Italy coach Nick Mallett has named a 30-man squad for the World Cup in New Zealand.

OH, how a few performances can change a team.

Italy coach Nick Mallett has made seven changes to his side to face France in Saturday's RBS Six Nations match at the Stadio Flaminio.

Italy coach Nick Mallett has handed Benetton Treviso’s Kristopher Burton the number 10 shirt for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations opener against Ireland at Rome’s Flaminio Stadium.

ULSTER got their Heineken Cup campaign off to the perfect start with a five-pointer against Aironi at Ravenhill last night.

ULSTER coach Brian McLaughlin put down his team’s success in Italy on Saturday night to sheer doggedness.

FRANCE defence coach Dave Ellis was delighted with his side’s six-try show against Italy as Les Bleus remained on course for the Grand Slam.

NEW ZEALAND coach Graham Henry claims uncertainty over scrum laws is ruining the game for spectators after watching his second-string side labour to victory over Italy at the San Siro on Saturday.

ROB KEARNEY makes a timely comeback from illness for Saturday’s Magners League clash against Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade (5.30pm), but will be under pressure to produce a top-class display to win his place in the Leinster Heineken Cup final team.

Ulster coach Matt Williams is giving many of the Ulster Academy graduates, such as Ian Whitten and Chris Henry, a chance to show their worth in the Magners League against Connacht at The Sportsground on Friday evening.

Ulster 9 Cardiff 11

PINT-SIZED scrum-half Paul Marshall will relish the opportunity to shine when Ulster finish their home Magners League programme against the Cardiff Blues tonight (7.30).

IRELAND flanker Stephen Ferris says it is an awesome feeling to be selected to travel with the British and Irish Lions to South Africa in the summer.

Glasgow 19 Ulster 20

IRELAND A lock Ed O’Donoghue drops to the bench for the first time this season as Ulster coach Matt Williams makes four changes for the Magners League clash against the Glasgow Warriors at Firhill this evening.

NIALL O’CONNOR gets a chance to redeem himself for Ulster after being named at fly-half in place of Ian Humphreys for tonight’s Magners League clash against the Ospreys at Ravenhill.

THE war of words between Munster and London Irish will end today when the two clubs will resolve their differences on the Paul Warwick affair.

IRELAND hooker Rory Best will lead Ulster in Sunday’s Magners League clash with Leinster at the RDS.

IRELAND hooker Rory Best will lead Ulster’s Magners League challenge against Glasgow at Ravenhill on Saturday night although Stephen Ferris and Paddy Wallace are still unavailable.

CONNACHT will face Samoa skipper Filiso Levi in their Magners League clash with the Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday (2.15pm).

Thomas Anderson, the son of legend Willie, has been included in the Ulster side to take on Irish rivals Munster at Ravenhill on Saturday night (7.35pm).

MUNSTER’S desire to win the Magners League will only be partially compromised by the decision to rest captain Paul O’Connell, John Hayes and Doug Howlett for the clash with Ulster at Ravenhill on Saturday.

Ulster coach Matt Williams has brought back Carlo Del Fava, David Pollock, Timoci Nagusa and Cillian Willis into his side to take on Harlequins in the Heineken Cup at Twickenham Stoop on Saturday (3.30pm).

Coach Matt Williams has made eight changes to his Ulster side to play Edinburgh in the Magners League at Ravenhill tomorrow night.

LEINSTER look set to revert back to their early-season rotation policy for Sunday’s Magners League game with Connacht at the Sportsground having started with what was arguably their first 15 against Munster last weekend.

RUGBY legend David Humphreys is battling to be fit for his final game with Ulster at Ravenhill tomorrow night.

Ulster coach Matt Williams has today named his starting line up to take on Glasgow tomorrow at Ravenhill, kick-off at 3pm.

Ulster coach Matt Williams has made six changes to his side for tomorrow night's Magners League showdown with Munster at Ravenhill.

Matt Williams has stuck to his policy of blooding younger players away from home and has made six personnel changes for Ulster's trip to Cardiff this tomorrow.

ULSTER’S Ian Humphreys has signed for his home province on a two-year deal. The former Ballymena Academy pupil has been playing for English side Leicester Tigers since the summer of 2005 when he left club side Belfast Harlequins.

Ulster coach Matt Williams has made eight changes to the side that beat Llanelli for the trip to Munster in the Magner's League tomorrow.

Matt Williams has today named his starting line up to take on Munster in Cork on Saturday evening. Williams has made eight changes to the starting fifteen that defeated the Scarlets at Ravenhill in February.

Rory Best returns to captain Ulster this weekend in Matt Williams 23-man squad against Llanelli Scarlets in the Magner's League on Friday night at Ravenhill.

Stephen Ferris will make his return to the Ulster side in Matt Williams first game in charge of the province against The Dragons in the Magner's League at Ravnehill on Friday.

PAUL O’CONNELL is hoping for game time in Munster’s crucial Magners League game away to Edinburgh (Murrayfield, 7.30pm).

ULSTER caretaker boss Steve Williams has given a vote of confidence to the 22 that gained the team’s first home victory since September in defeating Bourgoin last Friday for the final Heineken Cup clash against Pool 2 favourites Gloucester at Kingsholm.

Ulster Caretaker Coach Steve Williams has added Mark Bartholomeusz and Paul Steinmetz in a 24-man squad for his side's final pool game against Gloucester in the Heineken Cup on Sunday.

Ulster caretaker coach Steve Williams has made no changes to his side for the Heineken Cup tie at home to Ravenhill on Friday night.

EXORCISING their Murrayfield ghosts may be Leinster’s primary goal for the visit of Magners League basement boys, Ulster, to the RDS on St Stephen’s Day, but under pressure Blues coach Michael Cheika may also have a point to prove to his detractors.

Ulster caretaker coach Steve Williams has made three changes to his side for the Magner's League tie with Leinster at The RDS on St Stephen's Day.

Ulster caretaker Coach Steve Williams has named David Humphreys and newcomer Grant Webb in an extended squad to preare for Leinster in the Magner's League at The RDS on St Stephen's Day.

CARETAKER coach Steve Williams has made six changes and one positional switch as Ulster attempt to gain some respectability from a wretched season in tonight’s Heineken Cup clash against the Ospreys at Ravenhill (8pm).