European Champions Cup Pool 1

Connacht welcome Munster to the Showgrounds on New Year’s Day for their PRO12 derby match and both sides have made a number of changes to their starting sides.

Group leaders Worcester Warriors provide the opposition to Munster A in round five of the B&I Cup tournament at Cork Institute of Technology this evening (7.30pm) in a must-win game for the home side.

Munster head coach Anthony Foley yesterday added new centre signing Pat Howard to the province’s registered European Champions Cup squad as doubts continued over Andrew Smith’s fitness ahead of Saturday’s must-win pool showdown with Clermont Auvergne.

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.

Munster kick off their A campaign at Donnybrook today (1pm) with new head coach Mick O’Driscoll welcoming an important addition to his backroom staff in Doug Howlett.

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’s bid to make home advantage finally count at Thomond Park tonight will not be hindered by the return of Munster big guns Paul O’Connell and Conor Murray as the Reds welcome Zebre to Limerick for Guinness Pro12 round three (7:30pm).

Munster head coach Anthony Foley is demanding his players step up to the plate at the Stadio Monigo tonight (7pm Irish time) and beat Benetton Treviso, despite losing lock Paul O’Connell on the eve of the game.

Anthony Foley has named his starting 15 for Munster’s game against Benetton Treviso on Friday and handed Felix Jones the captaincy for the first time.

Ian Keatley will start at out-half for Munster in their Guinness PRO12 opener at home to Edinburgh tonight (KO: 7.35pm) nursing the same injury he had to manage throughout the last campaign.

Munster coach Anthony Foley has included three debutants as he named his starting side for their opening PRO12 fixture.

Gloucester 45 Munster 8

Veterans Donncha O’Callaghan and BJ Botha provide the experience in an otherwise youthful side chosen by new Munster head coach Anthony Foley for tomorrow’s pre-season friendly against Gloucester at Kingsholm (3pm).

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.

So all that is left are the handshakes and farewells, as Rob Penney departs Munster for a new coaching adventure in Japan.

Are the days of signing top, top names now more difficult for Munster because of finances?

Revenge will be in the air when Munster A take on Leinster A in tonight’s B&I cup quarter-final clash at Donnybrook, (7pm) a repeat of last season’s final four encounter where Leinster came out on top.

Memo to Munster fans from Ronan O'Gara : Get into Thomond Park a good 45 minutes before tomorrow’s Heineken Cup quarter-final.

Munster could be poised to mix up their midfield for tomorrow’s RaboDirect Pro12 top-of-the-table clash with Leinster by including Denis Hurley at inside centre.

Keith Earls has given Munster a boost in the build-up to their Heineken Cup quarter-final showdown with Toulouse in three weeks by returning to training for the first time since January.

Rob Penney looks certain to remain as Munster head coach for at least another season.

Ireland duo Craig Gilroy and Declan Fitzpatrick are major doubts for Ulster’s winner-takes-pool trip to Leicester Tigers this weekend but their Test comrades Simon Zebo and Conor Murray will be fit for Munster’s home Heineken Cup tie with Edinburgh.

Ulster 29 Munster 19

Ulster 29 Munster 19

RABODIRECT PRO12:

Captain Peter O'Mahony and Paul O'Connell have been named to start against Ulster tomorrow night in Ravenhill in a side that includes 12 changes.

Munster 22 Connacht 16

Munster 16 Scarlets 10

RABO DIRECT PRO12:

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

Munster 12 Ospreys 6

Munster 12 Ospreys 6

Munster face a second top-of-the-table clash in as many weeks tonight when they defend their RaboDirect Pro12 lead against second-placed Ospreys at Thomond Park (7:15pm).

Munster are making a host of changes to last week's side for their Saturday clash with Ospreys at Thomond Park.

Munster 23 Newport Gwent Dragons 9

Paul O'Connell will sit on the Munster reserves bench for Saturday's game against Dragons.

Simon Zebo, Peter O'Mahony and Keith Earls will start their first game of the season against Treviso tomorrow night at Stadio di Monigo, kick-off 8.30pm (7.30pm Irish Time).

RABO DIRECT PRO12:

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

Munster 34 Edinburgh 23

Munster 34 Edinburgh 23