Leinster have called upon several members of the Ireland squad who were involved in the recent Guinness series for Ireland.

Benetton Treviso 20 Leinster 21

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.

Leinster will finally get to road test their expensive new flyer tonight when Zane Kirchner makes his first start for the province before checking out again for duty with South Africa.

South Africa international Zane Kirchner is make his first start Leinster on Friday after being named at full back in the team to take on Newport Gwent Dragons.

Dave Kearney has learned to keep the focus internal at Leinster.

Cian Healy has welcomed the increasing competition for places among Leinster’s front row as the province turns attention from Heineken Cup duties to Saturday’s Pro12 derby against Connacht.

It can’t be easy filling in for arguably the greatest Irish player of a generation but Brendan Macken has not done a bad job covering for Brian O’Driscoll this past fortnight.

The Irish Small and Medium Enterprise group has said any proposal to increase sick pay benefits would put significant pressure on employers.

With the 2013/14 Heineken Cup season only days away, Breakingnews.ie rugby correspondent, Daniel Pitcher takes a look at the weekend fixtures.

Leinster coach Matt O’Connor was dealt another few injury blows ahead of the start of their Heineken Cup pool campaign at Ospreys on Saturday.

Leinster are in discussions with the IRFU to source a replacement hooker for Richardt Strauss who has been ruled out for the remainder of the season while he undergoes treatment for a heart condition.

Munster head coach Rob Penney expects to have to wait a further 24 hours before he learns if captain Peter O’Mahony will be fit to face Edinburgh in the province’s Heineken Cup pool opener at Murrayfield on Saturday.

Leinster coach Matt O’Connor says he was gutted to leave Limerick with nothing last night in the Rabo Direct Pro 12.

Ian Keatley steered Munster to a hard-earned RaboDirect PRO12 victory at Thomond Park as they broke Leinster’s two-year stranglehold on this fiercely-contested interprovincial derby.

All eyes will be on Thomond Park this evening when Leinster face Munster in the blue riband event of Irish rugby. But with referee Romain Poite in the middle is it likely to be a contest of 15 against 15 for the full 80 minutes?

Munster’s hopes of a last-minute rush for tickets to tonight’s RaboDirect Pro12 clash with Leinster may have been dented by Ireland hero Brian O’Driscoll’s absence from the interprovincial derby.

Brian O'Driscoll will sit out Leinster's clash with Munster in Thomond Park tomorrow after suffering a calf strain during training.

Leinster manager Guy Easterby believes Leo Cullen has the attributes to become a successful coach but refused to be drawn on suggestions the club’s captain could start that line of work at his home province next season.

Matt O’Connor is confident that the financial rewards on offer from mega-rich Top 14 clubs will fail to match the allure of Leinster when players like Jamie Heaslip and Sean O’Brien come to sign their next contracts.

RABO DIRECT PRO12:

RABODIRECT PRO 12:

Lote Tuqiri is unlikely to feature for Leinster against Glasgow Warriors this weekend despite being officially signed on a short-term contract by the province yesterday on foot of his clearance for a work permit.

Leinster’s Darragh Fanning believes there are plenty like him playing club rugby who are ready, willing and more than able to do a job for any of the four professional provincial sides.

Darragh Fanning has said it is a dream come true to be part of the Leinster squad this season.

Leinster coach Greg Feek has sympathy for referees battling to interpret new scrum laws which have proven a controversial addition to the new rugby season.

Leinster coach Matt O’Connor was not impressed at his side’s failure to see out the remaining 60 seconds of their match with Ospreys last night in the Pro 12 after they had taken a three-point lead.

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.

RABO DIRECT PRO12:

Leinster coach Matt O’Connor is confident Jamie Heaslip and Sean O’Brien will not follow in Jonathan Sexton’s footsteps and swap their home province for the Top 14.

Australia 34 England 14

Leicester 20 Clermont Auvergne 15

Leicester 22 South Africa 17

AUSTRALIA ended their six-match tour with a hard-fought 18-11 win over the Barbarians in the Olympic Centenary match at Wembley last night.

Richie McCaw would have no concerns about laying a fistful of dollars on South Africa to beat the Lions next summer having led New Zealand on a Grand Slam tour of the British Isles.

Danny Cipriani has been told it is vital he “fronts up” in defence against Australia this weekend if he is to develop into a world-class fly-half.

AUSTRALIA and New Zealand yesterday squabbled over their line-ups for this weekend’s Bledisloe Cup match with the All Blacks claiming star player Dan Carter was being deliberately targeted.

Teenager James O’Connor is set to become the second-youngest player ever to pull on an Australia jersey after being named in the squad to tour Europe later this year.

South Africa 53 Australia 8

Australia 34 New Zealand 19

Australia kick-started their Tri-Nations campaign with victory over South Africa at Subiaco Oval.

Paul O’Connell was left to rue Ireland’s error count as they ended their southern hemisphere tour with an 18-12 defeat to Australia.

Luke Burgess and Peter Hynes will make their Australia Test debuts against Ireland in Melbourne on Saturday after Robbie Deans announced his first team selection as coach.

Robbie Deans has named seven uncapped players in his first Australia squad for the Test against Ireland on June 14.