Victory in today’s B&I Cup clash at Clifton Lane is essential if Munster A are to have a chance of qualifying for the quarter finals.

Dolphin 19 Ballynahinch 35: Dolphin coach David Corkery was far from impressed after watching his charges capitulate to a strong Ballynahinch at Musgrave Park on Saturday.

Ardscoil Rís 4-16 Charleville CBS 1-7: Ardscoil Rís produced another impressive display in the Dr Harty Cup at Kilmallock yesterday, beating Charleville CBS by 18-points. The champions, who defeated Hamilton High in the first round by a big margin, scored 4-14 from play, are now in the last eight.

Munster 33, Ospreys 0: Head coach Rassie Erasmus made a declaration of intent in last night’s match programme when he insisted Munster couldn’t afford to have a rollercoaster season. 

Munster A couldn’t have faced a stiffer challenge than the champions in today’s B&I Cup opener with London Welsh at Towns Park, Midleton (2.30p.m.), but coach Peter Malone believes his young side will be up to the task.

Rassie Erasmus will not be expecting perfection when he sends his Munster charges into action for the first time tonight.

Former Leinster centre Collie O’Shea will partner Cian Bohane in Munster’s midfield tomorrow night as Rassie Erasmus begins his search for willing alternatives to the injured Francis Saili.

Munster 18 Benetton Treviso 13: The consolation on a less than satisfactory Guinness Pro12 performance at Musgrave Park on Saturday night was the win, four points in the bag, that puts Munster in a much healthier position than at the same stage last season when they lost first time out to Edinburgh.

Munster Rugby will end their tradition of training in dual venues in Cork and Limerick when a new state-of-the-art facility is opened next July.

Munster 21 London Irish 15: Munster produced a top drawer second-half performance as they put London Irish to the sword in front of an enthusiastic attendance of 5,208.

Assistant coach Brian Walsh will be looking for new signing Francis Saili to bring an extra dimension to Munster’s play in tonight’s final pre-season friendly against London Irish at Musgrave Park (7pm).

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.

Munster 29 Grenoble 38: A thoroughly convincing 30-minute debut in the red jersey by Tyler Bleyendaal convinced onlookers at Thomond Park that Munster may have come up with a priceless nugget in the New Zealand number 10.

Having kicked his heels in frustration for the last 12 months as he recovered from a serious neck injury, 25 year-old New Zealander Tyler Bleyendaal is finally ready to make his first appearance in front of the Munster supporters when he lines out against French club Grenoble in this evening’s pre-season friendly at Thomond Park.

Munster A 41 Ulster Ravens 27: Kiwi outhalf Tyler Bleyendaal made his long-awaited Munster debut for the province’s second string during a 41-27 victory against the Ulster Ravens at Naas yesterday.

Munster A 33 Connacht Eagles 13: Munster A showed flashes of brilliance during their comprehensive win over the Connacht Eagles at Thomond Park yesterday.

Dolphin 28 Ballynahinch 35 

Leinster A: 8, Munster A: 18

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.

The venue is unfamiliar, some of the faces new and the job descriptions changed, but Anthony Foley has demanded some timeworn rugby essentials from his Munster players against London Irish this evening in Waterford (7.30pm).

Gloucester 45 Munster 8

New Munster head coach Anthony Foley could be forgiven for enduring a few shivers of apprehension after seeing the Gloucester team chosen by his old mate Laurie Fisher for this afternoon’s pre-season friendly at Kingsholm.

Dolphin 15 St Mary’s College 10

Munster U20 18 Leinster U20 19

Young Munster 13 Dolphin 10

Dolphin 7 Nenagh Ormond 29

Munster U20 9 Ulster U20 18

Leinster U20 26 Munster U20 12

Munster U20 21 Connacht U20 14

CENTRE Rory O’Loughlin and replacement wing David Busby finished off well-worked moves for the Ireland Schools to outgun the Ireland Clubs in this Age-Grade International at Merrion Road yesterday.

CHARLEVILLE CBS won this Harty Cup quarter-final tie at Clarina yesterday far more convincingly than the score line suggests.

DRAMA at the end of this cracking Harty Cup third round group game in Ballybrown yesterday, fortunes swaying first one way and then the other, a precious quarter-final berth at stake.

CHARLEVILLE CBS revived their Dr Harty Cup campaign with a merited success over Coláiste Chríost Rí in Mourneabbey yesterday and set up a crunch clash with St Caimin’s (Shannon) to decide who will gain the second quarter-final spot from Group B.

CHARLEVILLE CBS suffered a chastening experience on their return to the Dr Harty Cup as Nenagh CBS got their campaign off to a winning start at Ballybricken yesterday.

Dublin have claimed their sixth O'Byrne Cup title, beating Laois 1-18 to 2-13 after a titanic 90-minute struggle in Tullamore.