Racing Metro coach Gonzalo Quesada has warned Harlequins to underestimate Munster at their peril in April’s Heineken Cup quarter-final.

Jonathan Sexton has been offered a sage piece of advice on his future by the coach of Racing Metro, one of the clubs he’s been linked with.

Munster head coach Rob Penney believes his team turned in a “compelling performance” in recording a bonus-point victory over Racing Metro in their Heineken Cup Pool One clash at Thomond Park.

No one will blame Munster and their red army of supporters for thinking tomorrow’s match against Racing Metro is already won, the points safely stowed away.

Tackling one of the most expensively compiled sides in France without a third of your first choice team in the intimidating surrounds of the Stade de France in this afternoon’s opening game of the new Heineken Cup campaign may well seem a bridge too far for a Munster team in transition.

As a goal-kicking Test fly-half, it is little wonder Racing-Metro head coach Gonzalo Quesada should give a nod to the most prolific number 10 in Heineken Cup history.

Munster head coach Rob Penney has received the best possible antidote to the province’s injury woes after Paul O’Connell declared himself fit to face Racing Metro at Stade de France tomorrow.

Leinster coach Joe Schmidt has told Munster they can all but guarantee themselves at least eight invaluable pool points by beating Racing Metro 92 in their Heineken Cup opener.

It may be cold enough here in Paris to leave eskimos pining for the frozen tundra of their homelands but the hot air currently being generated by French rugby folk more than compensates for the polar conditions.

PIERRE BERBIZIER has been confirmed as the new head coach of the Italian national team.

Stade Francais have added Los Pumas Agustin Pichot and Juan Martin Hernandez to their side for the return date with Ulster at Ravenhill on Saturday afternoon.

Cardiff 15 Stade Francais 38

NOT a single member of the 10,000-plus Irish people who bit their fingernails to the bone and sat on the edge of their seats in the Adelaide Oval last Sunday will fail to recall one particularly heart-stopping moment in the second half.

Ireland marched proudly into the World Cup quarter-finals and banished the ghosts of 1999 as they beat Argentina 16-15 in a thrilling match in Adelaide today.

Argentina are back to within a point of Ireland with a Gonzalo Quesada penalty goal.

Gonzalo Quesada has missed a penalty goal to leave the scoreline unchanged in the opening minutes of the second half.

Gonzalo Quesada adds three more points to Argentine tally wth a penalty goal.

Gonzalo Quesada has put Argentina on the scoreboard ahead of Ireland in today's critical Pool A clash.

Ireland come face to face with World Cup Pool A rivals Argentina today bidding to avenge their infamous defeat in Lens four years ago.

Fate does not always throw up the opportunity for redemption but Ireland get their chance when they take on Argentina in their World Cup pool match in Adelaide tomorrow.

AT long last, it’s time for the talking to stop and the real action to begin.

Argentina named superstar scrum-half and captain Agustin Pichot to play in the crucial pool match against Ireland in Adelaide on Sunday, even though the Stade Francais star was unable to train at all on Friday.

Ireland captain and hooker Keith Wood is shutting out talk of defeat in the past and retirement in the future to focus on the fierce personal battle he faces in the World Cup pool match against Argentina in Adelaide on Sunday.

Argentina 50 Romania 3

Argentina coach Marcelo Loffreda has again blasted the World Cup organising committee.

Romanian skipper Romeo Gontineac has admitted his team must get their heads sorted if they are to stand any chance of shocking Argentina at Aussie Stadium tomorrow.

World Cup outsiders Namibia raised the roof at Gosford tonight with a defiant performance against highly-rated Argentina.

Argentina captain Agustin Pichot would not be surprised to see Australia lift the World Cup in Sydney next month.

Eighty thousand expectant Australians have been warned - Argentina are out to spoil your party.

Argentina coaches Marcelo Loffreda and Daniel Baetti have included full-back Ignacio Corleto in the line-up to play Australia in the Rugby World Cup opening match on Friday.

RUGBY World Cup squads yet to make the trip to Australia should heed the warnings of Argentina who were the first team to arrive Down Under.

KEVIN MAGGS does not expect to be the centre of attention during Ireland’s World Cup campaign — and that is the just the way he likes it.

The Argentine Rugby Union have officially confirmed that Martin Gaitan will replace Lisandro Arbizu in the squad for next month’s World Cup.

SEVERAL of the French players who line-up against the All Blacks next Saturday won’t just be playing for their country’s honour but for world cup places, coach Bernard Laporte said.

Gonzalo Quesada’s injury-time drop goal gave Argentina a narrow 33-32 victory over France in the second and final Test of the series in Buenos Aires.

Leicester 53 Beziers 10

Defending Heineken Cup champions Leicester secured a valuable 24-12 away victory at Beziers.

IRISH rugby has experienced more than its fair share of low points. Forget a dark night of the soul, the men in green have been through enough black moments to put them back to back and form an annus horribilis.

WORLD champions Australia take on Argentina tonight (11.15pm Irish time) looking to avoid a repeat of the embarrassing defeat they suffered at the hands of the Pumas when they last played in South America five years ago.