The 26-year-old Waratahs player will provide cover across the second-row and back-row.

A humid Saturday morning and clearly it is moving day in Lourdes. Dozens of buses clog the narrow streets of the town in the Pyrenees, hazard lights on as people are wheeled or carried from their hotels, others moving with a pep in their step as if the visit to the Marian shrine has uplifted them.

Around 11 people are diagnosed with dementia every day in Ireland. There are 55,000 living with the condition and the number is expected to more than double to 113,000 by 2036.

Around 11 people are diagnosed with dementia every day in Ireland. There are 55,000 living with the condition and the number is expected to more than double to 113,000 by 2036.

Conor Murray has opened up about his "best mate" Simon Zebo moving to France and the winger's omission from the Ireland squad.

Brive 27 Castres 22: Veteran captain Rodrigo Capo Ortega and experienced scrum-half Rory Kockott are expected to return for Castres for Sunday’s Champions Cup open clash with Munster after missing this surprise loss at Stade Amedee Domenech on Saturday evening.

Injured second-row Dave Foley has played his last game for Munster after the province revealed he will be joining French Top14 club Pau at the end of the season.

Schools’ rugby has transformed lately and, this year, I was blown away by the physical condition of the boys, writes Duncan Casey.

The growing Munster contingent in Pau is settling into life in the top flight in France and showed at the weekend they have what it takes to cut it amongst the best in the richest rugby league in the world.

Former Munster assistant coach Simon Mannix said he played no part in Paul O’Connell’s move to France and has denied he ever tried to sign the Irish captain for Pau.

Another of the early front runners for the Leinster job has withdrawn himself from the race with Jono Gibbes committing himself to Clermont Auvergne until 2018.

Paul O’Connell won’t be the only Munster player making his last appearance in the red jersey at the Kingspan Stadium tomorrow night.

Peter O’Mahony appreciates it can often be more nerve wracking to watch rather than to play after being forced to retire because of injury during Saturday’s nail biting Guinness Pro 12 win for Munster over the Ospreys.

Munster 21 Ospreys 18: Paul O’Connell has spent the last few months, in public at least, ruminating over the right way to retire from professional sport and has been at pains to point out that not every athlete is fortunate to bow out from their sport in the manner of their choosing.

Munster gave Paul O'Connell a rousing curtain call as they booked their place in next week's Guinness Pro12 after surviving an almighty scare form Ospreys in a pulsating semi-final at Thomond Park.

A word of warning for Anthony Foley and his crew in advance of today’s Guinness Pro12 semi final at Thomond Park – Ospreys don’t much care about reputation or about location.

Anthony Foley will send his Munster players out against Newport Gwent Dragons today hoping last Saturday’s late meltdown was not an omen for the last throes of the regular season.

Munster ‘A’ 30 Ulster Ravens 24:

Guinness Pro12

Scarlets 25 Munster 25: How Anthony Foley judges this result at Scarlets depends on whether he believes the glass is half-full or half-empty.

Back rowers Paddy Butler and Sean Dougall are leaving Munster at the end of the season, but versatile back Denis Hurley has signed on for another season.

There has been seven changes to the Munster side defeated by Connacht last week for Saturday’s trip to Zebre in the PRO12.

There was a time when Connacht were regarded as a soft touch. That day has long passed, however, and Munster make the trip to Galway on Thursday fully aware that the one-time Cinderella province has not lost a league match there this season.

The international contingent get all the breaks. With Joe Schmidt hosting a pre-Christmas camp in Carton House early in the week, the onus fell on the supporting cast in the provinces with Gordon D’Arcy the only player who started in Ireland’s last outing against Australia asked to play in the festive derbies in Limerick and Belfast yesterday.

Shannon 17 Garryowen 34

If CJ Stander brings even half his fiercely competitive nature to bear on Munster’s journey into the lion’s den at Stade Marcel Michelin today, then the province should have nothing to fear from Clermont Auvergne.

CJ Stander wants to stay at Munster well beyond his current contract in a bid to make a similar impact on the province as Doug Howlett.

Munster head coach Anthony Foley yesterday added new centre signing Pat Howard to the province’s registered European Champions Cup squad as doubts continued over Andrew Smith’s fitness ahead of Saturday’s must-win pool showdown with Clermont Auvergne.

Munster 21 Ulster 20

Rory Best will start for Ulster against Munster in tomorrow's match at Thomond Park while Munster coach Anthony Foley has named a strong squad bolstered by a number of returning internationals.

A year is a long time in rugby, but not long enough for Duncan Casey to stop appreciating the opportunity he is being given to cement a place in Munster’s front row.

GUINNESS PRO12:

Munster head coach Anthony Foley has made seven changes to his starting 15 for their trip to Wales on Friday night.

Paddy Butler’s feet remain firmly planted on the ground despite the praise which followed his dramatic last-minute try which snatched a Guinness Pro12 win against Cardiff last month.

Cardiff Blues 24 Munster 28

Cardiff Blues were denied what would have been their second Guinness PRO12 win of the season by a late try as Munster claimed a 28-24 win at Cardiff Arms Park.

Robin Copeland’s return to the BT Cardiff Arms Park where he enjoyed two highly successful years before linking up with Munster this season and the first appearance of Argentine international Luis Gonzalez Amorosino on the wing for Cardiff Blues adds considerable interest to this evening’s Guinness Pro12 clash.

Anthony Foley has made 11 changes to the starting fifteen that

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Worcester Warriors 27 Munster A 23

Munster A coach Mick O’Driscoll makes four personnel changes from last weekend’s British & Irish Cup for this afternoon’s clash with Worcester Warriors (Sixways, 3pm).

ANOTHER league game, another rave review, but CJ Stander is taking nothing for granted when competition for places in the Munster back-row places is so intense ahead of Saturday’s European opener at Sale Sharks.