FOR most of those watching as last Saturday’s second-half unfolded, the transformation seemed to take little more than the blink of an eye.

AUCKLAND BLUES coach Pat Lam is still ruing the day that Isa Nacewa pulled on a Fiji jersey for the dying moments of a 2003 World Cup game he believes cost the Leinster star at least 50 caps as an All Black.

WITH everyone short of Queen Elizabeth tipping Leinster to claim a second Heineken Cuptitle tomorrow, it was interesting to note just how much attention was paid to Northampton at the Irish province’s press briefing yesterday.

They’re providing the backbone to England’s rejuvenation but Northampton Saints have hit a glass ceiling, as Julian Bennetts explains

AS A tactic to impress the Twickenham hierarchy, sending your entire team out to get drunk together on Sunday night is an unusual one, even for Jim Mallinder.

SHANE BYRNE will lead an Ireland Legends rugby team against the England Legends at The Stoop in Twickenham on the eve of Ireland-England Six Nations game.

Northampton lock Courtney Lawes has signed a new contract with the Franklin’s Gardens outfit.

MARCUS HORAN is “in the selection mix” for Friday night’s crucial Heineken Cup Pool Six showdown with Northampton Saints, according to Munster coach Tony McGahan.

THE European Rugby Cup’s decision to fix Munster and Northampton’s crucial Heineken Cup Pool One showdown for Friday night has been slammed by both clubs.

A HOST of big names will take part in the first ever Stuart Mangan Memorial match between England and Ireland Legends at the Twickenham Stoop on Friday, February 26 – the night before the countries meet in the Six Nations at Twickenham.

England boss Brian Ashton is convinced age has not wearied Mike Catt as a major force in Test match rugby.

Jason Robinson is ready to relaunch his glittering England career during this season's RBS 6 Nations Championship - but fellow World Cup winner Lawrence Dallaglio finds himself out in the cold.

Mark Regan has become the eighth member of England’s World Cup-winning squad to retire from international rugby.

Australia will try to target England’s lack of experience at fly-half when the two sides meet in June’s World Cup final rematch at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.

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

Leicester and England hooker Dorian West has confirmed he will retire at the end of the season and seek to move into a coaching role.

BRITISH and Irish Lions manager Bill Beaumont is adamant coach Clive Woodward will pick his squad based on merit rather than nationality.

Leicester 13 Stade Francais 26

Italian master Diego Dominguez starred as Stade Francais wiped out the memories of their 2001 Heineken Cup final defeat by Leicester with an impressive display at Welford Road this evening.

Leicester will tackle French champions Stade Francais in a Heineken Cup elimination match at Welford Road next Friday night.

Sale Sharks’ Heineken Cup hopes have been dealt a blow by a six-week ban imposed on their promising hooker Andy Titterrell.

Leicester star Austin Healey has billed tomorrow’s Heineken Cup clash against Ulster as a “must-win game”.

LEICESTER Tigers could be boosted by the return of World Cup winners Martin Corry and Dorian West for the Zurich Premiership encounter at home to Gloucester tomorrow.

JONNY WILKINSON was last night cleared of serious injury, with Newcastle director of rugby Rob Andrew allaying fears he could miss England’s Six Nations campaign.

Leicester 34 Gwent Dragons 3

All seven of Leicester’s World Cup heroes are set to feature in Saturday’s squad for the Zurich Premiership clash with Bath at Welford Road.

Scrum-halves Matt Dawson and Kyran Bracken have both been named in England’s 22 for their World Cup showdown with South Africa on Saturday.

England boss Clive Woodward is determined to give his players every chance of achieving “something special” at the World Cup in Australia this autumn.

Clive Woodward believes that England will be “pushed to the limit” when they tackle potential World Cup semi-final opponents France at Stade Velodrome tomorrow night.

England had to reshuffle their pack last night after suffering an injury blow ahead of the World Cup warm-up clash with France on Saturday.

Clive Woodward believes that Saturday’s showdown with France at the 60,000-capacity Stade Velodrome is perfect World Cup preparation.

IAIN BALSHAW will make his long-awaited Test match return on Saturday – and is determined to make up for lost time.

Leicester hooker Dorian West will captain England in their World Cup warm-up clash against France in Marseille on Saturday.

Wales 9 England 43

Clive Woodward today backed the expansion of World Cup replacement benches to eight players to accommodate a new edict from the IRB which states each side must have adequate front-row cover.

England coach Clive Woodward today made two changes to his side for Saturday’s Test against Australia in Melbourne, promoting Gloucester props Phil Vickery and Trevor Woodman into the starting XV.

New Zealand Maori 9

In announcing Phil Vickery as captain of the England second string, Clive Woodward today did more than simply name the side that will take on the New Zealand Maori on Monday night.

Wasps centre Stuart Abbott will make his first appearance in an England shirt on Monday after he was today named in a strong side to face the New Zealand Maori.

Harlequins 26 Leicester 23

WITH THE Six Nations folded up and tucked away, rugby’s focus has swung emphatically back to the quarter-finals of the Heineken European Cup.

Ireland full-back Geordan Murphy will be delighted if he is the Leicester Tiger buying his club-mates the drinks on Sunday night – because it will mean Ireland have beaten England to the Grand Slam.

ENGLAND boss Clive Woodward has named an unchanged team for the winner-takes-all Grand Slam showdown with Ireland, and told his players: “We’ve got to front up.”