A GOOD start, maintain the tempo, control the football, be accurate and disciplined and don’t be intimidated by a partisan crowd – these will be some of Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan orders to his team as the first of two “trials” ahead of Rugby World Cup 2007 kicks off at the Estadio Brigadier Estanislao Lopez del Barrio Centenario in Santa Fe later today (kick off 8:10pm Irish time).

Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan has named recent rugby league convert Brian Carney on the right wing in the team to play Argentina in the first test of the summer tour this weekend.

MUNSTER Rugby has agreed a three year sponsorship deal with adidas, believed to be worth approximately €650,000-a-year.

Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan has kept faith with the starting XV that beat England on their last outing in the Six Nations Championship for the trip to Murrayfield to play Scotland.

ULSTER captain Justin Harrison wants his side to make history in Stradey Park this evening.

ULSTER managed to hang on to a 14-7 interval lead and keep their Magners League hopes very much alive with a curate’s egg performance against the Newport Gwent Dragons at Ravenhill last night.

SKIPPER Simon Best wants Ulster to break the French hoodoo during Sunday’s trip to Toulouse to end a dismal Heineken Cup campaign on a high.

IRELAND’S Andrew Trimble is poised to wear the number 13 jersey when Ulster travel to face Glasgow on Saturday hoping to maintain their three-point advantage at the top of the Magners League.

ULSTER cannot be overtaken as Magners League leaders, even if arch-rivals Leinster pull off a victory in the last match at the old Lansdowne Road stadium on Sunday.

BALLYMENA flanker Chris Henry and Belfast Harlequins wing Paul McKenzie have been included in a 24-man Ulster squad ahead of the Magners League derby against Connacht at Ravenhill on St Stephen’s Day.

IT’S OLD for the new as Ulster coach Mark McCall recalls experienced former international prop Justin Fitzpatrick for the recently-capped Ireland loose-head Bryan Young in the only change for the Heineken Cup clash with London Irish tonight at Ravenhill.

ULSTER’S Roger Wilson admits the criticisms endured after Saturday’s Heineken Cup disaster at the Madejski Stadium were justified.

ULSTER’S former London Irish flanker Kieron Dawson has warned his teammates to “beware of the wounded animal” ahead of today’s decisive Pool Five clash at the Madejski Stadium in Reading (3.30pm).

LEINSTER can count themselves unlucky not to have doubled their pickings at a gale-lashed Ravenhill on Saturday after holding Magners League leaders Ulster to a draw following a game of real old-fashioned rugby.

PAUL McKENZIE will start the biggest game of his short career when he lines-out against Leinster in the eagerly-awaited Magners League clash at Ravenhill this evening (7.30pm).

Ireland have included teenage prospect Luke Fitzgerald as one of nine changes for Sunday’s Lansdowne Road farewell against the Pacific Islands.

Ulster prop Simon Best will captain Ireland A for next Wednesday’s clash with Australia at Thomond Park.

ULSTER’S stand-in captain and resident hard man Justin Harrison wants the same performance from his players against Llanelli at Stradey Park tonight that they produced in humiliating Toulouse last week.

ULSTER coach Mark McCall makes one enforced change to his side for Friday’s tricky Heineken Cup trip to Stradey Park, where the high-flying Llanelli Scarlets lie in wait.

Tommy Bowe and Paul Steinmetz have proved their fitness for Ulster's Heineken Cup tie with Toulouse at Ravenhill on Sunday.

ULSTER have received a massive boost with the return of skipper Simon Best ahead of their Heineken Cup opener against French giants Toulouse at Ravenhill on Saturday.

THE Celtic League title will go down to the last day after Ulster were held to a draw by Llanelli Scarlets at Stradey Park.

BRYN CUNNINGHAM will join the list of Ulster centurions when he faces Llanelli Scarlets at Stradey Park this evening.

CONNACHT’S strong record against Welsh sides at the Sportsground this season will be under pressure this evening when they entertain the Neath/Swansea Ospreys (6.30pm).

SPRINT king Andy Maxwell believes the fractured Celtic League season will not get in the way of Ulster's goal of winning the title.

ANDREW TRIMBLE returns to the Ulster line-up for their trip to Glasgow Warriors on Saturday, the only change to the side that defeated the Dragons three weeks ago.

TOMÁS O’LEARY could line out for Munster as outside centre in the Celtic League game with Llanelli at Stradey Park on Saturday.

Ireland boss Eddie O’Sullivan has delayed naming his second row for Saturday’s RBS Six Nations clash with Scotland in order to give Paul O’Connell time to recover from injury.

PAUL BURKE looks certain to start for Munster tomorrow night in a crucial Celtic League game against chasing Ulster at Ravenhill.

ULSTER coach Mark McCall has named a squad of 23 for Friday’s Celtic League top-of-the-table clash with Munster at Ravenhill (7.35 kick-off).

Ireland lock Donncha O’Callaghan has replaced the injured Paul O’Connell for this weekend’s RBS Six Nations Championship clash with Wales at Lansdowne Road.

COACH Mark McCall is looking for Ulster to continue their good away form in the Celtic League when they tackle Edinburgh at Murrayfield tonight (ko 7.30).

David Humphreys will play at out-half for Ulster when they take on Edinburgh in the Celtic League tomorrow night.

Ireland Coach Eddie O'Sullivan has kept faith with the same side that opened the RBS 6 Nations Championship for Ireland and has made no changes to the starting 15 or replacements that beat Italy 26 - 16 last Saturday.

Munster hooker Jerry Flannery will make his full Ireland debut in Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash with Italy at Lansdowne Road.

Brian O’Driscoll and Paul O’Connell have been named in Ireland’s squad for the 2006 RBS 6 Nations after making encouraging progress on their return from injury.

Mark McCall has included injury doubts Paul Steinmetz and Matt McCullough in Ulster's 24-man squad for Friday's Heineken Cup tie against Biarritz at Ravenhill.

JAMES Topping will make his 111th appearance for Ulster when he lines out against the Glasgow Warriors at Ravenhill on Saturday.

THIS may well prove a turning point in Connacht’s fortunes.

ULSTER coach Mark McCall has opted to retain Kieran Campbell at scrum-half for Monday’s Celtic League clash against Leinster at Ravenhill (5pm).

ULSTER coach Mark McCall rejected claims the television match official had robbed his side of victory in Saturday’s Heineken Cup clash with Saracens.

ROGER WILSON aims to make up for lost time when Ulster face a tough Heineken Cup re-match with Saracens at Vicarage Road at lunchtime today.

ULSTER flanker Neil McMillan has been declared fit for Saturday’s crunch Heineken Cup game against Saracens at Vicarage Road.

BALLYMENA’S Bryan Young could not ask for a tougher Heineken Cup baptism when he lines out opposite former Springbok strongman Cobus Visagie as Ulster take on Group Four leaders Saracens at Ravenhill tonight (7.30 pm).