Connacht coach Andy Friend says they must park their European Challenge Cup quarter-final qualification and the call-up of half-a-dozen of his squad for Six Nations duty and concentrate on a crunch PRO14 clash in Cardiff on Saturday.

Munster 64 Ulster 7

It will take a while yet for that first-half no-show at Glasgow Warriors in round two to be erased from Munster’s collective memory banks but Mike Sherry believes the rebound against Ospreys a week later can provide the template for his province as their season ramps up over the next month or so.

Judging by the gushing reaction from their newly-converted pundits, the PRO14’s new pay-per-view broadcasters will not be short of cheerleaders.

For rugby in Spain, hosting the Champions Cup final will be a welcome diversion from the World Cup qualifier loss to Belgium in March, says Brendan O’Brien.

The IRFU is set to pocket a very welcome seven-figure sum as a result of Munster’s and Leinster’s Champions Cup quarter-final successes over the weekend with the eventual figure possibly stretching as high as €2m.

Munster’s planning for a Zebo-less future has solidified with new contracts for Andrew Conway and Stephen Fitzgerald confirmed and a first start of the season for the latter in this evening’s Guinness PRO14 trip to Cardiff Blues.

The sight of Keith Earls hunting down Italy full-back Matteo Minozzi in the final minutes of a game already done and dusted has had everyone purring, and Darren Sweetnam has thrown in his praise, calling his Munster team-mate’s skills, pace and commitment “outrageous”.

Ulster are making no official comment on speculation in New Zealand and Australia that their newly appointed head man Jono Gibbes is being hunted by Wallaby coach Michael Cheika.

Scarlets have recorded a 14-11 victory over the Cardiff Blues to maintain their position at the top of Conference B in the Guinness PRO14.

Connacht coach Kieran Keane says a resurgent Zebre will pose a huge threat in Parma this afternoon as his side aim to bounce back to winning ways before refocusing next week to the European Challenge Cup campaign.

Connacht's five-match winning run came to an end as Cardiff Blues triumphed 36-30 at Arms Park.

The joys of Cardiff on a Monday night in October.

Munster and Cardiff Blues won’t be lacking incentives when they clash at the Arms Park this evening in a Guinness PRO12 encounter that could play an important part in their seasons.

Billy Holland doesn’t believe complacency contributed to Munster’s downfall against Scarlets last weekend.

It was always going to happen, acknowledged Munster director of rugby Rassie Erasmus yesterday, as he reviewed his side’s weekend defeat against the Scarlets. 

Seventeen points from Steven Shingler ensured Cardiff Blues won the keenly contested Guinness PRO12 derby clash.

An inspired Ruan Pienaar led Ulster to a 35-22 Guinness PRO12 victory over Cardiff Blues at the Arms Park.

Cardiff Blues lost their unbeaten record in the Guinness PRO12 as Leinster came from 10 points behind to win 16-13 at the Arms Park.

Munster’s Australian second-row forward Mark Chisholm faces a spell on the sidelines after suffering a concussion in Saturday’s Guinness Pro12 win over the Dragons.

Cardiff Blues 20 Connacht 16: Connacht’s poor record at the Arms Park continued last evening when they lost their grip on the lead of the Guinness Pro12 to a dogged Cardiff Blues.

John Muldoon becomes the first player to make 200 appearances in the Guinness Pro12 when he leads Connacht against Cardiff at Arms Park this evening (7.05pm).

Connacht’s star player Robbie Henshaw will be out of action for up to six weeks with a fractured hand.

Before taking charge of the Springboks, Kitch Christie made a bold prediction: “Six months is long enough for a coach to win the World Cup.”

Romania were once a force to be reckoned with in rugby but it will be very difficult for them to spring a surprise against Ireland today, writes Donal Lenihan

This time 12 months ago Jack Conan’s focus hardly strayed further than earning a second provincial cap.

Ever since they first turned out for a rumble on the left bank of the Taff, Ireland have usually made a point of picking something up in Cardiff. 

Wales assistant coach Rob Howley has hailed fit-again Ireland No.8 Jamie Heaslip as "an exceptional ball-carrier" ahead of his Test match return in tomorrow’s RBS 6 Nations showdown at the Millennium Stadium.

Leinster made Cardiff Blues pay the price for their indiscipline as the Guinness PRO12 high-flyers fought back from a half-time deficit to claim a bonus-point 22-13 victory at the Arms Park.

Cardiff Blues may be lying ninth in the Pro12 table, but with a pack boasting three British and Irish Lions, as well as a recalled Alex Cuthbert on the wing, Leinster know it won’t be easy at the Arms Park.

Ireland international lock, Dan Tuohy, has agreed a three-year contract extension with Ulster that will keep him at Kingspan Stadium until at least the summer of 2018.

Fergus McFadden has said the new batch of talent forcing their way through this season at Leinster would convince him to stay at home even if an offer from abroad were to materialise.

Guinness Pro12

The difference in the perceived challenges facing Munster and Leinster over the weekend is reflected in the fact that Leinster find themselves roundly criticised despite their win over Harlequins, while Munster have received a very positive response for their achievement in rescuing a bonus point in defeat from a game that could have run away from them at one stage, writes Donal Lenihan.

Cardiff Blues 24 Munster 28

Cardiff Blues were denied what would have been their second Guinness PRO12 win of the season by a late try as Munster claimed a 28-24 win at Cardiff Arms Park.

GUINNESS PRO12:

The new European gig was gripping at times but it did little to divert the impression the provinces are slipping under the shadow of an Ireland team on the up.