CHAMPIONS CUP: YOUR TEAM-BY-TEAM WEEKEND GUIDE

Three key issues Ireland must address.

By Ian Cusack

Having being omitted from Warren Gatland’s Lions squad, Perpignan fly-half James Hook could line out against the British and Irish outfit, having been named in the provisional Barbarians squad.

Leinster 44 Biarritz 16

French teams have all too often displayed little in the way of appetite on the road in Europe but Biarritz are far from likely to fall into that category for the Amlin Challenge Cup semi-final against Leinster at the RDS today.

Biarritz Olympique 17 Connacht 0

Connacht are preparing for a massive Biarritz backlash when the two sides clash in Parc des Sports Aguiléra this evening.

Connacht 22 Biarritz 14

Connacht 22 Biarritz 14

A heavy list of injuries and poor weather will not help Connacht’s hopes of claiming a home victory over French heavyweights Biarritz this evening.

Harlequins 40 Biarritz 13

To look at the way Donnacha Ryan earned his Munster Player of the Year award you would never imagine the bristling, marauding forward ever experienced moments of doubt.

1 DEFENCE

Jonathan Sexton and Donnacha Ryan have made a 12-man shortlist for the RBS Player of the Championship.

France 22 England 24

France were left to reflect on the “feeling of defeat” after ending their Six Nations Grand Slam hopes yesterday, according to manager Philippe Saint-Andre.

France back row Imanol Harinordoquy has warned Ireland he is determined to atone for his own shortcomings against Scotland.

France have made two changes to the side that beat Scotland last time out for their rearranged RBS 6 Nations game with Ireland on Sunday in Paris.

France have made two changes to the side that beat Scotland last time out for their rearranged RBS 6 Nations game with Ireland on Sunday.

Scotland 17 France 23

Full-back Stuart Hogg will make his first Test start today as Scotland look to revive their RBS 6 Nations campaign against Rugby World Cup finalists France.

France flanker Imanol Harinordoquy anticipates Scotland will provide a much sterner test for the Rugby World Cup finalists than many observers are anticipating in tomorrow’s RBS 6 Nations clash at Murrayfield.

France coach Philippe Saint-Andre has not made any changes to his matchday squad for the RBS 6 Nations clash with Scotland at Murrayfield on February 26.

Ireland’s RBS 6 Nations clash with France was tonight given the go-ahead after the Stade de France passed a pitch inspection by referee Dave Pearson.

Time is a healer, they say, but have Ireland had enough hours, minutes and seconds to put right the wrongs of last Sunday’s effort and produce a performance against France tonight in Paris?

1 The mental challenge

SCRUM

France scrum-half Dimitri Yachvili has been ruled out of Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash against Ireland in Paris with a back problem.

France have brought Imanol Harinordoquy into their team for Saturday’s Six Nations home clash against Ireland in one of four changes to the starting lineup from last weekend’s victory over Italy.

EXPECT a few tweaks here and there but there will be no “knee-jerk reaction” by the Irish brains trust this week as they digest last Sunday’s defeat to Wales and prepare for this Saturday’s follow-up against the French in Paris.

France have promoted Imanol Harinordoquy to their starting line-up as one of four changes for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash with Ireland.

Centre Wesley Fofana will earn his first cap for France when they take on Italy in their RBS 6 Nations opener on Saturday.

New France coach Philippe Saint-Andre has included two uncapped players in his provisional 30-man squad for the RBS 6 Nations.

IRISH rugby referee Peter Fitzgibbon found himself officiating a bizarre encounter on Tuesday night when the father of Biarritz and French star Imanol Harinordoquy raced onto the pitch and attempted to punch players in a stormy Basque derby.

IRISH rugby referee Peter Fitzgibbon found himself officiating a bizarre encounter on Tuesday night when the father of Biarritz and French star Imanol Harinordoquy raced onto the pitch and attempted to punch players in a stormy Basque derby.

The father of Biarritz number eight Imanol Harinordoquy invaded the pitch and tried to punch a Bayonne player in the face in a bid to protect his son during a brawl in yesterday’s Top 14 Basque derby.

Biarritz 15 Saracens 10

Ospreys 28 Biarritz 21

WORLD CUP final referee Craig Joubert is among the officials taking charge of Ireland’s matches in the upcoming Six Nations while the IRB have kept faith with controversial Irish whistler Alain Rolland for the tournament.

Controversial World Cup referee Alain Rolland has been spared any involvement in Wales’ RBS 6 Nations campaign.

THE worst kept secret from the Rugby World Cup has emerged after French number eight Imanol Harinordoquy admitted the players largely overlooked “lost” coach Marc Lievremont to reach the final.

SUNDAY’S World Cup final was a pleasure to behold for many reasons, not least the honesty of endeavour and the sportsmanship on display from both sides.

STRANGE in a way that what has been a fantastic tournament has produced a paucity of real individual star quality.

THE one area of consistent performance from the unpredictable French has been the solidity of their set piece.

1. Half-back mastery

WALES rugby boss Roger Lewis has warned off possible suitors of coach Warren Gatland following a stunning World Cup run that threatens to make the New Zealander a man in demand.

FRANCE No.8 Imanol Harinordoquy hopes Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final with England will mark the start of the tournament for Les Bleus.

New Zealand 37 France 17

IMANOL HARINORDOQUY has mocked claims that France have deliberately selected a weakened team for Saturday’s big World Cup group clash with New Zealand.