Scotland coach Vern Cotter has defended his decision to call up New Zealand-born flanker Hugh Blake for his RBS 6 Nations squad.

Connacht coach Pat Lam is taking nothing for granted after victory over Munster, naming virtually an unchanged side for tonight’s visit of Edinburgh to the Galway Sportsground (7.35pm).

Former Rugby League star, Ben Te’o, makes his Leinster debut in tonight’s Guinness Pro12 clash with Edinburgh (RDS, 7.35pm), as the champions aim to secure back-to-back league victories for the first time this season.

Leinster 15 Edinburgh 13

Edinburgh have issued a worrying decree — Munster will have to fight for a productive result in Scotland tonight.

Scotland 17 France 19

Scotland head coach Scott Johnson admits not even a victory over Italy this afternoon will cure the Dark Blues’ problems.

Scotland head coach Scott Johnson has made four changes to his side for Sunday’s opening RBS 6 Nations match with Ireland.

Gloucester 23 Edinburgh 12

Connacht take on Edinburgh this evening desperate to break a losing run of seven RaboDirect Pro 12 fixtures.

Munster 34 Edinburgh 23

The fact that Edinburgh will be missing their main play-maker and most lethal finisher tonight will delight Munster as they prepare for the opening round of the RaboDirect Pro 12 at Musgrave Park (7.15pm).

Leinster head-coach Joe Schmidt has recalled Brian O’Driscoll, Rob Kearney and Luke Fitzgerald for tonight’s RaboDirect Pro12 clash against lowly Edinburgh in Murrayfield.

Connacht 23 Edinburgh 24

Injuries have robbed Connacht of a host of front-line players for the visit of Edinburgh to the Galway Sportsground today (5pm).

Scotland 22 New Zealand 51

When Rob Penney was still coaching Canterbury to NPC success back in New Zealand, he received a delegation of coaches from Edinburgh, eager to pick the Kiwi’s brains and discover the secrets of his success.

Rob Penney has been able to name Ireland internationals Donncha O’Callaghan and Mike Sherry in his first competitive squad for Munster’s RaboDirect Pro12 opener at Edinburgh tomorrow night.

Edinburgh captain Greig Laidlaw hailed the record-breaking Murrayfield crowd for helping them over the line in their “exhausting” Heineken Cup win over four-times champions Toulouse.

Edinburgh will be aiming to become the first Scottish team to qualify for the Heineken Cup semi-finals as they host Toulouse today.

Andy Robinson started a period of introspection over his future as after Scotland collected the Six Nations wooden spoon.

Centre Nick De Luca has been restored to the starting line-up in Scotland's only change for Saturday's RBS 6 Nations wooden spoon decider with Italy.

France flanker Imanol Harinordoquy anticipates Scotland will provide a much sterner test for the Rugby World Cup finalists than many observers are anticipating in tomorrow’s RBS 6 Nations clash at Murrayfield.

Wales captain Sam Warburton admits it is time his RBS 6 Nations title contenders avoided any further outbreaks of the yellow peril that threatened to lay them low in Dublin last weekend.

Scotland have made two enforced changes for Sunday’s RBS 6 Nations clash with Wales in Cardiff, with Greig Laidlaw set to make his first Test start.

Stuart Lancaster confirmed he has applied for the full-time England coach’s job after joining his players in shedding blood in a physical Calcutta Cup win over Scotland on Saturday.

Andy Robinson is sick of coming up with excuses.

Andy Robinson has told his Scotland players to do their talking on the pitch in Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations opener with champions England at Murrayfield.

SCOTLAND head coach Andy Robinson has named a 36-man squad for the forthcoming RBS 6 Nations, featuring six uncapped players.

Scotland head coach Andy Robinson has named a 36-man squad for the forthcoming RBS 6 Nations, featuring six uncapped players.

SOME not so clever defending made this victory more difficult than it should have been for Leinster but it also contributed to a hugely entertaining game of rugby.

LEINSTER have named 10 Irish internationals in their starting line-up for tonight’s clash against Michael Bradley’s Edinburgh in Murrayfield.

DESPITE being short a host of internationals, Munster continue their rotation policy for tonight’s RaboDirect Pro12 away clash at Edinburgh.

A TRY in the 77th minute by Scotland centre Joe Ansbro lit up the leaden Edinburgh sky to give his side a World Cup boost at Murrayfield on Saturday.

GRAEME MORRISON will return to the Scotland team for Saturday’s EMC Test with Ireland, with Rugby World Cup heartache the driving force for him to perform and secure a place in the squad for this year’s tournament in New Zealand.

A RIP-ROARING contest that could have gone either way before Connacht atoned for their slip-up in Italy to record their sixth home win on the trot.

IT is redemption week for Connacht, according to coach Eric Elwood. After a disappointing loss to Aironi in Italy, Elwood is banking on home advantage to help the province record their sixth win on the trot at home to Edinburgh this evening.

Ireland U-20 44 Scotland U-20 15