Ireland are beginning the defence of their RBS 6 Nations crown amid high expectations at Croke Park against wooden spoon favourites Italy.

THE return of Marcus Horan and Rory Best to international competition at the Recreation Ground, Bath, on Sunday (2pm) is a timely boost to Ireland’s hopes of another successful RBS Six Nations Championship.

RORY BEST will lead Ireland’s tour to America as one of five Grand Slam winners included in the 25-man squad.

WHEN a player of Brian O’Driscoll’s renown and stature admits that “this was one of the more physical Test matches I’ve played in a long, long time,” the point is well made.

IN the context of what might havebeen, victory was most welcome at Croke Park on Saturday. However that won’t diminish coach Declan Kidney’s food for thought in the weeks leading up to the Six Nations Championship.

ULSTER fell to their first home defeat under coach Matt Williams in an entertaining eight-try clash at Ravenhill on Saturday.

Bourgoin 24 Ulster 17

Ireland emerged for their hazardous World Cup clash with Georgia under immense pressure to justify coach Eddie O’Sullivan’s loyalty.

EDDIE O’SULLIVAN’S Irish coaching record is second to none and he is a self confessed winning freak.

IT WAS always going to be an enormous task, but makeshift Munster pulled out all the stops to secure a dramatic and well merited victory over Ulster at Ravenhill last night.

ENGLAND, based on this display, will be handing over the William Webb Ellis trophy early in the autumn.

Wales 9 Ireland 12

Perfect conditions greeted RBS 6 Nations favourites Ireland as they launched they title challenge with a tricky opener at the Millennium Stadium.

ULSTER’S Ireland scrum-half Isaac Boss could be sidelined for a minimum of four weeks after sustaining a shoulder injury in the opening minutes of the province’s Magners League victory over Glasgow on Saturday night.

ULSTER continue their search for the form that will take them to the knock-out stages of Europe after going down to a tense 21-15 defeat at Llanelli last night.

IS it the end of the road in Munster for New Zealand legend Christian Cullen?

MARK McCALL has named his Ulster side to face Cardiff in the Celtic League on Friday night in Ravenhill (9pm) in their penultimate home game of the season.

A possible RBS Six Nations Championship decider against England in eight days was in the eyes of the Irish at Lansdowne Road before the famous old stadium was due to be demolished as part of reconstruction plans.

Ulster 27 Munster 3

MUNSTER'S drawing power was further highlighted yesterday with the clash against Ulster at Ravenhill tonight virtually sold out.

Ireland and France emerged for their RBS Six Nations Championship clash in Paris hoping to salvage their battered reputations.

JEREMY Manning, Munster’s highly promising New Zealander, is handed an opportunity of establishing himself as a regular in the side with his selection at full-back for tonight’s (7.10pm) eagerly awaited Celtic League clash with Ulster at Musgrave Park.

GORDON D’ARCY will partner Shane Horgan in the centre for Leinster’s critical trip to Galway to play Connacht in the Celtic League tomorrow.

Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan is giving most of the side hammered 45-7 by New Zealand a second chance as he keeps changes for today’s clash with Australia to a minimum.

Ulster 36 Connacht 10

Newport Gwent Dragons 13 Ulster 11

Neath-Sw’sea Ospreys v Ulster teams

RUGBY legend Jonathan Davies has backed claims by Wales coach Mike Ruddock that England are better off without Jonny Wilkinson.

Cardiff 16 Ulster 12

Leinster: Contepomi, Horgan, D’Arcy, Quinlan, Lewis, Holwell, O’Meara, Corrigan, D. Blaney, Nebbett, Gissing, Cullen, McCullen, Ronan, Costello. Replacements: E. Byrne, S. Byrne, O’Kelly, Miller, O’Riordan, O’Driscoll, D. Hickie.

ULSTER introduce Gavin Pfister for tomorrow night’s Celtic League clash with Edinburgh at Ravenhill.

ULSTER introduce Gavin Pfister for tomorrow night’s Celtic League clash with Edinburgh at Ravenhill.

Ulster 3 Munster 24

MUNSTER last night refuted allegations that prop Marcus Horan racially abused a Neath/Swansea Ospreys player at the Gnoll last weekend.

IRELAND's U-21s retain an outside chance of winning the Six Nations Championship, but they must hammer England into total submission at Ravenhill this evening and hope Grand Slam chasers Wales come a cropper in France.

Wales U-21 20 Ireland U-21 19

Scotland U-21 5 Ireland U-21 13

IRELAND embark on a new Six Nations U21 Championship campaign in Dundee on Saturday, bolstered by a new structure but with a couple of familiar faces.