Argentina recorded a crushing victory over Wales to make it a whitewash for Wales on their tour to South America.

France team manager Jo Maso knows Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations showdown with Ireland will not be the easygoing fixture it used to be in the days when Ireland were seen as one of the tournament’s makeweights.

WALES coach Mike Ruddock last night urged his team to “be bold” in their crunch RBS 6 Nations Championship clash against unbeaten title rivals France on Saturday.

London Irish will be without almost a quarter of their squad for tomorrow night’s tough European Challenge Cup second round tie against Pau in France.

Connacht 40 Narbonne 21

SPORTS fans in Galway are spoiled for choice this weekend.

MUNSTER coach Alan Gaffney is taking no chances with most of his star players in advance of the Heineken Cup semi final with Wasps.

THE sense of relief in the Munster camp last night was palpable after it was confirmed Ronan O’Gara’s ankle injury was not as serious as first feared and that he would definitely be fit to line out against Stade Français in the Heineken Cup quarter-final at Thomond Park on Saturday week.

Simon Danielli is backing Bath to wipe out a five-point deficit and remain on course for a domestic and European double when they take on Beziers tomorrow.

Zurich Premiership leaders Bath lost in France tonight but a brave second-half fightback earned them an excellent chance of advancing to the Parker Pen Challenge Cup semi-finals.

London Irish’s exploits in Europe ended with a thump as Narbonne took them apart 29-10 at Parc des Sports et de l’Amitie tonight.

London Irish face a testing Parker Pen Challenge Cup trip to Narbonne tomorrow, with coach Gary Gold admitting: “We have made life a bit difficult for ourselves.”

JEREMY STAUNTON, who has struggled in many of his matches this year, has lost his place on the Munster team.

THERE may be good news for Munster ahead of their Heineken Cup double header against Gloucester later this month.

Connacht coach Michael Bradley will wait on fitness reports on a number of injured players before naming the side to face Munster in the Celtic League at Dubarry Park, Athlone, on Friday evening.

CONNACHT must again overcome the challenge of top French side Pau if they want to continue their assault for silverware in this season’s European Challenge Cup second round next month.

Connacht 11 Beziers 13 (Agg 29-23)

Connacht survived a determined Beziers display to squeeze into the second round of the Parker Pen Challenge Cup despite defeat in Galway today.

Parker Pen Challenge Cup result:

CONNACHT coach Michael Bradley has warned his forwards they must win more possession against Beziers at the Galway Sportsgrounds this afternoon (2pm).

Beziers, current leaders of the French Championship, have reacted to their 18-10 first round, first-leg loss to Connacht by making 10 changes for the return leg in the Parker Pen Challenge Cup at The Sportsground on Saturday.

CONNACHT coach Michael Bradley delighted with an 18-10 away victory to Beziers in the Parker Pen Cup, has warned that home advantage will not guarantee advancement to the next round.

Connacht coach Michael Bradley has warned his charges that the job is only half done as they prepare for their second leg Parker Pen European Challenge Cup tie against Beziers at the Sportsground on Saturday.

Connacht open their Parker Pen European Challenge Cup campaign this weekend in the south of France when they take on Beziers in the first leg of the tie at Stade de la Mediterranee on Sunday (kick-off 2pm Irish time).

RUGBY World Cup squads yet to make the trip to Australia should heed the warnings of Argentina who were the first team to arrive Down Under.

Ireland U-21 13

NOW that the hype of Gloucester and the Heineken Cup heroics begins to die down, Munster are pulling clear of any laurel resting.

Heineken Cup Pool 1 result

Leicester 53 Beziers 10

Heineken Cup latest:

Heineken Cup latest:

Heineken Cup latest:

LEICESTER boss Dean Richards believes his Heineken Cup holders cannot afford to drop any more points in their quest for a prized home quarter-final.

Munster look to catch up on group two leaders Gloucester with their visit to Viadana this weekend, who have lost their opening three matches, conceding 190 points.

Defending Heineken Cup champions Leicester secured a valuable 24-12 away victory at Beziers.

THE WORLD Cup is a year away but today the Six Nations champions France will pit their talents against the Tri-Nations victors New Zealand in what can be termed the unofficial world championship of 2002.

WORLD champions Australia take on Argentina tonight (11.15pm Irish time) looking to avoid a repeat of the embarrassing defeat they suffered at the hands of the Pumas when they last played in South America five years ago.

Heineken Cup latest

Heineken Cup latest

Heineken Cup latest

The Connacht squad announced today (Tuesday, August 6, 2002) for the upcoming Celtic League and Parker Pen Shield contains 24 players who have represented Ireland at underage or schools levels.