Munster have been counting the cost of their losses, with four Ireland internationals among those injured at Allianz Park.

Robin Copeland’s last-gasp try rescued a 27-24 win from the jaws of defeat as Connacht pipped Gloucester in a dramatic Heineken Champions Cup clash at the Sportsground.

Connacht’s survival hopes in the Heineken Champions Cup may depend on a superb home record which has seen them lose just one of 14 games at the Sportsground in Europe in the past five years.

Connacht, for a team which has won almost 45% of its matches in the Heineken Champions Cup, still has a lot to learn how to compete in Europe’s premier tournament.

Bundee Aki celebrated his three-year IRFU contract extension with the opening try in Connacht’s 24-12 Guinness PRO14 win over the Isuzu Southern Kings at the Sportsground.

Connacht forward Eoghan Masterson, after finally making his Champions Cup debut last weekend, is determined to create more history in France tomorrow when they take on Toulouse.

It wouldn't be like an Irish mammy to wish illness on her son but you wouldn't have blamed Robbie Henshaw's if she had regarded it as the lesser of two evils when it forced the Leinster centre to miss out on the visit to the Sportsground two weekends ago.

Munster’s acceptance they were outgunned by Saracens last weekend was an admission of the gulf in class between Johann van Graan’s side and Europe’s elite. But the province is still intent on ruling the roost closer to home.

Connacht coach Andy Friend is using today’s clash at Thomond Park to blood more players as they keep an eye on next weekend’s PRO14 quarter-final showdown with Ulster.

A raucous Sportsground welcomed Connacht’s progression into the play-off stages of the PRO14 as their team turned in a bonus point performance in their most important game of the season so far.

Connacht are back in the Heineken Champions Cup for the first time in three years after man-of-the-match Jack Carty inspired their 29-22 Guinness PRO14 bonus point win over Cardiff Blues at the Sportsground.

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.

Veterans of the 15 previous clashes which Connacht have hosted against Munster will breathe a sigh of relief that the weather forecast for this evening in Galway is relatively good.

Connacht have only managed to do the double over an Irish province on one occasion, but victory at the Sportsground this evening (7.35pm) against Ulster would help soften the blow of not putting Leinster away last weekend.

Leinster forwards coach John Fogarty has described the upcoming interpros as “a defining part of our season.”

Second-half tries from Garry Ringrose and Sean Cronin did the damage for Leinster in their 20-3 Guinness PRO14 derby win over 14-man Connacht at the Sportsground.

It’s a measure of how much things have changed at Connacht since they won the PRO12 title in Murrayfield two years ago that 10 of the 23 players involved that day are no longer at the Sportsground.

Robin Copeland says adding to his sole international cap was not on his mind when he decided to join Connacht this summer.

Champions Leinster will begin the new Guinness PRO14 season by tackling Cardiff Blues in the Welsh capital.

Fainga’a will reunite with his former coach Andy Friend at the Sportsground.

Friend, who was most recently coach of the Australian Sevens team, will arrive at the Sportsground in late June to oversee pre-season training.

Saracens full-back Alex Goode says the club’s Champions Cup quarter-final with Leinster will be bigger than a Test match for him.

There is a perception among Connacht supporters that Leinster is the team they love to defeat, Ulster is the side they can’t beat and Munster’s scalp is the one they treasure most of all.

Connacht hooker Tom McCartney says he is ready to leave his injury woes behind and play his part in a busy Christmas period for the westerners.

Connacht captain John Muldoon said that Simon Zebo has probably put his international career ‘on the back burner’ by going to France, but the veteran star can understand why he has made the move.

New Connacht defence coach Peter Wilkins believes a first-ever win in Belfast in the professional era tonight can kickstart their season.

Connacht back-row Eoghan Masterson says it came as no surprise to him to see Scarlets win the PRO12 last season and that he expects a real challenge from the champions this weekend as Connacht aim for a second win of the season.

Jarrod Evans nailed the match-winning conversion in windy conditions as Cardiff Blues edged out Connacht 17-15 for their first win at the Sportsground since May 2014.

Dave Rennie got one over on his former Chiefs assistant Kieran Keane as Glasgow Warriors outgunned Connacht for a 18-12 Guinness PRO14 win at the Sportsground.

CORK CITY’s coat of arms shows a ship sailing between two castles: it could now, as easily, show ships passing between the two Roches Points.

Connacht 8 Scarlets 30: A defence of their unforgettable PRO12 title win that began with two heavy home defeats, fizzled out with another drubbing at the Sportsground for Connacht.

Connacht may have managed to hold on to most of their frontline players for next season but there will be a significant shift in personnel at the Sportsground for the start of the Kieran Keane era.

Connacht coach Pat Lam has thrown down the gauntlet to his side ahead of today’s crucial Guinness PRO12 clash away to Glasgow Warriors.

Connacht coach Pat Lam says Springbok out-half Marnitz Boshoff will be given as much time as he needs following the tragic death of his father in South Africa last weekend.

It’s five years since Dublin GAA unleashed their ‘Blue Wave’ strategic plan on us, writes Brendan O’Brien. 

Connacht and Ireland Prop Nathan White has been forced to retire.

Connacht have lost again at the Sportsground in the Guinness Pro12.

Only once before have Connacht lost their opening two league matches at the Sportsground but Pat Lam appreciates they must show significant improvement to prevent that happening again when Ospreys come to Galway this evening (7.35pm).

They will need to close the blinds and put away the breakables when Connacht sit down to review this one at the Sportsground today. It will not be pleasant viewing, least of all for a squad who pride themselves on looking inward and taking responsibility.