MUNSTER captain Paul O’Connell believes Leinster have the quality his province must aspire to if they are to emerge from the doldrums and reclaim their place among Europe’s best.

MUNSTER’S dreams of an Amlin Cup consolation prize were crushed ruthlessly by Harlequins on Saturday in the province’s most embarrassing defeat of a proud 16-year European odyssey.

Munster coach Tony McGahan has made just one change in personnel, from the side that started the Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final against Brive, for tomorrow afternoon’s semi-final match against Harlequins at Thomond Park Stadium, kick-off 1pm.

TONY MCGAHAN could not have asked for better preparation for Munster’s Amlin Challenge Cup semi-final than this dramatic victory at the Ospreys.

TONY McGAHAN has made 14 changes to the Munster team for this evening’s Magners League clash with the Ospreys.

Munster coach Tony McGahan has named his side for tomorrow night’s Magners League clash with the Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea, kick-off 6.30pm.

JEAN DE VILLIERS is interested in returning to Munster after this year’s World Cup.

DENIS LEAMY has admitted Munster are determined to do the Magners League and Amlin Challenge Cup double after he led his side to a hard-fought triumph over the Scarlets in west Wales.

MUNSTER coach Tony McGahan handed the captain’s armband to seasoned international back-rower Denis Leamy, but named an experimental side to face Llanelli Scarlets in tonight’s Magners League clash in Wales.

Munster coach Tony McGahan has named his side for Saturday’s Magners League match against the Scarlets at the Parc Y Scarlets, kick-off 6.15pm.

Munster coach Tony McGahan has named a 34-man squad for Munster's Magners League match against the Scarlets at Parc Y Scarlets on Saturday, kick-off 6.15pm.

Munster coach Tony McGahan has named his team for tomorrow's Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final clash against Brive at the Stade Municipal, kick-off 2pm.

TONY McGAHAN promised the Munster supporters that his players won’t shirk from the challenge of taking on Brive up front on Saturday in the Amlin Challenge Cup.

Munster coach Tony McGahan has named young backs Felix Jones and Conor Murray in his starting line-up for tomorrow night’s Magners League clash with Leinster at Thomond Park, kick-off 7.30pm.

MUNSTER strengthened their hand at the top of the Magners League with a bonus point win with an inexperienced side at Musgrave Park on Saturday night.

MUNSTER coach Tony McGahan will give youth its fling in tonight’s Magners League clash with Newport Gwent Dragons at Musgrave Park (7.30pm).

Munster coach Tony McGahan has named a youthful side for tomorrow evening’s Magners League clash with Newport Gwent Dragons at Musgrave Park, kick-off 7.30pm.

THE waiting game is always the worst and Denis Hurley is hoping against hope that a scan on an injured right knee will provide good news today.

MUNSTER maintained their stranglehold on top spot in the Magners League with a scrappy victory at the Stadio Luigi Zaffanella yesterday but the win was tainted by the loss of Denis Hurley to a knee injury.

MUNSTER yesterday confirmed the worst-kept secret in Irish rugby by announcing the signing of Ulster tight-head prop BJ Botha.

Munster coach Tony McGahan has named his side for Sunday’s Magners League match away to Aironi at the Stadio Zaffanella, kick-off 2.00pm.

MUNSTER coach Tony McGahan wants his side to bounce back from what he termed “one of the more disappointing results” of his tenure, when they meet Edinburgh in a must-win Magners League clash at Thomond Park tonight (7.50pm).

LEINSTER will battle to retain the services of prop forward Mike Ross next season with increased speculation the Cork native is set for a return to his Munster roots following the departure of Tony Buckley to Sale Sharks.

MUNSTER’S comfortable position at the top of the Magners League will be under threat tomorrow when they meet Benetton Treviso in the Stadio Comunale di Monigo.

Munster coach Tony McGahan has named a youthful side ahead of Sunday’s Magners League match away to Treviso, kick-off 2pm.

MUNSTER’S Denis Hurley, Johne Murphy, Mick O’Driscoll and Donncha Ryan will rejoin the province after spending the week on international duty for a first ever Magners League assignment in Italy on Sunday.

Paul O’Connell will start for Munster in Sunday’s crunch Heineken Cup game against Toulon at the Stade Félix Mayol (kick-off 4pm).

MUNSTER’S battered and bruised squad has received a tonic with the return of Jerry Flannery for tomorrow’s Magners League clash with Ulster at Thomond Park (7.30pm).

Former Munster player Keith Matthews will captain Connacht for their St Stephen’s Day Magners League meeting with league leaders Munster at the Sportsground in Galway. (kick-off 6.10pm)

MUNSTER skipper Paul O’Connell received bad news yesterday, as a European Rugby Cup (ERC) appeals committee decided a four-week ban was just reward for the red card he sustained in the Heineken Cup win over the Ospreys earlier this month.

Munster coach Tony McGahan has named the same starting line-up that faced Ospreys in Limerick for Saturday’s Heineken Cup game at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea. (kick-off 3.30pm)

THERE was an element of satisfaction about the end result when a fitful performance but deserved victory at Thomond Park on Saturday night guaranteed Munster will stay top of the Magners League at least until St. Stephen’s Day.

Munster lock Paul O'Connell is named on the bench for tomorrow night's Magners League clash with Cardiff Blues at Thomond Park Stadium.

MUNSTER failed to extend their lead at the top of the Magners League table after falling to a disappointing defeat to the Dragons at a snowy Rodney Parade last night.

Johne Murphy, who was released from the Irish international squad this week, has been withdrawn from the Munster team for tonight’s Magners League game with the Dragons at Rodney Parade. (kick-off 7.05pm)

Tomás O'Leary and Lifeimi Mafi return to Munster action for the first time in almost two months for Friday night’s Magners League game with the Dragons at Rodney Parade. (kick-off 7.05pm)

PAUL O’CONNELL will play his first competitive rugby since March tomorrow night when he lines out for Young Munster against Shannon at Thomond Park, Munster manager Sean Payne confirmed yesterday.

Tomás O’Leary and Lifeimi Mafi are included in the Munster squad, for the first time in almost two months, for Friday’s Magners League away trip to the Dragons at Rodney Parade in Newport. (kick-off 7.05pm)

Munster coach Tony McGahan has made two changes to the side that defeated Australia during the week ahead of Sunday’s Magners League clash with the Scarlets at Musgrave Park (kick-off 5.35pm).

MUNSTER manager Shaun Payne revealed last night that Paul O’Connell could lead the province “in one of the two Heineken Cup matches against the Ospreys” next month.

IF bravery wins games, then this was surely a shining example of such. Munster centre Ivan Dineen’s persistence was rewarded in some style, as the young debutant’s injury-time try clinched Munster’s Magners League victory over Ulster at Ravenhill last night.

Peter Stringer will win his 200th cap for Munster in Friday's Magners League clash with Ulster in Ravenhill.