Heach coach Andy Friend makes seven changes for fixture pencilled in for victory

Short-sighted strategy leaves Andy Farrell’s side trailing in wake of well-prepared rivals

Victory beckons for recharged province as Welsh opponents missing 19 players

Peter Wilkins says squad levelled off after good start to the year and need to go again

Patrick Madden looks at some of the key factors at play in Saturday’s intense contest

Difficult to look past French flair and power not to mention a raucous home Parisian crowd

Connacht outhalf enjoying the game more after earning recall two years after Japan

If we can replicate ruck speed shown against All Blacks we are Six Nations contenders

Despite injuries as Six Nations looms, Andy Farrell has made some smart player choices

James Ryan and Iain Henderson have both been sidelined of late

Andy Friend’s side let 18-point lead slip away but can still reach Champions Cup last-16

High-flying Leicester make their first visit to the formidable Sportsground for key clash

Exciting winger suffers calf injury in training but could return against Stade Francais

Andy Friend’s side are continually on the upgrade as stodgy Munster fail to inspire

Alex Kendellen to make first Munster start in exciting young backrow

Interpros vital in assessing Farrell’s options for Ireland squad

Cullen says most teams would prefer if games were played rather than decided on a rules basis

Andy Friend: ‘the form he is in at the moment, you’d love to have him involved’

Postponement of some matches and cancellation of others leave teams frustrated

English side on 12-game winning streak ahead of Sunday’s clash

Stade Français rocking into Galway for the Champions Cup will bring out the intensity

Leo Cullen’s side get back on track with bonus-point win at the RDS

Leo Cullen making 10 changes to all-international XV and making intentions clear

Outhalf sets sight on more Ireland caps after earning call-up following Sexton injury

Porter has shown his worth at loosehead but concussion for James Ryan is an issue

Jack Carty called up as replacement as Sexton is set for a spell of four-six weeks out

Former outhalf is encouraged by the style of rugby Ireland adopted against Japan

Johnny Sexton set to win 100th cap against Japan in November series opener

For the likes of Leinster and Munster there aren’t enough games in the current calendar

Head coach Andy Friend calls Aviva Stadium experiment a success after big bonus-point win

Bonus-point win over Ulster sees Mack Hansen cross for two tries

Leinster duo Dan Sheehan and Ciarán Frawley the news names in squad of 38

Between injury issues and lack of game time for key players the head coach has a tough task

Andy Friend knows his squad face battle to close points gap with three rival provinces

Controversy surrounds Chris Cloete try as apparent offside missed in the build-up

If the current pecking order remains, Farrell will need the veteran outhalf for next World Cup

Matthew Burke and Paul Boyle have also been brought into Andy Friend’s team

Kieran Marmion goes over for two tries in disappointing showing from Andy Friend’s side

Rugby pundit made offensive comments about Harlequins and Lions outhalf

Ireland head coach names 11 uncapped players for Tests against Japan and the USA