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Friday 2 June 2023 Dublin: 15°C

# H Cup

All time
# H CUP HEARTBREAK
'Munster can't keep doing this to ourselves every year' -- Simon Zebo
“We had chances last year to win and we didn’t take them and it’s the same this year,” said the winger whose try gave Munster real hope in Marseille.
# H Cup
Munster craving 'difference between good and great' to reach fourth Cardiff final
It’s gonna be tough, but Munster hold hope of toppling the European champions in Marseille.
# Talking Points
Five things to watch out for when Saracens host Clermont
With no Irish team involved in this weekend’s first Heineken Cup semi-final, you can just sit back and enjoy it.
# joker in the pack
Dougall selection gamble can pay off as Munster target Toulon's main strength
Selecting a natural number 7 may be the wildcard Munster need on Sunday.
# Heineken Cup
Habana getting set to make up for lost time in Toulon shirt
But first, he’s hoping to be part of ‘a long day at the office’ against Munster.
# FINAL 4
The Heineken Cup semi-finals are here, and any one of these four teams could win it
Toulon or Munster, Clermont or Saracens. Where’s your money going?
# then there were 4
5 things we learned from the Heineken Cup quarter-finals
It was a rollercoaster weekend of rugby with plenty of ups in Thomond Park.
# Interview
Bit by bit Bowe and Ulster in better place to beat Saracens
12 months on from their last meeting in Twickenham, the northern province welcome the Premiership leaders for a special night in Ravenhill.
# pokerface
O'Connor giving nothing away as Toulon tussle looms large
The Leinster head coach has recent experience of taking on the European champions.
# Chapeau
'I could play them today': Heaslip raring to go up against Toulon
The number eight can’t get enough of the business end of the season.
# Interview
Daydream to reality: Trimble at top of his game and determined to stay there
The winger has moved from international outsider to match-winner during the course of this season.
# H Cup
Ulster expect Pienaar to return for Saracens showdown
Rory Best will also return to the side allowing Mark Anscombe to pick a full-strength squad.
# openside
'New challenge, but the same principles': Jennings calls on Leinster to manage emotion on trip to Toulon
The flanker admits that the reigning champions could prove Leinster’s toughest opponent to date, but that will not mean a change in approach.
# Political Football
Toulon president cancels rugby friendly after Beziers vote National Front
Mourad Boudjellal has more than Leinster on his mind this week.
# H Cup
O'Driscoll, Healy and McGrath will be ready to go when Leinster visit Toulon
The trio have modified training loads early this week, but will be fit and ready for Sunday’s clash with the champions.
# ready for ravenhill?
Ligament damage rules Vunipola out for remainder of Six Nations
The Saracens number eight’s new focus will be regaining fitness in time to face Ulster in the Heineken Cup.
# Plan of Attack
Super Saturday in store as Heineken Cup announce 1/4 final kick-off times
Munster have been handed another early kick-off, while Leinster meet Toulon on the Sunday afternoon.
# crowd pleaser
'He's an easy guy to follow': O'Connell lauds O'Mahony leadership
The Ireland captain says he has enjoyed ‘playing under’ Peter O’Mahony.
# H Cup
Munster backs don’t get credit they deserve – Penney
The Munster coach says many of his players feel they deserve a better ‘crack’ with Joe Schmidt.
AS IT HAPPENED
Munster v Edinburgh, Heineken Cup
We went minute-by-minute from Thomond Park as Munster aimed to nestle into a snug home quarter-final place.
# Munster movie
Get pumped up for Edinburgh's visit with this Thomond Park documentary
Because we can’t wait for Sunday either.
# 3kb
Leicester v Ulster: 3 key battles to decide who earns a home quarter-final
Ulster will have to come out on top of these match-ups to maintain their status as top seeds.
# scrum wars
Strictly business as Ulster’s Afoa plans to ‘do a job’ on Leicester
The tight-head is promising a big improvement to come from the northern province’s set-piece.
# tiger tamers
Anscombe rules Bowe out, but is confident of Ulster repeating ‘dominance’ at Welford Road
‘We should be a little bit happy’, says the coach of the Heineken Cup’s current top seeds.
# Culture
Muller, Munster and Matt Williams: How Ulster transformed from Heineken Cup also-rans to elite
Players with the nothern province won’t be happy with the progress they’ve made until they ‘actually win something.’
# in from the side
Unqualified Leinster still the province with ingredients for success
Leinster will probably have to travel in the quarter-finals, but that won’t worry them.
# suftum
Wilson keen to crack Welford Road and bring knock-out game to Ravenhill
The ex-Northampton man has endured plenty of hurt in Leicester and hopes to buck the trend this Saturday.
# on the mark
Penney lauds Keatley mettle as Gloucester boss wowed by 'phenomenal' O'Connell
The out-half put a difficult night in Ravenhill behind him with a solid display to get Munster in the Heineken Cup quarter-finals.
# Preview
Leinster put distractions to one side with qualification in sight
The Amlin Challenge Cup champions are in France today, hoping to avoid the need to defend their crown.
# H Cup
Ulster qualification secured as Toulon batter Blues
The defending champions scored three penalty tries in Nice.
# Go West
Lam trusts young guns to keep European hopes alive
It’s a rare turn with the favourites tag for Connacht.
AS IT HAPPENED
Ulster v Montpellier, Heineken Cup
We went minute-by-minute from Ravenhill as Ulster aimed to turn the screw in Pool 5.
# 3kb
Connacht v Zebre: 3 key battles to decide the victor at the Sportsground
Pat Lam’s men got a taste for victory towards the tail end of 2013 and are hoping to rediscover it tomorrow.
# toulon tank
Sean O'Brien in France as contract negotiations drag on
Picturesque Nice is the flanker’s destination this weekend.
# Team-sheets
O'Connor calls on Gopperth for Castres trip as Carty takes the reins again for Connacht
The western province have also been able to welcome back Jake Heenan and Sean Henry from injury
# Preview
Cavalry arrives as Ulster eye up two big steps to quarter-final
Montpellier, on the other hand, have made 13 changes for tonight’s visit to Ravenhill.
# H Cup
Qualification in Leinster's hands, now keep it that way -- Murphy
With few injury worries to deal with, the eight-day turnaround before facing Castres is not ideal for Leinster.
# H Cup
Round-up: Finalists Toulon and Clermont march on with bonus points
Elsewhere, Saracens overwhelmed Zebre with nine tries at Allianz Park.
# Retrospective
2011 Heineken Cup final: 22 minutes make Leinster’s beautiful day
One day like this a year would see them right.
# O Captain My Captain
Painful defeats parked as O'Mahony gears up for make or break week
The Munster captain underwent some ‘fine-tuning’ today before Sunday’s Heineken Cup clash with Perpignan.