London Irish 13 Toulon 19

Only two points separate all four teams in Pool Three ahead of tomorrow’s games between London Irish and Toulon at the Madejski Stadium and Munster’s Thomond Park appointment with the Ospreys.

Munster’s old foe Felipe Contepomi will start at fly-half for Toulon in the Heineken Cup match at Thomond Park on Saturday.

Sale 27 Cardiff 26

Toulouse 36 Sale 17

Ospreys boss Scott Johnson has emphasised the need for discipline and patience when his star-studded Welsh challengers launch their Heineken Cup campaign at Leicester tomorrow.

Ronan O'Gara has today been named in the Munster side to play Sale Sharks in the crucial Heineken Cup match at Thomond Park on Friday evening.

SAINT-ANDRE already eyeing quarter-final berth!

WITH Declan Kidney set to announce his squad for the autumn internationals on Wednesday, Irish rugby received a timely shot in the arm with two vintage performances from Munster and Leinster that rocked English premiership giants Sale and Wasps over the weekend.

Sale director of rugby Philippe Saint-Andre insisted Charlie Hodgson has a key role to play at the club after he failed to make the starting line-up for today’s Heineken Cup Pool One defeat to holders Munster.

Sale 16 Munster 24

Mark Cueto scored twice as Sale Sharks continued their comfortable march in the European Challenge Cup with an emphatic 53-14 victory over Petrarca.

John Wells insists England’s rookie pack “know what is coming” when they stand toe to toe with a juggernaut South Africa eight in Bloemfontein tomorrow.

ENGLAND boss Brian Ashton has backed his squad of “part-timers, plumbers and decorators” to tackle a job their critics believe is mission impossible — challenging the Springboks in South Africa.

Jonny Wilkinson is ready to reclaim England’s number 10 shirt, with head coach Brian Ashton declaring: “He relishes a challenge.”

Jason Robinson will captain an England squad containing seven uncapped players on the two-Test tour of South Africa.

Gloucester and Sale Sharks are expected to provide a large chunk of England boss Brian Ashton’s South Africa tour squad when it is announced at Twickenham later today.

Sale 7 Ospreys 18

Calvisano 11 Sale Sharks 29

BEN FODEN proved an inspired deputy for England wing Mark Cueto with a clinical hat-trick as Sale kick-started their Heineken Cup campaign with a bonus-point victory against Italian minnows Calvisano.

THE HOST city is awash in red, the Sale Sharks fans have arrived, the weather forecast is favourable.

Sale 30 Newport Gwent Dragons 10

NEWPORT Gwent Dragons have made nine changes from the team that defeated Connacht in last Friday night’s Celtic League clash for tomorrow’s Heineken Cup Pool One match against Sale Sharks.

BRISTOL became only the second side to inflict a league defeat on Guinness Premiership leaders Sale Sharks yesterday when they beat them 22-14 at the Memorial Stadium.

JASON ROBINSON has rallied Sale Sharks for their next tough Heineken Cup assignment, but conceded: “There is no hiding place in this tournament.”

Jason Robinson and 10 other full internationals will make up the majority of the Sale Sharks side that will be hot favourites to overturn Connacht in the first-leg of the European Challenge Cup semi-final the Sportsground on Saturday.

Leinster 22 Sale Sharks 23