Connacht chief executive Tom Sears has hit out at those who have breached the confidentiality of the process of choosing a successor to Eric Elwood the province’s chief executive Tom Sears.

Ulster’s Heineken Cup ambitions have been handed a timely boost with the news that captain Johann Muller may well be fit in time to feature in their round six tie against Castres in France.

Connacht’s search for Eric Elwood’s successor looks to have been reduced by one after former Ospreys coach Sean Holley said he has turned the western province down.

Former Irish coach Eddie O’Sullivan has lashed out at the IRFU and Connacht for not giving him a chance to take over from Eric Elwood.

Ulster captain Johan Muller was quick to correct one reporter earlier this week when the word “holiday” was used to describe the team’s stint in sunny Portugal last week.

FOR all bar a handful of English fans among the 48,000 at a sold-out Lansdowne Road, it ended in the heartache caused by a tubby Samoan burrowing over for the decisive try four minutes into stoppage time.

Clive Woodward has claimed the RFU has reduced England to a “laughing stock” and is doomed to make the same mistakes again as they seek to replace Martin Johnson.

IT seems a lifetime ago since Eoin Reddan spent many sleep deprived nights in Munster wondering whether he would make it as a professional rugby player.

LAWRENCE Dallaglio’s body, all 18 stone of it, was tense and coiled, like a baited bear on the brink of rebellion but, in the end, all he could do was thrust his head into his hands, with the frustration almost steaming from his ears.

Wasps 25 Clermont Auvergne 24

CLERMONT AUVERGNE’S hat-trick hero Aurelien Rougerie has warned his team-mates that they’ll come unstuck at Thomond Park next Sunday if they continue to play “heads in the air” rugby.

If Wasps’ England stars are looking for a tonic for their World Cup final agony, they will not have to wait long.

Leicester 9 Wasps 25

England star Joe Worsley believes Wasps will be “looking down the barrel” if they repeat a recent domestic horror show in tomorrow’s Heineken Cup final against Leicester.

Northampton prop Tom Smith has demanded Saints once again cast aside the shackles of their dismal league form when they meet Wasps in tomorrow’s Heineken Cup semi-final.

Raphael Ibanez has declared Wasps’ Heineken Cup semi-final clash against Northampton tomorrow as a “time to deliver” in the pursuit of another European title.

TEN minutes of madness cost Leinster a Heineken Cup lifeline and allowed London Wasps to romp to victory at Adams Park on Saturday.

Wasps struck with two crucial tries while captain Lawrence Dallaglio was in the sin-bin to secure their place in the semi-finals of the Heineken Cup.

Castres 13 Wasps 16

DEAN RYAN believes the hype surrounding Gloucester’s exciting young England hopefuls is “distracting from reality” as his team look destined for an early Heineken Cup exit.

WASPS coach Ian McGeechan believes his side are learning how to “win ugly” after they hung on for victory in their opening Heineken Cup game against Castres at Adams Park.

Wasps 19 Castres 13

THE importance of winning yesterday’s Powergen Cup final was lost on Llanelli winger Mark Jones as soon as he spotted his stricken captain Simon Easterby lying prostrate on the Twickenham turf.

Toulouse 19 Wasps 13

LONDON IRISH are promising a bumper New Year’s Eve crowd the chance to kick off their celebrations early against Wasps at the Madejski today.

London Irish are promising a bumper New Year’s Eve crowd the chance to kick off their celebrations early with “a great craic at the Madejski” tomorrow.

Llanelli Scarlets 21 Wasps 13

Wasps captain Lawrence Dallaglio has conceded his team’s Heineken Cup hopes are over for another season.

English champions Wasps are lurching towards an early European exit for a second successive season after dropping priceless home points against Pool Six favourites Toulouse.

WASPS chief executive David Davies yesterday unveiled Harlequins fly-half Jeremy Staunton and Munster scrum-half Eoin Reddan as new signings and insisted his top stars are going nowhere.

LEICESTER coach John Wells believes the Tigers could inflict a knockout blow on their fellow Heineken Cup heavyweights Biarritz today.

European champions Wasps produced a storming second-half performance to begin their Heineken Cup defence in impressive fashion at the Causeway Stadium.

Llanelli Scarlets 17 Wasps 20

Wasps 27 Toulouse 20

Munster 32 London Wasps 37

Munster 32 Wasps 37

Alex King has put a goal between the posts for Wasps.

Alex King has extended Wasps' lead over Munster at Lansdowne Road.

A try from Josh Lewsey, converted by Alex King, has put Wasps ahead at Lansdowne Road.

RARELY, if ever, does the result of a big match hinge so much on the outcome of the forward battle.

IRRESPECTIVE of his contribution to date, Christian Cullen will definitely start for Munster in Sunday’s Heineken Cup semi-final against Wasps at Lansdowne Road.