Ulster 48 Treviso 0

Ulster 32 Treviso 13

Benetton Treviso 29 Munster 19

Brian O’Driscoll and Leo Cullen are both targeting a return to the Leinster squad for Friday night's RaboDirect PRO12 clash at home to the Ospreys in the RDS (7.05pm).

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).

Richardt Strauss tried hisbest to stay on message and turn the attention to Aironi yesterday but even the tight-lipped South African couldn’t prevent the conversation from zeroing in on his imminent eligibility for Ireland.

With Sunday’s re-scheduled Six Nations clash away to France set to rule out a large number of Ireland players, Leinster at least look likely to be able to call upon Luke Fitzgerald after his return to full training last week.

Several of Leister's injured squad members are nearing full fitness with some in contention to play in Thursday night's RaboDirect PRO12 encounter with Benetton Treviso at the RDS (7.05pm).

LEINSTER manager Guy Easterby has joined the chorus of criticism directed at the IRFU’s new policy on player succession.

The Leinster medical team reported a few injuries in the aftermath of the 42-13 St Stephen’s Day victory over Ulster with Fionn Carr – a try-scorer before limping off in the second half with an ankle injury – a cause for concern.

The Leinster squad trained in UCD this afternoon ahead of Saturday's Heineken Cup Round 4 encounter against Bath in the Aviva Stadium (KO: 6pm)

The Leinster management are optimistic that Fergus McFadden will come back into contention for a starting place for Saturday's trip to play Benetton Treviso in the RaboDirect PRO12 (2pm) after missing Sunday’s 38-13 victory over Glasgow Warriors in the RDS.

TWO seasons ago, Leinster travelled to France as reigning Heineken Cup champions for a semi-final against Toulouse, a club that considers itself that bit more regal than every other one with pretensions of royal status in Europe.

THE visit of Glasgow Warriors to the RDS hasn’t usually been a cue to circle the wagons but Joe Schmidt is playing up the challenge of the Scots following their last-gasp win over Bath in the opening round of the Heineken Cup.

A BOD-less Leinster will kick off their defence of the Heineken Cup title with a challenging trip to Stade de la Mosson to take on Montpellier on Saturday afternoon with no other injury concerns following Friday night’s league victory over Munster.

The Leinster management counted the cost of Saturday night’s defeat to the Glasgow Warriors with Kevin McLaughlin and Dominic Ryan sustaining ankle injuries.

New signing Jared Payne is in line to make his Ulster debut at Ravenhill this Friday against Cardiff Blues (7.05pm) after he was named in the preliminary 29-man squad by Brian McLaughlin.

JONATHAN SEXTON’S wayward kicking display against the USA last Sunday has been dismissed as a blip by the man who works on that aspect of his game on a weekly basis.

THIS was more like it.

Luke Fitzgerald hasn’t recovered from the knee injury sustained last weekend against the Ospreys in time to make Leinster’s match day 23 for their home encounter with the Dragons tomorrow night (KO 7.35pm).

EUROPEAN kings Leinster made a nightmare start to the RaboDirect Pro12 after being blown away by the Ospreys in Swansea last night.

Ospreys 27 Leinster 3

Rhys Ruddock will captain a Leinster side bearing little resemblance to that which overhauled Northampton in last season’s Heineken Cup final when the province take on the Ospreys in their first RaboDirectPRO 12 match tomorrow night.

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

Luke Fitzgerald will start for Leinster in tomorrow night's pre-season friendly against Northampton Saints , just days after being left out of Ireland's 30-man World Cup squad.

A NEW-look Musgrave Park will stage tonight’s glamour pre-season friendly between Munster and London Wasps (7pm).

In the absence of his senior international players, Leinster coach Joe Schmidt has named a young side to face the Melbourne Rebels in tomorrow night’s opening fixture of the Bank of Ireland Series in Donnybrook, kick-off 7pm.