So near but yet so far.

RABODIRECT PRO12:

After nearly half-an-hour of being asked, in as many different ways as possible, whether issues with alcohol have stunted his career James O’Connor seemed almost relieved to be questioned on whether he considered moving to an Irish province this month.

Tomás O’Leary was a contender for the Lions tour to Australia before he suffered a season-ending back injury, according to his boss at London Irish, Brian Smith.

Munster 10 London Irish 34

Munster got themselves up and running with this pre-season friendly victory over English second-tier opposition last night but for new head coach Rob Penney there was more than a hint of running before they have learned to walk as he tries to stamp his template on the province’s game.

LONDON IRISH are considering playing a match overseas in the next few years, with Boston mentioned as a potential venue.

I WRITE from London to pay tribute to a wonderful Irish rugby team, a group of players that gave hope, not for the first time this year to Ireland, and showed us that everything is achievable if you believe in what you are doing.

INJURED Kerry football star David Moran is backing his team-mates for All-Ireland glory and in the process ease some of the pain he has felt after a frustrating spell on the sidelines.

LEINSTER and Ireland out-half Jonathan Sexton has backed Munster to bounce back from their Heineken Cup disappointment.

THERE is a long way to go this season but Munster’s premature exit from European competition means there will be plenty of time for reflection.

SARACENS kept the pressure on the Aviva Premiership leaders yesterday, inflicting another defeat on struggling London Irish.

TOULON moved top of Pool 3 with a convincing bonus-point victory over London Irish on Saturday.

THE SNOW may still be thick on the ground but the fog is at last beginning to clear as far as the Heineken Cup Pool Three qualification picture is concerned.

Ospreys 27 London Irish 16

TOO much rugby.

Ireland’s Keith Earls will start for Munster against London Irish in the Heineken Cup at Wembley on Saturday evening (5.45pm).

KEITH EARLS looks set to make a timely return for Munster in this Saturday’s Heineken Cup showdown with London Irish at the Madjeski Stadium. With fellow backs Felix Jones and Ian Dowling on the long-term injury list and Lifeimi Mafi suspended, the return of Earls is good news for Munster coach Tony McGahan, who named the versatile Irish international in his extended squad yesterday.

LONDON IRISH head coach Toby Booth will be dealing with a virtually full deck when he selects his matchday squad to face Munster on Saturday in their Heineken Cup opener in Reading.

MUNSTER’S belief that they face a backlash tonight at Firhill is very much on the money if the comments of Glasgow Warriors’ captain Ally Kellock and coach Sean Lineen prove to be well founded.

LONDON IRISH: Head coach Toby Booth has signed a new three-year contract at the Guinness Premiership club London Irish.

WHEN Gordon D’Arcy eyes up his opposite number ahead of tomorrow’s crucial Six Nations clash between England and Ireland at Twickenham, he will see a man born and raised in New Zealand, shaped in England and polished in France.

LONDON IRISH have it all to do when they face Heineken Cup champions Leinster in a decisive Pool Six showdown at Twickenham today.

London Irish coach Toby Booth has rotated his entire front row for three of the five changes he has made for tomorrow’s opening Heineken Cup fixture with Leinster in Dublin.

LEINSTER captain Leo Cullen could hardly be blamed if he was still up in the clouds after his team’s Magners League demolition of Munster at the RDS on Saturday.

MUNSTER team manager Shaun Payne is looking to the future, starting at Musgrave Park tonight (7pm) when the reigning Magners League champions take on London Irish.

Munster coach Tony McGahan will give Denis Hurley, Niall Ronan, Tony Buckley and Denis Leamy their first starts of the season in a friendly against London Irish at Musgrave Park on Friday (7pm).

JEAN DE VILLIERS claims he is looking forward to making himself part of the Munster ‘family’, citing the province’s tradition as a powerful motivating factor in his decision to join.

BARBARIANS captain Martin Corry, says Rocky Elsom’s game has undergone rapid transformation since moving to Leinster at the beginning of the season.

LONDON IRISH are adamant they want Paul Warwick playing with them in the Guinness Premiership next season though they still doubt whether the Munster player still wants the move.

London Irish have made one change from last weekend bringing in hooker James Buckland for a crucial European Challenge Cup round two fixture with Connacht Rugby at The Sportsground on Friday evening at 7pm.

Mike Catt is the surprise selection at out-half for London Irish at home to Perpignan in the Heineken Cup quarter-final on Sunday.

LONDON IRISH will spend a seven- day training camp in Co Wexford as they bid for domestic and European rugby honours.

LONDON IRISH director of rugby Brian Smith described Mike Catt as a “special player”, after the England veteran defied a back problem to help the Exiles to a 24-16 Heineken Cup victory over Perpignan yesterday.

IT’S OLD for the new as Ulster coach Mark McCall recalls experienced former international prop Justin Fitzpatrick for the recently-capped Ireland loose-head Bryan Young in the only change for the Heineken Cup clash with London Irish tonight at Ravenhill.

Felipe Contepomi will be available for Leinster's pre-season friendly against London Irish at Donnybrook tomorrow evening.

LONDON IRISH held their nerve to win a sensational game of 14 tries, guaranteeing a place in the end-of-season play-offs and destroying Wasps’ 16-month unbeaten home league record.

LONDON IRISH are promising a bumper New Year’s Eve crowd the chance to kick off their celebrations early against Wasps at the Madejski today.

London Irish have made five changes to the team that lost to Leeds Tykes last Sunday for their Zurich Premiership trip to play Leicester Tigers on Friday evening.

London Irish have made three changes for Saturday's Zurich Premiership clash with Worcester Warriors at the Madejski stadium.

London Irish have made five changes to the starting line-up of the team that played in Auch last weekend for Sunday's return leg at the Madejski Stadium.

London Irish have made three changes for their opening European Challenge Cup clash with FC Auch on Saturday evening.

London Irish have made four changes for Sunday’s home game against Saracens.