It was the France of Platini, Giresse, and Tigana that mesmerised us first. Between 1982 and 1986, that generation of French footballers bewitched and bewildered those of us already hopelessly in love with the game of football. The only time most of us were caught on the fence was when they faced Brazil.

Ireland have stuttered over the line against the Azzurri but more intriguing is people are grumbling after a win over France

Thomas Castaignede played 54 times for France at fly-half, full-back and centre, scoring 252 points for Les Bleus between 1995 and 2007, writes Simon Lewis.

While the meetings to try to save the Heineken Cup will continue in Dublin this afternoon, it will probably go unnoticed that 18 years ago, on January 7, 1996, the first final was staged at the National Ground, Cardiff Arms Park.

I miss the old Lansdowne Road. There, I said it.

The power of Munster against the speed of the French Ferrari is how former France international and Toulouse legend Thomas Castaignède has billed Saturday’s Heineken Cup Final.

New Zealand coach Graham Henry has made six changes to his starting line-up for the second Test against France in Wellington on Saturday.

IRELAND A coach Michael Bradley has warned England A they must be ruthless if they are to have any hope of toppling the New Zealand Maori in Saturday’s Churchill Cup final.

France star Thomas Castaignede has today announced his retirement from club rugby.

THERE is no doubt losing to France in Croke Park 13 days ago hurt this Ireland team to the core, as David Wallace confesses.

JONNY WILKINSON has been declared “ready and available” to make a startling England comeback in the RBS 6 Nations Championship opener against Scotland at Twickenham.

Geoffrey Messina has been drafted into France’s truncated RBS 6 Nations championship squad as coach Bernard Laporte tries to come to terms with an injury list that is seriously hampering his preparations for the competition.

SOUTH AFRICA coach Jake White believes his side will struggle to cover the loss of flanker Schalk Burger in Saturday’s one-off Test against France at Newlands.

The Barbarians will field a team selected from seven countries, including Ireland's David Humphreys and Bob Casey, when they tackle an England XV in Sunday’s Gartmore Challenge match at Twickenham.

London Irish 30 Saracens 18

FRANCE star Thomas Castaignede has signed a one-year contract extension with Saracens.

FRENCH international Thomas Castaignede believes Biarritz must improve on their semi-final performance if they are to defeat Munster in next month’s Heineken Cup decider.

Raphael Ibanez insists France will not allow their record-equalling victory over England to distract them from the real task at hand – beating Wales next Saturday to win the RBS Six Nations Championship.

FRANCE coach Bernard Laporte has recalled hooker Dimitri Szarzewski to his 22-man squad to play England in the Six Nations tournament at the Stade de France on March 12.

Thomas Castaignede admitted France will need to step up a gear if they are to beat England after toiling to beat Italy 37-12 at the Stade de France.

FRANCE coach Bernard Laporte needs his team to put some manners on Pierre Berbizier’s Italians, who have shown up well in their first two matches in the Six Nations despite being on the losing side twice against Ireland and England.

Thomas Lievremont believes he is the man who can provide the backbone that has so far been lacking in France’s RBS Six Nations Championship campaign when they host Italy at the Stade de France.

Thomas Castaignede admits it has been hard watching France endure a stuttering start to their Six Nations campaign as he prepares to make his tournament bow against Italy on Saturday.

FRANCE coach Bernard Laporte’s quixotic attitude to selection saw him make three changes to the team that beat Ireland 43-31 for Saturday’s Six Nations clash with Italy at the Stade de France.

Thomas Castaignede returns to the France line-up against Italy at the Stade de France on Saturday in the RBS Six Nations.

EXPERIENCED duo Thomas Castaignede and Serge Betsen have been drafted back into the France squad as coach Bernard Laporte looks toward their RBS Six Nations Championship match against Italy.

Experienced duo Thomas Castaignede and Serge Betsen have been drafted back into the France squad as coach Bernard Laporte looks at his options ahead of their RBS 6 Nations Championship match against Italy.

FRANCE have recalled skipper Fabien Pelous for their Six Nations opener against Scotland at Murrayfield on February 5.

Biarritz 43 Saracens 13

Saracens 19 London Irish 20

Saracens kept alive their hopes of qualifying for the Heineken Cup quarter-finals with victory over Ulster but the vast error count turned the clash into a huge disappointment

Ulster 19 Saracens 10

SARACENS face a crucial Heineken Cup clash against Ulster in Belfast tonight, with rugby director Steve Diamond admitting: “We don’t need to motivate the players for this game.”

Saracens face a crucial Heineken Cup clash against Ulster in Belfast tomorrow night, with rugby director Steve Diamond admitting: “We don’t need to motivate the players for this game.”

CARL HAYMAN was the toast of the All Blacks following his epic duel with England prop Andy Sheridan on Saturday.

FRANCE coach Bernard Laporte has made a number of changes to his starting line-up to face Tonga in Toulouse on Saturday as Les Bleus look to make it three wins out of three.

France coach Bernard Laporte has named Saracens utility player Thomas Castaignede in his line-up for Saturday’s Test match against Canada in Nantes.

France coach Bernard Laporte has been dealt a double injury blow ahead of the autumn internationals.

Newcastle boss Rob Andrew has warned Andy Robinson not to risk Jonny Wilkinson for England’s autumn internationals after the star fly-half suffered yet another frustrating injury setback.

England 39 Barbarians 52

Ireland’s Johnny O’Connor has been named in the Barbarians squad for this month’s two-match tour of Britain.

“FRIENDS, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears; I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him. The evil that men do lives after them, the good is oft interred with their bones. So let it be with Caesar.”

London Irish will be without almost a quarter of their squad for tomorrow night’s tough European Challenge Cup second round tie against Pau in France.

The Barbarians squad to take on New Zealand in Saturday’s international at Twickenham is packed with world stars but only features one player from the northern hemishpere.

SCHALK BURGER, the International Rugby Board’s Player of the Year, will line up for the Barbarians against New Zealand at Twickenham on Saturday.

Schalk Burger, the International Rugby Board’s player of the year, will line up for the Barbarians against New Zealand at Twickenham on Saturday.

Kiwis Reuben Thorne and Justin Marshall were among eight players included in the Barbarians squad to face New Zealand at Twickenham next month.

Newcastle hope to make an overwhelming case for the defence when they tackle Zurich Premiership rivals Saracens at Kingston Park tomorrow.

London Irish back Mike Catt and Sale Sharks forward Chris Jones have been added to the Barbarian squad which will take on New Zealand at Twickenham on December 4.