Sean O'Brien, the 2011 European player of the year who was man of the match in last week's Heineken Cup final, will be absent when Leinster take on the Ospreys in the RaboDirect Pro12 final in Dublin this afternoon. The flanker has a knee injury. Unfortunately for the Ospreys, the 2012 European player of the year, Rob Kearney has been passed fit and will be at full-back for a Leinster team showing some changes but no glaring weakness. Brian O'Driscoll has also passed a fitness test and starts in the centre; Joe Schmidt, the head coach, is able to drop an All Black World Cup winning lock, Brad Thorn, to the bench.

Wales caretaker coach Rob Howley has named four uncapped players in a 38-man training squad to prepare for next month's clash against the Barbarians and three-Test Australia tour.

Saturday saw play-off places at stake in the Aviva Premiership and the RaboDirect Pro12, although perhaps the most eye-catching game was the dead rubber at the Madejski Stadium. London Irish's David Paice and Jim Hamilton of Gloucester were sent off for fighting, their second scuffle prompting a mass brawl and lots of bad feeling, and Irish won 52-18. Not that it mattered much.

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Centre may have reached the end of the road after paying price for drunken misdeeds

Centre pays price for drunken misdeeds to leave his future in top-level rugby in doubt

You win some, you lose some. Wales, realistic Grand Slam candidates following last weekend's narrow squeak over England at Twickenham, had the second part of a glorious double whammy confirmed yesterday when the International Rugby Board published its new world rankings. Warren Gatland's side are up to fifth at the expense of England, who drop to sixth. It is not beyond the realms of possibility that Wales will be a top-four nation by the start of next season.

Wales hooker Huw Bennett has confirmed he will play club rugby in France next season.

Leeds Rhinos 26 Manly Sea Eagles 12

A pocket rocket of a player, he is now eyeing glory as a coach. He talks to Dave Hadfield

Graham Steadman's contract as Scotland defence coach will not be renewed at the end of the season. The Scottish Rugby Union is refusing to comment, but it is understood that the 50-year-old will not remain in the post after his deal expires.

Wales 27 Scotland 13: Bullocking young wing steps up to the plate with North injured as lethal Halfpenny sets Wales on road to glory at Twickenham

Man-for-man marking from the Six Nations match at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.