The province take on the Sharks and the Stormers in South Africa before heading to Welford Road.

Rhys Ruddock recently signed a new contract at Leinster, fresh after winning his 200th cap for the province.

Leinster face the Emirates Lions at the RDS tomorrow night.

Rhys Ruddock would have loved more game time in the Six Nations.

Ireland head into Sunday’s game against France without the services of four key leaders.

Ireland prop Cian Healy says the squad have full faith in the new faces named in the team to play France.

Head coach Andy Farrell has a range of skillsets to choose from for his side’s Six Nations opener.

Munster’s clash with Leinster gives players one last chance to convince the Ireland boss.

The province’s injury list remains lengthy and features some key men.

Leo Cullen has named his side to face Ospreys tomorrow, with Dan Leavy on the bench again.

The 29-year-old back row is in excellent form early on in the new season.

Ciaran Frawley and Harry Byrne are named to start in tandem for tomorrow’s A inter-pro at the RDS.

Leo Cullen has rung the changes for tomorrow’s clash with the Ospreys.

Andy Farrell continues to underline the importance of competition, but is tight-lipped over selection for next week’s Six Nations opener.

The back row was a stand-out in Ireland’s disappointing stint in Japan and he is primed to continue his form as European competition gets under way.

The 28-year-old was named man of the match against Russia yesterday.

Rhys Ruddock has been handed the captaincy, but the flanker knows he must do more than lead from the front in the fight for World Cup places.

The flanker suffered a head knock against Ulster and experienced a relapse before last weekend’s semi-final.

Leinster’s loosehead has had to watch on as Dave Kilcoyne has moved up the pecking order.

The blindside flanker has picked up a hamstring injury.

The Leinster head coach was pleased with a ‘controlled’ performance from his team in Coventry.

The provincial rivals meet in Limerick on Saturday evening.

The 53-year-old is set to confirm his decision early next week.

Joe Schmidt was impressed with the likes of Tadhg Beirne as his team beat Italy.

Will Addison and Ross Byrne are set to win their first caps off the Ireland bench against Italy.

The halfback positions are one of the most interesting areas ahead of the clash against Italy.

‘It was beautiful, sometimes we’re beautiful!’

After coming out of a difficult period of injury smiling, Ruddock is the perfect foil to lead Leinster alongside Johnny Sexton.

Rhys Ruddock is the province’s new vice-captain.

Leinster’s back row options could be stretched further for Scarlets.

There is also continued uncertainty over Sean O’Brien’s return.

Stuart Lancaster and Leinster’s strength and conditioning team have been impressed by Ruddock’s improvement ahead of the Champions Cup clash with Saracens.

Luke McGrath, Rhys Ruddock and Sean O’Brien are all nearing returns.

The flanker has been sidelined since December but is making good progress.

In-form Scarlets star Tadhg Beirne says he is hoping but not necessarily expecting to be part of Ireland’s Six Nations squad.

Josh van der Flier comes in to start for the injured Rhys Ruddock, while Andrew Porter could be in line to make his Champions Cup debut.

Jonathan Sexton is no issue for Leinster’s medical team, while Adam Byrne and Ross Molony are due back in training at UCD this week.

From uncapped centre Chris Farrell to Andrew Porter on his first international start as tighthead, this Ireland side feel they are ready to meet Schmidt’s standards.

Rhys Ruddock is pushing hard for a starting berth against South Africa but knows he’ll need to displace a trio of Lions.