We must never forget. Four simple words, yet they have breath-stopping resonance when they are spoken by Charlotte Berger-Greneche, one of the children saved by the Cork woman who was memorialised yesterday at the official opening of the Mary Elmes bridge.

It was just one week before South Africa played Ireland in Aviva Stadium in November 2017 that Rassie Erasmus bid an emotional farewell to Munster.

Keeping Johann van Graan at Munster is crucial to the province’s ambitions, according to Conor Murray.

Keith Earls, named by his peers last night as Zurich’s Irish player of the year, is aiming to cap a memorable season by accounting for Leinster’s European champions and claiming a first trophy for Munster since 2011.

And so it begins. There was a new venue in west London yesterday as the self-styled Rugby’s Greatest Championship was rechristened the NatWest 6 Nations to reflect the updated title sponsor.

He’s the coaching constant at Munster, working under three different head coaches in as many years. Jerry Flannery understands better than most the value system crucial to the province’s future - and the importance of the Munster manual.

Conor Murray is backing new head coach Johann van Graan not to implement sweeping change to the Munster gameplan as the squad transitions to the new management team.

Zebre 19 Munster 29: Alex Wootton was one of the players that Rassie Erasmus name-checked in his final week with Munster when he was asked what he would miss when he returned to South Africa.

Billy Holland laughs heartily at suggestions he might be approaching the veteran stage of a long and distinguished career.

A pre-game pep talk from Joe Schmidt has primed CJ Stander for take off after a slow start to the campaign and the Lions back rower is raring to go for both the Ireland boss and Munster’s incoming head coach, Johann van Graan.

It is perfectly plausible when Rassie Erasmus explains that after all the Munster organisation has been through over the past 13 months, the departure of a director of rugby is no reason for emotion.

When Rassie Erasmus arrived in Munster in the summer of 2016 to assume the role of Director of Rugby at the famous province, he was in many ways entering the unknown.

IRFU performance director David Nucifora is hopeful Munster have found the right person to succeed Rassie Erasmus and will be able to announce their new director of rugby “in the short term”.

You may think that Darren Sweetnam could be feeling some pressure as he looks around the Munster training ground and sees the likes of Keith Earls and Simon Zebo limbering up for their first starts of the campaign.

There are no soft caps to be won in Irish and Munster rugby these days, all the more so if you ply your trade in the back row of the scrum. Few appreciate that better than Waterford’s Jack O’Donoghue, one of the most talented and committed players in the country.

Munster have confirmed that Rassie Erasmus and Defence Coach Jacques Nienaber will leave the province at the end of December.

As the world’s most famous film festival kicks off, Helen Barlow selects some of the highlights

Rassie Erasmus is definitely staying on as Munster director of rugby having finally ended the speculation he was about to leave the province just a season into his three-year contract.

Simon Zebo last night described the Munster squad as “a real brotherhood” and maintained that director of rugby Rassie Erasmus has assured players they don’t have to worry about his future.

The title of David Jacques’ exhibition was inspired by an Opec minister, writes Ellie O’Byrne

Just 24 hours after Dave Kilcoyne capped an outstanding performance for Munster with the 78th minute try that completed a magnificent fightback against the Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium, Kilcoyne was dropped from the national squad.

Munster director of rugby Rassie Erasmus described Saturday’s incredible Guinness PRO12 victory over Ospreys as “satisfying”.

The multi-talented star is delighted to be working on a show about his hero Jacques Brel, writes Alan O’Riordan.

Simon Lewis takes a look at the impressive sporting performance of Jack O’Donoghue on the Munster Rugby team.

CJ Stander warns that Munster cannot afford to take a victory over down and out Racing 92 for granted when the French champions visit Thomond Park on Saturday.

CJ Stander paid tribute to the hard work of the late Anthony Foley and his fellow Munster coaches after their 32-7 Champions Cup bonus-point victory over Racing 92.

The way Dave Kilcoyne has been charging into contact to keep his team on the front foot of late suggests he is not the sort of player used to treading carefully.

Andrew Conway was such a superb schoolboy rugby player at Blackrock College that many shrewd judges tipped him to have banked a hatful of Irish senior caps by the time he reached his mid twenties.

Munster players have spent all summer adapting to life under new director of rugby Rassie Erasmus but with the season now underway there is still room for the odd surprise, not least in the parties’ opposing reactions to the weekend home defeat.