WITH only one win to date in the Magners League, Connacht will be desperate to utilise home advantage in tonight’s last fixture before the break for Guinness Internationals.

Coach Nigel Davies has included Simon Easterby in his Scarlets side to play Connacht in the Magner's League at the Sportsground on Friday.

Scarlets 24 Brive 12

British & Irish Lions out-half Stephen Jones returns to The Scarlets line-up for their trip to face Ulster at Ravenhill on Friday night.

Coach Nigel Davies has made three changes to The Scarlets side to play Munster in the Magner's League at Parc y Scarlets on Saturday.

MICHAEL CHEIKA admitted ill discipline cost Leinster dearly after the reigning Heineken Cup champions slumped to a shock opening day defeat to the Scarlets in the Magners League.

Scarlets 18 Leinster 16

LEINSTER may have ended a run of near-misses and underachievement in glorious fashion by winning the Heineken Cup, but that will not stop Michael Cheika from imposing a change of playing style this season.

Scarlets coach Nigel Davies will start international new recruits Sean Lamont, Richie Pugh and Rhys Thomas in this weekend's Magners League opener at home to European champions Leinster at Parc Y Scarlets on Saturday (6.30pm).

Connacht have strengthened their squad today with the signing of a promising Samoan winger.

Ospreys 20 Munster 12

FOR Leinster, it was a welcome return to their spiritual home in the tidy surrounds of Donnybrook.

Cardiff Blues won their eighth successive Magners League game in the Arms Park today. They met Ospreys, who were a point ahead of the Blues before the match.

Ospreys 18 Cardiff Blues 16

OF all the overseas signings that Ulster have made in recent seasons, Wallaby Justin Harrison jumps out as the one to have made the biggest impact.

Connacht 16 Ospreys 44

Neath-Swansea 23 Ulster 16

WALES have been given a major boost ahead of their opening Six Nations clash against world champions England with former skipper Martyn Williams declared fit to start.

Wales tonight received a major boost when former skipper Martyn Williams was declared fit to face world champions England.

Martyn Williams was today just one hurdle away from winning a dramatic 50th Wales cap in the RBS 6 Nations opener against England on Saturday.

Wales were tonight dealt a double injury setback ahead of their RBS 6 Nations Championship opener against England in Cardiff.

Munster remained on course for a seventh successive Heineken Cup quarter-final in three months’ time as they battered away the best the Neath-Swansea Ospreys could throw at them for a 20-10 pool four victory at Thomond Park.

AS a portent of things to come, starting the year with a thoroughly deserved victory over a highly talented Leinster side is as good as it gets for Munster.

Neath-Swansea Ospreys 11 Leinster 3

The leaders Neath Swansea Ospreys have made three changes to their starting line up for the trip to Ulster tomorrow.

Llanelli 6 Neath-Swansea 23

Llanelli 28 Neath-Swansea Ospreys 15