Brian O’Driscoll has failed to make the Leinster squad for Sunday’s Heineken Cup clash with ASM Clermont Auvergne at the Stade Marcel Michelin (kick-off 3pm).

THE contrasting fortunes of Tony McGahan and Joe Schmidt heading into the crucial back-to-back rounds of the Heineken Cup could not be highlighted more forcibly than by the selection dilemmas facing both men this week.

IF THE recent Six Nations defeat to Scotland has taught us anything, it’s that despite all the heroics and accumulation of trophies last season, Irish rugby has no divine right to silverware.

MIKE PHILLIPS handed Wales an injury scare during Ospreys 25-24 Heineken Cup Pool Three victory over Clermont Auvergne at the Liberty Stadium yesterday.

Ospreys 25 Clermont Auvergne 24

DANNY CIPRIANI has been left out of England’s squad for the summer Test series against Argentina – but there is a recall for 2003 World Cup-winning hooker Steve Thompson.

Leicester scrum-half Julien Dupuy has been called up by France for the first time ahead of Les Bleus’ summer tour to the southern hemisphere.

SEBASTIEN CHABAL will be under orders to smash some holes in England’s much-vaunted defence when he reverts to France’s back row for ‘Le Crunch’ at Twickenham on Sunday.

Sebastien Chabal will return to France’s back row for Sunday’s RBS 6 Nations Championship match against England at Twickenham.

ENGLAND boss Martin Johnson yesterday warned his ill-disciplined players he is ready to wield the axe ahead of next week’s RBS 6 Nations clash with France.

France have made four changes in personnel to their 23-man squad for the RBS 6 Nations Championship match against England at Twickenham on Sunday week.

France did Ireland a big favour as they ended Welsh dreams of back-to-back Grand Slams by coming from behind to win the first RBS 6 Nations match to ever be played on a Friday night.

MATHIEU BASTAREAUD is determined to repay the faith shown in him by France’s selectors when a whirlwind seven days culminate with him making his international debut tonight.

THE Rugby Football Union have stopped short of introducing any cast-iron measures to prevent England players from signing lucrative contracts with French clubs.

France head coach Marc Lievremont has taken a major gamble by selecting Benoit Baby at fly-half for Friday’s RBS 6 Nations match against Wales in Paris.

Florian Fritz will miss France’s RBS 6 Nations matches against Scotland and Wales after being suspended for three weeks for striking an opponent during last weekend’s game against Ireland.

France head coach Marc Lievremont will go with an unchanged squad for next weekend’s RBS 6 Nations match against Scotland in Paris.

IT has become an iconic moment in Munster’s Heineken Cup defence.

FRANCE go into their opening RBS Six Nations match against Ireland on Saturday week with little experience at half-back after Jean-Baptiste Elissalde was surprisingly omitted from their trimmed-down 23-man squad.

Imanol Harinordoquy has been named in France’s 23-man squad for their opening two matches of the RBS 6 Nations Championship, against Ireland and Scotland.

France head coach Marc Lievremont has named just one recognised fly-half in his provisional 30-man squad for a three-day training camp ahead of the RBS 6 Nations Championship.

THIS was the perfect example of a scoreline offering a distorted picture of a game of rugby.

Clermont-Auvergne have made eight changes to their side to take on Munster in the Heineken Cup clash at Thomond Park tomorrow.

Former Leinster openside Niall Ronan will make his Heineken Cup debut for Munster in the number seven jersey on the road at Clermont-Auvergne on Sunday.

Sebastien Tillous-Borde and Sebastien Chabal have been drafted into France’s starting XV for Saturday’s Test against Australia in Paris.

Toulouse full-back Maxime Medard will win his first international cap after being named in the France team to face Argentina in Marseille on Saturday.

PHILIPPE Saint Andre has urged Sale Sharks not to undermine the “massive achievement” of beating French giants Clermont Auvergne, by losing their Heineken Cup showdown against holders Munster.

SALE Sharks second row Kristian Ormsby is a doubt for his Sunday’s Heineken Cup clash with Munster at Edgeley Park.

SO MANY variables, so many imponderables. The performances of the Irish provinces at the last time of asking, the return of Jonny Wilkinson and the selection of Andy Farrell are but some of the issues that have clouded the destiny of this year’s Six Nations championship.

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France coach Bernard Laporte has been dealt a double injury blow ahead of the autumn internationals.

FRANCE COACH Bernard Laporte has made several changes for the clash with Australia in Brisbane on Saturday with his side looking to bounce back from the dismal 27-13 defeat to South Africa last weekend.

PAUL GRAYSON has insisted Northampton intend doing far more than merely making up the numbers in their daunting Heineken Cup mission against French aristocrats Toulouse tonight.

FRANCE coach Bernard Laporte admitted yesterday that he was puzzled by the clearing of Italy prop Salvatore Perugini of a dangerous tackle on Christophe Dominici during last weekend’s Six Nations match.

HAVING been universally acclaimed as the favourites for this year’s championship, it is inevitable that Ireland’s sense of disappointment is more acute than any of the other participants.

France’s hopes of defending their RBS 6 Nations crown evaporated in a 10-minute spell at home to eventual champions Wales, according to national team coach Bernard Laporte.

Bernard Laporte's France were without rising star Benoit Baby as they attempted to upset the odds and retain their RBS 6 Nations title at a sold-out Stadio Flaminio.

THOUGH the main focus of the final weekend will be in Cardiff, France’s game with Italy could play a major part in the outcome of the championship.

The odds may be stacked heavily against France retaining their RBS 6 Nations title this weekend but winger Cedric Heymans insists that is no reason for them to take a half-hearted approach to their showdown with Italy in Rome.

France centre Benoit Baby insists he has learned his lesson from his four-week suspension.

David Marty has been called up as a replacement for Benoit Baby who has been banned from playing in France’s RBS 6 Nations match with Italy.

Isabelle Rondeau, Paris

France centre Benoit Baby has been handed a four-week ban for headbutting Ireland’s Brian O’Driscoll in the RBS 6 Nations fixture between the teams in Dublin last Saturday.