Munster’s visit to Welford Road was always going to prove the most challenging of the reverse fixtures against a clearly hurting trio of Aviva Premiership clubs after their Champions Cup whitewash by the Irish provinces last weekend, writes Donal Lenihan.

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.

Alex Wootton needs no encouragement to grab his chance to impress Munster’s new head coach Johann van Graan and if he continues his current try-scoring run, he will soon find himself in pole position for a Champions Cup wing berth.

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.

Key Munster players Keith Earls and James Cronin are unlikely to play any rugby for the remainder of 2017.

Munster boss Rassie Erasmus admitted his side only had themselves to blame after poor discipline allowed man of the match Johnny Sexton to secure derby victory for Leinster at Aviva Stadium today.

You may think that Darren Sweetnam could be feeling some pressure as he looks around the Munster training ground and sees the likes of Keith Earls and Simon Zebo limbering up for their first starts of the campaign.

In the end the margin of victory was just five points, but Munster were the dominant force at the Liberty Stadium as they made it three straight Guinness Pro14 wins.

Munster 34 Benetton Rugby 3: New league, new season, same old Italians.

Rarely in recent memory has an interprovincial derby been as one-sided.

It does not matter to Alex Wootton whether his tries are spectacular or, as he puts it, “cheeky”, the Munster wing enjoys each variety and has shown he can do both with equal aplomb.

Peter O’Mahony returns to captain Munster in tonight’s Guinness Pro12 clash with Glasgow Warriors on their 4G pitch at Scotstoun and is joined in the back-row by Tommy O’Donnell who makes his 100th appearance for the province.

When he choose a career as a professional rugby player over inter-county hurling, Darren Sweetnam believed he would never again experience anything to match the thrill of playing in an All-Ireland semi-final.

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 33, Ospreys 0: Head coach Rassie Erasmus made a declaration of intent in last night’s match programme when he insisted Munster couldn’t afford to have a rollercoaster season. 

Munster A couldn’t have faced a stiffer challenge than the champions in today’s B&I Cup opener with London Welsh at Towns Park, Midleton (2.30p.m.), but coach Peter Malone believes his young side will be up to the task.

Garryowen 8 Young Munster 14: Young Munster took a giant step towards qualifying for the semi-finals of this season’s Ulster Bank League with a hard fought 14-8 Division 1A derby victory over local rivals Garryowen at Dooradoyle last night.

Watford 1 Leeds United 0: Defeated Leeds manager Steve Evans has hailed cup counterpart Quique Sanchez Flores as a “fantastic addition” to the Barclays Premier League.

It was not just a fan protest against divisive owner Massimo Cellino that lit up Elland Road as Leeds and Middlesbrough went on to contest an entertaining goalless draw last night.

Garryowen 23 Cork Constitution 19 (Ulster Bank All-Ireland League Division 1A): Cork Constitution showed magnificent fighting spirit in coming from 15-3 behind after quarter of an hour to take a 19-18 lead deep into stoppage time at Dooradoyle on Saturday.

If you want to know how tough it is to keep a club going year after year, through good times and bad, all you have to do is look at Cork soccer’s challenges for your answer.

New Zealand U20s 45 Ireland U20s 23

The Ireland Under-20s' first ever IRB Junior World Championship semi-final ended in defeat last night as defending champions England proved a class apart in Auckland.

The Ireland U-20s played their way right back into contention in Pool B of the IRB Junior World Championship with a bonus point win over last year's runners-up Wales.

Two dissident republicans have failed to overturn their convictions for murdering police constable Stephen Carroll in the North in 2009.

The battle lines are already being drawn between returning X Factor judges Simon Cowell and Cheryl Cole – over the future of fellow panellist Louis Walsh.

In a London basement, cutting-edge technology is being used to make a computerised Sandra Bullock climb into her rocket. But the team who put her there in Gravity have spent the morning working with more basic tools — syrup, cheese and chocolate.

Full-back Rafael is expected to return from a four-match absence with a hamstring injury when Manchester United visit Wigan tomorrow.

Ashley Young and Danny Welbeck could both be back to bolster Manchester United’s attacking options against West Brom tomorrow.

Manchester United 0 Cluj 1

David de Gea returned to a Manchester United starting line-up showing 10 changes from the weekend for tonight’s Champions League encounter with CFR Cluj at Old Trafford.

Writer-director Debbie Isitt gets back in the Christmas spirit for this eagerly awaited sequel to her hugely entertaining 2009 comedy.

Manchester United 2 Arsenal 1

Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson has reverted to the same starting XI from last weekend’s controversial victory over Chelsea for this afternoon’s Premier League clash with Arsenal at Old Trafford.

Chelsea 5 Manchester United 4 (AET)

Manchester United will have experienced midfield trio Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick available for Sunday’s Barclays Premier League game at Newcastle.

CFR Cluj 1 Manchester United 2