A TRY in the 77th minute by Scotland centre Joe Ansbro lit up the leaden Edinburgh sky to give his side a World Cup boost at Murrayfield on Saturday.

Scotland 10 Ireland 6

Scotland 21 Italy 8

Scotland were today aiming to avoid the RBS 6 Nations wooden spoon in their clash with Italy at Murrayfield.

IF ENGLAND wanted to dampen expectations that they will claim their first Grand Slam in eight years in Dublin next weekend then they did rather a good job of it at Twickenham yesterday.

Head coach Andy Robinson has made seven changes to his starting XV for Sunday’s vital RBS 6 Nations clash with Ireland at Murrayfield.

A LONG week lies ahead before Sunday’s Six Nations game in Murrayfield but it has started well for Ireland who welcomed a number of injured stars back to the fold yesterday just as Scotland were reporting significant casualties of their own.

Joe Ansbro, Hugo Southwell and Rory Lamont have all been ruled out of Scotland’s RBS 6 Nations clash against Ireland on Sunday.

SOUTH AFRICA hope that a turbulent week, which began with two players being sent home for failing drugs tests, will end with their Grand Slam mission three-quarters complete later today.

Uncapped Northampton centre Joe Ansbro will replace the injured Max Evans in Scotland’s team to meet South Africa in the second autumn Test at Murrayfield tomorrow.

NORTHAMPTON were crowned Challenge Cup champions after surviving a ferocious assault from French bruisers Bourgoin at Twickenham Stoop last night.

Northampton 42 Connacht 13

Roscommon-based observatory has detected what may be a new planet during routine observation of another star outside our Solar System.

A NATIONAL group is to be set up to give ordinary people a voice in planning affairs.