Munster 12 Harlequins 20

THE inclusion of Paul O’Connell in the Munster squad for today’s Amlin Cup semi-final clash with Harlequins is incalculable.

Munster coach Tony McGahan has made just one change in personnel, from the side that started the Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final against Brive, for tomorrow afternoon’s semi-final match against Harlequins at Thomond Park Stadium, kick-off 1pm.

JEAN DE VILLIERS is interested in returning to Munster after this year’s World Cup.

Munster coach Tony McGahan has named his side for Saturday’s Magners League match against the Scarlets at the Parc Y Scarlets, kick-off 6.15pm.

Sale Sharks have signed New Zealand inside centre Sam Tuitupou from Munster on a two-year contract.

Brive 37 Munster 42

A HARD week.

Munster coach Tony McGahan has named his team for tomorrow's Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final clash against Brive at the Stade Municipal, kick-off 2pm.

Munster coach Tony McGahan has named a 25-man squad for Saturday’s Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final clash with Brive at the Stade Municipal, kick-off 2.00pm.

MUNSTER winger Ian Dowling has been forced to retire due to a hip injury. Dowling told his team-mates before yesterday’s training at CIT and admitted afterwards he was “gutted” to be ending his career.

Munster rugby today confirmed that Sam Tuitupou will leave at the end of the current season.

BRIVE coach Ugo Mola believes his side can ambush Munster’s Amlin Challenge Cup hopes at Stade Amédée on Saturday following their pressure-relieving victory over Top 14 minnows La Rochelle last weekend.

THOSE Munster fans who may have been wavering in their support for the team after a disappointing Heineken Cup campaign had their faith restored in spades on Saturday evening.

Munster 24 Leinster 23

Munster coach Tony McGahan has named young backs Felix Jones and Conor Murray in his starting line-up for tomorrow night’s Magners League clash with Leinster at Thomond Park, kick-off 7.30pm.

FEW need reminding that Leinster have beaten Munster in each of the last five meetings, once in the Heineken Cup and four times in the Magners League.

Munster coach Tony McGahan has named Paul O’Connell and Ronan O’Gara in his squad for Friday night’s Magners League clash with Cardiff Blues at the Cardiff City Stadium (kick-off 7.05pm).

Denis Leamy and Peter Stringer have been included in an enlarged Munster squad for Saturday's Magners League clash with Newport Gwent Dragons at Musgrave Park, kick-off 7.30pm.

MUNSTER yesterday confirmed the worst-kept secret in Irish rugby by announcing the signing of Ulster tight-head prop BJ Botha.

Munster coach Tony McGahan has named his side for Sunday’s Magners League match away to Aironi at the Stadio Zaffanella, kick-off 2.00pm.

TEENAGER Luke Marshall has been given a great chance to move up the ladder after he was named in the Ulster starting line-up for tonight’s Magners League date with second-placed Cardiff Blues at Ravenhill.

MUNSTER squandered the opportunity to solidify their position at the summit of the Magners League standings as they slumped to a one-point defeat at the hands of Treviso at the Stadio di Monigo yesterday.

LOSING this afternoon’s final Heineken Cup game of the season at home to London Irish is not an option.

Munster coach Tony McGahan has made several changes to his starting line-up for Saturday’s Heineken Cup dead rubber against London Irish at Thomond Park, kick-off 3.30pm.

THE postmortems were under way from an early hour throughout Munster yesterday and continued long into the night as people reflected on the failure of their team to reach the knock-out stages of the Heineken Cup for the first time in 13 years.

A NOTABLE difference in attitude informed both fans and pundits ahead of Munster’s failed Heineken Cup rescue mission in Toulon on Sunday.

Paul O’Connell will start for Munster in Sunday’s crunch Heineken Cup game against Toulon at the Stade Félix Mayol (kick-off 4pm).

TAKE a dollop of high intensity training, add some equally tough talk and bake for four days until kick-off time in Toulon.

Paul O’Connell has today been named in a 27-man squad for Sunday’s crunch Heineken Cup clash against Toulon in the Stade Félix Mayol, kick-off 4pm.

MUNSTER’S walking wounded are all expected to be fit for Sunday’s must-win Heineken Cup tie in Toulon.

WITH Paul O’Connell ready to make his comeback from suspension, Munster hope to have further good team news for next week’s Heineken Cup clash with Toulon.

JOHN HAYES will get a chance to stake his claim to the tighthead berth for Munster’s European date with destiny next weekend after a call-up for the province’s Magners League game with Glasgow Warriors in Cork tonight (7.30pm).

Munster coach Tony McGahan has made nine changes from to the side that started against Ulster last weekend for Saturday's Magners League clash with Glasgow Warriors at Musgrave Park (kick-off 7.30pm).

Munster hooker Jerry Flannery has been ruled out of competitive action for between four to six weeks after the results of a scan revealed a torn calf muscle.

THIS could well prove the most crucial week in Munster’s season.

Munster 35 Ulster 10

Jerry Flannery has returned to the Munster squad ahead of tomorrow’s Magners League meeting with Ulster in Thomond Park. (kick-off 7.30pm)

GREAT Heineken Cup results for Leinster and Ulster with Munster left drawing crumbs of comfort from another losing bonus point on the road.

Ospreys 19 Munster 15

REWIND, replay, repeat. Aside from Paul O’Connell’s momentary lapse in judgement at Thomond Park last Sunday, the manner of that home win over Ospreys will be precisely what Munster coach Tony McGahan will be looking for when he sends the same starting XV out at the Liberty Stadium today (3.30pm).