MARTIN JOHNSON fired a warning to Australia that England will head Down Under next month with the strongest touring team since he lifted the Rugby World Cup on their shores in 2003.

Coach Steve Meehan has gone for his strongest side at home to Ulster in the final round Heineken Cup Pool on Saturday.

Coach Steve Meehan and captain Michael Claassens will plot the way forward for Bath against Ulster in the Heineken Cup at Ravenhill tomorrow night.

Bath 3 Toulouse 3

BATH boss Steve Meehan has thrown down the gauntlet to French giants Toulouse ahead of tomorrow’s s Heineken Cup showdown, declaring: “They should be very concerned.”

Toulouse 18 Bath 16

Guinness Premiership leaders Leicester will underline their enviable squad strength by parading the big guns against Madejski Stadium opponents London Irish on St Stephen's Day.

Three players with Guinness Premiership clubs have been cited for alleged dangerous tackles during league games last weekend.

ENGLAND head coach Andy Robinson faces a potential front-row crisis for the summer tour of Australia following the loss of Matt Stevens.

Leicester 12 Bath 15

Leicester 12 Bath 15

England prop Matt Stevens appears to be facing a fitness fight ahead of next weekend’s RBS 6 Nations Championship clash against France in Paris.

Bath will try to put a Headingley horror show behind them tomorrow night by clinching a place in this season’s Heineken Cup quarter-finals.

Bath and England prop David Flatman believes he could be back playing in early October after a successful operation on his Achilles tendon.

England boss Clive Woodward today elevated Wasps prop Tim Payne to Test match status, and declared: “I have every confidence that he will step up to the mark.”

Clive Woodward questioned the wisdom of yesterday’s end-of-season Barbarians fixture after watching his scratch England side go down 32-12 at Twickenham.

Hugh Vyvyan will captain England in next Sunday’s non-cap clash against the Barbarians at Twickenham.

Bath have received a triple fitness boost ahead of Saturday’s Zurich Premiership final against Wasps at Twickenham.

England boss Clive Woodward has decided to rest three World Cup-winning stars for next month’s tour to New Zealand and Australia.

Montferrand 38 Bath 22

BATH captain Danny Grewcock has dismissed his team’s 14-point advantage over Parker Pen Challenge Cup rivals Montferrrand as irrelevant.

MATT STEVENS could hardly have asked for a tougher RBS 6 Nations baptism - filling the boots of an England legend at Twickenham.

England boss Sir Clive Woodward tonight axed three members of his World Cup-winning squad for next Sunday’s Six Nations championship opener against Italy in Rome.

Martyn Wood arrived Down Under last night – and was immediately taken into solitary confinement.

Gloucester prop Trevor Woodman could be a doubt for England’s tour to New Zealand and Australia after missing the Zurich Premiership final against Wasps.

England coach Clive Woodward has left the door open for players to earn promotion from the A squad to the senior side after seeing his preparations for the RBS 6 Nations clash with Italy wrecked by injuries.

Bath duo Gareth Cooper and Gavin Thomas will miss the Zurich Premiership home match against Saracens on Saturday after the pair were retained on Wales duty ahead of the RBS 6 Nations match against Scotland a week later.

England boss Clive Woodward today insisted that his RBS 6 Nations Championship favourites have “no fear” about playing away from home.

England boss Clive Woodward is braced for a “physical and full-on game” when his RBS6 Nations Championship favourites tackle relative no-hopers, Wales at the Millennium Stadium tomorrow.

ENGLAND are facing a potential prop crisis ahead of their RBS Six Nations Championship showdown with title holders France at Twickenham next week.

Unbeaten Connacht have mounting injury problems ahead of tomorrow's Parker Pen European Shield clash with Pool Four leaders Sale in Galway.

Sale will spearhead a strong English challenge in this season’s Parker Pen European Shield - with coveted automatic Heineken Cup qualification again at stake.

CLIVE WOODWARD will send his all conquering England team into Six Nations battle today, warning: ‘‘France are the champions of one off games.’’

Trevor Woodman is out of the England squad for tomorrow’s Six Nations Championship clash against France.

England boss Clive Woodward has made four changes from the side that beat South Africa for the Six Nations Championship opener against Wales in Cardiff.