Mullins injury blow

Pre-season frendlies: A suspected ruptured Achilles tendon injury to centre Mike Mullins that may keep him out of rugby for six months marred Munster's 20-18 victory over Northampton in last night's pre-season friendly at Thomond Park.

More than 4,000 people turned up to watch a scratch Munster side take on a Northampton team containing three All Blacks - Bruce Reihana, Carlos Spencer and Mark Robinson - and England's Ben Cohen, in their back line.

The first half ended with Northampton 8-6 up thanks to a try and penalty by Reihana against two penalties by Paul Burke.

The match really took off 12 minutes into the second half when sustained pressure by the home side led to a try by winger Paul Devlin, which Burke converted.

However, with 20 minutes to go, Munster made five substitutions and their teamwork suffered. Former All Blacks outhalf Spencer broke through the home defence after 65 minutes and sent Darren Fox over for a try that Reihana converted. Reihana landed a penalty soon after for 18-13.

Munster battled back and substitute scrumhalf Frank Murphy tapped a close-range penalty and after beating a tackle, sent Rob Henderson in behind the posts. Another replacement, Jeremy Manning, added the points.

Meanwhile over at the Galway Sportsground, Connacht earned a morale-boosting 22-17 victory over Leicester Tigers.

The Tigers led the try-scoring stakes three-one, but Connacht sensibly opted to take their kicks at goal, with 100 per cent success.

A secure lineout, with New Zealand debutant Andrew Gallagher and captain Andrew Farley prominent, provided the platform, with outhalf Paul Warwick making it count, kicking three first-half penalties.

The bounce of the ball helped former Leinster flanker Shane Jennings set up right wing Alesana Tuilagi for an easy run-in from an overlap in the fifth minute.

Fifteen minutes later left wing Tom Varndell sidestepped Conor McPhillips to score in the corner, for a 10-3 lead.

The home side stuck to their task, and when Warwick found the gap with a straight burst up the middle, Mark McHugh was on hand to finish off Connacht's only try on 25 minutes.

Warwick added two penalties at the break, both from the Tigers offending at the ruck, and Mark McHugh kicked a fourth penalty to make it 19-10 at the break.

Despite facing into the strong wind in the second half, Connacht conceded only one try, to Tuilagi in the right corner. Warick struck another penalty to secure victory

Three second-half tries secured a 17-9 victory for London Irish against Ulster at Ravenhill last night.

Ulster's scoring was limited to three penalties by centre Paul Steinmetz but coach Mark McCall will have been heartened by the performances of lock Justin Harrison and fellow debutant Andrew Trimble in the centre.

Ulster had eased to a 6-0 lead at the break having played most of the rugby but conceded three soft tries, wing Topsy Ojo going over twice and Australian Scott Staniforth going over in the 74th minute after Steinmetz had earlier stretched the home side's lead with his third penalty.