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Schmidt counts cost of bruising success
JOE SCHMIDT'S less-than-euphoric post-match demeanour on Saturday night belied the fact that his side had qualified for another final but perfectly captured the many emotions he must have been experiencing.
Conway's hat-trick seals home comforts
Leinster secured a home quarter-final against Scottish side Glasgow next weekend after a stunning hat-trick from Andrew Conway guaranteed that there would be no late drama as the race for the play-offs ended in a gentle gambol.
Trimble brace guides Ulster to top spot
Ulster finished as top dogs in the Pro12 League and booked a semi-final against the Scarlets next Friday evening at Ravenhill following a comfortable win against Cardiff.
No happy ending for Elwood as Warriors spoil leaving party
There was no dream finish to Eric Elwood's Connacht career as Glasgow Warriors spoiled the party ahead of next weekend's Pro12 semi-final against Leinster.
Botha's try spares Munster blushes
Munster avoided the ignominy of being the first ever side to lose to Zebre as they wrapped up their Pro12 campaign in Parma.
Flawless Sexton nails his comeback
Brian O'Driscoll won the man-of-the-match award yesterday as Leinster put Zebre to the sword, but it was the performance of fit-again Jonathan Sexton which dominated post-match discussion.
Irresistible Ulster turn on style
CREDIT Connacht with a performance full of ambition and spirit, credit Ulster with having the nous and the skill to absorb the pressure that was applied and rise above it to score a superb win.
Faletau comes to rescue for Dragons as Munster fail to complete fightback
Munster warmed up for their Heineken Cup showdown with a heartbreaking defeat at Rodney Parade.
High-flying Bowe takes Ulster back to summit
Ulster roared back to take control of the top of the table with a bonus-point destruction of the Dragons at Ravenhill.
Henshaw settles issue for gritty Westerners
Connacht's hopes of earning a respectable finishing position received a boost with a deserved victory over Edinburgh at Murrayfield.
Lions call would be a dream come true – Bowe
The prospect of playing in a Lions Test team is not just the ultimate ambition for any professional rugby player from these parts, it may very well have magical curative powers.
Madigan to steer ship for Thomond mission
IAN MADIGAN will be charged with turning over Munster in their Thomond Park citadel tomorrow night.
Elwood demands Connacht troops keep fighting until the bitter end
PAT LAM will get his first taste of the Pro12 in the vast expanses of Murrayfield tonight as Connacht look to close out a promising season as high up the table as they can.
Strauss has Munster in sights after return from double injury
Richardt Strauss spent much of the early part of this season using Google to help him learn the words to 'Amhrán na bhFiann.'
Grandstand finish at RDS as Ulster win bragging rights in hard fought derby
ULSTER got their RaboDirect PRO12 challenge back on the rails with a hard-earned derby victory over Leinster at the RDS.
D'Arcy hungry to fight on
WHEREVER Gordon D'Arcy looks he sees a changing world, but he himself is determined to keep going.
O'Connell has faith in Penney blueprint
Paul O'Connell's impeccable record of achievement was manifest in the most meaningful way this week when his team-mates all spoke gushingly about the influence he has been having on the team since his return.
Pienaar, Henderson and Henry back for Ulster's clash with Leinster
Ulster's South African scrum-half, Ruan Pienaar, and backrow forwards Iain Henderson, Chris Henry and Roger Wilson have recovered from injury and available to face Leinster at the RDS on Saturday evening (Kick Off 18.15).
Madigan getting better and better – Schmidt
Leinster coach Joe Schmidt was reported to be deeply disappointed when Johnny Sexton decided to leave Leinster for Racing Metro a few months back. Who wouldn't be?
O'Connell the inspiration for Munster
PAUL O'CONNELL'S fingerprints were all over Munster's much-improved performance against Connacht in Cork on Saturday night.
Rob Penney: Return of Paul O’Connell a major lift
It is great to be back in competitive action again this weekend, and the challenge now is to make sure we are playing every weekend from now until May 25.
McSharry and Naopu return for Connacht’s clash with Munster
Eric Elwood has made two changes to his starting XV for Connacht’s interprovincial clash with Munster at Musgrave Park tomorrow evening (Kick-off 5.45pm, Live on TG4).
'Unique' O'Connell set for Munster return to action
Paul O'Connell looks set to start his first competitive match for Munster since October on Saturday as the former Lions skipper steps up his recovery from injury to bid for a seat on the plane to Australia.
McCarthy back to boost Connacht for Musgrave trip
Connacht have received a huge boost with Irish lock Mike McCarthy being made available for Saturday's Pro12 derby with Munster.
Return of injured stars to help Ulster rekindle form
Ulster's long injury list eased somewhat ahead of Friday's Pro12 trip to Edinburgh, with skipper Johann Muller and Kiwi duo Jared Payne and Nick Williams back in the mix.
O’Gara named at out-half for Munster’s clash with the Ospreys
Ronan O’Gara has been named in Munster’s starting XV for the visit of the Ospreys to Thomond Park tomorrow night.
McFadden centre of attention in Dragons' den
Ireland's selectors will take a keen interest in Fergus McFadden's performance for Leinster tonight as he starts at inside centre rather than on the wing.
Elwood won't take Zebre for granted as Connacht eye three in row
Connacht coach Eric Elwood is confident that his men can string three successive Pro12 wins together for the first time since the closing stages of last season.
Penney: We've got to win 'everything' to make play-offs
Munster coach Rob Penney has admitted that they probably need to win every game from now to the end of the campaign to reach the semi-finals of the Pro12.
Stuttering Ulster can bounce back, insists Herring
Ulster's stand-in hooker Rob Herring says they are aiming to win all six games remaining in the regular season of the Pro12 as they bid to get back on track after a run of poor form.
'We were soft, we lacked courage'
Rob Penney labelled this defeat in Treviso as Munster's worst performance of the season, and expressed dismay at the soft underbelly shown by his outmanoeuvred troops.
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McCarthy called up by England
England boss Roy Hodgson has included Alex McCarthy in his squad for the friendlies against the Republic of Ireland and Brazil. Striker Andy Carroll, on loan at West Ham from Liverpool, has also been recalled by Hodgson for the games against Ireland at Wembley on May 29 and the trip to Brazil on June 2. Hodgson is yet to make a call on who will captain the side in the absence of the injured Steven Gerrard.
