Wednesday 31 August 2016 17:11, UK
With the new Guinness PRO12 season just days away, we look at the four Irish provinces and their respective fortunes.
Last season: Champions (2nd in regular season)
Best finish: 2nd and champions in 2015/2016
What's hot: The coach. Fortunately for Connacht, Pat Lam has stated that his sole focus this season is on the club and not the possibility of a national coaching role.
Lam said: "If you think about that back end of last season, everyone said 'well they will fall over soon, can they make the top four? Can they make the final? There's no chance they can win it'.
"That was all an education for our players around focusing on the job, focusing on what we do in training, and the weekend being a celebration of everything we've done."
What's not: It is going to be a big task for Connacht to defend their title given the calibre of player they have lost since last season; in particular Robbie Henshaw to rivals Leinster. After a fairytale season last time out, can they live up to new-found expectation?
What's changed: Connacht will be without some of their biggest names next season thanks to the departure of Henshaw, Rodney Ah You, Aly Muldowney and AJ MacGinty. Their most significant recruits come in the form of South African fly-half Marnitz Boshoff and full-back Cian Kelleher from Leinster.
Ins: Marnitz Boshoff (Lions), Conor Carey (Nottingham), Eoin Griffin (London Irish), Cian Kelleher (Leinster), Dominic Robertson-McCoy (Northland), Josh Rowland (Ireland Sevens).
Outs: Rodney Ah You (Ulster), Fionn Carr (released), Jason Harris-Wright (released), Robbie Henshaw (Leinster), AJ MacGinty (Sale), Aly Muldowney (Grenoble), George Naoupu (Harlequins), Api Pewhairangi (London Broncos RL), Ian Porter (released).
Last season: 1st and losing finalists
Best finish: 1st and champions (2013/2014)
What's hot: Leinster will hope Henshaw is the man to fill the hole left by the departures of Ben Te'o and Ian Madigan. He has long been hailed as the next Brian O'Driscoll, and will now pull on the No 13 jersey that O'Driscoll filled for so long.
What's not: Luke Fitzgerald's forced retirement. The 28-year-old British and Irish Lion suffered a neck injury during the Guinness PRO12 final against Connacht and has since been forced to quit the game. He made 154 appearances for the club since his debut in 2006 and his absence will be sorely felt.
What's changed: Sir Graham Henry's influence as coaching consultant. The former Wales, Lions and New Zealand head coach has been passing on his experience and wisdom with Leinster ahead of the new campaign.
Ins: Jamison Gibson-Park (Hurricanes), Robbie Henshaw (Connacht), Ian Nagle (London Irish), Niall Morris (Leicester).
Outs: Tadhg Beirne (Scarlets), Isaac Boss (Waikato), Royce Burke-Flynn (released), Tom Denton (Gloucester), Aaron Dundon (retired), Darragh Fanning (retired), Tom Farrell (Bedford Blues), Luke Fitzgerald (retired), Cian Kelleher (Connacht), Ian Madigan (Bordeaux Begles), Mick McGrath (Ireland Sevens), Kevin McLaughlin (retired), Marty Moore (Wasps), Collie O'Shea (released), Eoin Reddan (retired), Tony Ryan (released), Ben Te'o (Worcester).
Last season: 6th
Best finish: 1st and champions (2010/2011)
What's hot: The new man at the top, Rassie Erasmus, who Munster fans will hope will signal a new era for the club. He is South African Rugby's former high performance director and has already brought over one of the country's rising stars, Jean Kleyn, to bolster the pack.
What's not: Dwindling crowds and financial woes. The magic of Munster has lost some of its sparkle and with a reported €9m owed to the IRFU it doesn't look like it will return any time soon.
What's changed: The coaching set up at Munster has had an off-season revamp. Erasmus has called upon former Stormers and South African defence coach Jacques Nienaber and former full-back Felix Jones (attack and skills coach) to join him at the club. They will join the retained duo of Anthony Foley (lineouts and breakdown) and scrum coach Jerry Flannery.
Ins: John Andress (Edinburgh), Sam Arnold (Ulster), Jean Kleyn (Stormers), Darren O'Shea (Worcester).
Outs: BJ Botha (released), Shane Buckley (Nottingham), Jordan Coghlan (Nottingham), Jack Cullen (London Scottish), Gerhard van den Heever (released), Denis Hurley (released), Gearoid Lyons (Nottingham), Cathal Sheridan (released).
Last season: 4th (losing semi-finalists)
Best finish: 1st and champions (2005/2006)
What's hot: The arrival of the flying Charles Piutau. The utility back showed just what he is capable of during his spell with Wasps last season.
What's not: Ulster go into the new season facing an injury crisis at prop, with Georgia tight-head Anton Peikrishvili joining on a short-term deal. Jonny Simpson sustained an ankle problem in the province's pre-season clash with Exeter and Wiehann Herbst will miss the opening months of the season with a groin injury. They are joined on the treatment table by Ricky Lutton.
What's changed: As well as Piutau, Springboks flanker Marcell Coetzee will be another valuable addition once he recovers from injury. Nick Williams is the most notable departure.
Ins: Rodney Ah You (Connacht), Marcell Coetzee (Sharks), Brett Herron (Bath), Angus Lloyd (Trinity College Dublin), Charles Piutau (Wasps), Kieran Treadwell (Harlequins),
Outs: Sam Arnold (Munster), Willie Faloon (released), Ian Humphreys (retired), Paul Jackson (released), Ruaidhri Murphy (released), Bronson Ross (released), Paul Rowley (released), Rory Scholes (Edinburgh Rugby), Frank Taggart (released), Nick Williams (Cardiff Blues)
