With question marks hanging over both provinces heading into their respective Champions Cup semi-finals, the likelihood of an all-Irish European final appeared distinctly unlikely in advance of the weekend’s action.

Jacques Brunel believes France can exploit “weaknesses” in Ireland’s game in Sunday’s Guinness Six Nations clash in Dublin.

Leinster fans - for one match at least - may not agree, but one of the great joys of European rugby this season has been the resurgence of Toulouse as a major force.

France have named inexperienced half-back duo Anthony Belleau and Antoine Dupont in the starting XV to face New Zealand tomorrow.

Centre Jonathan Davies has claimed “it just didn’t seem right” after Wales’ RBS 6 Nations campaign ended in controversial and crushing fashion against France.

Grenoble 33 Connacht 32: Heartbreaking, but scintillating. Connacht and Grenoble produced an epic European Challenge Cup quarter-final that upped the profile of this second tier European competition and dazzled the 14,876 fans present on Saturday night.

U20 RBS Six Nations

Champions Cup round up: Guy Noves’ Toulouse handed Leinster a home Champions Cup quarter-final after blowing the chance to top Pool 4 by squandering a 20-9 lead yesterday.

Castres 16 Leinster 21

HEINEKEN CUP POOL 5:

Earlier this year, Jean-Marc Bosman was sentenced to 12 months in prison for assault and battery.

THE US military and the Afghan government said yesterday they will investigate a TV report claiming US soldiers in Afghanistan burned the bodies of two Taliban fighters and taunted other Islamic militants.

The US military said today it found “repugnant” and would investigate a television report that claimed US soldiers in Afghanistan burned the bodies of two Taliban fighters and then used the action to taunt other Islamic militants.

American soldiers in Afghanistan desecrated the bodies of Taliban fighters by burning them, violating Islamic tradition, then taunted a nearby village about the act, an Australian television network reported today.

Liverpool have appointed the ‘Bosman lawyer’ after a French probe was launched into possible corruption in a number of transfer dealings, including Djibril Cisse’s move to Anfield.

Argentina’s foreign minister was detained and questioned at Miami International Airport after he allegedly requested permission to enter the cockpit of a plane to question pilots about why the flight was delayed.

SEB SANDERS believes St James’s Palace Stakes hopeful Bachelor Duke is in the sort of form that took him to Classic glory on his last start.

William Haggas recorded his second success in the German 2000 Guineas as Brunel struck under Darryll Holland at Cologne racecourse on Sunday.

The new Flat season kicks off with the first of three days top-class racing at Doncaster and it is John Dunlop who can once again take the opening day limelight.

Dupont has been handed the chance to take on fellow dual 2000 Guineas winner Rock Of Gibraltar at Royal Ascot next Tuesday.