Brendan O'Brien recaps the action as Leinster defeated Racing 92 by 15-12 in Bilbao.

Nacewa was the Leinster hero in his final game for the province.

90 minutes ago he wasn't even due to take a place on the bench for the Champions Cup final. But Racing 92's hopes of a first European Cup now rest in the hands of Remi Tales.

Dan Carter has been ruled out of the Champions Cup final 90 minutes before kick-off.

Donal Lenihan examines the decisive factors today at the San Mamés Stadium

There’s no doubt the absence of Maxime Machenaud has taken a major weapon out of Racing 92’s armoury ahead of Saturday’s Champions Cup final showdown with Leinster but assuming the Parisians will have no creative fulcrum without the France scrum-half is reckoning without Pat Lambie.

In my early weeks in Christchurch I picked up some helpful pointers from the Crusaders’ head coach Scott Robertson, writes Ronan O’Gara.

The team news ahead of Sunday’s Champions Cup semi-final.

I want Munster to win. That’s where I am from. Home is always home. Where the heart is. But there’s a deep feeling there for guys who will be playing in blue and white as well, writes Ronan O’Gara

Munster will go into Champions Cup semi-final weekend as the only one of Europe’s last four with a win behind them after their opponents this Saturday – Racing 92 – were defeated by Toulouse.

It will take just over an hour by air for the Racing 92 players to fly to Toulouse for Sunday’s important Top 14 game at the Stade Ernest Wallon, writes Ronan O’Gara.

Christchurch feels very safe and secure. And the Ireland in me had forgotten how much you savour those things. The contrast from Paris is huge. There is no anger in this world. On the RER in Paris, every nationality in the world is around you.

Joey Carbery won’t be leaving Leinster anytime soon.

Wales posted only a third victory over South Africa in 110 years as they ended their autumn Test series in winning fashion at the Principality Stadium.

Referee Jaco Peyper is a full- time, paid official, and must be accountable for his performance, writes Donal Lenihan.

There’s a huge onus on Ireland’s new boys to hold the defensive line, writes Donal Lenihan.

Four days out from a series-deciding Test with the Springboks, Devin Toner has admitted the Ireland camp is still not over their painful defeat to South Africa at Ellis Park last Saturday.

Despite disappointment at CJ Stander's guilty verdict and one-match suspension, Ireland seem unlikely to appeal the ban that will keep him out of this Saturday's second Test against South Africa.

In the face of criticism from Springboks coach Allister Coetzee that Ireland “weren’t interested in playing rugby”, Andrew Trimble has proclaimed pride in his team’s streetwise victory against the odds.

CJ Stander was last night handed a one-week suspension, leaving him out of this Saturday’s second Test with South Africa.

CJ Stander’s fate for the rest of Ireland’s tour of South Africa was due to be decided in Johannesburg this morning after his mandatory judicial hearing was adjourned after sitting for five hours in Cape Town yesterday.

There are few more stunning backdrops to an international rugby stadium than the one that greets you on your arrival at Newlands Stadium. Nestled to the rear of the imposing, rugged features that define Table Mountain, it sets the scene perfectly for what lies ahead. This is South Africa, this is Springbok rugby.

CJ Stander will feel hard done by after he was red carded in Ireland's first test against South Africa.

If the London Olympics of four years ago is the yardstick by which the Rugby World Cup is to be judged then the tournament organisers have set themselves an incredibly high standard.

Sam Warburton says he does not feel any sense of surprise after Wales finally ended their southern hemisphere hoodoo.

Wales finally cracked the code of success against major southern hemisphere opposition as full-back Leigh Halfpenny’s relentless goalkicking saw off Millennium Stadium visitors South Africa.

AUTUMN INTERNATIONAL:

England 28 South Africa 31

South Africa have recalled World Cup winners JP Pietersen and Schalk Burger among five changes for Saturday’s QBE International against England at Twickenham.

Coach Heyneke Meyer has announced the South African team that will play Ireland in Dublin on Saturday in the first of Ireland’s Autumn rugby internationals.

Scotland 0 South Africa 28

Wales’ long wait to claim the major southern hemisphere scalp they crave continues – but only after an heroic display in a ferocious Test match of brutal intensity at the Millennium Stadium.

So often the perfect opportunity to introduce promising players to the international stage, the autumn international series has taken on a different significance this year with the 2015 Rugby World Cup pool allocation draw taking place on December 3 and Ireland perilously close to falling out of the world’s top eight.

Ireland 12 South Africa 16

South Africa try-scorer Ruan Pienaar was thrilled to play his part as the Springboks roared back to beat Ireland in Dublin.

Ireland 12 South Africa 16

The three key battles that will decide the Guinness Series opener

It is not just the Irish taking a step into the unknown tomorrow night at the Aviva Stadium.

South Africa head coach Heyneke Meyer has entrusted 22-year-old Pat Lambie with flyhalf responsibilities for Saturday’s meeting with Ireland in the Aviva Stadium (5.30pm).

South Africa 9 Australia 11

FIJI’S Dominiko Waqaniburotu fell foul of tournament officials when he was banned for three weeks for a dangerous tackle on South Africa’s Pat Lambie in their match on Saturday.