Provinces getting down to business

MAGNERS LEAGUE NEWS: THE PRESSURE-FREE environment of pre-season blow-outs for the Irish provinces will be replaced this weekend by the opening round of matches in the Magners League.

Defending champions Leinster make the short trip to Wales on Saturday for a difficult assignment against last season's tournament runners-up Cardiff.

The Irish province completed their preparation with a 48-19 win over a Queensland Reds team at Donnybrook, a match in which hooker Bernard Jackman and outhalf Jonathan Sexton picked up knocks. Jackman took a bang on his hip and retired having scored an early try, while Sexton was withdrawn at half-time as a precautionary measure having picked up a knock.

Stephen Knoop, who was originally scheduled to start the game, withdrew after feeling ill before the match. All three are expected to be available for selection for the Cardiff match. Coach Michael Cheika will announce a squad today.

New Leinster captain Leo Cullen is still a couple of weeks away from resuming following a summer shoulder operation, while long-term injury victim Gordon D'Arcy (arm) could return by the end of the month.

Cardiff were in impressive form last weekend in their final tune-up, thumping the Northampton Saints 43-13. Blues coach Dai Young elected to field a different team in each half, the stronger version building on a 12-8 interval lead. Interestingly there is a decent Irish contingent at Northampton, with former Ulster triumvirate Neil Best, Roger Wilson and Paul Shields in situ along with Barry Everritt and the former Clontarf, Leinster, Connacht and Munster centre James Downey.

The other three Irish provinces will be in action on Friday night with Connacht hosting the Ospreys, Heineken Cup winners Munster making the journey to Edinburgh and Ulster hosting the Llanelli Scarlets at Ravenhill.

Connacht will be without Mike Roberts for a couple of weeks, a disappointment given the wing's excellent form in pre-season.

Munster enjoyed a very impressive 35-14 victory over London Irish - young centre Keith Earls was prominent in play and in bagging a couple of tries - before a capacity crowd at Musgrave Park but they too will be aware that Friday night's opponents Edinburgh have been in eye-catching pre-season form.

Andy Robinson's Scottish side followed up an excellent away victory over Wasps at Adams Park with a fine 19-8 win over Bath at the Recreation Ground, making it a brace of successes on their short English tour.

Ulster will be hoping for better fortune at Ravenhill as their final pre-season game saw them slip to a 23-10 defeat against Worcester Warriors. Friday's visitors, Llanelli, will take confidence from their 20-17 victory in Wasps' backyard at the weekend.