Scotland’s World Cup preparations got off to a nightmare start as they were crushed 32-3 by France in Nice.

He's not the only big name to miss out in a reshuffled squad.

Jacques Brunel believes France can exploit “weaknesses” in Ireland’s game in Sunday’s Guinness Six Nations clash in Dublin.

France international centre Gaël Fickou admits victory over a weakened Scotland has restored “a little confidence” in their under-fire squad, but Sunday’s clash with Ireland in Dublin will be a “step up” in class.

French Top14 club Clermont have dismissed reports linking them with a move for Irish out-half Paddy Jackson, with head coach Franck Azéma describing the rumours as “false information”.

From boom to bust in the space of 24 hours. 

Given the close nature of this fixture in the Six Nations in recent years, a 10 point win is not to be sniffed at, writes Donal Lenihan.

France have called up Stade Français back-row Raphael Lakafia to replace Damien Chouly ahead of Saturday’s Six Nations clash with Ireland.

Ulster 39 Clermont 32: Ulster has enjoyed some spectacular victories in Europe but, surely, none can have matched this lunchtime encounter for excitement, unpredictability and high-class rugby.

Make or break, must win, season-defining – all terms which have been used to describe Ulster’s Champions Cup tie with French giants Clermont Auvergne in Belfast this afternoon.

“You watch Clermont as we have and you’ve just got to be impressed by what’s on offer, admiring too, and otherwise it might put the fear of God in you.” Ulster’s Director of Rugby Les Kiss was certainly not underestimating the task facing his side when the French Championship leaders come to Kingspan Stadium on Saturday for the third pool game in the Champions Cup.

Clermont Auvergne overcame a ferocious Ospreys fightback to retain their proud European home record with a bonus-point 34-29 win in Pool Two of the Champions Cup.

Tommaso Allan knows the routine.

Toulon made rugby union history at Twickenham as they clinched a hat-trick of European titles by defeating fellow French heavyweights Clermont Auvergne 24-18 in the Champions Cup final.

Leinster will be burdened by massive regrets this week as they somehow attempt to patch themselves up for an unforgiving five-day turnaround with the season-defining outing against Ulster in Belfast on Friday night.

With that tantalising World Cup clash between Ireland and France cemented in the back of my mind, I couldn’t help but watch the respective performances of Clermont Auvergne and Leinster over the weekend in the context of that crucial Pool D encounter.

Stuart Lancaster has urged Twickenham to will England to victory tomorrow evening as he prepares to order his RBS 6 Nations title hopefuls to carry the game to France.

Italy 0 France 29

France coach Philippe Saint-Andre has made eight changes for Sunday’s RBS 6 Nations clash with Italy at the Stadio Olimpico.

France 13 Wales 20

Dan Biggar scored a try and Leigh Halfpenny kicked five penalties as Wales kept alive their RBS 6 Nations title hopes by beating France in Paris.

Joe Schmidt refused to get sucked into talk of an RBS 6 Nations title decider with England in Dublin on March 1 after his Ireland side continued its winning start to the championship with a hard-fought victory over France on Saturday.

Ireland’s Championship and Grand Slam ambitions remain alive, but only just after Joe Schmidt’s side clung on to claim victory against France in their Six Nations meeting at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday evening.

RBS Six Nations

After all the pre-tournament talk of reigning champions Ireland as RBS 6 Nations favourites, last week’s opening round of games was nothing if not a levelling of the field. 

Thomas Castaignede played 54 times for France at fly-half, full-back and centre, scoring 252 points for Les Bleus between 1995 and 2007, writes Simon Lewis.

After France’s rather unimpressive, tryless win over Scotland, Philippe Saint-Andre was at pains to claim there is still flair in the team — but that concept is dead and buried, writes Ronan O’Gara.

It was the moment Ireland finally got a hand on the RBS 6 Nations trophy.

France have named their starting XV for the Six Nations match against Ireland on Saturday evening.

A week ago it was the return to France of Vern Cotter that was taxing French minds ahead of their Six Nations opener against Scotland. 

RBS Six Nations: Italy 3 Ireland 26: One down and four to go. Ireland are up but not quite running in the defence of their Six Nations title and with France coming to Dublin next Saturday, Joe Schmidt’s squad will know they are in a for hard week ahead of a much stiffer examination than the one provided by Italy in Rome.

France 15 Scotland 8: They put a brave face on it but it was evident from the shrugs and pouts that a hard-fought tryless 15-8 victory over a feisty Scotland in Paris was not quite enough for the French. 

RBS Six Nations: France v Scotland: The start of a new Six Nations campaign is usually destined to throw Frenchmen of every age, shape and political persuasion into a tizzy. As former captain Fabien Pelous once said: "It is like the start of a new romance. You see a girl across the room, your eyes meet and you both know that everything is possible."

Six things to keep an eye on in this year’s Six Nations

You suspect Schmidt wants Sexton back as soon as possible and will throw him inat the deep end against the French, says Donal Lenihan.

In a new European Cup world where three of five second placed teams advance rather than two from six, a bonus point in Clermont is no small thing.

Clermont Auvergne 26 Munster 19