There was obviously a good reason for this RaboDirect Pro12 game to be handed the same kick-off slot as Ireland-New Zealand tomorrow but, for the life of us, it is impossible to think of one.

Ulster 21 Leinster 19

British & Irish Cup semi-final

Leinster and Ireland fly half Jonathan Sexton will make his return to action on Sunday, having been named in Joe Schmidt’s starting XV to take on Zebre, in Sunday afternoon's RaboDirect PRO12 clash at the Stadio del Tricolore (3pm GMT).

Bristol 26 Leinster A 30

Munster A 24 Leinster 17

Having defied medical opinion and returned to match fitness a month earlier than expected, Paul O’Connell sets out this afternoon on a path that could see him feature for Munster in next month’s Heineken Cup quarter-final with Harlequins.

British and Irish Cup

Leinster A 44 Jersey 13

On a weekend when the provinces showed their class in the Heineken Cup, Munster, Ulster and Leinster also had big wins in the British and Irish Cup.

Bristish and Irish Cup holders Munster face a major test of character when they take on Rotherham Titans at Clifton Lane this afternoon (2pm) with an experimental side.

Ospreys 19 Leinster 10

Joe Schmidt has had to ring the changes for Leinster as they go in search of their first victory at the Liberty Stadium since September 2009.

With several of his senior players involved in Ireland’s training camp and others on the injury list, Joe Schmidt has named a youthful Leinster side to face the Ospreys in Sunday's RaboDirect PRO12 clash in the Liberty Stadium (4pm).

Munster A coach Ian Costello has the luxury of being able to name what is arguably his strongest team for today’s British and Irish Cup clash with Aberavon in Tralee (1pm).

Leinster fullback Rob Kearney hasn’t recovered from a back injury in time to feature in the province’s opening Heineken Cup game against the Exeter Chiefs in the RDS on Saturday afternoon (3.40pm).

Tom Denton has never been to the Sportsground before but the second row’s teammates have apparently been filling him in on what to expect tonight at a venue which Leinster have, regardless of the event, rarely found to their liking.

Leinster 45 Newport G’went Dragons

Leinster’s new overseas signing, Quinn Roux, will make his home debut when the Heineken Cup champions take on Newport Gwent Dragons in tonight’s RaboDirect Pro12 clash at the RDS.

Second row Quinn Roux and academy back-row forward Ben Marshall will make their home debuts for Leinster after been named in Joe Schmidt’s starting XV for Saturday evening's RaboDirect PRO12 encounter with the Dragons in the RDS (6.15pm).

Scarlets 45 Leinster 20

Leinster captain Leo Cullen is backing fellow lock Devin Toner to make more giant strides in his game over the coming season as the European champions open their RaboDirect Pro12 campaign at Scarlets today (6.30pm).

Sale Sharks 10 Leinster 10

Leinster manager Guy Easterby expects his side to get back on track next weekend away to Sale Sharks after an experimental team were out to the sword at Franklin’s Gardens on Saturday.

Ian Madigan laid down a notable marker as Leinster kicked off their season with an impressive victory in the unfamiliar surroundings of Tallaght Stadium on Saturday evening.

Joe Schmidt gets his first chance today to run the rule over the Leinster fringe players who will steer him through the early stages of the RaboDirect Pro12 campaign when they meet Gloucester in a friendly at Tallaght Stadium (5pm).

Team manager Guy Easterby has played down a historic double and warned Leinster they have won nothing yet.

Leinster will have to plan without Luke Fitzgerald for the rest of the season.

With top seed secured ahead of next weekend's PRO12 play off in the RDS, there is a fresh look to the Leinster team to face the Newport Gwent Dragons in Saturday night's clash in Rodney Parade (7.30pm).

Leinster’s second-string put in a first-class performance at the RDS last night as they scored eight tries on the way to an impressive annihilation of a sorry Edinburgh side.

Leinster will once again show why they have arguably the strongestsquad in European rugby when they play Edinburgh in tonight’s RaboDirect Pro 12 match.

Jamie Heaslip is one of three survivors in the starting XV from last weekend's Heineken Cup quarter final and the Naas man will skipper the Leinster team to face Edinburgh in Friday night's RaboDirect PRO12 clash in the RDS (KO: 7.45pm).

Good Friday was upgraded to a great one as far as Munster rugby fans were concerned after the province’s A team fought their way to an extra-time victory over old enemy Leinster in this epic B&I Cup semi-final last night.

Barry O’Mahony has been plucked from the relative obscurity of club rugby to fill the number seven position for Munster A in the British and Irish Cup semi-final clash with Leinster at the RDS this evening (6pm).

This was supposed to be about the return of Brian O’Driscoll and Leo Cullen from injury.

Brian O’Driscoll will make his return to the Leinster team when they take on the Ospreys in Friday night's RaboDirect PRO12 clash in the RDS (7.05pm).

Brendan Macken was the star of the show at Anglesea Road yesterday with a hat-trick as Leinster A, on World Cup-winning All Black Brad Thorn’s debut, comfortably dispatched Connacht A.

Luke Fitzgerald returns to the Leinster team for their RaboDirect PRO12 meeting with Aironi in the Stadio Luigi Zaffanella tomorrow (6pm).

Winning has almost become a habit for Leinster in the RaboDirect Pro 12 league this season but on Saturday they were given a reminder that past form does not guarantee success.

Shane Jennings will lead a Leinster team with plenty of youth behind the scrum against the Glasgow Warriors in Saturday evening's RaboDirect PRO12 clash in Firhill (6pm).

Fergus McFadden was the last-gasp hero for Leinster last night as he secured a tremendously hard-fought victory by nailing a long-distance penalty with the final kick of the game.

Sean Cronin, David Kearney, Fergus McFadden and Eoin Reddan return to the Leinster starting line-up to face the Scarlets in Friday night’s RaboDirect PRO12 clash in the RDS (7.35pm).

Isa Nacewa was the key figure in Leinster’s bonus-point victory in last night’s RaboDirect Pro12 clash with an Italian side noted for causing upsets in this competition.

LEINSTER eased into the British & Irish Cup semi-finals at a canter at Donnybrook yesterday.