Leinster 32 Wasps 17

Having scored 73 tries in 18 Aviva Premiership matches and conceded 49, it is perhaps unsurprising to learn that Wasps are being labelled as rugby’s answer to Kevin Keegan’s Entertainers.

The level of conversation between players after matches is minimal at the best of times and even less so in these December double dates, but a snippet of information picked up by Connacht after Sunday’s 32-17 loss to Wasps has been thrown about the changing room in the Sportsground quite a bit this week.

Saracens took another giant stride towards a possible domestic and European double as they booked their place in next month's Champions Cup final by beating Wasps 24-17 at the Madejski Stadium.

Leinster are already under pressure in their heavyweight European Champions Cup pool after losing 33-6 to a clinical Wasps team at the RDS.

Leo Cullen’s Leinster have brought the smiles back to the faces of their fans.

Champions Toulon take on Wasps in the last eight of the European Champions Cup at Stade Félix Mayol tomorrow afternoon (kick-off 3.15pm)

Ulster have broken into their bank vault to sign All Blacks scoring machine Charles Piutau with a reputed £1million-plus two-year deal.

Ireland Wolfhounds 9 England Saxons 18

An Irishman is the driving force behind the rebirth of one of English rugby’s great clubs, says Julian Bennetts.

European Champions Cup Pool 1

"A captain’s night", said Leinster coach Matt O’Connor of his number eight Jamie Heaslip after Sunday’s victory over Wasps.

Leinster continue to mix the bad with the good, but they managed just enough of the latter to pull away from a game Wasps side last night and claim a first-up victory in their maiden Rugby Champions Cup outing.

Leinster head coach Matt O’Connor was delighted with the “great” contributions of his bench players after they helped the Irish province overturn a 12-point first-half deficit to beat Wasps in Champions Cup Pool Two at the RDS.

Leinster came through a tough first examination in the Champions Cup as they edged out Wasps 25-20 at the RDS Arena.

It’s been so long since Wasps carried a truly venomous sting in their tail it seems slightly surreal to recall the soon-to-be Coventry club remain the last English winners of European rugby’s biggest prize.

England have dropped Chris Ashton for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations opener against France in favour of uncapped Exeter wing Jack Nowell.

England head coach Stuart Lancaster insists Chris Ashton remains a wing option against France as he puts the finishing touches to selection for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations opener.

Brumbies 14 British & Irish Lions 12

Jake White has seen his Australian Super Rugby rivals try to unsettle the British & Irish Lions on this tour and earn plaudits for doing so, yet the Brumbies coach knows the bottom line is that all of them have failed.

More than a few questions asked by the Waratahs on Saturday here in Sydney, the majority answered emphatically by the tourists — but at what cost?

Shane Williams has been backed to do a job for the British and Irish Lions following his shock call-up today.

Christian Wade has been called up by the British and Irish Lions and withdrawn from the England side to play Argentina in Buenos Aires today.

Ireland back Simon Zebo has been called up to the British and Irish Lions squad as a replacement for the injured Tommy Bowe after playing against the US Eagles in Houston last night.

As kids they played together in the same high school soccer and rugby teams in their native Cardiff.

Leinster centre Gordon D’Arcy insists the province’s appetite for European silverware has not been lessened by their exit from the Heineken Cup.

AMLIN CHALLENGE CUP QUARTER-FINAL:

Wasps 28 Leinster 48

AMLIN CUP QUARTER-FINAL:

As if Joe Schmidt doesn’t have enough on his plate.

It was in March of 2011 when I first formed the opinion that the future of English rugby was in safe hands having just witnessed their Under 20 side dish out a 15-46 hammering to Ireland in a Six Nations clash in Athlone.

Northern Barbarians 31 England 57

THE sight of new signing BJ Botha hobbling off with a calf muscle injury after 27 minutes and then limp from the ground with the aid of crutches was as much a disappointment and a worry to the Munster as this defeat at Musgrave Park last night

IF we thought New Zealand were an intimidating prospect before, imagine them after four success U20 world titles.

FAR from a bright beginning for new Leinster coach Joe Schmidt as his side were given a lesson in organisation, intensity and clinical finishing by Shaun Edwards’ London-based boys in a friendly at Donnybrook last night.

Leinster 6 London Wasps 41, Donnybrook

Ireland U-20 21 England U-20 36, Rosario

Two of the unbeaten teams at the U-18 Six Nations Festival in Cork go head to head tomorrow at Musgrave Park when Scotland and England clash at 2.30pm.

France and England square off at Cork Institute of Technology this Saturday, kick-off 2.30pm, in a game that's expected to produce some high quality rugby.