Forwards coach Graham Rowntree is determined to make life even tougher for England’s new Rugby Football Union chief executive Ian Ritchie as he prepares the Red Rose to face Ireland at Twickenham.

Leinster 25 Montpellier 3

IT was Leinster’s misfortune that they were chosen to share the stage with Montpellier when they made their bow in the Heineken Cup last November and they ultimately did well to fly home with a share of the spoils.

New France coach Philippe Saint-Andre has included two uncapped players in his provisional 30-man squad for the RBS 6 Nations.

WHAT didn’t kill Johnny Sexton’s resolve has clearly strengthened it.

Leinster head coach Joe Schmidt was not surprised that Jonathan Sexton held his nerve to salvage a 16-16 draw with the last kick of a pulsating game against Montpellier.

Montpellier 16 Leinster 16

WHATEVER about the final score against New Zealand a few weeks ago, the 2011 World Cup will go down as a personal disappointment for Montpellier’s Fulgence Ouedraogo.

THE enormity of what Leinster achieved in last season’s Heineken Cup can only be fully appreciated through the quality they dispatched on the way to lifting the trophy for the second time in three seasons.

AS the eldest of eight children, Marc Lievremont’s robust style in coaching the French rugby squad should perhaps surprise nobody.

France coach Marc Lievremont has made true on his promise to ring the changes for this weekend's return friendly against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium, by making 13 changes to the side that started in Bordeaux on Saturday.

ENGLAND centre Riki Flutey admits Wasps are “hurting” ahead of tonight’s Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final clash against London rivals Harlequins.

BIG games, big clashes and a big prize at the end of it all — the Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-finals look set to provide some classic contests right out of the top drawer of European action.

France coach Marc Lievremont has sprung a major surprise ahead of his side’s RBS 6 Nations opener against Scotland in Paris by picking Damien Traille at full-back and leaving star centre Yannick Jauzion out of his matchday 22.

Fulgence Ouedraogo earned a reprieve today when he was recalled to the France squad to face Australia by coach Marc Lievremont.

France coach Marc Lievremont has made two changes to his side to face Australia on Saturday, bringing flanker Fulgence Ouedraogo and full-back Jerome Porical into his starting line-up.

France number eight Imanol Harinordoquy has been dropped from the squad for next weekend’s Test with Australia.

RYAN JONES readily admits Wales have been on an emotional rollercoaster during this season’s Six Nations Championship.

France hooker William Servat has warned his team-mates against the danger of underestimating Wales ahead of tomorrow night’s RBS 6 Nations clash at the Millennium Stadium.

France centre Yannick Jauzion has urged his team-mates to maintain their focus ahead of Friday night’s game against Wales as they bid to continue their march to the RBS 6 Nations title.

FRANCE will bid to enhance their place at the top of the RBS 6 Nations Championship table when they play Wales on Friday night.

France coach Marc Lievremont has made two enforced changes for Les Bleus’ RBS 6 Nations clash against Wales in Cardiff on Friday night.

France’s injury problems continue with the news that Fulgence Ouedraogo and Sylvain Marconnet have been replaced by Alexandre Lapandry and Clement Baiocco respectively.

HISTORY beckons for an elite band of Irish sportsmen in the Stade de France this evening.

Connacht will have to deal with an understrength Montpellier in the Challenge Cup at The Sportsground tomorrow.

France 12 New Zealand 39

NEW ZEALAND rugby coach Graham Henry has made three changes from the team that beat England 19-6 for Saturday’s Test against France in Marseille.

France coach Marc Lievremont today made four changes to his squad for Saturday’s Test against New Zealand in Marseille.

FEARS for the welfare of France centre Mathieu Bastareaud are growing after it was revealed that the 20-year-old has been hospitalised suffering from serious psychological problems, according to his club, Stade Francais.

Leicester scrum-half Julien Dupuy has been called up by France for the first time ahead of Les Bleus’ summer tour to the southern hemisphere.

Sebastien Chabal will return to France’s back row for Sunday’s RBS 6 Nations Championship match against England at Twickenham.

ENGLAND boss Martin Johnson yesterday warned his ill-disciplined players he is ready to wield the axe ahead of next week’s RBS 6 Nations clash with France.

France have made four changes in personnel to their 23-man squad for the RBS 6 Nations Championship match against England at Twickenham on Sunday week.

France head coach Marc Lievremont has taken a major gamble by selecting Benoit Baby at fly-half for Friday’s RBS 6 Nations match against Wales in Paris.

Scotland flanker Kelly Brown insists he was wrongly denied a try during his side’s RBS 6 Nations defeat in Paris.

Clement Poitrenaud has called on France’s critics to give the team more time to adapt to their new ambitious approach.

France head coach Marc Lievremont could not hide his frustration despite seeing his team kickstart their RBS 6 Nations campaign with a 22-13 victory over Scotland in Paris.

Injured prop Euan Murray admitted Scotland were made to pay for basic errors as they crashed to their second RBS 6 Nations defeat in seven days.

France 22 Scotland 13

France head coach Marc Lievremont will go with an unchanged squad for next weekend’s RBS 6 Nations match against Scotland in Paris.

France head coach Marc Lievremont has named just one recognised fly-half in his provisional 30-man squad for a three-day training camp ahead of the RBS 6 Nations Championship.

Sebastien Tillous-Borde and Sebastien Chabal have been drafted into France’s starting XV for Saturday’s Test against Australia in Paris.

TOULOUSE are also struggling for momentum going into the Heineken Cup final. Guy Noves’ side lost 17-15 in the French Top 14 at Montpellier yesterday.

Wales won their second Grand Slam and RBS 6 Nations title in four seasons after record-breaker Shane Williams struck gold at the Millennium Stadium.