It’s as if he’s always been the ideal backup to the stars.

Leinster 14 Harlequins 13

Leinster came through a nail-biting European Champions Cup rematch with Harlequins as Ian Madigan’s 71st-minute penalty gave them a 14-13 win at the Aviva Stadium.

The last time Nick Easter walked onto the pitch at the Aviva Stadium was in 2011, and England looked on the cusp of a first Six Nations Grand Slam for eight years.

We got it wrong with our prediction in these pages last week, but then so did Leinster.

Brian O’Driscoll’s punditry role with BT Sport extended to a spot of rugby coaching earlier this week with former All Black Nick Evans.

Conor O’Shea has told his Harlequins to prepare themselves for ‘war’ as they face Leinster in another crucial European encounter on Saturday.

England captain Chris Robshaw has been ruled out of Harlequins’ European Rugby Champions Cup match against Leinster on Saturday and will see a specialist to examine his shoulder injury.

Quite the day for Harlequins, all told.

Harlequins 24 Leinster 18

Considering he had blown enough fuses in his time to put the lights out all over Limerick, Jamie Cudmore was always liable to leave Munster in a dark place.

Harlequins director of rugby Conor O’Shea has backed Nick Easter to continue playing for some time after the veteran number eight inspired a 24-18 Champions Cup victory over Leinster.

Harlequins and Leinster will renew their European rivalry on Sunday – five years after the ’Bloodgate’ scandal that rocked rugby.

Michael Cheika described it at the time as the biggest result in his four years at Leinster. Jamie Heaslip, one of the few survivors from that momentous afternoon who plays tomorrow, labelled it only two days ago as a major turning point for the province.

Jonathan Sexton kicked 16 points as Racing Metro defeated Benetton Treviso 26-10 at Stadio Comunale di Mongio.

Scarlets 20 Harlequins 22

Harlequins 17 Racing Metro 3

Racing Metro 8 Harlequins 32

Gentleman, that he is, Beaumont whispers to Moss “may the best team win”.

The IRFU faces new financial concerns as the English and French clubs plan to withdraw from the Heineken Cup.

Jimmy Gopperth may never have made it as an All Black but that doesn’t make him a sub-standard out-half.

The British & Irish Lions open the 2013 tour in the Hong Kong heat today with instructions to hit the ground running and show the ruthlessness and intensity that will be required to defeat Australia this summer.

Italy’s Sergio Parisse will captain the Barbarians against the British and Irish Lions in Hong Kong this Saturday.

Toulon full-back Delon Armitage has been slammed by former and current players for his behaviour during Saturday’s Heineken Cup final win over Clermont.

Having being omitted from Warren Gatland’s Lions squad, Perpignan fly-half James Hook could line out against the British and Irish outfit, having been named in the provisional Barbarians squad.

Munster head coach Rob Penney revealed last night that he believes Ronan O’Gara will have a pivotal role to play if the two-time Heineken Cup champions are to upset the odds and beat ASM Clermont Auvergne in Montpellier today.

Harlequins 12 Munster 18

Harlequins 12 Munster 18

Paul O’Connell is convinced Munster can rectify the mistakes which led to last week’s 51-24 defeat by Glasgow Warriors and keep their dreams of Heineken Cup glory alive.

Paul O’Connell knows that a 100% performance improvement is required if Munster are going to progress to the semi-final of the Heineken European Cup.

Biarritz 9 Harlequins 16

Harlequins 47 Connacht 8

Harlequins 47 Connacht 8

Connacht chief executive Tom Sears has hit out at those who have breached the confidentiality of the process of choosing a successor to Eric Elwood the province’s chief executive Tom Sears.

Harlequins 53 Zebre 5

England full-back Alex Goode described Charlie Hodgson as the best fly-half in the Premiership after watching him orchestrate Saracens’ 30-13 Heineken Cup victory over Racing Metro on Saturday.

Connacht 22 Harlequins 30

Harlequins 40 Biarritz 13

IF HARLEQUINS take Leinster’s Heineken Cup crown they may have to thank the unusual combination of Michael Phelps, Terenure College in Dublin and Alabama’s United States Sports Academy.

Harlequins drew first blood in this season’s battles with Heineken Cup opponents Connacht, but coach Eric Elwood is not unduly worried, knowing there are more significant challenges ahead.

ECSTATIC and joyous scenes in the Galway Sportsground last night, as Connacht finally delivered on their promise to turn their poor run of results around.

Connacht 9 Harlequins 8

By Ian Cusack

A CONTESTANT turned the air blue on afternoon TV show Countdown — but won the points in that round.