Ireland women’s head coach Adam Griggs was a relieved figure after seeing his side overcome the stubborn challenge of Scotland in their Six Nations opener at Donnybrook.

With the clock ticking and Munster trailing 13-6, the home side won a crucial penalty inside the Leinster 22 after a sustained period of pressure and kicked for the corner.

Ireland U20 out-half Ben Healy will make his Munster senior debut tomorrow night as Johann van Graan opts for wholesale changes for the PRO14 visit of Edinburgh to Cork.

Ireland’s search for a maiden November Women’s International victory continues after they suffered an agonising defeat to Wales in the UCD Bowl on Sunday afternoon.

World Cup demands deprive both Munster and Ospreys of the majority of their top players when they meet in the Guinness PRO14 at Musgrave Park tonight.

Munster claimed a second bonus-point victory in a week as their perfect start to the PRO14 season continued in Port Elizabeth against Southern Kings.

Munster back row Jack O’Donoghue knows there will be a tougher test at altitude next week in Bloemfontein but insists they also have their work cut out to deal with the Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth today.

Despite all those stars jetting east to the Land of the Rising Sun, the absentee which generated the most debate was the one left at home.

Johann van Graan sends a mix-and-match Munster side into Stadio Monigo tonight with one eye firmly on next weekend’s European semi-final with Saracens.

Munster 38 Cheetahs 0

Munster have the best record of the Irish provinces on the opening day of the league and Johann van Graan will be hoping to maintain that when they kick off their PRO14 campaign at home to the Cheetahs today at Thomond Park.

Munster bid to retain their women’s interprovincial title when they kick-off the series against Connacht at Musgrave Park tomorrow.

Munster hit the new ground running last night as they won their opening pre-season game on Musgrave Park’s freshly installed playing surface to defeat Declan Kidney’s London Irish.

Ireland coach Adam Griggs admitted his side were well below their best after Scotland secured a surprise victory in yesterday’s Women’s Six Nations Championship at Donnybrook.

Ahead of their meeting in the Women’s Six Nations at Donnybrook tomorrow afternoon (1pm kick-off), Niamh Briggs acknowledged that Scotland are becoming a dangerous proposition for Ireland.

Ireland 35 Wales 12: Adam Griggs sang the praises of the “immense” Claire Molloy, after she secured a brace of tries in Ireland’s bonus-point victory over Wales in the Women’s Six Nations Championship at Donnybrook yesterday.

Wexford native Katie Fitzhenry is hoping that Ireland can build on victory over Italy when they welcome Wales to Donnybrook Stadium tomorrow afternoon (3pm).

Garryowen 18 ... UL Bohemian 3: Garryowen claimed their 39th Munster Senior Cup when overwhelming local rivals UL Bohemian 18-3 in their all-Limerick final at the Markets Field last night.

There’ll be much soul-searching and head scratching once they’ve been put out of their misery, but right now, Ireland will lift their heads one last time in a bid to take something meaningful out of this Women’s Rugby World Cup.

The temptation is to say ‘game over’ for Ireland after the host nation came out a distant second-best in this win-or-bust Pool C decider against a slick French side in the Women’s Rugby World Cup at Belfield last night.

No-one did more to bail Ireland out than Jenny Murphy when Australia had them under the pump in their Pool C opener eight days ago.

No-one did more to bail Ireland out than Jenny Murphy when Australia had them under the pump in their Pool C opener eight days ago.

It’s not the job of the Ireland team to sell this Rugby World Cup but Tom Tierney’s side are doing more than anyone to make the wider public, both here and abroad, sit up and take notice of events at Belfield.

England may be chasing immortality, but David Wallace believes Ireland will be the hungrier team when the pair meet on Saturday.

Garryowen 8 Young Munster 14: Young Munster took a giant step towards qualifying for the semi-finals of this season’s Ulster Bank League with a hard fought 14-8 Division 1A derby victory over local rivals Garryowen at Dooradoyle last night.

Ireland Club’s coach Paul Cunningham is expecting a stern test and plenty of top class rugby in tonight’s Ulster Bank sponsored Dalriada Cup clash with Scotland at Temple Hill, Cork (7.30pm).

Garryowen 10 Clontarf 3: Clontarf and Garryowen produced 10 tries between them when they met in the previous round of the Ulster Bank League last month on the Dublin club’s all weather pitch.

Cork Constitution 11 Garryowen 9: Another day of drama between the kings of Munster Cup rugby ended with holders Constitution taking a giant step towards retaining their crown with a two points victory over Garryowen at Temple Hill on Saturday.

Garryowen 23 Cork Constitution 19 (Ulster Bank All-Ireland League Division 1A): Cork Constitution showed magnificent fighting spirit in coming from 15-3 behind after quarter of an hour to take a 19-18 lead deep into stoppage time at Dooradoyle on Saturday.

Munster A 41 Ulster Ravens 27: Kiwi outhalf Tyler Bleyendaal made his long-awaited Munster debut for the province’s second string during a 41-27 victory against the Ulster Ravens at Naas yesterday.

Over and over again and again, Galwegians sang their club anthem ‘The Blues are we’ and danced and celebrated long into Saturday night in Galway after their nerve wracking Ulster Bank AIL victory over Garryowen at Crowley Park.

Munster A 33 Connacht Eagles 13: Munster A showed flashes of brilliance during their comprehensive win over the Connacht Eagles at Thomond Park yesterday.

Munster 42 Connacht 20: Munster moved closer to a home Guinness Pro12 semi-final in some style at Thomond Park on Saturday evening, running in six tries to thump derby rivals Connacht.

Guinness Pro12

Munster ‘A’ 30 Ulster Ravens 24:

Ospreys v Munster

Guinness Pro12

Guinness Pro12

British and Irish Cup