Time to stand and deliver

The spectre of European rugby looms large as ever as Leinster meet Munster for the first time this season but there is plenty of incentive in both camps for a positive outcome tonight to put right chastening recent RaboDirect Pro12 form.

The rival provinces clash at Aviva Stadium this evening (6:30pm) to continue the recent league custom of booking a derby date immediately ahead of the start of their Heineken Cup adventures but whereas past meetings have always had one eye on the blue riband of club competitions, this season’s highly competitive domestic competition has demanded both head coaches focus on tonight’s game as an early need-to-win league confrontation.

Since inheriting the Munster squad from Tony McGahan in July, new head coach Rob Penney has declared himself delighted with the progress his charges have made in adopting a more expansive gameplan based on instinctive decision-making from all 15 players on the pitch.