Rodney Ah You takes over injured Nathan White’s tighthead prop spot, having been released from the Ireland camp at Carton House, for Connacht’s Guinness Pro12 fixture with leaders Ospreys in Swansea this evening (7.35pm).

The new rugby season could hardly have begun in a more contrasting fashion for Anthony Foley and Steve Tandy, the respective head coaches of Munster and Ospreys who renew their rivalry in the Guinness Pro 12 at Thomond Park this evening, kick-off 6.30pm.

John Afoa is adamant the three components of Ulster’s recent good form must be repeated if the northerners are to achieve the double over Premiership giants Northampton at Ravenhill this evening.

Ulster’s Rory Best remembers the last Heineken Cup clash with Northampton extremely well and wants to wipe away the memory of defeat in the best possible way.

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.

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS are determined to complete their European revenge mission against Munster on Saturday after ending the Scarlets Heineken Cup hopes.

PREMIERSHIP club Northampton Saints gained a small measure of revenge as they won this Heineken Cup final rematch at Donnybrook last night.

BJ BOTHA and Ian Humphreys could not have staged a more appropriate return to the Ulster starting lineout when they face the Scarlets at Ravenhill tonight.

ULSTER left it late to rekindle their hopes of reaching the Magners League play-offs, with Ruan Pienaar kicking an injury-time winner in Wales.

CONNACHT received a much needed boost with this victory on Saturday night, their first Magners League win since mid-September.

CONNACHT face second-placed Scarlets in tonight’s Magners League tie at the Sportgrounds (7.35pm).

LEINSTER stopped the Scarlets from going to the top of the Magners League as they staged an amazing fight-back in the final 10 minutes.

GAME lost, but another goal achieved.

CONNACHT head coach Eric Elwood is expecting the Scarlets to be smarting tomorrow after an opening-day Magners League loss against Benetton Treviso last weekend.

CONNACHT are set to be with-out Ray Ofisa for their mam-moth Amlin Challenge Cup semi-final against Toulon on Friday.

LEINSTER-BOUND Isaac Boss wants to end his season with Ulster on a high by helping them to the inaugural knock-out stages of the Magners League.

THE highs and lows of professional rugby were very evident at the RDS on Saturday evening as Leinster clocked up their fourth win over the Scarlets who must be sick of the sight of them by now.

SHANE JENNINGS will captain a Leinster side that is boosted by the inclusion of the four other Ireland internationals in the pack for tonight’s Magners League encounter with the Scarlets at the RDS (6.30pm).

SUCH was the magnitude of this performance that Leinster travelled to the Welsh valleys on Saturday with their Heineken Cup title hanging by a thread and yet they departed with their grip seemingly tighter than ever.

WALES captain Ryan Jones has urged his team to “play smart” against the renowned physical threat of Samoa tonight.

Wales’ head coach Warren Gatland has made five changes from the team beaten by New Zealand for Friday night’s Millennium Stadium clash against Samoa.

Wales will be without two British and Irish Lions scrum-halves for their opening autumn Test against New Zealand on November 7.

TOMÁS O’LEARY admitted on Saturday night that he is “a stronger player and person” after he returned from the horror injury which destroyed his Lions dream.

SIMON EASTERBY returns to the Llanelli Scarlets team for tomorrow’s Magners League clash with Munster (Parc Y Scarlets, 6.30pm).

MICHAEL CHEIKA admitted ill discipline cost Leinster dearly after the reigning Heineken Cup champions slumped to a shock opening day defeat to the Scarlets in the Magners League.

LEINSTER may have ended a run of near-misses and underachievement in glorious fashion by winning the Heineken Cup, but that will not stop Michael Cheika from imposing a change of playing style this season.

A SIX-TRY salvo helped the Scarlets leapfrog Ulster to finish fifth in the Magners League with a convincing bonus-point victory at Parc y Scarlets.

JOB done. Seven tries, just the one conceded and, most importantly, not an injury in sight.

The Scarlets coach Nigel Davies has named British & Irish Lions hooker Matthew Rees and out-half Stephen Jones in the side to play Leinster in the Magners League at The Rds on Friday night.

GORDON D’ARCY will have caught Ireland coach Declan Kidney’s eye as defending champions Leinster kept the heat on Magners League table-toppers Munster.

PHILIPPE Saint-André has described Sale’s Heineken Cup clash with Munster on Friday night as ‘a win or die affair’.

Former London Irish hooker Adrian Flavin will captain Connacht against the Exiles against Guinness Premiership League leaders London Irish in the European Challange Cup at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday.

The Scarlets coach Nigel Davies has opted to leave Stephen Jones on the bench and retain Rhys Preistland at out-half ahead of their Magner’s League encounter with Connacht at The Sportsground on Friday evening.

Connacht have made four changes to the side which beat Munster for their Magners League clash against Leinster at Donnybrook on Friday (kick off: 7.30pm).

FORMER Irish international Johnny O’Connor is ruled out of the Connacht squad for tomorrow’s European Challenge Cup clash against Rugby Rovigo at the Sportsground (6.30pm).

The Scarlets coach Nigel Davies knows he needs a win at Ulster to keep alive their Heineken Cup hopes.

WALES BOSS Warren Gatland has identified playmaker Matt Giteau as the man his team must stop in their quest for an overdue Tri-Nations scalp.

Michael Bradley has made four changes to his Connacht side ahead of their Magners League clash with Edinburgh at the Sportsground on Friday (6.30pm).

Michael Bradley has made just two changes to his side for Connacht’s opening match in the European Challenge Cup away to Dax on Friday (kick off: 7pm).

Coach Michael Bradley has made nine changes to his side for the clash with Leinster in the Magners League at the Sportsground on Sunday (6pm).

Winger Mike Roberts, Johnny O'Connor and lock Michael Swift return for Connacht away to Cardiff blues at The Arms Park on Friday evening (7.10pm).

NEW ZEALAND star Daniel Carter revealed the lure of Heineken Cup rugby attracted him to French side Perpignan.

Connacht have been boosted by the return from injury of winger Mike Roberts and lock Michael Swift for their trip to the Arms Park on Friday evening (7.10pm) to take on Cardiff Blues.

Michael Bradley has made eleven changes as well as four positional switches to his Connacht side ahead of their final pre-season friendly against Queensland Reds at the Sportsground tomorrow evening (kick off: 7.30pm).