident the Limerick native answer the province’s call at 6pm on Saturday.

RABODIRECT PRO12:

RABO DIRECT PRO12:

Ireland’s Rory Best has been confirmed as the biggest casualty of Sunday’s defeat to New Zealand after being ruled out by Ulster for at least six weeks.

Munster resume RaboDirect Pro12 duty tonight boosted in their bid to maintain momentum at the top of the table by the return of several Ireland squad members.

The Munster squad to face Cardiff Blues in round eight of the RaboDirect PRO12 has been named today.

Munster are bracing themselves for being without Donnacha Ryan until the new year after the Ireland lock was ruled out of action for up to 10 weeks with a knee injury.

Felix Jones has been ruled out of Munster’s Rabodirect Pro12 top of the table clash against Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun Stadium on Friday night.

Initial reports on Tommy O'Donnell suggest he could be out for 10 to 12 weeks after suffering a knee injury in Munster's victory over Zebre on Friday.

Ian Nagle and Tommy O’Donnell will take no part in next weekend’s RaboDirect Pro12 round three game against Treviso after both sustained injuries in Friday’s game against Zebre.

Zebre 21 Munster 41

RABO DIRECT PRO12:

Munster have named their side for their game against Zebre in Italy tomorrow night at 6.30pm (Irish time).