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.

WALES wing George North made a try-scoring return from injury as the Scarlets ended a run of six straight defeats in all competitions with a narrow Magners League victory at Parc y Scarlets.

ANDREW CONWAY marked his first Magners League game of the season with a fine try and some memorable cameos as Leinster’s young guns helped secure a hard-fought win over battling Edinburgh at the RDS on Saturday.

MUNSTER cast aside their pre-match nerves to secure their first win outside Ireland for over a year with a deserved victory over Edinburgh at Murrayfield last night in the second round of the Magners League, to make it two from two in the competition.

MUNSTER coach Tony McGahan clearly sees stability as the key to Magners League success this season.

Former Munster prop Timmy Ryan has made the replacements bench on the Toulon squad to play Cardiff Blues in the Amlin Challenge Cup final in Marseilles tomorrow.

Toulon centre Felipe Contepomi has returned to the Argentina squad for the Pumas’ Tests against Scotland and France.

Toulon coach Phillippe Saint-Andre has included a host of star names, like Jonny Wilkinson and Tana Umaga, in his 27-man squad to play Connacht in the Challenge Cup semi-final at The Sportsground on Friday night.

MARTIN JOHNSON has warned that England will be in “big trouble” if they fail to improve before New Zealand arrive at Twickenham for the final Investec Challenge clash of the autumn next Saturday.

ENGLAND rugby coach Martin Johnson has denied rugby has a drug culture and claimed players are aware of the consequences if they take prohibited substances.

Argentina coach Santiago Phelan has made five changes to his starting XV for Saturday‘s Test against Ireland at Croke Park.

ARGENTINA coach Marcelo Loffreda has been forced to ring the changes for tomorrow’s second Test with Ireland.

Argentina coach Marcelo Loffreda has been forced into a string of changes for Saturday’s second Test with Ireland.

Argentina head coach Marcelo Loffreda has confirmed the 22-man squad to face Ireland next Saturday in Buenos Aires.

A GOOD start, maintain the tempo, control the football, be accurate and disciplined and don’t be intimidated by a partisan crowd – these will be some of Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan orders to his team as the first of two “trials” ahead of Rugby World Cup 2007 kicks off at the Estadio Brigadier Estanislao Lopez del Barrio Centenario in Santa Fe later today (kick off 8:10pm Irish time).

LEINSTER fly-half Felipe Contepomi will captain Argentina in the first test against Ireland in Santa Fe on Saturday.

Prop Pablo Federico Cardinali has been called up to Argentina’s 22-man squad for the two Test series against Ireland after Pablo Gambarini was forced to withdraw through injury.