Marcus Horan sat down to decide his future. Another year in rugby? With no contract on the table from Munster he knew it was time to end a long and fruitful sporting career.

ALL rational thinking suggests that only the Thomond Park factor can save Munster from a second Heineken Cup defeat at the venue when Northampton Saints come calling on Saturday.

After a difficult season with Ireland, Peter Stringer is ‘chomping at the bit’ to get back on the pitch for Munster’s quarter-final with Gloucester tomorrow, he tells Edward Newman.

A TYPICAL Munster European night in Thomond Park. An utterly dominant pack decisively outplaying a giant Bourgoin eight, blowing them backwards in mauls both defensive and offensive.

Munster 37 Cardiff Blues 8

MUNSTER coach Declan Kidney will name his team to play their final Celtic League game of the season against the Cardiff Blues at lunchtime today, but may have to do without two international greats.

IT will take a while for the dust to settle on this one. After seven years of trying, it may seem almost churlish not to bask in the glory of Munster’s Heineken Cup triumph.

Marcus Horan remains Munster’s main injury worry ahead of the Heineken Cup final against Biarritz in Cardiff on Saturday.

IF CLARE hurling was haunted by the curse of Biddy Earley for years, one wonders what external forces are contriving to deprive Munster of European Cup success.

Border Reivers 25 Munster 41

Christian Cullen returns to the Munster starting line-up for the first time in over a year after being named as full back on the Munster side for the Celtic League game against Border Reivers in Netherdale on Friday.

Munster must have a bonus point win against Borders at Netherdale on Friday night to maintain their fading ambition to win the Celtic League.

Munster coach Declan Kidney willl have to make do without Jeremy Manning, Ronan O'Gara, Christian Cullen, Marcus Horan and Denis Leamy for the Celtic League clash with Edinburgh Gunners at Thomond Park on Saturday next (7.30pm).

NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS coach Paul Turner has tipped Munster to win the Heineken Cup, even though he guided his side to victory at Rodney Parade on Friday night.

BRIAN O’DRISCOLL will be free to play against Munster in the Heineken Cup semi-final on Sunday week.

Scottish side Border Reivers have referred their claim of an alleged stamping by Brian O’Driscoll to the Scottish Rugby Union (SRU).

Newport Gwent Dragons 23 Munster 17

Newport-Gwent Dragons 23 Munster 17

NEVER before has a clash between age-old rivals Munster and Leinster attracted so much hype and anticipation. With a place in the Heineken Cup final the prize, the potential reward has never been greater.

ALTHOUGH the Munster management remained tight-lipped on the subject, it has emerged that Ronan O’Gara is a major doubt for Munster’s Heineken Cup quarter final against Perpignan at Lansdowne Road this evening (5.30pm).

Coach Declan Kidney has included Denis Leamy, Rob Henderson, Christian Cullen, Mike Mullins and Jeremy Manning in the 25-strong Munster Squad for the visit of Perpignan to Lansdowne Road on Saturday.

MUNSTER have been left to count more than the financial cost of an aborted trip to Llanelli on Saturday.

MICK O’DRISCOLL has put family tragedy behind him to answer Munster’s call in today’s Celtic League fixture against Llanelli at Stradey Park (5.30pm).

CHRISTIAN CULLEN, Mike Mullins and Jeremy Manning have all been included in a 23-strong Munster squad for the Celtic League game against Llanelli Scarlets tomorrow (5.30pm) at Stradey Park.

ALL Black legend Christian Cullen begins a belated attempt to influence Munster’s season in Llanelli tomorrow. He spoke to Barry Coughlan.

Munster coach Declan Kidney has included Mike Mullins, Christian Cullen and Jeremy Manning iin the 23-man squad for the Celtic League game against Llanelli Scarlets at Stradey Park on Saturday.

TOMÁS O’LEARY could line out for Munster as outside centre in the Celtic League game with Llanelli at Stradey Park on Saturday.

IT’S just a number, insists Ronan O’Gara, as he makes light of his 60th appearance in an Irish jersey for Saturday’s Triple Crown and RBS Six Nations battle with England at Twickenham.

PAUL O’CONNELL will start Ireland’s crunch RBS Six Nations Championship clash with Scotland after passing a fitness test yesterday.

WITH the exception of reserve Jeremy Manning, ruled out by a broken arm, and long-term injury victims Frankie Sheahan, Alan Quinlan and Mike Mullins, Munster expect to be at full-strength for tomorrow’s Heineken Cup clash against Sale Sharks at Thomond Park.

Connacht 22 Ulster 12

PAUL O’CONNELL and Brian O’Driscoll into the action from the first whistle but no place in the Munster side for John Hayes.

MUNSTER'S remarkable Thomond Park Heineken Cup record remains intact but for how long more?

SHAUN PAYNE has failed to recover from the viral influenza that caused him to miss last week’s Celtic League tie against Ulster and is out of the Munster team to play the Gwent Dragons in the Heineken Cup at Rodney Parade tomorrow (1pm).

THERE could hardly be a better panacea to the bitterly disappointing autumn internationals than Saturday night’s Celtic League clash of leaders Munster and third placed Ulster at Musgrave Park.

AS big as it gets. That’s the way Munster coach Declan Kidney is approaching tomorrow evening’s opening Heineken Cup clash of the season with high-flying Sale, the current leaders of England’s Guinness Premiership and a team blessed with a whole raft of international players including as many as six Lions.

THANK God I’m not a dedicated soccer supporter. Like most Irishmen, I follow a wide range of sports and would have a particular interest when the national team (regardless of the code) is playing.

ANTHON PITOUT, Munster’s latest overseas signing, chose the province ahead of Toulouse, a decision that did not go down well in the south of France.

Munster have confirmed the signing of former Great Britain rugby league full-back Gary Connolly ahead of the Heineken Cup registration deadline.

LEO CULLEN’S life with the Leicester Tigers isn’t much different from the one he left behind in Leinster.

Stephen Keogh will captain Munster for their second pre-season friendly, following on from the 20-18 win over Northampton, against Leicester Tigers at Welford Road on Friday evening.

SOUTH AFRICAN centre Trevor Halstead will make his Munster debut in tomorrow night’s game with Leicester Tigers at Welford Road.

Veteran centre Mike Mullins has joined Christian Cullen on Munster's long-term injury list.