The British & Irish Lions complete their provincial schedule today against the Melbourne Rebels with the reminder that their performance and approach has a direct bearing on the outcome of the Test series.

Australia have named Tri-Nations winning captain James Horwill as their skipper for the British and Irish Lions Tour.

Ospreys 17 Toulouse 6

University College Cork’s memorable 2011 GAA season received further recognition last night as the college handed out its Sport Star awards for the year.

Edinburgh will be aiming to become the first Scottish team to qualify for the Heineken Cup semi-finals as they host Toulouse today.

Mary Immaculate College Limerick caused the shock of the Irish Universities Collingwood Cup by edging out holders UCC 4-2 on penalties in the semi-final at UL after the game finished level at 1-1 after extra-time.

IN A game that was always about a performance, not the result, Connacht fulfilled their brief.

CONNACHT touched down in France yesterday with news that opponents Toulouse are taking no chances in their team selection for today’s Heineken Cup fifth round clash.

IT was hard at times last Saturday night, even in the midst of a live radio commentary, not to just sit back and admire the quality of rugby produced by Leinster.

Harlequins boss Conor O’Shea will send his players into battle tomorrow against a team he describes as the “Barcelona of European rugby”.

CONNACHT signalled their future intent this week with the re-signing of two of two of their hottest prospects.

Conor O'Shea has no doubt about the size of unbeaten Harlequins’ Heineken Cup task against French giants Toulouse tomorrow night.

Connacht 10 Toulouse 36

PERCEPTIONS can really mess with the head sometimes.

TO borrow from the brewery giant’s oft-quoted advertising slogan, if the Heineken Cup refreshes places that others can’t reach, then the French could do with a couple of brews at the moment.

Yes says Donal Lenihan

Australia 68 Russia 22

Australia have named number eight Radike Samo on the wing for Saturday’s World Cup clash with Russia in Nelson.

Australia hooker Stephen Moore has been confirmed as another late withdrawal from the squad ahead of the clash with Ireland this morning.

Australia 32 Italy 6

TOP rugby referee Jonathan Kaplan has been rested from his August Test duties in order to maximise recovery from minor injuries sustained during a road accident last week.

CAN anyone stop the French Top 14 financial juggernaut? It’s a loaded question.

LUKE BURGESS proved to be the UCC matchwinner with a stunning strike in extra time to help take the famous Irish Universities Collingwood Cup back to Leeside for the first time since 2005.

BILLY CLERY is hoping to make it third time lucky and bridge a 12 years gap when his NUIG side take on UCC in today’s Irish Universities Collingwood Cup final at College Park (2.30).

AUSTRALIA coach Robbie Deans has stressed the importance of tomorrow’s Test with France as the Wallabies look to end their European tour on a high note.

Australia coach Robbie Deans has made just two changes to his starting XV for the Wallabies’ final Test of 2010 against France on Saturday night.

AUSTRALIA’S comprehensive defeat by England at Twickenham on Saturday has added spice to tomorrow night’s clash of the Wallabies and Munster at Thomond Park.

Australia forwards coach Jim Williams has no problem with Dylan Hartley lining up against the Wallabies in Saturday’s Cook Cup showdown.

Surprise Australia call-up Nick Phipps discovered he had been named in the Wallabies party for their spring tour after a night out celebrating the Commonwealth Games silver medal he won as part of his country's Sevens team.

Four members of the Australian Sevens team have been included in a 36-man Wallabies squad for their upcoming tour of Hong Kong and Europe which includes a tie against Munster.

Australia selectors have named 12 uncapped players in an extended 40-man training squad ahead of the upcoming spring tour of Hong Kong and Europe.

Lachie Turner has been named in the Australia XV for Saturday’s clash with New Zealand in Sydney.

Australia coach Robbie Deans welcomes back three of his big guns for Saturday night’s Tri Nations encounter with South Africa in Brisbane.

Winger Drew Mitchell is the most notable omission from Australia's squad for the forthcoming Tri-Nations series.

OUT on their feet and with their trench in danger of being overrun at the Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night, Ireland’s pack looked to the sidelines for the arrival of reinforcements.

Australia 22 Ireland 15

HE may have made assertions to the contrary, but Robbie Deans, cutting somewhat of a bitter figure at times yesterday, is still smarting from Australia’s late slip against Ireland last November.

Robbie Deans has made two injury-enforced changes to his Australia side ahead of Saturday's one-off Test against Ireland in Brisbane.

IRELAND’S hopes of a first win in Australia since 1967 grew significantly yesterday when two of the Wallabies most potent offensive weapons were ruled out of Saturday’s clash in Brisbane.

Australia 27 England 17

Australia coach Robbie Deans admits Kurtley Beale’s pending court appearance influenced the selectors’ decision to hand the talented utility his first Test start against Fiji in Canberra on Saturday.

Australia coach Robbie Deans has handed debuts to three players for the Test against Fiji on Saturday and the contentious number 10 jersey has gone to Quade Cooper.

Australia today made just one change to their starting XV for Saturday’s autumn international against Scotland.

Openside David Pocock gets the nod over George Smith as the only change to the Wallabies starting side named today for Sunday’s Test against Ireland at Croke Park.

Australia coach Robbie Deans has made four changes to Australia’s starting side to play Saturday’s historic Bledisloe Cup Test against New Zealand in Japan

Australia 25 South Africa 32

Australia 22 France 6