A stranger perusing the team sheets in advance of this afternoon’s opening Champions Cup quarter-final might be forgiven for thinking that a Currie Cup fixture has been transported from Cape Town to Edinburgh.

A penalty by Jack Carty five minutes from full-time offered them a glimmer of hope, but ultimately proved sufficient only for a losing bonus point.

Munster 38 Cheetahs 0

Guinness PRO14: Connacht 23 - Cheetahs 15: Tiernan O’Halloran has no qualms about being left out of the Irish squad for the autumn internationals, but the 26-year-old will be keeping a bag packed over the next few weeks in case there is a call from Joe Schmidt.

Bryan Keane realised a childhood dream yesterday by competing in his first Olympic Games at the age of 35 but it wasn’t the performance or result he’d have been hoping for.

CORK CONSTITUTION lost their unbeaten AIB League record and a bit more besides at Temple Hill on Saturday.

Cork Con 10 Buccaneers 22