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.

Richie Lane served up an early Christmas present for his Clontarf team-mates in the form of a match-winning penalty at Castle Avenue.

Ospreys 19 Leinster 10

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.

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).

Dolphin 21 Old Belvedere 15

Connacht 34 Leinster 6

Ireland international Rob Kearney has been named in Leinster’s starting XV to face Connacht in Friday night's RaboDirect PRO12 interprovincial derby in the Sportsground (8pm).

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.

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.

Dragons 20 Leinster 22

Good times for Leinster on and off the pitch.

Leinster have today announces details of 18 contract extensions and two new signings.

Cork Constitution 22 Old Belvedere 25

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 54 Edinburgh 13

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.

Old Belvedere 31 Shannon 16

Rewind a few weeks and there wasn’t a whole lot to sell tonight’s game.

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.

All Black World Cup winner Brad Thorn will make his first appearance in Leinster colours in today’s ‘A’ interprovincial clash with Connacht at Old Belvedere (3pm).

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.

Leinster 16 Scarlets 13

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 42 Treviso 8

Blackrock College 18 Old Belvedere 11, Stradbrook

LEINSTER coach Joe Schmidt is hoping Rhys Ruddock will decide to stay in Dublin as reports persist the young and versatile back-row plans a switch south to Munster.

LEINSTER scraped through as Connacht once again came up short at the Galway Sportsground last night.

THE result was inevitable as soon as Ulster named a second string team staffed largely by rookies.

Leinster 42 Ulster 13

The Leinster squad trained in UCD this afternoon for the first on-field pitch session of the week ahead of Sunday's Heineken Cup Round 3 encounter against Bath in The Recreation Ground (12.45pm).

WINTER arrived with a vengeance in Dublin last night — but Leinster gave their supporters plenty cause for cheer as they swept to a comfortable bonus-point victory over an outclassed Cardiff outfit.

Leinster 52 Cardiff Blues 9

Leinster have named their team to face Cardiff Blues in Friday night’s RaboDirect PRO12 clash at the RDS (KO: 8.05pm).

FOR Joe Schmidt, the unhappy memories of defeat to Treviso in September of last year were consigned to oblivion when Leinster hoisted aloft the Heineken Cup.

Treviso 20 Leinster 30

LEINSTER’S much-vaunted strength in depth served them well earlier this season but it will be put to the test again in their RaboDirect Pro12 clash at the Stadio Comunale do Monigo against Benetton Treviso this afternoon.

Shane Jennings leads the Leinster side against Benetton Treviso in tomorrow’s RaboDirect PRO12 clash in Stadio Comunale di Monigo (KO: 2pm).

Shannon 18 Old Belvedere 18

TODAY will be a strange one for a trio of players dubbed ‘The Boys of Contarf’ following their transfers from Cork Constitution.

SHANE JENNINGS took exception to the suggestion when it was put to him earlier in the week that the season really only starts tonight for Leinster and Munster but there is more than a grain of truth in such a line of thinking.

Having struggled with World Cup absentees and a growing injury list for the majority of the RaboDirect PRO 12 season, Joe Schmidt’s squad is finally nearing full-strength with no fresh injury concerns to report.

SOME not so clever defending made this victory more difficult than it should have been for Leinster but it also contributed to a hugely entertaining game of rugby.