RABO DIRECT PRO12:

It is now more than a decade since the famous Miracle Match of 2003, but memories of that never-to-be-forgotten occasion will be revived when three survivors participate in today’s Seat Series clash of Munster and Gloucester at Thomond Park (kick-off 5pm).

Andrew Conway will line out in Munster colours for the first time tomorrow as Rob Penney’s side begin their pre-season programme against Gloucester at Thomond Park (5pm).

Ballyhea 4-17 Carrigaline 5-10

Recent performances in the Heineken Cup excepted, it has been a poor campaign by Munster’s exalted standards and it will be a whole lot worse should they become the first team to lose to Zebre in their last match of the season at the Stadio XXV Aprile in Parma this evening.

Head coach Rob Penney has named a strong team for Munster’s final RaboDirect PRO 12 match of the season tomorrow night.

British & Irish Cup semi-final

RABODIRECT PRO12

Munster head coach Rob Penneyn has made twelve changes to the starting XV that took on Leinster, for tomorrow night’s RaboDirect PRO12 meeting with Dragons at Rodney Parade (7pm)

Rob Penney’s men aren’t the only Munster outfit in search of glory across the Irish Sea tomorrow.

The absence of Conor Murray from tonight’s Munster squad for the must-win RaboDirect Pro12 game with Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun has set the tongues wagging — is he out of favour, injured, or what?

Having seen Cathal Sheridan overtake him in the scrum-half pecking order in recent games, Munster number 9 Duncan Williams has been given a chance to prove himself after being named in the starting XV for tomorrow's RaboDirect PRO12 match against Glasgow Warriors in Scotstoun (8.05pm)

One of the strengths of Munster rugby over the year has been the ideology that opponents must be respected at all costs, not necessarily feared but at least respected.

James Coughlan believes there is still an opportunity for redemption as Munster head into the last few games of the RaboDirect Pro12 with their hopes of semi-final qualification hanging by a thread.

Having been sidelined since October with a back problem, Munster second row Paul O’Connell returns to the starting team for the RaboDirect PRO12 interprovincial showdown against Connacht at Musgrave Park on Saturday (5.45pm).

Munster A 24 Leinster 17

Having defied medical opinion and returned to match fitness a month earlier than expected, Paul O’Connell sets out this afternoon on a path that could see him feature for Munster in next month’s Heineken Cup quarter-final with Harlequins.

Shannon 45 Cork Constitution 26

Munster 6 Scarlets 13

Ian Keatley returns to the Munster fly-half berth tomorrow as the province eyes the chance to nick points off second-placed Scarlets as RaboDirect Pro12 action returns to Musgrave Park (5:15pm).

Munster head coach Rob Penney has made six changes to his starting XV for Sunday’s RaboDirect PRO12 clash with Scarlets at Musgrave Park (5.15pm).

There hasn’t been much talk about it recently, but Munster are still embarrassed about the capitulation to the Ospreys in last season’s RaboDirect semi-final.

After seven months of breaking the pain barrier to rescue his career, Niall Ronan is delighted to be back in action for Munster. Surgery and a long rehab programme may have helped mend cruciate ligament damage but it also put Ronan’s resolve to the test.

After a man-of-the-match performance at second-centre against the Dragons, Keith Earls will wear the number 13 jersey again on Saturday for Munster’s RaboDirect PRO12 meeting with defending champions Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium (6.30pm).

Munster 33 Dragons 13

Rob Penney may now have a defeat on his record as Munster head coach, but the New Zealander sends a much-changed team out tonight at Thomond Park (8pm) against Newport Gwent Dragons confident his players are heading in the right direction with a big month coming up in October.

Munster will reunite Peter Stringer and Ronan O’Gara at half-back for the first time in 19 months as head coach Rob Penney shuffles his deck for tomorrow night’s RaboDirect Pro12 clash with Newport Gwent Dragons at Thomond Park (8pm).

Peter stringer and Ronan O’Gara will form a familiar halfback partnership for Munster’s RaboDirect PRO12 meeting with the Dragons in Thomond Park on Saturday (8pm).

Ulster Ravens 17 Munster A 19

Munster head coach Rob Penney has resisted the urge to start returning Test backs Ronan O’Gara, Conor Murray and Keith Earls in tomorrow night’s RaboDirect Pro12 tussle with Ulster, having named the Ireland trio on the bench for the Ravenhill derby.

Ballinhassig stormed into the last four of the Premier IHC on Saturday night after a terrific four-point victory over Ballyhea in Mallow.

Ballyhea can approach their Premier IHC quarter-final with Ballinhassig in confident mood after eliminating Kilbrittain at Coachford on Saturday.

Newly-appointed Munster manager Niall O’Donovan is optimistic the province will regroup to become a major European force again.

Munster second row Mick O'Driscoll announced today that he will retire from rugby at the end of the current season.

Felix Jones, Tommy O’Donnell and Mike Sherry are in Munster’s squad for Saturday’s RaboDirect PRO12 away to Benetton Treviso.

MUNSTER coach Tony McGahan was able to breathe easily despite having to conduct a full-on training session at the University of Limerick with Paul O’Connell looking on from the sidelines.

Perhaps unsurprisingly Tony McGahan keeps faith with the same 23 that delivered the bonus point win last weekend, for tomorrow's crucial Heineken Cup clash with Castres Olympique.

INJURY-PLAGUED Munster and Ireland hooker Jerry Flannery is reaching a decision point as to his rugby-playing future, his provincial head coach Tony McGahan revealed.

MUNSTER coach Tony McGahan will today dig deeper into his pool of young talent to find a Heineken Cup squad replacement for Denis Leamy, who has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a hip injury.

IT’S much change for Munster and minimum alterations for Treviso in advance of tonight’s RaboDirect Pro12 clash at Thomond Park.

With three of those who started against Ulster ruled out through injury Munster once again ring the changes for the RaboDirect PRO12 clash with Benetton Treviso in Thomond Park Stadium tomorrow evening (8.15pm).

DENIS LEAMY will have a troublesome hip injury assessed by a top London based specialist today.

IMPORTANT RaboDirect Pro12 league points were at stake at Thomond Park last night, but the occasion was really all about John Hayes and his last appearance in a Munster shirt after 217 honour-laden competitive appearances.

CONNACHT’S Eric Elwood signalled his intent ahead of Monday’s Rabo Direct 12 clash with Munster by making just one enforced change from the side that lost to Gloucester in last week’s Heineken Cup tie at Kingsholm.