Clermont forwards coach Jonno Gibbes said they have spent all week preparing for a Munster backlash but he doesn’t expect the level of celebrations by his players at full time to be a factor.

Sean O'Brien will likely miss Ireland's Six Nations campaign with a shoulder injury picked up over the weekend.

Lote Tuqiri has landed in Dublin. The Fijian born superstar is to pen a short three-month deal with Rabo Direct Pro 12 and Amlin Cup Champions Leinster.

Jonno Gibbes has refused to be drawn on whether or not he is interested in succeeding Joe Schmidt at Leinster if the latter’s coronation as Ireland’s head coach is given the expected thumbs up by the IRFU.

With news of Jamie Hagan’s departure to London Irish, Leinster have reaffirmed their confidence in hooker Michael Bent on foot of a glowing report from forwards coach Jonno Gibbes.

Ireland prop Cian Healy’s ban for stamping descended into farce today as confusion reigned over his availability for provincial duty this weekend.

Jamie Heaslip might have come up against Ulster sides in every season of his professional career but he’s only met Stephen Ferris on the field of play twice.

LEINSTER forwards coach Jonno Gibbes has called on his side to get the basics right for tomorrow’s game against the Newport Gwent Dragons.

WITH a name like Soane Tonga’uiha, the Tongan loosehead prop was always likely to be labelled with a more manageable nickname but hats off to the wag who decided that ‘Tiny’ was the appropriate moniker.

THERE were mixed messages from the Leinster camp regarding Brian O’Driscoll’s fitness yesterday with the player himself delivering a much less optimistic prognosis than the official line ahead of Saturday’s Heineken Cup final against Northampton.

BRIAN O’DRISCOLL may yet feature against Saracens in Wembley next weekend after a scan on the Irish captain’s injured hamstring revealed no tear.

IT is one of those delicious sporting ironies that Leinster’s reign as European champions could be brought to a shuddering end by the man who will lead them into battle next season.

JONATHAN SEXTON and Shane Jennings are hoping for a dramatic improvement in weather conditions to allow tomorrow night’s Magners League clash against Glasgow Warriors at the RDS (8pm) to go ahead.

THE word panic is clearly not in Michael Cheika’s dictionary; the Leinster coach has handed home debut opportunities to three players for tonight’s Magners League clash with Newport Gwent Dragons at the RDS (7pm).

GORDON D’ARCY will again audition for a Six Nations starting berth this Friday when Leinster go to the Ospreys’ Liberty Stadium in search of a second successive Magners League win in Wales.

THOUGH only a Dublin resident a matter of weeks, CJ van der Linde is well able to empathise with his Leinster colleagues’ pitiful record in Murrayfield, a venue they visit again this Saturday for their opening Heineken Cup match of the season.

THE Australian arrived at Leinster in the summer of 2005 armed with his three-year plan and intent on annexing world club rugby’s greatest prize.

LEINSTER will continue their early-season rotation policy against the Ospreys at the RDS this evening (7.35pm) with Michael Cheika having made five changes to the side that swamped Edinburgh in Dublin last week.

Leinster have confirmed the appointment of Jonno Gibbes as their new forwards coach.

IF THE mind games in the build-up to the first Test are anything to go by, we’re in for one hell of a game tomorrow in Christchurch.

Lions captain Brian O’Driscoll would hate to have to prove his Test credentials in an 80-minute trial match against team-mates and close rivals.