Ulster 23 Newport Gwent Dragons 6

Dragons 8 Connacht 24

RABO DIRECT PRO12:

Ulster 38 Newport-Gwent Dragons 8

Connacht 14 Newport Gwent Dragons 11

Ireland captain Paul O’Connell makes his return to Munster colours ahead of schedule tonight having been cleared by the IRFU to face Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade.

Leinster will finally get to road test their expensive new flyer tonight when Zane Kirchner makes his first start for the province before checking out again for duty with South Africa.

RABO DIRECT PRO12:

Munster coach Rob Penney has resisted the temptation to field his strongest side in response to last week’s second half meltdown at Treviso for this evening’s Rabo Direct clash with the Newport Gwent Dragons.

Dragons 15 Ulster 8

Munster 30 Edinburgh 3

RABODIRECT PRO12:

Leinster head-coach Joe Schmidt has recalled Brian O’Driscoll, Rob Kearney and Luke Fitzgerald for tonight’s RaboDirect Pro12 clash against lowly Edinburgh in Murrayfield.

Connacht 23 Edinburgh 24

Injuries have robbed Connacht of a host of front-line players for the visit of Edinburgh to the Galway Sportsground today (5pm).

Leinster 22 Edinburgh 16

Today, at the RDS, it will be Tom Denton’s turn.

When Rob Penney was still coaching Canterbury to NPC success back in New Zealand, he received a delegation of coaches from Edinburgh, eager to pick the Kiwi’s brains and discover the secrets of his success.

Rob Penney has been able to name Ireland internationals Donncha O’Callaghan and Mike Sherry in his first competitive squad for Munster’s RaboDirect Pro12 opener at Edinburgh tomorrow night.

Munster enjoyed the time of their lives for 40 minutes in last night’s Rabo Direct Pro12 clash with the Cardiff Blues at Thomond Park.

Off the field business has provided another unwelcome diversion from Munster’s crucial RaboDirect Pro12 clash with Cardiff Blues at Thomond Park tonight, with news of a second loan move by Peter Stringer fromSaracens to Newcastle Falcons.

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

High hopes of Connacht repeating their famous victory of 10 years ago in Cardiff Arms Park were dashed last night when the Blues claimed victory on home soil.

Connacht coach Eric Elwood rallied his side for tonight’s clash with Cardiff Blues by urging them to show the spirit they showed in Europe this season.

LEINSTER added more substance to the sporting truism that the very best teams can play well within themselves and find a way to chisel out a victory against durable opponents, like they did on Saturday night.

TABLE-TOPPERS Leinster have named a close to full-strength team for today’s Rabo Pro-12 match against Cardiff.

WINTER arrived with a vengeance in Dublin last night — but Leinster gave their supporters plenty cause for cheer as they swept to a comfortable bonus-point victory over an outclassed Cardiff outfit.

ONE more injury or one more call-up to the Wales squad this week and Cardiff Blues would have found themselves travelling to Dublin for this evening’s RaboDirect Pro12 encounter without the services of a full starting 15.

WALES captain Sam Warburton will return to action when the Cardiff Blues launch their Heineken Cup campaign in Paris tonight.

ANOTHER frustrating night for Connacht.

MUNSTER maintained their winning start to the season and while they conceded their first try of the season, another superb defensive display was the foundation for victory at Cardiff City Stadium last night.

DANNY BARNES returns for Munster in tonight’s RaboDirect PRO12 clash with Cardiff Blues at Cardiff City Stadium, but the Reds’ hopes of forward dominance took a hit yesterday with news of illness and injury to key front rowers Marcus Horan and BJ Botha.

NORTHAMPTON maintained their perfect Heineken Cup Pool 1 record in a thriller at the Cardiff City Stadium after the Blues were hit by the second-half dismissal of Xavier Rush.

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.

Ryan Jones has kept his Wales place despite losing the captaincy for Saturday’s Millennium Stadium clash against New Zealand.

WALES flanker Dan Lydiate has warned his Wales team-mates they need to make a big improvement if they are to avoid a thrashing by the All Blacks next week.

WINGER Bryan Habana’s fractured a bone in his hand during training and will take no further part in South Africa’s tour of Britain and Ireland.

Ryan Jones has regained the Wales captaincy and will take charge of a much-changed team against Fiji at the Millennium Stadium on Friday night.

Wales’ most-capped forward of all time – Cardiff Blues flanker Martyn Williams - has failed to win a starting place for the autumn Test series opener against Australia on Saturday.

THE story of Leinster’s season so far seemed to be repeating itself at the RDS on Saturday evening.

Shane Williams has been ruled out of Wales’ Tests against South Africa and New Zealand with a shoulder injury.

Former Munster prop Timmy Ryan has made the replacements bench on the Toulon squad to play Cardiff Blues in the Amlin Challenge Cup final in Marseilles tomorrow.

FRUSTRATED Ulster skipper Chris Henry is determined to lift his side following a flat performance last week when they lost to the Cardiff Blues.