Leinster got their quest for a fourth Heineken Cup crown off to a winning start as Sean O’Brien’s try helped them battle past the Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium.

Connacht 26 Ospreys 43

Connacht 25 Zebre 20

Leinster 37 Zebre 7

Leinster 37 Zebre 7

Zebre 25 Ulster 27

Scarlets, who play Munster next weekend, kept their hopes of a place in the RaboDirect Pro12 play-offs alive with a hard-fought victory over bottom side Aironi in Viadana yesterday.

Ulster will have an anxious wait before knowing whether explosive flanker Stephen Ferris will be available for next Sunday’s European shoot-out with Munster at Thomond Park.

LUCIANO ORQUERA kicked all of Aironi’s points as they won their all-Italian meeting with Treviso in the RaboDirect PRO12.

ULSTER successfully manoeuvred the first part of their Heineken Cup back-to-back clashes with Aironi at Ravenhill last night with a bonus-point victory in Pool Four.

Ulster 31 Aironi 10

EDINBURGH continued their run of impressive form as they racked up seven tries against RaboDirect Pro12 basement side Aironi at Murrayfield.

Cardiff Blues 38 Aironi 0

IT was the Italian hoodoo all over again as Connacht slumped to a 25-13 defeat away to Aironi on Saturday evening for their third Magners League defeat on Italian soil.

Aironi Rugby 25 Connacht 13

Connacht 11 Aironi 6

LIKE Ireland in Rome last Saturday, Leinster found out last night that it is one thing being expected to beat Italian opposition but quite another to actually do it.

Leinster 21 Aironi 16

Aironi Rugby 17 Scarlets 34

ULSTER coach Brian McLaughlin put down his team’s success in Italy on Saturday night to sheer doggedness.

LEE BYRNE has revealed he feared the selection axe for Wales’ successful Italian job after his yellow card calamity at Croke Park.

FRANCE defence coach Dave Ellis was delighted with his side’s six-try show against Italy as Les Bleus remained on course for the Grand Slam.

MARTIN JOHNSON admitted he was relieved to escape Rome with a victory after watching England battle to an unconvincing win against Nick Mallett’s Italy yesterday at the Stadio Flaminio.

Ireland 23 Italy 8

Ireland are beginning the defence of their RBS 6 Nations crown amid high expectations at Croke Park against wooden spoon favourites Italy.

BOXING is one of the few sporting activities in which the protagonists talk themselves up and promise to hammer the opposition into submission in the lead-up to a contest.

NEW ZEALAND coach Graham Henry claims uncertainty over scrum laws is ruining the game for spectators after watching his second-string side labour to victory over Italy at the San Siro on Saturday.

RENATA TEBALDI, the Italian soprano who was one of the biggest stars at New York’s Metropolitan Opera and Italy’s La Scala, died yesterday. She was 82.

Renata Tebaldi, an Italian soprano who was one of the biggest stars at New York’s Metropolitan Opera and Italy’s La Scala, died today, her doctor said. She was 82.