Breakingnews.ie rugby correspondent Daniel Pitcher gives a snapshot of this weekend’s big inter-provincial derby between Munster and Leinster at Thomond Park.

As Ireland international selection calls go, Declan Kidney’s choice to toss in Ulster’s Paddy Jackson against Scotland ahead of Ronan O’Gara is pretty seismic.

LEINSTER coach Joe Schmidt yesterday hailed confirmation that five of his players have signed new deals with the province admitting it is “vital for the future growth of Irish rugby that we retain our leading indigenous talent.”

LEINSTER and Munster will meet at the RDS on Saturday night (8pm) in a late-season bid for Irish rugby bragging rights, following a dramatic day of Magners League action.

IN A finish that would test the cardiac condition of any coach, Leinster emerged victorious over Edinburgh at Murrayfield on Saturday night to make it two from two on the road in the Magners League.

RORY BEST will lead Ireland’s tour to America as one of five Grand Slam winners included in the 25-man squad.

Leinster coach Michael Cheika has had another blow ahead of Sunday's Heineken Cup Quarter-final away to Harlequins.

Leinster's Jonathon Sexton has today been handed a two-week ban for an alleged kick on Munster's player Lefeimi Mafi.

JONATHON SEXTON has gone through some tough times with Leinster, but he’s still prepared to place his future in the hands of Michael Cheika.

THERE are reasons to believe that Castres might offer limited opposition in Friday’s return Heineken Cup clash at Stade Pierre-Antoine, but don’t say that within earshot of Leinster coach Michael Cheika.

AT least the smile has returned to the face of Irish rugby following Munster’s epic win over Toulouse on Saturday; now it’s up the national team to make it even broader over the next three weeks and restore the pride and passion to the Ireland shirt, starting tonight against the Barbarians in Gloucester’s Kingsholm ground.

Coach Michael Bradley has named the Ireland team to play the Barbarians in Kingsholm, Gloucester next Tuesday in their summer tour warm up game.

The interim Ireland coaching staff has today announced the Ireland squad for the upcoming warm up game against the Barbarians and the tour to New Zealand and Australia.

A THUNDEROUS, niggly, high-octane Magners League derby at a sold-out RDS confirmed the most consistent team in the Magners League towards ultimate honours but, for Munster, the loss to their greatest rivals might have come at a huge cost.

IRELAND coach Eddie O’Sullivan has defended his decision to exclude Leinster flankers Keith Gleeson and Shane Jennings from his Six Nations squad.

LEINSTER coach Michael Cheika has a guilt complex about playing Shane Jennings at number six rather than open side flanker following the latter’s exclusion from Ireland’s Six Nations squad.

HE has been compared to Superman in the past, but Paul O’Connell must certainly possess extraordinary powers of recovery as well.

IT was a case of mind over matter as St Mary’s College ended Shannon’s perfect start to the AIL Division One season with a 10-8 victory at Templeville Road on Saturday.

Michael Bradley's Ireland A have won the Plate Final to finish third in the Churchill Cup in Twickenham this afternoon beating Scotland A 22-21.

CONNACHT fly-half Paul Warwick is to join Munster at the end of the season. The 26-year-old will be Ronan O’Gara’s understudy next season after agreeing terms with Kidney’s men.

FOR Leinster, it was a welcome return to their spiritual home in the tidy surrounds of Donnybrook.

JONATHON SEXTON has a simple philosophy about professional rugby.

JAMIE HEASLIP has every reason to remember his last appearance at the old Lansdowne Road.

Coach Mark McDermott will lead his Ireland U21 squad into battle at the World Cup in France next month.

Coach Michael Cheika has included Ireland Under-21 Jonathon Sexton in an extended 25-man squad for the Celtic League tie with The Ospreys at Lansdowne Road on Saturday.

The Ireland U21 team to play Scotland U21 this Friday in Dubarry Park, Athlone shows three changes to the side that lost narrowly to Wales.

The Ireland Under 21 team to play Wales Under 21 this Friday in Dubarry Park shows three personnel changes and one positional switch to the starting team that lost to France U21 in Strasbourg.

THE IRISH team to play Italy tomorrow night in the opening game of the U21 Six Nations Championship shows two personnel changes and two positional switches to the side that started and beat Leinster ‘A’ 40-12 last month.

Ireland Under 21 coach Mark McDermott has named a squad of 24 players for the opening Six Nations match against Italy in Dubarry Park, Athlone on Friday, February 3 at 7.35pm.

Munster Under 21 21 Leinster Under 21 19

The Ireland U21 team and replacements to play Canada in the IRB U21 World Championship tomorrow has been named.

The Ireland U21 team and replacements to play in their opening game against France U21 in the IRB U21 World Championship tomorrow has been named.

The Ireland Under 21 management have named the squad that will travel to Argentina to take part in the 2005 IRB Under 21 World Cup.

The Irish under-21s will have their first competitive outings this season when they take on two French regional selections in Paris.

Leinster Schools16 Munster Schools17

St Mary’s College 7