Toulon v Leinster - Preview

Leinster have made four changes for Sunday's Heineken Cup quarter-final against Toulon in France.

Prop Cian Healy (ankle) and flanker Rhys Ruddock (calf) return to the pack while wing Dave Kearney replaces Luke Fitzgerald after shaking off a knock.

The final change is in the half-backs, with Jimmy Gopperth selected at fly-half in place of Ian Madigan,

Jonny Wilkinson returns to lead the defending champions, with centre Matt Giteau also back in the side.

Healy makes a first start since Ireland's Six Nations triumph in Paris three weeks ago.

Devin Toner and Mike McCarthy are once again the second row combination with Leo Cullen held in reserve.

Ruddock is back in place of Kevin McLaughlin, with Shane Jennings and captain Jamie Heaslip completing the back row.

In the centre Gordon D'Arcy and Brian O'Driscoll continue their record-breaking partnership.

"This is a huge battle and we are under no illusions - going down to the Stade Felix Mayol is not for the faint hearted," said Leinster coach Matt O'Connor.

"We have huge respect for what they bring to the contest. They are the current Heineken Cup champions and rightly favourites.

"But we are ready for the battle. We have a fit squad that is relishing the enormity of the challenge that we face.

"This will be a squad effort and this squad has experience of big games and of grinding out big results when the odds are against them.

"Our squad is full of guys who understand the psychology of cup rugby and like our opponents have been to the summit of this amazing competition and want to revisit it."

Toulon: D Armitage; D Mitchell, M Bastareaud, M Giteau, D Smith; J Wilkinson (capt), S Tillous-Borde; X Chiocci, C Burden, C Hayman, D Rossouw, J Suta, J Smith, JF Lobbe, S Armitage.

Replacements: J-C Orioli, F Fresia, M Castrogiovanni, V Bruni, B Habana, M Mermoz, M Claassens, K Mikautadze.

Leinster: R Kearney, F McFadden, B O'Drsicoll, G D'Arcy, D Kearney, J Gopperth, E Reddan, C Healy, R Strauss, M Ross, D Toner, M McCarthy, R Ruddock, S Jennings, J Heaslip (capt).

Replacements: S Cronin, J McGrath, M Moore, L Cullen, J Murphy, I Boss, I Madigan, Z Kirchner.

Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)

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Bale Tally Increases at Real

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Gareth Bale made it 18 goals in his first season at Real Madrid with the spectacular second in his team's convincing win over Real Sociedad.

The Welshman took full advantage of a mistake by keeper Claudio Bravo hammering the ball past him after he had been gifted possession by the Chilean keeper. 

Bale took the Cristiano Ronaldo role so seriously that not only did he score, the 24-year-old also played out the game with a cut knee just as the rested leading scorer had done two weeks ago.

Bale cut his right leg as he fell on to the studs of Markel Bergara after being scythed down by the defender.

It was not the most inspirational of Real Madrid performances in the first half, but they moved through the gears in the second period to take the three points to stay in touch with Atletico Madrid and Barcelona, who earlier both won their games on Saturday. 

Diego Lopez saved point blank from Carlos Vela with the first chance of the game, although an erroneous offside flag meant the goal would not have stood.

Real Sociedad then had to take Jose Angel off injured, with Ion Ansotegui coming on for the home side.

Antoine Griezman had Real Sociedad’s next chance with a looping heading from a Vela pass as Real Madrid struggled to get into their stride.

On 26 minutes, Real Madrid had their first free-kick in a dangerous area and with no Ronaldo, Bale stepped up but shot tamely into the wall.

Despite suggestions before the game he would play in Ronaldo’s left-side berth, he started in his usual right wing position, although he switched to the left with 10 minutes left of the first half and enjoyed his best spell whipping over a fine cross that just eluded Benzema.

Bale was then found by a superb pass from former Tottenham team-mate Luka Modric, but this time failed to get his cross in. 

Madrid finally broke the deadlock on the stroke of half time when Benzema’s shot was blocked by Bravo and ran straight into the path of Asier Illaramendi. The former Real Sociedad midfielder stuck out a right leg to shin the ball home, refusing to celebrate against his old team.

Ramos crashed a header on to the bar from a Xabi Alonso free-kick at the start of the second half.

Carlos Martinez shot from distance for Real Sociedad but there looked little chance of a comeback from the home side and Bale kept up the Real Madrid pressure, first with a header from a Modric corner and then a shot through a crowded penalty area that Bravo blocked. 

The Chilean keeper then kept out a Xabi Alonso free-kick. He also watched a Benzema shot come back off of his post. But he could do nothing about the Bale shot after he inadvertently gifted him the chance.

Bale was mobbed by the Real Madrid bench having once again proved that Ronaldo's absence need not be a problem for them. He was taken off with five minutes left just as Real got their third from a corner. Modric's kick was headed down by Ramos and Pepe pounced to finish from the edge of the six-yard box.

And there was still time for substitute Alvaro Morata to race away and convert a well-taken fourth

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Munster v Toulouse - Preview

Munster have been boosted by the return of captain Peter O'Mahony for Saturday's Heineken Cup quarter-final against Toulouse at Thomond Park.

The flanker has recovered from a hamstring injury and replaces CJ Stander while James Downey is back at centre in the only other change.

A foot injury rules out lock Donnacha Ryan, who missed Ireland's Six Nations campaign because of a knee problem.

Louis Picamoles has been declared fit to start at number eight for Toulouse.

But former All Black Luke McAlister, another injury doubt, has been named among the replacements, along with France flanker Yannic Nyanga, while Thierry Dustautoir remains absent after missing the Six Nations because of a biceps injury.

O'Mahony was named in the squad to face Leinster in last weekend's Pro 12 defeat in Dublin but was a last minute withdrawal because of a hamstring twinge.

After successfully following a modified training schedule this week, the talismanic back-rower is included in Rob Penney's starting XV.

John Ryan takes the place of James Cronin, who is sidelined with an ankle sprain, on the replacements bench.

Alan Cotter and Gerhard van den Heeverare are both named in their first match-day Heineken Cup squad.

Dave Foley is selected ahead of Donncha O'Callaghan to join Paul O'Connell in the second row.

O'Connell believes the four-times competition winners will not be intimidated by the renowned Thomond Park atmosphere in Saturday's game.

It will be the first time the French giants have played at the Limerick venue.

"It's amazing that it's the first time they've come here but they've been to plenty of hostile grounds in the past so I don't think it will be a big deal for them," added the Ireland captain.

O'Connell says the Irish province will be facing a "mammoth task" against Guy Noves's team.

Munster: F Jones; K Earls, C Laulala, J Downey, S Zebo, I Keatley, C Murray, D Kilcoyne, D Varley, BJ Botha, D Foley, P O'Connell, P O'Mahony (capt), T O'Donnell, J Coughlan.

Replacements: D Casey, J Ryan, A Cotter, D O'Callaghan, CJ Stander, D Williams, JJ Hanrahan, G van den Heever.

Toulouse: M Médard; Y Huget, F Fritz, G Fickou, H Gear; L Beauxis, J Vermaak; G Steenkamp, C Tolofua, Y Montes, Y Maestri, P Albacete (c), Y Camara, J Tekori, L Picamoles

Replacements: J Bregvadze, C Baille, S Ferreira, R Millo-Chluski, G Galan, J-M Doussain, L McAlister, Y Nyanga.

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Toronto Suffer King James

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LeBron James fought through a sore back to score 32 points, Chris Bosh added 18 and the Heat used another strong defensive effort to beat the Toronto Raptors 93-83 on Monday night. The win pushed the two-time defending NBA champions percentage points ahead of the struggling Indiana Pacers in the race for the No. 1 seed in the East.

"It doesn't feel like anything," James said. "The standings are what they are. We want to play the best we can and the fact that we are in first place, I think that's pretty cool but we've got so much work to do. We've got too much work to do. We've got guys that need to get healthy. We haven't even talked about it. We probably won't talk about it. We've got to play the season out."

Chris Andersen scored 13 points on 5-for-5 shooting and Mario Chalmers added 12 for Miami (51-22), which was again without Dwyane Wade (hamstring), Greg Oden (back) andRay Allen (flu).

Indiana (52-23) lost at home earlier Monday night to San Antonio, 103-77.

"The No. 1 seed is the last thing on our minds right now," Pacers coach Frank Vogel said after his team's loss.

The Heat -- who were three games out in the East after losing at Indiana on Wednesday -- are basically saying the same thing.

Sure, it's a neat perk -- Heat coach Erik Spoelstra called it an "ancillary" effect of hard work -- and Bosh acknowledged the outcomes Monday merited a very subtle fist-pump from him. But there's still plenty of time for things to change, and Miami is thinking more about getting those who are hurt and sick back into rhythm with the playoffs coming up in less than three weeks.

"We're aware of it," Spoelstra said of the standings. "It's not that we're naive to it. I didn't talk about it. ... These were pros that were getting ready for battle and it's that type of focus, that's the type of thing we're trying to stress right now, the process of building those habits. The results will follow. They tend to take care of themselves."

Greivis Vasquez scored 17 points, DeMar DeRozan scored 16 and Jonas Valanciunas finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Raptors. Steve Novak added 13 for Toronto, which lost Kyle Lowry to a sore left knee late in the third quarter after he collided with James.

"It was a hard-fought game -- basketball at a high level," Vasquez said. "We lost it in the third period. We came out too relaxed. We didn't attack the basket. Everything worked for them."

Lowry's knee swelled, Raptors coach Dwane Casey said, and that hardly sounds like good news for a team fighting for the No. 3 spot in the East.

"He bumped knees," Casey said. "It puffed up a little bit. X-rays were negative. We just have to wait and see how he is tomorrow."

The Heat were down 10 midway through the second quarter, and then closed the half on a 22-9 run to take the lead and never trailed again.

Bosh had consecutive baskets in the fourth quarter, the last of them an easy breakaway, to put Miami up by nine. A possession later, after a 3-pointer from Vasquez, James split a pair of defenders on the dribble and found Toney Douglas for a right-wing 3. And after a stop on the ensuing Miami trip, James got a wild layup to fall while getting fouled.

Moments later, the Heat could look at the standings and finally see themselves on top.

"We could still lose it," Bosh said. "That reality is there. We just have to keep concentrating on what we've been doing."

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Guardiola Has Pep in Step

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Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola has joked he might have been offered the Manchester United job, but is not sure because of his limited English.

Last year, the former Barcelona coach - who was out of work at the time - said he hoped to manage in England.

The Spaniard, 43, took charge at Bayern in the summer, but joked Sir Alex Ferguson may have offered him the chance to succeed him at Old Trafford.

"Maybe I didn't understand if I received an offer or not!" he said.

Guardiola's Bundesliga champions are in Manchester for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie against United on Tuesday.

The former Spain midfielder met Ferguson in New York while on a 12-month sabbatical after leaving Barcelona at the end of the 2011-12 season.

"He invited me to a super restaurant," Guardiola said. "It was a friendly dinner, like always. He was so gentle and we spent a very good time together.

"[But] my English is not so good and when Sir Alex spoke quickly I didn't understand him."

David Moyes succeeded Ferguson when his fellow Scot retired in the summer, but the Red Devils have struggled this season and are seventh in the Premier League.

Bayern, meanwhile, took one step towards repeating last season's historic Treble by securing the Bundesliga title last week with seven games to spare.

"Last season Bayern won everything and this season we are over 20 points ahead of our opponents," Guardiola said.

"Maybe United haven't had a good season in the league but I see very good players [and] over one game or two games, they can beat us."

Bayern winger Arjen Robben echoed his manager's comments.

"You only need to get distracted for a second and you lose against Manchester United," the 30-year-old former Chelsea player told Bayern's official website.

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