New year — same old Leinster?

The Leinster outhalf suffered a medial ligament tear in Leinster's Champions Cup win over Northampton a month ago.

All injury updates come attached with a health warning these days but the latest on Jonathan Sexton is that his knee problem is “progressing well”. More should be known after he sees a specialist later in the week.

Jonathan Sexton has been ruled out of Leinster's Heineken Champions Cup meeting with Northampton Saints this weekend but the full extent of his knee injury has yet to be determined.

Leinster should have centre Joe Tomane available for selection once again, as their pool-defining double-header with Northampton Saints approaches in the next fortnight.

Scott Fardy will not be a hostage to fortune.

Tadhg Furlong is a doubt for Leinster ahead of the province's Champions Cup clash with Lyon.

Garry Ringrose is still sporting a bandage to cover the head injury he picked up in Japan but a hat-trick of tries in this bonus-point Heineken Champions Cup win in Dublin suggests that there is no lingering hangover from Ireland's dismal World Cup showing.

Leinster strung together four second-half tries as they handed Edinburgh a 40-14 defeat at the RDS Main Arena that ended the Scots’ winning start to the Guinness PRO14 season.

Leinster maintained their 100% start to the Guinness PRO14 season in a game of two halves at a blustery RDS.

Leo Cullen has braced his players for an altogether more challenging Friday night at the RDS tonight (kick-off 7.35pm), a week on from their eight-try hammering of Ospreys.

Leinster may be shaken by last Saturday's Heineken Champions Cup final loss to Saracens but Leo Cullen's side have at least emerged from the experience with relatively little in the way of fitness worries ahead of Munster's visit to Dublin.

Ulster beat Leinster 14-13 in the Guinness PRO14 derby clash at Kingspan Stadium.

Both Leinster and Ulster have named their teams ahead of their clash tomorrow at the Kingspan stadium.

PRO 14 Scoreboard here with this one Leo Cullen said Sunday’s Champions Cup semi-final will be a litmus test for him and his coaching team’s player management system.

Sean O'Brien starts at openside flanker and will captain the side.

Benetton Rugby earned a 27-27 Guinness PRO14 draw with Leinster in Dublin as Tommaso Allan landed the levelling conversion of Fijian winger Iliesa Ratuva's last-minute try.

Some of their frontline players may have their feet up this weekend, but for those Leinster players in the RDS tonight, there’s a priceless opportunity to top up their credit with coach Leo Cullen.

Leo Cullen has named his team for Leinster's PRO14 clash with Benetton at the RDS Arena tomorrow night.

Josh van der Flier’s season looks to be over after confirmation that the Leinster and Ireland flanker has had surgery on a groin injury.

Munster fans may watch tonight’s PRO14 clash between Edinburgh and Leinster with more intensity than supporters of the visiting side at Murrayfield.

So, no Jonathan Sexton to set the tone and dictate the tune.

Leinster forwards coach John Fogarty has described the upcoming interpros as “a defining part of our season.”

Leinster moved five points clear at the top of Guinness Pro14's Conference B with a 31-3 win at Benetton.

Toulouse have held on to secure a one point one against reigning Champions Cup holders Leinster.

Leinster fly out for Toulouse this morning fuelled by a stunning declaration of intent against Wasps eight days ago and, you would imagine, in the hope that they can jettison some of the hyperbole that has enveloped them along the way.

Joe Tomane will make his first European start for Leinster against Toulouse in Sunday's Heineken Champions Cup clash.

The challenge for Leo Cullen and Stuart Lancaster is to keep players firmly focused on the task at hand in the face of the inevitable plaudits that will accompany last weekend’s incredible performance, says Donal Lenihan.

Garry Ringrose celebrated 51 not out last Saturday, as he tipped beyond the half-century mark for Leinster.

Tonight will tell Stuart Lancaster a lot.

Australia bounced back from their England defeat to record a 50-20 victory over Italy in their second autumn international at the Stadio Olimpico.

Scrum-half Will Genia will return to the starting line-up for Australia’s final Rugby Championship fixture against Argentina in Rosario tomorrow.

New Australia coach Ewen McKenzie has no concerns over playmaker Quade Cooper’s ability to perform under pressure ahead of his likely Test return against the All Blacks next month.

Australia 16 British & Irish Lions 15

Will Genia is talking tough ahead of today’s crunch second Test with the British and Irish Lions in Melbourne.

Howley warns players against thinking about anything other than their jobs today

LIONS TOUR - SECOND TEST: Australia v Lions

Australia coach Robbie Deans was disappointed by the presence of Kurtley Beale and James O'Connor in a fast-food restaurant in the early hours of the morning, but did not consider dropping them.

On a difficult night in Brisbane for the Wallabies, Ben Mowen was one of the shining lights for Robbie Deans’ wounded troops during their ill-fated opening match against the Lions.

Australia have named Tri-Nations winning captain James Horwill as their skipper for the British and Irish Lions Tour.

Code-hopper Israel Folau is one of three new caps in Australia’s preliminary 25-man squad to face the British and Irish Lions, with in-form Reds playmaker Quade Cooper the most notable omission.

Australia coach Robbie Deans will blood five new caps in the first of four successive Tests against Six Nations opponents in Newcastle on Tuesday night.