Skills coach Ian Costello believes the heartbreak of last year's group stage Heineken Cup exit has driven the Munster juggernaut into the quarter-finals this campaign.

Munster Rugby announced today that Northampton Saints centre James Downey will be joining them at the end of the current season.

Munster great Alan Quinlan has backed the young pretender to his crown Peter O'Mahony to slot straight into international rugby this weekend.

Munster scrum-half Tomas O'Leary gave watching Ireland boss Declan Kidney something to think about with a try for the Irish Wolfhounds - but he couldn't stop England Saxons bagging the bagging rights with a 23-17 win.

Aviva Stadium officials have brushed off concerns that an all-Ireland RaboDirect PRO12 final may have to be staged elsewhere, after the announcement of a Republic of Ireland football friendly against Bosnia & Herzegovina on May 26.

Munster's Ronan O'Gara is relishing going head to head with Leinster rival Jonny Sexton for the Ireland No.10 jersey for the Six Nations - claiming he proved his doubters wrong with his form at the World Cup.

The path has been cleared for Europe's first all-Ireland final or, failing that, the possibility of the capital teams of Scotland and Wales getting there instead.

RaboDirect, the straight talking online bank, are partnering up with RTE, Irish broadcasters of the RaboDirect PRO12, for an exclusive LIVE Twitter Q&A with RTE Radio rugby expert, Michael Corcoran.

Simon Zebo was the star of the show as he helped himself to a hat-trick in Munster's dazzling Heineken Cup victory over Northampton.

Munster will be without injured flanker Niall Ronan for their final Heineken Cup pool clash against Northampton on Sunday - and despite already securing their passage into the last eight director of coaching Tony McGahan has called on his troops to finish the job.