Leinster survived a late Wasps fight back to book their place in the Champions Cup quarter-finals despite a 20-20 draw in Coventry.

Wasps have announced the signing of Leinster fly-half Jimmy Gopperth.

Champions Cup: Leicester ended Toulon’s nine-match unbeaten run in Europe as Owen Williams kicked 20 points to see the Tigers home at Welford Road.

Leinster continue to mix the bad with the good, but they managed just enough of the latter to pull away from a game Wasps side last night and claim a first-up victory in their maiden Rugby Champions Cup outing.

Leinster head coach Matt O’Connor was delighted with the “great” contributions of his bench players after they helped the Irish province overturn a 12-point first-half deficit to beat Wasps in Champions Cup Pool Two at the RDS.

Leinster came through a tough first examination in the Champions Cup as they edged out Wasps 25-20 at the RDS Arena.

It’s been so long since Wasps carried a truly venomous sting in their tail it seems slightly surreal to recall the soon-to-be Coventry club remain the last English winners of European rugby’s biggest prize.

Ulster full-back Jared Payne has been hit with a two-match ban following his red card against Saracens in the Heineken Cup quarter-final defeat last Saturday.

Ulster 15 Saracens 17

Controversy is still raging over the red card administered to Ulster’s Jared Payne by French referee Jerome Garces four minutes into a rip-roaring Heineken Cup quarter-final tie at Ravenhill on Saturday.

I am finding it increasingly difficult to get my head around the player welfare programme and the current state of the provinces.

Toby Flood will be named in England's RBS 6 Nations squad today after a citing for an alleged tip tackle was dismissed at a Rugby Football Union hearing.

English clubs are instinctively divided, but there is one topic that unites them all; their dislike of Saracens.

Jamie Noon has disappeared from Martin Johnson’s radar since moving to France, but he sees today’s Amlin Challenge Cup clash with Munster as his chance to lay down a marker. Alan Good talked to Brive’s Mr Dependable

THERE are plenty of lazy comparisons to draw between Brive and Munster — both former European champions keen to restore former glories, and both call small, rugby-mad provincial centres home — but what’s less obvious is that the French side found inspiration in Limerick not so long ago.

BRIVE coach Ugo Mola believes his side can ambush Munster’s Amlin Challenge Cup hopes at Stade Amédée on Saturday following their pressure-relieving victory over Top 14 minnows La Rochelle last weekend.

Brendan Venter has warned the International Rugby Board that the game will be harmed if they do not address the current problems at the breakdown.

JONATHAN SEXTON insists that Leinster have the strength in depth to deal with the loss of Brian O’Driscoll should the Irish captain fail to recover from his hamstring injury for Saturday’s Heineken Cup clash with Saracens.

ENGLAND and Lions centre Riki Flutey, pictured, is on the cusp of signing for Munster, according to media reports in France.

Brive 17 Scarlets 20

NORMAL business resumes for Heineken Cup champions Leinster at the RDS tonight (6 pm) with the return of Jonathan Sexton and Shane Jennings to face Pool Six whipping boys Brive.

SIMON SHAW and Mathew Tait have both been included in the England squad for Saturday’s final Investec Challenge showdown with New Zealand at Twickenham.

Steve Thompson will complete a remarkable international comeback when he starts for England against Australia at Twickenham on Saturday.

MICHAEL CHEIKA’S smile said it all after his side had hammered admittedly poor opposition and recorded their biggest win on French soil.

Leinster coach Michael Cheika was pleased with how his team played their natural game as the Heineken Cup champions got their campaign back on track with a 36-13 win over Brive.

Brive 13 Leinster 36

THERE must be hundreds of Irish rugby players, past and present, with bitter memories of France. Paris provides the backdrop for most of them but Jonathan Sexton’s stem from a freezing December night in Castres.

Brive will look to England fly-half Andy Goode to steer them to a win over Leinster in the Heineken Cup in France tomorrow afternoon.

LEINSTER will be breaking new ground with their first ever appearance in Brive this weekend, but not Nathan Hines. The Scottish international lock spent four years in the trenches of the Top 14 with Perpignan and can draw on some favourable memories of the Stade Municipal Pelouse Amedee-Domenech.

LEINSTER learned some harsh lessons on their last European Cup trip to France and Kurt McQuilken is hoping they can use that experience to avoid a repeat on Saturday in Brive.

Scarlets 24 Brive 12

FRANKIE SHEAHAN yesterday described his time with Munster and Ireland as a “great adventure” after deciding to call time on a successful 14-year professional career.

Delon Armitage is encouraged by England’s progress since November and is determined to ensure he remains a central figure.

England manager Martin Johnson was frustrated by the feeble defending that helped Argentina level the Test series with a 24-22 victory in Salta last night.

LEINSTER will be treading unfamiliar paths in their attempt to reclaim the Heineken Cup title next season but Shane Horgan is looking forward to reacquainting himself with some familiar faces.

England have rewarded Chris Robshaw and Jordan Turner-Hall for their outstanding seasons by including them among six debutants for Saturday’s clash with the Barbarians.

Northampton 15 Bourgoin 3

Danny Cipriani confirmed last night he will be available for England and the Lions this summer after delaying his ankle operation.

MUNSTER prop Timmy Ryan looks poised to follow Leinster’s Felipe Contepomi to French Top 14 club, Toulon this summer.

Sale Sharks have confirmed the signing of England World Cup winner Ben Cohen.

BRIAN SMITH has apologised to Jonathan Kaplan for publicly criticising his refereeing performance in England’s 23-15 RBS Six Nations defeat to Wales.

Ireland 14 England 13

IRELAND backs coach Alan Gaffney and manager Paul McNaughton last night rubbished notions that Craig Joubert, the South African referee at Croke Park tomorrow, might in any way be influenced by complaints emanating from the England camp over the last fortnight or so.

KYRAN BRACKEN believes England’s discipline problem stems from a lack of on-field leadership – and he warned it is not a problem that can be addressed overnight.