Danny Cipriani and Nick Easter have the chance to reignite their Test careers in England’s 34-man Six Nations training squad, with Sam Burgess also handed World Cup lift-off.

Martin O’Neill thinks Shane Long will take the pressure associated with his €15 million move to Southampton in his stride but believes setting a target for the season would help the Tipperary man bridge the gap from being a scorer of great goals to a great scorer of goals.

AMLIN CHALLENGE CUP FINAL:

Martin O’Neill will seek a clear declaration of Stephen Ireland’s willingness to return to international duty before he considers recalling him to the Ireland squad.

Robbie Keane has been left out of the Republic of Ireland squad to face Serbia in a friendly in Dublin on March 5.

Hull City 0 Aston Villa 0

Aiden McGeady’s difficulty could turn out to be Anthony Pilkington’s opportunity, as the winger’s withdrawal from the Irish squad is sure to prompt some deep thinking by Giovanni Trapattoni ahead of next Friday’s World Cup clash with Sweden.

Laois 1-16 Antrim 0-13

Ulster 9 Northampton Saints 10

John Afoa is adamant the three components of Ulster’s recent good form must be repeated if the northerners are to achieve the double over Premiership giants Northampton at Ravenhill this evening.

Ulster’s Rory Best remembers the last Heineken Cup clash with Northampton extremely well and wants to wipe away the memory of defeat in the best possible way.

England’s interim head coach Stuart Lancaster will name at least eight uncapped players in his 22-man squad to face Scotland in Saturday’s Calcutta Cup showdown.

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS are determined to complete their European revenge mission against Munster on Saturday after ending the Scarlets Heineken Cup hopes.

BRENDAN RODGERS was delighted to see Swansea earn their first away win in the Barclays Premier League with a performance at Aston Villa he felt truly showcased the team’s virtues.

THE Blue September Kilmacud Crokes All-Ireland 7s final was an all-Down affair and Bryansford prevailed after a cracking game to win the title for the fifth time at Glenalbyn.

PREMIERSHIP club Northampton Saints gained a small measure of revenge as they won this Heineken Cup final rematch at Donnybrook last night.

NORTHAMPTON full-back Ben Foden believes last season’s failure will spur the Saints on in tomorrow’s Heineken Cup semi-final against Perpignan.

ULSTER have grown used to the pain of defeat in the Heineken Cup over the last 12 years, but this quarter-final loss will be excruciating.

AIDEN MCGEADY and Kevin Kilbane are among the players who won’t be featuring in the Republic of Ireland’s Carling Nations Cup opener against Wales at the Aviva Stadium next Tuesday after Giovanni Trapattoni trimmed his squad from 29 to 22 yesterday.

NORTHAMPTON maintained their perfect Heineken Cup Pool 1 record in a thriller at the Cardiff City Stadium after the Blues were hit by the second-half dismissal of Xavier Rush.

JONATHAN WALTERS’ chances of making his senior debut for Ireland against Norway next week appear to have improved with the news that captain Robbie Keane has been forced to withdraw from the final 25-man squad for the friendly game at the Aviva Stadium.

IRELAND Under-20 coach Allen Clarke hopes his side can produce another never-say-die performance to put fancied England to the sword in tonight’s RBS Six Nations Championship clash at Dubarry Park, Athlone (6.15pm).