THE one area of consistent performance from the unpredictable French has been the solidity of their set piece.

New Zealand 37 France 17

France 47 Japan 21

IF the objective of Saturday’s game against France was to dampen Irish expectations on the eve of the World Cup then it had the desired effect. This performance was not on the agenda.

DECLAN KIDNEY today pares his squad to the 30 players he will take to the Rugby World Cup and will hope the chosen ones can inject a little more focus into Ireland’s final preparations.

DECLAN KIDNEY, inthe company of his coaching assistants, spent most of yesterday making the final adjustments to his Rugby World Cup squad, completing a measured process that wasn’t fuelled by last-minute panic or even altogether influenced by the results of the last three weeks. Adrenaline, he said in the aftermath of the 22-26 loss to France, is for the players.

Ireland 22 France 26

MARC LIEVREMONT’S gift for the unexpected makes second-guessing the French coach a foolish business but the expectation is that Cedric Heymans will be named in the national squad on Sunday.

WITH just two days separating the games against Connacht and France, Declan Kidney’s resources were always going to be stretched this week, so yesterday’s injury update from Carton House was timely and welcome in equal measure.

France coach Marc Lievremont has made true on his promise to ring the changes for this weekend's return friendly against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium, by making 13 changes to the side that started in Bordeaux on Saturday.

Leinster 32 Toulouse 23

Toulouse coach Guy Novès has made four changes to his side, from the one that defeated Biarritz in their Heineken Cup quarter-final clash in San Sebastian, for tomorrow’s last four match with Leinster at the Aviva Stadium, kick-off 3.30pm.

HEINEKEN Cup champions Toulouse booked a semi-final date with 2009 winners Leinster in Dublin after a thrilling 27-20 extra-time victory over Biarritz at Estadio Anoeta yesterday.

Biarritz 20 Toulouse 27

A SLOPPY first-half defensive showing from Glasgow at Firhill allowed holders Toulouse to take control of Pool Six in the Heineken Cup.

Glasgow Warriors 16 Toulouse 28

Declan Kidney is facing up to the prospect of touring New Zealand and Australia without Shane Horgan, Fergus McFadden and Jerry Flannery, after a bruising 29-23 defeat to the Barbarians added to Ireland’s injury headaches.

Ireland 23 Barbarians 29

SATURDAY sees the culmination of the domestic competitions in this part of the world with the Magners League, Guinness Premiership and the French Top 14 championship all up for grabs.

BIARRITZ centre Damien Traille has lost his battle to be fit for the Heineken Cup final after failing to recover in time from a fractured forearm.

THE waiting is over.

Toulouse 26 Leinster 16

FOUR days on and the sense of excitement and anticipation that filled the masses at Thomond Park is every bit as palpable.

BYRON KELLEHER has warned three-time Heineken Cup champions Toulouse to raise their level of performance despite a crushing 42-16 quarter-final win over rivals Stade Francais at Le Stadium yesterday.

Toulouse 42 Stade Francais 16

Toulouse 33 Harlequins 21

Maxime Mermoz has pulled out of Saturday’s final autumn international against New Zealand with a right thigh strain

SOUTH AFRICAN prop Tendai Mtawarira’s participation in tonight’s Test against France in Toulouse is in doubt due to ongoing confusion surrounding his citizenship.

Toulouse 36 Sale 17

Australia 22 France 6

Leicester scrum-half Julien Dupuy is the only new cap in France’s side to play New Zealand in the first Test in Dunedin on Saturday.

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.

Cardiff Blues 9 Toulouse 6

Italy 8 France 50

France will go with an unchanged squad for their last match in the RBS 6 Nations Championship, against Italy in Rome on Saturday.

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.

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.

DANNY CIPRIANI will continue his quest to regain the England out-half jersey with Wasps this weekend after being included among 17 players Martin Johnson has made available for club duty.

FRANCE are taking inspiration from Wales’ attacking model as they attempt to settle on their own style for the RBS 6 Nations Championship, according to Les Bleus winger Cedric Heymans.

Two weeks ago, Simon Danielli had virtually written off his chances of playing in this year’s RBS 6 Nations.

France have made four changes to the team which started last weekend’s defeat against Ireland for Saturday’s RBS Six Nations match against Scotland in Paris.

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