Five-try Connacht picked up their second bonus-point victory in a week as Andy Friend’s side overwhelmed Dragons at Rodney Parade.

Andy Friend has knocked down a few barriers since arriving in Galway 15 months ago, and this evening (kick-off 7.35pm) hopes to win in Wales for the first time since he took charge of Connacht.

Allianz Hurling League Division 3A final

Ireland flanker Stephen Ferris will get a 40-minute run-out for Ulster in tomorrow’s RaboDirect Pro12 clash with Edinburgh to prove his fitness ahead of the upcoming autumn internationals.

No one would benefit more from Brian O’Driscoll’s absenceat Twickenham on Saturday than Brian McLaughlin — but the Ulster coach is keeping his fingers crossed that the Irish centre is fit to play in the Heineken Cup final.

On a night when injuries and handling errors threatened to overshadow a promising display, Munster appear to have found another youngster with the potential to make a long-term impact.

Fears that an injury to Keith Earls would be another long-term problem for Munster and Ireland were eased yesterday when he was given a place on the bench for his province at Thomond Park tonight.

Brian McLaughlin has made 10 changes to the Ulster XV for Saturday’s RaboDirect PRO12 clash with Munster at Thomond Park (kick off 7.30pm).

The Ulster team to face Edinburgh in Saturday's Heineken Cup semi-final (5.45pm) has been named with Paddy Jackson starting at outhalf.

There is no place for rested Ireland internationals Stephen Ferris and Rory Best in Ulster’s starting XV for Friday’s RaboDirect PRO12 match against Leinster at Ravenhill (7.05pm).

Connacht grabbed their first interprovincial win over Ulster since 2005, but Brian McLaughlin is not giving up hope just yet for a RaboDirect Pro12 top-four place.

Ulster flanker Willie Faloon has a two-fold goal ahead of today’s RaboDirect Pro 12 derby clash against Connacht at the Sportsground.

Brian McLaughlin has named Stephen Ferris in his starting XV for the massive Heineken Cup quarter-final clash with Munster on Easter Sunday (1.45pm).

Andrew Trimble and his Ireland buddies Rory Best and Stephen Ferris are champing at the bit to get a piece of RaboDirect Pro 12 action tonight when Italian minnows Aironi arrive at a bone-dry Ravenhill.

Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin has once again made several changes to his starting XV for their RaboDirect PRO12 fixture against Aironi at Ravenhill (kick off 7.05pm).

Ulster head coach Brian McLaughlin has made five personnel changes and one positional switch to his starting team for the away fixture against Treviso on Saturday (3.15pm).

Brian McLaughlin has been forced into making some changes to his starting XV for the visit of Edinburgh to Ravenhill on Friday night (kick off 7.05pm).

Ulster laboured to an unconvincing victory over the Ospreys at Ravenhill last night to move back to sixth place in the RaboDirect Pro 12 League.

Brian McLaughlin has named Paul Marshall and Pedrie Wannenburg in the starting line up for Ulster's RaboDirect PRO12 clash with the Ospreys at Ravenhill tomorrow (7.05pm).

Ulster’s Nevin Spence hopes to avoid the blues when he runs-up against Gavin Henson in Cardiff’s traditional Arms Park home tonight.

Brian McLaughlin has made four personnel and three positional changes for Ulster’s important RaboDirect PRO12 clash with Cardiff on Friday (7.05pm).

Ulster will have all their peripheral Ireland players available for Friday’s RaboDirect Pro 12 League clash against the Blues at the Arms Park.

Ulster have been rocked by the loss of influential skipper Johann Muller ahead of tonight’s RaboDirect Pro12 League clash against the Dragons at Ravenhill.

Ulster have named Paddy Wallace and Dan Tuohy in their team to face Dragons in the RaboDirect PRO12 at Ravenhill on Friday (7.05pm), in the hope they will be released from the Irish 6 Nations squad.

Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin has rung the changes for tomorrow's sold out clash against Munster at Ravenhill.

ULSTER skipper Johann Muller says he will not have to say much to psyche up the team ahead of Friday’s RaboDirect Pro12 derby clash with Munster at Ravenhill.

Brian McLaughlin has made just one change to his starting team for Ulster's return Heineken Cup match versus Aironi at the Stadio Brianteo on Saturday (1.30pm).

ULSTER successfully manoeuvred the first part of their Heineken Cup back-to-back clashes with Aironi at Ravenhill last night with a bonus-point victory in Pool Four.

BALLYNAHINCH’S Paddy McAllister gets a rare start when he lines out at loose-head as Ulster tackle Italian visitors Aironi in the first of important back-to-back Heineken Cup fixtures at Ravenhill this evening.

BALLYNAHINCH’S Paddy McAllister gets a rare start when he lines out at loose-head as Ulster tackle Italian visitors Aironi in the first of important back-to-back Heineken Cup fixtures at Ravenhill this evening.

Ruan Pienaar and Paddy McAllister have both been included in the starting team for Ulster's Heineken Cup Pool 4 match versus Aironi at Ravenhill on Friday (kick off 7.30pm).

IRELAND hooker Rory Best has demanded maximum points from Ulster’s next two Heineken Cup fixtures with Aironi if the province is to repeat last year’s run to the quarter-finals.

AFTER seven defeats on the bounce, Connacht’s Pro12 fixture with Treviso at the Galway Sporstground tomorrow is a must-win for the home side.

Ulster have been boosted by the return of a number of key players to the match day 23 for Friday’s vital RaboDirect PRO12 game against Scarlets at Ravenhill (7.05pm).

Stephen Ferris, Rory Best, John Afoa, Chris Henry and Craig Gilroy have all been included in Brian McLaughlin’s extended 33 man squad for the crucial RaboDirect PRO12 game against Scarlets at Ravenhill on Friday (7.05pm).

PAUL MARSHALL is looking forward to what could be his last start for Ulster in the RaboDirect Pro 12 League for quite a while.

The Ulster team which will run out against Glasgow Warriors in the RaboDirect PRO12 at Firhill tomorrow (7.35pm) shows four personnel changes and one positional switch from the starting XV that was defeated 20-9 by Leicester in the Heineken Cup last weekend.

EASY to forget now after their blazing finish to the season but there was a point early in the last campaign when Leinster were pinned on the ropes.

Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin been forced into two changes to his starting team for the Heineken Cup Pool 4 clash with Leicester Tigers on Saturday (6pm).

ULSTER coach Brian McLaughlin wants a helping of the same intensity and physicality from his pack when they head to the Leicester Tigers liar at Welford Road on Saturday for the second instalment of their Heineken Cup campaign.

Brian McLaughlin has named an unchanged team for Ulster's opening Heineken Cup Pool 4 match against ASM Clermont Auvergne in Ravenhill tomorrow (3.40pm).

ULSTER are still hoping to include 37-times capped Springbok utility back Stefan Terblanche in their match-day squad for Saturday’s Heineken Cup opener at Ravenhill against French giants Clermont Auvergne.

Brian McLaughlin has today named a strong preliminary squad ahead of Saturday's Heineken Cup Pool 4 clash against ASM Clermont Auvergne (Ravenhill, kick-off 3.40pm).

ULSTER’S All Black World Cup winner John Afoa is relishing his provincial debut in today’s RaboDirect Pro 12 derby clash with Connacht at Ravenhill.