Mark McCall believes the addition of Stephen Larkham and Graham Rowntree to the Munster coaching team has made them more formidable opponents

Ireland U20 out-half Ben Healy will make his Munster senior debut tomorrow night as Johann van Graan opts for wholesale changes for the PRO14 visit of Edinburgh to Cork.

Friday night in Cork is set to be a major landmark for Stephen Archer, but he won’t be thinking about it too much.

It's not like Graham Rowntree to need a bedding-in period and he was characteristically relaxed on his first outing in front of the Munster media.

Peter O’Mahony is happy to be home and eager to embrace a much-changed Munster set-up than the one he left behind to go to the World Cup.

Munster may be without out-half Joey Carbery for the opening two rounds of the Champions Cup against Ospreys and Racing 92. Defence coach JP Ferreira said the priority was to get him and all the Irish internationals right for the season on their return from the World Cup.

JP Ferreira, the Munster defence coach, has renewed his contract by another two years, while further positive news for the province is that Graham Rowntree, the former England prop, has arrived to take over from Jerry Flannery as forwards coach.

Paul O’Connell feels Munster need to be mindful about the absence of any ‘locals’ on their backroom staff as they look to a new campaign with a new-look brains trust under Johann van Graan.

With another new coaching ticket in place for next season, patience has become a common theme of conversation amongst Munster fans- whether it's showing it or running out of it. We look at the terrace temperature of two well-versed followers.

Munster are set to complete their coaching set up by appointing Australian Stephen Larkham as their backs coach.

Graham Rowntree has been named as Munster's new forwards coach.

This week's most fashionable on the red carpet...

The killing of a boy shot by a British army rubber bullet in Belfast in 1972 was not justified, a coroner has ruled.

Peter O'Mahony has been described as "exactly the character you need" for a British and Irish Lions tour as he prepares to captain the tourists against New Zealand on Saturday.

Sean O’Brien will not be poring over every injury report the British & Irish Lions issue about tour captain Sam Warburton. 

A soldier who fired a rubber bullet that killed a schoolboy in the North more than 40 years ago has told an inquest he has no regrets.

England’s decision to axe assistant coach Andy Farrell was sparked by heavy criticism from senior players in the post-World Cup review.

England head coach Stuart Lancaster will stand or fall on the decision to drop Danny Cipriani from his final squad of 31 for the World Cup, which will be announced today.

England forwards coach Graham Rowntree has been in regular contact with Dylan Hartley to ensure he would be ready if needed during the World Cup.

Courtney Lawes will make his England return in Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash with Scotland emboldened by a glowing reference from forwards coach Graham Rowntree.

England will use ‘template’ of Wales game to curb Aviva fervour.

Wales star and qualified doctor Jamie Roberts believes the fallout from the George North concussion controversy will contribute towards making rugby union a safer sport. 

Wales boss Warren Gatland has sung the praises of England hooker Dylan Hartley — four years after questioning his temperament.

Maro Itoje will sit his biggest rugby exam yet with England Saxons on Friday night, but only if he meets his university coursework deadline first.

Stuart Lancaster has pledged to “make it absolutely crystal clear” to Dylan Hartley that any more lapses in discipline could blow England’s RBS 6 Nations chances.

Stuart Lancaster has pledged to "make it absolutely crystal clear" to Dylan Hartley that any more lapses in discipline could blow England’s Six Nations chances.

Manu Tuilagi will make his first England appearance in a year after being named in the matchday squad for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash with Italy in Rome.

Graham Rowntree insists England’s youngsters will not be overawed at the thought of facing Ireland’s legends when they run out for their first international at Twickenham today.

England will be out to “destroy” Ireland’s maul in order to derail Joe Schmidt’s Triple Crown tilt, according to hooker Rory Best.

Before this Test series even began, Australia coach Robbie Deans predicted the contest would come down to a battle of wills between his Wallabies and the British & Irish Lions.

Tommy Bowe wants the British and Irish Lions to batter Australia into submission at ANZ Stadium, drawing on the pain of past failures to triumph in tomorrow’s series decider.

Graham Rowntree has ordered the British and Irish Lions to empty the tanks against Australia tomorrow in what he regards as the biggest match of the players’ lives.

As the British & Irish Lions prepare to fill a Paul O’Connell-shaped hole in their pack for Saturday’s second Test at the Etihad Stadium, Australia prop Ben Alexander is focusing on another likely change, to the tourists’ front row.

A fractured arm may have sidelined Paul O’Connell from the rest of the Test series with Australia, his place in the second row for Saturday’s second Test going to England’s Geoff Parling, but the British & Irish Lions are desperate to keep their former captain on tour, so important to them is his presence as a leader and mentor.

The British & Irish Lions complete their provincial schedule today against the Melbourne Rebels with the reminder that their performance and approach has a direct bearing on the outcome of the Test series.

British and Irish Lions assistant coach Graham Rowntree today refused to dwell on Paul O’Connell’s tour-ending fractured arm.

BRITISH & IRISH LIONS TOUR:

Sam Warburton has been given a ringing endorsement as he prepares to lead the British and Irish Lions against New South Wales Waratahs tomorrow.