Glasgow Warriors and Munster are in the same frame of mind going into today’s top of the table Guinness Pro 12 encounter at Scotstoun, kick-off 2.40.

Munster A are fighting for their lives in today’s British and Irish Cup tie with Moseley at Billesley Common (2pm).

Munster ‘A’ 23 Nottingham Rugby 16

GUINNESS PRO12:

Munster 14 Ospreys 19

The new rugby season could hardly have begun in a more contrasting fashion for Anthony Foley and Steve Tandy, the respective head coaches of Munster and Ospreys who renew their rivalry in the Guinness Pro 12 at Thomond Park this evening, kick-off 6.30pm.

Anthony Foley’s bid to make home advantage finally count at Thomond Park tonight will not be hindered by the return of Munster big guns Paul O’Connell and Conor Murray as the Reds welcome Zebre to Limerick for Guinness Pro12 round three (7:30pm).

Munster head coach Anthony Foley is demanding his players step up to the plate at the Stadio Monigo tonight (7pm Irish time) and beat Benetton Treviso, despite losing lock Paul O’Connell on the eve of the game.

Munster 13 Edinburgh 14

Ian Keatley will start at out-half for Munster in their Guinness PRO12 opener at home to Edinburgh tonight (KO: 7.35pm) nursing the same injury he had to manage throughout the last campaign.

The venue is unfamiliar, some of the faces new and the job descriptions changed, but Anthony Foley has demanded some timeworn rugby essentials from his Munster players against London Irish this evening in Waterford (7.30pm).

Emerging Ireland 31 Romania 10

Ireland won their first IRB Nations Cup in Bucharest tonight but only after a dogged fight from a gritty Romanian side.

After the injury fall-out from a midweek victory over Uruguay, Neil Doak is expecting an even more intense physical challenge from Romania in tomorrow’s IRB Nations Cup decider.

Eight Munster players have been included in the Emerging Ireland team to play Romania in the IRB Nations Cup clincher in Bucharest on Sunday.

Emerging Ireland 51 Uruguay 3

Emerging Ireland 51 Uruguay 3

Emerging Ireland head coach Dan McFarland expects much more resistance from Uruguay than the feeble Russian effort, but won’t be sidetracked for the second of three IRB Nations Cup games at the Stadeionul National Arcul de Triumf today (2 pm Irish time).

Rotation is clearly the policy within the Irish squad participating in the IRB Nations Cup in Bucharest and, in advance of Wednesday’s clash with Uruguay.

IRB NATIONS CUP:

Joey Miles believes three matches against lower level opponents in Bucharest will pay dividends for Ireland in the long run.

Emerging Ireland team manager Joey Miles yesterday spoke of the common bond between everyone in Irish rugby to maximise overseas tours for the benefit of the game.

Ireland lock Donncha O’Callaghan is one of four players added to the Barbarians’ 24-man squad to face England on June 1.

Toulon 24 Munster 16

Munster 5 Glasgow Warriors 22

Glasgow coach Gregor Townsend believes his team are coming to Thomond Park at the right time and in the right frame of mind.

RABO DIRECT PRO12:

Munster 54 Cardiff Blues 13

Munster resume RaboDirect Pro12 duty tonight boosted in their bid to maintain momentum at the top of the table by the return of several Ireland squad members.

Munster 12 Ospreys 6

Munster face a second top-of-the-table clash in as many weeks tonight when they defend their RaboDirect Pro12 lead against second-placed Ospreys at Thomond Park (7:15pm).

Munster A coach Peter Malone predicts a difficult assignment against Scottish outfit, Stirling County, in this evening’s British and Irish Cup opener under floodlights at Bandon RFC (5pm).

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.

RABO DIRECT PRO12:

Munster 34 Edinburgh 23

The fact that Edinburgh will be missing their main play-maker and most lethal finisher tonight will delight Munster as they prepare for the opening round of the RaboDirect Pro 12 at Musgrave Park (7.15pm).

RABODIRECT PRO12

Recent performances in the Heineken Cup excepted, it has been a poor campaign by Munster’s exalted standards and it will be a whole lot worse should they become the first team to lose to Zebre in their last match of the season at the Stadio XXV Aprile in Parma this evening.

Head coach Rob Penney has named a strong team for Munster’s final RaboDirect PRO 12 match of the season tomorrow night.

British & Irish Cup semi-final

One of the strengths of Munster rugby over the year has been the ideology that opponents must be respected at all costs, not necessarily feared but at least respected.

James Coughlan believes there is still an opportunity for redemption as Munster head into the last few games of the RaboDirect Pro12 with their hopes of semi-final qualification hanging by a thread.

Having been sidelined since October with a back problem, Munster second row Paul O’Connell returns to the starting team for the RaboDirect PRO12 interprovincial showdown against Connacht at Musgrave Park on Saturday (5.45pm).