Defending champions Munster boosted their chances of featuring in the Magners League play-offs with a hard-earned win over the Scarlets at Musgrave Park.

Ian Dowling has recovered from the ankle injury he picked up in the game against Edinburgh to take his place in the Munster side for tomorrow's Magners League clash with the Scarlets at Musgrave Park (7.35).

The Munster v Scarlets match - postponed in January because of adverse weather conditions - takes place this Thursday (18th) at Musgrave Park, 7.35pm.

This game from Round 11, which was badly disrupted by snow at the start of the year, has been rearranged for 18th March and pits current Magners League champions Munster against the 2003/04 Champions, Scarlets. Just outside the Play-Off zone, three points adrift of 4th placed Glasgow Warriors, Munster need the victory to keep in touch with the top four. The Welsh Region has won only once before on Munster soil, in September 2003, so have a tough task ahead of them.

A brace of tries from Munster's Keith Earls and another from club-mate Tomas O'Leary saw Ireland beat Wales at Croke Park on Saturday afternoon to keep their Six Nations chances alive.

It was lucky 13 for the Munster pair of Paul O'Connell and Donncha O'Callaghan as they helped steer Ireland to victory over England at Twickenham Stadium on the third weekend of the RBS 6 Nations.

Ronan O'Gara will be hoping to come off the replacements bench against Wales at Croke Park this weekend to join the exclusive Championship '50 Cap' club.

Ireland have named an unchanged side for Saturday's mouth-watering Six Nations encounter with Wales.

Aled Brew scored a superb opening try to light the touch paper in the Newport Gwent Dragons' first win over Munster since January 2007. Young fly-half Jason Tovey was once again influential, kicking 16 points in a man-of-the-match performance.

Ronan O'Gara will captain Munster in the Magners League clash with The Dragons in Rodney Parade tomorrow.

Munster hooker Jerry Flannery has lost his appeal against his six-week suspension.

Dragons have not beaten Munster since a 9-12 scoreline at Rodney Parade in the Magners League on 5 January 2007.

After consultation with their broadcast partners BBC Wales, S4C and Setanta, Celtic Rugby can now confirm the dates and kick-off times for Rounds 15 and 16 of the Magners League in April.

Doug Howlett will remain with Munster until the end of the 2010/2011 season and possibly beyond that.

Munster lost three players to early injuries and had two sent to the sin-bin as they dug deep to overcome Edinburgh in a competitive Magners League clash in Cork.

Edinburgh's 12-7 home win over Munster in round six ended a five game losing run to the Munstermen, whilst the Scotsmen's only previous league double over Munster came in season 2003/04.

Scotland international Simon Danielli scored a brace of tries as Ulster ended a run of three straight defeats in the Magners League with an impressive derby victory over reigning champions Munster.

Munster are going for a first Magners League double over Ulster since 2006/07. Munster have won once at Ravenhill since 2004.

Munster moved back into a play-off position in the Magners League as a last-minute try from Jean de Villiers saw them complete a post-Christmas blitz of provincial rivals Connacht.

The two teams shared the spoils in the Magners League encounters between the two last season, whilst Connacht have not won on Munster soil since an 11-9 victory at Thomond Park in the Interprovincial Championship on 22 November 1986.