WALES were left kicking themselves after suffering their third narrow defeat of a World Cup campaign that could easily have seen them contesting tomorrow’s final against New Zealand.

THE International Rugby Board is to review Warren Gatland’s claim he considered cheating in Wales’ defeat by France in the World Cup semi-finals.

Wales coach Warren Gatland has named an unchanged team for Sunday’s World Cup clash with Samoa in Hamilton.

Rhys Priestland has been handed the Wales fly-half role for Sunday’s World Cup Pool D clash against South Africa.

ENGLAND centre Riki Flutey admits Wasps are “hurting” ahead of tonight’s Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final clash against London rivals Harlequins.

James Hook will make his second start at fly-half in this season’s RBS 6 Nations Championship when Wales face Ireland on Saturday.

Martyn Williams has been left out of Wales’ RBS 6 Nations squad in a shock omission by head coach Warren Gatland.

Ryan Jones has kept his Wales place despite losing the captaincy for Saturday’s Millennium Stadium clash against New Zealand.

Director of Rugby Brendan Venter makes two changes to his Saracens side to play Leinster in the second round of the Heineken Cup at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.

WASPS head coach Tony Hanks was proud of his players after the London club came close to pulling off a shock victory at the reigning Heineken Cup champions.

CONNACHT’S new coaching director Eric Elwood is sweating on the availability of players before a ball has been kicked in this season’s Magners League.

Shane Williams has been ruled out of Wales’ Tests against South Africa and New Zealand with a shoulder injury.

SCOTLAND team doctor James Robson has confirmed Thom Evans, Chris Paterson and Rory Lamont will miss the rest of the Six Nations after all suffered serious injuries in Saturday’s dramatic defeat by Wales in Cardiff.

Wales coach Warren Gatland has made two changes for the RBS 6 Nations clash against Scotland on Saturday – but lock Alun-Wyn Jones keeps his place.

Wales have suffered an injury blow ahead of Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations opener against England with Lions hooker Matthew Rees sidelined for the Twickenham clash.

WALES survived a punishing physical examination by Samoa at the Millennium Stadium – but were made to sweat for victory.

WALES captain Ryan Jones has urged his team to “play smart” against the renowned physical threat of Samoa tonight.

Wales’ head coach Warren Gatland has made five changes from the team beaten by New Zealand for Friday night’s Millennium Stadium clash against Samoa.

Wales will be without two British and Irish Lions scrum-halves for their opening autumn Test against New Zealand on November 7.

CONNACHT hope for a swift reversal in fortune when they return to the Galway Sportsground to host Cardiff this evening.

British & Irish Lion centre Jamie Roberts will make his seasonal debut for Cardiff Blues against Connacht at The Sportsground on Friday.

Ireland fly-half Ronan O’Gara will captain the British and Irish Lions in tomorrow night’s clash against the Emerging Springboks at Newlands.

IAN MCGEECHAN might well have good cause to thank his Springbok rival Peter de Villiers for leaving out the Cheetahs’ back row man Heinrick Brussow from his 28-man squad to face the British & Irish Lions this month.

Leigh Halfpenny will get a belated first taste of action for the British and Irish Lions in tomorrow’s clash with the Cheetahs after finally being passed fit to join the squad in South Africa.

Brian O’Driscoll will captain the British and Irish Lions in their second tour match against the Golden Lions in Johannesburg on Wednesday.

MUNSTER failed to shrug offtheir Heineken Cup hangoverafter crashing to defeat at Cardiff Blues.

PINT-SIZED scrum-half Paul Marshall will relish the opportunity to shine when Ulster finish their home Magners League programme against the Cardiff Blues tonight (7.30).

ALUN-WYN JONES will make his debut as Wales captain next week — and he could keep the job for a potential RBS 6 Nations title showdown against Ireland.

WALES boss Warren Gatland has no doubt that Gavin Henson is fit and ready to make his long awaited Test rugby return in Paris on Friday night.

CARDIFF BLUES will complete a triumphant march into the Heineken Cup quarter-finals tonight, but head coach David Young insists: “There is still work to be done.”

British Lion Dwayne Peel has been left out of the Wales squad for this season’s RBS 6 Nations Championship.

THE lowest point in Leinster’s season came in Castres before Christmas when they lost a game they ought to have won. Coincidence or not, they have won three games since they could just as easily have lost.

LOCK Alun-Wyn Jones believes Wales still have plenty of room for improvement despite their 21-18 victory over Australia at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.

WALES BOSS Warren Gatland has identified playmaker Matt Giteau as the man his team must stop in their quest for an overdue Tri-Nations scalp.

Wales boss Warren Gatland has retained the team beaten by world champions South Africa for the Millennium Stadium clash against New Zealand.

Saracens Director of Rugby Alan Gaffney has set out his stall to test Munster's scrum ahead of Sunday’s Heineken Cup semi-final at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry.

ALAN GAFFNEY was handed a reunion with old friends Munster later this month as his Saracens staged this upset victory over the Heineken Cup favourites at Vicarage Road yesterday and ensured the Irish province a return trip to Coventry’s Ricoh Arena for the Heineken Cup semi-final.

LEICESTER are hurtling towards a Pool Four decider against European champions Munster in Limerick tomorrow week, but they cannot allow such an enticing prospect to overshadow their Welford Road appointment with Cardiff Blues this afternoon (3pm, Sky Sports).

DECLAN Kidney has named a 27-strong squad from which the side will be selected for the Celtic League game against the Cardiff Blues at The Arms Park tomorrow (7.30pm).

DWAYNE PEEL has been forced to pull out of the Scarlets team for this evening’s Celtic Cup Final at Lansdowne Road with a neck injury (KO 5.30pm).

Andrew Baldock

JASON HOLLAND plays his 100th game for Munster in tomorrow night’s Celtic League tie with Edinburgh at Thomond Park (7.30pm).

Tonight's Celtic League teams

Wales coach Graham Henry has postponed today’s scheduled team announcement for the Millennium Stadium clash against Tonga next weekend.