Scotland assistant coach Mike Blair believes it was a straightforward decision to bring John Hardie back into the squad, despite serving a ban for alleged cocaine use.

He joins fit-again Richie Gray in the 40-man squad heading into the Ireland game.

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend says Chris Harris has earned his place in the starting line-up of their NatWest 6 Nations opener in Cardiff.

Scotland survived a second-half fightback to kick off their international season with a 44-38 win over Samoa at BT Murrayfield.

Jonathan Sexton wasn’t in the mood to give much away.

Its genius was its simplicity but Ireland only had themselves to blame for Alex Dunbar’s first-half try at Murrayfield on Saturday.

Ireland intend to vent their anger on Italy in Rome next weekend for the slow start that caught them cold in Scotland.

The bad blood between Scotland and Ireland spilled beyond yesterday's RBS 6 Nations clash as Gregor Townsend took a Twitter dig at Ronan O'Gara.

It is common in professional sport for the protagonists to talk of nothing but their focus on “the next game”, but this weekend’s clash with Munster has been many years in the planning for Glasgow Warriors’ head coach Gregor Townsend.

Glasgow head coach Gregor Townsend believes his side will have to play even better against Racing 92 if they are to repeat last week’s historic win.

Connacht’s incredible season records another first this evening when Pat Lam’s men contest the Guinness PRO12 semi-final against champions Glasgow.

Zebre 14 Glasgow 43. Guinness Pro 12.

Ireland’s Paddy Jackson will chalk up a century of appearances for Ulster in tonight’s Guinness Pro12 clash with champions Glasgow, (Scotstoun Stadium, 7.45pm, TG4).

Greig Laidlaw has insisted Scotland “can’t go looking” to wind up Dylan Hartley - but refused to rule out benefiting from the new England captain’s clouded disciplinary history.

France coach Philippe Saint-Andre has made eight changes for Sunday’s RBS 6 Nations clash with Italy at the Stadio Olimpico.

Champions Cup round up: Guy Noves’ Toulouse handed Leinster a home Champions Cup quarter-final after blowing the chance to top Pool 4 by squandering a 20-9 lead yesterday.

Glasgow Warriors 22 Leinster 20

Glasgow 22 Leinster 20

RABO DIRECT PRO 12:

Glasgow 16 Munster 15

The scale of the task facing Munster’s new centre signing Andrew Smith was made clear yesterday when the man he is set to replace was named in the RaboDirect Pro12 Dream Team for the season about to end.

Glasgow coach Gregor Townsend believes his team are coming to Thomond Park at the right time and in the right frame of mind.

Scotland suffered last-gasp heartache as France snatched a 19-17 RBS 6 Nations win after Jean-Marc Doussain kicked the winning penalty at Murrayfield with just 90 seconds left.

Italy 20 Scotland 21

Italy 20 Scotland 21

Irish Examiner rugby columnist, Donal Lenihan, throws his eyes over the key areas in this afternoon's Six Nations clash with Scotland.

Gordon D’Arcy’s stomach bug is the “sole” reason for in-form Luke Marshall starting Ireland’s RBS 6 Nations opener against Scotland, according to head coach Joe Schmidt.

Scotland head coach Scott Johnson claims full-back Stuart Hogg has timed his return to form perfectly as the Dark Blues gear up for their RBS 6 Nations opener.

Scotland head coach Scott Johnson has made four changes to his side for Sunday’s opening RBS 6 Nations match with Ireland.

RABODIRECT PRO 12:

Leinster 17 Glasgow Warriors 15

Glasgow 20 Ulster 14

Leinster 19 Glasgow 15

Glasgow Warriors have today named the side to face Leinster in the RaboDirect PRO12 semi-final at the RDS on Saturday night (kick-off 7.35pm).

Glasgow 24 Connacht 3

Glasgow 31 Cardiff 3

Cardiff Blues 13 Glasgow 34

Glasgow 25 Treviso 17

JOHN HAYES will get a chance to stake his claim to the tighthead berth for Munster’s European date with destiny next weekend after a call-up for the province’s Magners League game with Glasgow Warriors in Cork tonight (7.30pm).

Scotland flanker John Barclay, one of seven Warriors who played in Scotland's Autumn Tests, will lead Glasagow out against Ulster in the Magner's League at Ravenhill on Frdiay night.

England 32 Scotland 5

Two of the unbeaten teams at the U-18 Six Nations Festival in Cork go head to head tomorrow at Musgrave Park when Scotland and England clash at 2.30pm.