France coach Philippe Saint-Andre has left out fly-half Francois Trinh-Ducfrom his 31-man World Cup squad, in favour of Frederic Michalak.

Dylan Hartley believes Northampton are better equipped than ever to win European club rugby’s biggest prize – but now must prove it.

France 13 Wales 20

France coach Philippe Saint-Andre has relegated powerful centre Mathieu Bastareaud to the bench for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash against Wales in Paris.

Leigh Halfpenny says Wales will carry their Twickenham "hurt" of last season into tomorrow night’s RBS 6 Nations opener against England.

Italy will have four new faces in their squad when they face Ireland in their RBS 6 Nations Championship opener in Rome next month.

Rising star Teddy Thomas has been dropped for tomorrow’s Test against Argentina by France manager Philippe Saint-Andre for missing a training session by arriving two hours late.

Leicester captain Ed Slater refuses to cast his Tigers as underdogs when they challenge Clermont’s supremacy at the Stade Marcel Michelin today.

Scotland 17 France 19

France coach Philippe Saint-Andre has made seven changes to his team for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash against Scotland at Murrayfield.

France coach Philippe Saint-Andre has named a team showing one enforced change for Friday’s RBS 6 Nations clash against Wales in Cardiff.

France head coach Philippe Saint-Andre insists the post-2011 World Cup rebuilding phase is over as he targets a critical RBS 6 Nations victory over England today.

Jonny Wilkinson hit the post with a penalty attempt with the final kick of the game as Top 14 leaders Toulon were held to a 26-26 draw at home by Munster’s Heineken Cup semi-final opponents, Clermont Auvergne.

France 6 Wales 16

France coach Philippe Saint-Andre has made two changes to the team beaten by Italy last weekend for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash against Wales in Paris.

Six Nations

Toulon centre Mathieu Bastareaud has been recalled to France’s preliminary RBS 6 Nations squad but there is no place for Toulouse winger Maxime Medard.

France 33 Australia 6

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

TOULON boss Philippe Saint-André was left to rue his side’s inability to capitalise on a numerical advantage in Saturday’s 29-25 Heineken Cup quarter-final loss to Perpignan.

LEICESTER’S director of rugby Richard Cockerill claimed Heineken Cup referees are allowing cheats to prosper after Perpignan snatched a 22-22 draw at Welford Road.

FREDERIC Michalak’s omission from the 30-strong France training squad for the Six Nations is neither a surprise nor a shock as the French rugby establishment opt once again to shun his mercurial talents for more predictable playmakers.

France have named an experimental squad for the two-Test tour of New Zealand.

France 26 Ireland 8