Leinster’s recent upswing in form may have coincided with the rare absence of an injured Jamie Heaslip from the line-up, but Matt O’Connor clearly isn’t the superstitious type, given his declaration his captain will return against Castres tomorrow.

Leinster’s recent upswing in form may have coincided with the rare absence of an injured Jamie Heaslip from the line-up, but Matt O’Connor clearly isn’t the superstitious type, given his declaration that his captain will return against Castres tomorrow.

As the dust settles on the latest Munster v Leinster clash, Simon Lewis takes some time out to tease out the key questions.

We got it wrong with our prediction in these pages last week, but then so did Leinster.

There was just over an hour to go to kick-off at The Stoop last Sunday, but Daniel Hudson was leaning on a piece of pricey-looking equipment like it was a trusty ledge in his favourite pub and exuding the calm of a man without a care in the world.

Rhys Ruddock has admitted the Leinster pack "let itself down" last weekend and that it is on a mission to redeem itself when they lock horns with Harlequins again, at the Aviva Stadium, on Saturday.

Harlequins 24 Leinster 18

Matt O’Connor has launched a vigorous defence of his stewardship at Leinster as the province prepare for Sunday’s round three Rugby Champions Cup assignment away to Harlequins at The Stoop.

There is never a good time to get injured, but some moments are undoubtedly worse than others. Just ask Dave Kearney.

Potentially seismic back-to-back clashes with Clermont Auvergne await Munster in December after the fixtures for the new European Rugby Champions Cup were confirmed yesterday.

Thoughts of a potential Heineken Cup semi-final with Leinster can wait as far as Munster head coach Rob Penney is concerned, it is a first visit to Thomond Park by four-time champions Toulouse that will exercise his mind as European competition goes into the knockout stages.

Paul O’Connell may have been the totem for Munster’s shock defeat of Harlequins at The Stoop last weekend but James Downey’s tackle on Mike Brown summed the day up in one fearsome fraction of a second.

PAUL O’Connell may have produced the definitive performance in Munster’s stunning Heineken Cup victory over Harlequins but it was Tommy O’Donnell who gave the rousing pre-match speech and inspired the emotional energy that took his side to the semi-finals.

Harlequins 12 Munster 18

Paul O’Connell acclaimed a coming of age for Munster’s new guard of unheralded players as he marked his comeback from back surgery with a man-of-the-match performance against Harlequins.

Paul O’Connell inspired Munster to an 18-12 Heineken Cup quarter-final victory over Harlequins and was immediately tipped to make a big impression on the British and Irish Lions tour.

Munster need direct, physical approach to stop Harlequins

Under-pressure Munster head coach Rob Penney has received “100%” backing from one of the province’s rising stars with Ireland prop Dave Kilcoyne calling criticism of the New Zealander’s game plan “completely unfair”.

HEINEKEN CUP QUARTER-FINAL

Ronan O’Gara may be considering his playing future but he is in no doubt about the challenges that lie beyond — he wants to coach Munster.

Munster supporters have been used to setbacks in advance of must-win Heineken Cup games but rarely can there have been one of such seismic proportions as the province experienced in Glasgow last night.

Munster 22 Connacht 0

Paul O’Connell will be ready for Munster’s Heineken Cup quarter-final against Harlequins in Twickenham in 13 days after making a try-scoring return for the province on Saturday night.

Munster, Ulster and Leinster have all given steps up to inexperienced squad members in naming their additional players for the European knockout stages next month, as former provincial Heineken Cup winners Peter Stringer and Rocky Elsom boosted squads elsewhere.

Paul O’Connell took another big step in his bid to be fit in time for Munster’s Heineken Cup quarter final against Harlequins.

Paul O’Connell is edging closer to being available for Munster’s Heineken Cup quarter-final against Harlequins at The Stoop on April 7.

Munster will have to take the long route in their bid for European Cup glory again and the journey to a potential final for their rugby supporters is looking equally arduous, especially on their pockets.

Don’t for a minute underestimate the value of Munster’s Heineken Cup win over Racing Metro on Sunday.

Munster’s Heineken Cup quarter-final against Harlequins will be played at The Stoop.

Heineken Cup Pool 3: Harlequins V Connacht

Conor O’Shea believes outgoing Connacht coach Eric Elwood deserves hero status out west but does not want to add to the legacy of his former Ireland team-mate this weekend.

Connacht chief executive Tom Sears has hit out at those who have breached the confidentiality of the process of choosing a successor to Eric Elwood the province’s chief executive Tom Sears.

Ulster’s Heineken Cup ambitions have been handed a timely boost with the news that captain Johann Muller may well be fit in time to feature in their round six tie against Castres in France.

Harlequins 53 Zebre 5

New coach Rob Penney will take charge of Munster for the first time on French soil as he bids to make an immediate impact.

FORMER Leinster coach Michael Cheika has been fined €20,000, half of it suspended until June 2013, for his conduct on the night of the Amlin Challenge final when his Stade Francais side was defeated by Harlequins.

Connacht 9 Harlequins 15

The matchday doctor at the centre of the 'Bloodgate' saga did not act in the best interests of the rugby player she cut to cover up a bogus injury, a disciplinary panel said today.

MUNSTER will crank up their preparations for the new season with the introduction of several senior players for the friendly with Gloucester at Musgrave Park tomorrow (7pm).