A moment, please, to think of the poor old referee today.

It is understood that Munster are interested in signing Mathieu Bastareaud for the start of the new season.

Peter O’Mahony is certain not only that Munster are going to need their best performance of the season on Saturday but also that the current turmoil behind the scenes will have no bearing on what his team produces in the Guinness PRO14 semi-final at Leinster.

Ronan O’Gara has dismissed as premature speculation he is poised to ink a deal with the French Rugby Federation to join their World Cup coaching ticket.

France international centre Gaël Fickou admits victory over a weakened Scotland has restored “a little confidence” in their under-fire squad, but Sunday’s clash with Ireland in Dublin will be a “step up” in class.

Leinster have three nominees for the European Player of the Year award.

Tadgh Beirne is one of four Irish players nominated for the European Player of the Year award.

Ireland fly-half Ian Madigan is set to sign for Bristol in a big-money switch from Bordeaux-Bègles that looks set to continue the playmaker’s exile from Test rugby.

Ian Madigan insists he is not actively seeking to leave Bordeaux, although the out-half admits he is keen on a move back to Ireland.

As Test match debuts go, Virimi Vakatawa’s was something special. It took the 23-year-old France winger just 14 minutes to mark his first international appearance with a try. It was a sweet score, too, stepping inside a defender to dot down for the opening try of France’s 23-21 victory over the Italians.

Shock was the overriding emotion on the Cote d’Azur as Paul O’Connell announced his immediate retirement from the sport he has graced so magnificently over the last 14 years.

Noir. That’s the word used by both Midi Olympique and L’Equipe in their Monday editions to describe France’s crushing defeat on Sunday at the hands of Ireland in Cardiff.

THE French are fascinated by Jonathan Sexton. They don’t quite know what to make of him, this driven fly-half with the same burning intensity as Jonny Wilkinson.

Ronan O’Gara’s Racing have a new name this season, and a new look to their backline following the departures of Jonathan Sexton and Jamie Roberts over the summer.

Whatever mystery remained over the end of Paul O’Connell’s rugby career evaporated last night as the Munster icon and Ireland captain signed a one-year deal with three-time European champions Toulon.

Paul O'Connell's move to Toulon may not go ahead after all because of an old shoulder injury.

Irish attempts to reclaim the country’s place at the summit of European club rugby next season look like becoming even more difficult if the news from France that Marseille is being lined up to host the 2016 Champions Cup final rings true.

A couple of weeks ago, yours truly touched on the Páirc Uí Chaoimh funding issue with reference to the wider context, namely the Irish bid to host the Rugby World Cup in 2023, and the other, well-equipped challengers for that honour, like Italy and South Africa.

With Leinster the sole province flying the Irish flag in this weekend’s Champions Cup quarter-finals, it’s natural the thoughts of supporters of other teams are already turning to next season.

While Clermont and Toulon both suffered embarrassing defeats in the Top 14 at the weekend, Jonathan Sexton’s Racing Metro ground out an impressive 12-6 win in a wet and windy Bayonne.

Munster Rugby and the IRFU were both maintaining a dignified silence last night following accusations in a French newspaper that pressure had been applied to avoid Paul O’Connell being cited for the alleged striking of Leinster’s Dave Kearney.

Ireland’s Jonny Sexton will be the best paid player in French rugby next season, according to reports in France.

Ireland fly-halves Ronan O’Gara and Jonathan Sexton are giving their respective provinces plenty to think about for very different reasons ahead of crucial final Heineken Cup pool games this weekend.

Ireland and Leinster flyhalf Jonathan Sexton may be on his way out of the province after this season with the Dubliner being linked with a move to French side Racing Metro.

Racing Metro’s 22-17 win over Munster in Paris will never go down as one of the more glorious examples of ‘le beau jeu’ or the beautiful game but it seems a win is a win as far the French sporting press are concerned.

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.

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.

Toulon rugby director Philippe Saint-Andre looks set to succeed Marc Lievremont as France coach after the upcoming World Cup.

Julien Bonnaire has promised there will be no fear in the France ranks when Marc Lievremont’s troops run out at Twickenham on Saturday.

A PUBLIC spat between France coach Marc Lièvremont, his Stade Francais counterpart Michael Cheika and centre Mathieu Bastareaud is threatening to overshadow France’s preparations for Sunday’s Six Nations encounter with Ireland at the Aviva Stadium.

FRENCH Top 14 title chasers Clermont have agreed a one-year deal with Chiefs loose forward Sione Lauaki.

WALES coach Warren Gatland believes that Munster’s decade-long European odyssey is at an end.

A PANEL of experts, including the Irish Examiner’s Donal Lenihan, have finalised their awards shortlists for a scheme that celebrates 15 years of European club rugby.

PERPIGNAN captain Nicolas Mas admits Sunday’s 14-37 defeat at the hands of Munster was a “huge disappointment.”

PERPIGNAN’S young flanker Yohan Vivalda has begun the verbal battle ahead of Sunday’s crunch Heineken Cup Pool 1 rematch with Munster at Stade Aimé Giral by comparing Friday’s performance of the two-time European champions to an “academy team”.

FRANCE’S performances in the Six Nations may have been a long way from a vintage red wine but that hasn’t prevented coach Marc Lièvremont from hurling some sour grapes at Declan Kidney’s Grand Slam-winning Ireland team.

FOR French rugby magazine Midi Olympique it was “The End of the Dream”. For L’Equipe it was “Munster – English Style”.

THE French press have unanimously endorsed Munster’s Heineken Cup credentials following their crushing semi-final victory over Leinster at Lansdowne Road on Sunday.

FORMER French star and current French league president Serge Blanco has warned tournament organisers European Rugby Cup (ERC) that French teams could boycott the competition in the 2007-8 season.

AS YET there is no respite for France’s beleaguered first XV and they would have found few words of comfort in yesterday morning’s press.