New France coach Philippe Saint-Andre has included two uncapped players in his provisional 30-man squad for the RBS 6 Nations.

France coach Marc Lievremont has made true on his promise to ring the changes for this weekend's return friendly against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium, by making 13 changes to the side that started in Bordeaux on Saturday.

France 19 Ireland 12

THE lead photograph on page one of Brive’s La Montagne on Saturday suggested it was “David défie Goliath”, and given the paths these two clubs have taken since the start of European rugby competition in 1995, the Amlin Challenge quarter-final was aptly billed.

Brive 37 Munster 42

Donal Lenihan on where the three Irish teams can prosper

MUNSTER’S Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final opponents, Brive, eased their Top 14 relegation worries with a 26-9 win over La Rochelle at Stade Amédée-Domenech on Saturday.

FRANCE coach Marc Lièvremont has apologised for comments made in the wake of Les Bleus’ shock Six Nations loss to Italy on Saturday.

France coach Marc Lievremont today admitted his regret at an outburst following Saturday's defeat by Italy in which he suggested several players may not represent Les Bleus again.

France coach Marc Lievremont has made five changes for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations finale against Wales in Paris.

FRANCE coach Marc Lievremont said he was at a “dead end” following Saturday’s shock defeat by Italy in the Six Nations.

Sebastien Chabal was one of six players dropped from the France squad tonight as coach Marc Lievremont held true to his promise of making changes following yesterday’s defeat to Italy.

ANDREW SHERIDAN will miss the climax of England’s Grand Slam quest after it was confirmed the calf injury he suffered against France will keep him sidelined for at least a month.

France coach Marc Lievremont has kept faith with the squad which lost to England at Saturday for Les Bleus’ next RBS 6 Nations game in Italy on March 12.

1. The Tactical Battle

France coach Marc Lievremont has sprung a major surprise ahead of his side’s RBS 6 Nations opener against Scotland in Paris by picking Damien Traille at full-back and leaving star centre Yannick Jauzion out of his matchday 22.

TEN MONTHS ago Marc Lievremont was the toast of France, revelling in a first Grand Slam victory since 2004 as his side demonstrated that they were the northern hemisphere outfit most likely to make an impact at the World Cup.

Fulgence Ouedraogo earned a reprieve today when he was recalled to the France squad to face Australia by coach Marc Lievremont.

France coach Marc Lievremont has made two changes to his side to face Australia on Saturday, bringing flanker Fulgence Ouedraogo and full-back Jerome Porical into his starting line-up.

France number eight Imanol Harinordoquy has been dropped from the squad for next weekend’s Test with Australia.

Sebastien Chabal has been recalled to the France XV for Saturday’s Test against Argentina in Montpellier.

France 12 England 10

ROB KEARNEY may yet be fit to return in time for Ireland’s last pair of Six Nations games against Wales in Croke Park tomorrow week and Scotland, at the same venue, seven days later.

IRELAND hooker Jerry Flannery will miss the rest of the RBS Six Nations championship after losing his appeal against a six-week ban for kicking France wing Alexis Palisson.

IRELAND have been handed the keys to unlocking the Welsh defence from the unlikely source of a Yorkshireman working in France.

Warren Gatland admitted Wales hit the self-destruct button after their RBS 6 Nations title hopes bit the dust with a 26-20 defeat to France last night.

Wales 20 France 26

Wales 20 France 26

IRELAND have chosen to appeal the six-week ban given to Jerry Flannery for his dangerous lunge on France winger Alexis Palisson.

Ireland have chosen to appeal the six-week suspension given to Jerry Flannery for his dangerous lunge on France winger Alexis Palisson.

Declan Kidney admits Geordan Murphy’s knowledge of English rugby was instrumental in his recall for Ireland’s RBS 6 Nations trip to Twickenham on Saturday.

Geordan Murphy will start Ireland’s RBS 6 Nations clash with England at Twickenham on Saturday, with Jonathan Sexton joining him in the side.

Declan Kidney has selected Jonathan Sexton at fly half to face England at Twickenham on Saturday.

France’s injury problems continue with the news that Fulgence Ouedraogo and Sylvain Marconnet have been replaced by Alexandre Lapandry and Clement Baiocco respectively.

THE Ireland management will review the written judgment of a Six Nations disciplinary committee that handed down a six-week suspension to hooker Jerry Flannery arising out of an incident during last Saturday’s Ireland-France clash in Paris.

Ireland full-back Rob Kearney may have played his last match in the 2010 RBS 6 Nations after being ruled out for between three to five weeks with a knee injury.

JERRY FLANNERY walked into yesterday’s RBS Six Nations disciplinary meeting in Dublin Airport, held up his hands and pleaded guilty to reckless behaviour during last Saturday’s Ireland-France game in Paris.

Ireland’s Jerry Flannery will miss the rest of the RBS 6 Nations championship after being banned for his wild kick on France winger Alexis Palisson.

Ireland’s Jerry Flannery will miss the rest of the RBS 6 Nations Championship after he was suspended for six weeks for kicking France winger Alexis Palisson.

Ireland hooker Jerry Flannery has been banned for six weeks for kicking France winger Alexis Palisson in last Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations match in Paris, ruling him out of the remainder of the championship.

DONNCHA O’CALLAGHAN has been omitted from the 25-man Munster squad for Friday’s Magners League game against Edinburgh, effectively ending any hopes he entertained of being considered for Saturday week’s Six Nations clash with England at Twickenham.

Ireland hooker Jerry Flannery has been cited for his dangerous lunge on Alexis Palisson in Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations defeat by France.

Ireland will discover today whether Jerry Flannery has been cited for his dangerous lunge on Alexis Palisson in Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations defeat by France.