Rob Kearney has been rated as 50-50 to feature for Ireland in this Saturday's test against Argentina at the Aviva Stadium.

Joe Schmidt has named his squad for the upcoming November Test series - where Ireland travel to Chicago to face Italy before home games against Argentina, New Zealand and the USA.

Munster coach Johann Van Graan says winger Keith Earls is to see a specialist to determine how serious his hamstring injury is ahead of next weekend’s European action.

Johann van Graan has a career in diplomacy if the coaching thing doesn't work out.

Munster overwhelmed an under-strength Ulster as they ran in nine tries in a record-breaking 64-7 Guinness PRO14 derby victory at Thomond Park.

Ireland touch down in Brisbane today with head coach Joe Schmidt striving to find a balance between the long-term objective of a history-making World Cup campaign and the more immediate desire to extend a record unbeaten run with a series win over Australia.

Taking and giving a five or 10-metre pass is a fundamental part of the game yet the skills required to deliver under pressure are often overlooked, writes Donal Lenihan.

The challenges facing the three Irish provinces in European quarter-finals this weekend.

Sam Arnold doesn’t need anyone telling him that he is on the brink of a first Irish cap but the Munster centre knows better than most how suddenly best-laid plans and ambitions can be toyed with by rugby’s fickle gods.

He was initially described as Lazarus for his recovery, but a scan revealed worse news.

On the field, Chris Farrell had an injury scare while training on the Lansdowne Road pitch.

The openside flanker has been ruled out for the rest of the season.

Johann van Graan has acknowledged the “massive loss” of Chris Cloete to the Munster cause after the openside flanker was ruled out for the rest of the season following surgery on a forearm fracture.

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With a newly inked contract in his back pocket and a pep talk from Andy Farrell fresh in the mind, Sam Arnold was in a perfect position to reboot his season in the bonus-point win over Zebre at the weekend.

Munster’s Sam Arnold has been issued with a three-week ban following a red card disciplinary decision yesterday.

Jack McGrath became the latest victim of the painful Lions hangover when he was dropped by Joe Schmidt for Ireland’s autumn clashes with South Africa and Argentina.

Johann van Graan is hoping for a welcome boost to Munster’s depleted midfield resources with a return to action for outside centre Chris Farrell this Saturday at home to Connacht.

It doesn’t take Marcus Horan long to highlight the most notable contrasts between his playing days and the current crop of men proudly wearing the red of Munster.

Munster took this game by the scruff of the neck from the first whistle of a ferocious encounter, the home side getting their reward with an early penalty from Ian Keatley and hammering home their dominance with first-half tries for Rhys Marshall and Simon Zebo that put the Reds firmly in control.

The big guns are back for Munster’s Champions Cup showdown with Leicester Tigers at Thomond Park tonight (7.45pm) and what a noise there has been around them these past few days.

Munster 36 Ospreys 10: Johann van Graan has declared the transition from one Munster coach to the next at an end as he begins preparation for the first acid test of his new team’s European credentials on Saturday.

Presentation Brothers, Cork, will begin the defence of the Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Senior Cup with a first-round game in Cork against Castletroy College, Limerick.

Zebre 19 Munster 29: Alex Wootton was one of the players that Rassie Erasmus name-checked in his final week with Munster when he was asked what he would miss when he returned to South Africa.

Munster gave Rassie Erasmus the perfect send-off in Cork last night as the director of rugby was treated to a seven-try bonus-point victory to bring down the curtain on his tenure.

Meanwhile, Leinster have made nine changes for their trip to Glasgow.

Munster have been rocked by the loss of Jaco Taute for virtually the rest of the season after the South African Test centre underwent knee surgery yesterday.

Rassie Erasmus has endorsed potential Munster successor Dave Wessels as “one of the good fits” to replace him as director of rugby.

You get the impression from listening to Jaco Taute that the night before Munster meet Toulouse he might well be like an excited eight-year-old on Christmas Eve.

Rassie Erasmus struck gold when he captured Jaco Taute on a short-term loan from the Stormers, but is it too much to expect Jean Deysel to make a similar impact during his limited time at Munster?

Munster A 26 Ulster A 3: It was rugged, it was tough, but Munster A secured a well-deserved B&I Cup quarter-final victory over Ulster at Musgrave Park yesterday and earned themselves a home date with Ealing Trailfinders, who had a huge 84-7 win over Llanelli Scarlets.

Munster appear to be moving closer to tying down Springbok centre Jaco Taute for the rest of the season with director of rugby Rassie Erasmus suggesting an extension to his loan deal was a matter of “crossing the t’s and dotting the i’s”.

Munster management will wait until after Saturday’s Champions Cup showdown at Leicester before deciding whether to press for an extension of Jaco Taute’s contract.

Rassie Erasmus believes keeping Springbok centre Jaco Taute at Munster beyond his short-term contract could be a possibility.

Munster have gone to the top of the Pro 12 after a comfortable 46-3 home win over Benetton Treviso in this afternoon's clash.

Munster must plan without Peter O’Mahony for this afternoon’s Guinness PRO12 tie against Treviso at Thomond Park.