LEICESTER boss Richard Cockerill watched the injury-ravaged Tigers earn a pulsating Heineken Cup draw with the Ospreys and hailed: “You can buy a team but you can’t buy spirit”.

Leicester 32 Ospreys 32

British and Irish Lions boss Ian McGeechan has made wholesale changes for Saturday's final Test against world champions South Africa.

THE British and Irish Lions were denied a 100% non-Test record in dramatic fashion in wet and windy Newlands last night – hit with an injury time seven-pointer after an indifferent, error-ridden, display.

Five Irish players, including captain Paul O'Connell, have been named by head coach Ian McGeechan on the British and Irish Lions team to face South Africa in the first Test match in Durban on Saturday.

LIONS assistant backs coach Rob Howley yesterday admitted that Irish trio Jerry Flannery, Stephen Ferris and Tomas O’Leary would have made their mark at Test level on this tour but for injury.

WHILE Ian McGeechan will officially announce the Lions side for the opening test in Durban at lunchtime tomorrow, this is the day that will make or break the aspirations and dreams of all within the Lions playing party.

DONNCHA O’Callaghan isn’t easily knocked for six, but British and Irish Lions coach Ian McGeechan managed to skittle him yesterday when he appointed him as captain of the team to meet the Southern Kings later today.

Donncha O’Callaghan has described being appointed British and Irish Lions captain as the biggest honour of his life.

Ireland lock Donncha O'Callaghan has been given the honour of leading the British & Irish Lions against Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth on Tuesday.

Graham Rowntree is adamant he will not “fall into the trap” of billing Andrew Sheridan as a player who could single-handedly destroy South Africa’s scrum.

LIONS coach Ian McGeechan will draw up his team for the first test following tomorrow’s clash against a newly-formed Southern Kings side in Port Elizabeth.

The British and Irish Lions could have a clean bill of health heading into next Saturday's first Test against world champions South Africa.

Western Province 23 British and Irish Lions 26

Scotland scrum-half Mike Blair has been ruled out of the British and Irish Lions’ tour clash against Western Province at Newlands today.

Englishman Phil Vickery is to captain the British and Irish Lions against Western Province tomorrow, the fifth game of their South African tour..

Leigh Halfpenny will get a belated first taste of action for the British and Irish Lions in tomorrow’s clash with the Cheetahs after finally being passed fit to join the squad in South Africa.

Brian O’Driscoll is ready to have his ’A game’ with him on arrival in South Africa today for the eagerly-awaited British and Irish Lions tour.

WAS this one match too many for Leicester? In a season that ended with several consecutive big games, all of them knockout games, hugely physical games, games that went to the wire – even beyond, on one notable occasion, the extra-time/extra-time penalty shootout Heineken Cup semi-final win over Cardiff Blues – was this a bridge too far for the Tigers?

Leicester Tigers coach Richard Cockerill recalls Alesana Tuilagi and Martin Castrogiovanni to the team for Saturday's Heineken Cup Final against Leinster at Murrayfield.

NO-ONE would have taken too much notice of a certain Julien Dupuy going through the pre-match ritual of passing and kicking drills with Biarritz’s Dimitri Yachvili before the 2006 Heineken Cup final.

The phoney war has begun in earnest ahead of Saturday’s full-blooded Heineken Cup battle with both Leinster and Leicester insistent the other team are favourites.

LEINSTER scrum-half Chris Whitaker wants to make a winning departure from the province with this weekend’s Heineken Cup final, and he backs fellow Australian Rocky Elsom to make a significant contribution to the Irish side’s chances of beating Leicester this weekend in Edinburgh.

LEINSTER coach Michael Cheika is a straight-talking Aussie who would evidently lose it if he suspected even a scintilla of complacency in the camp ahead of Saturday’s final of the Heineken Cup at Murrayfield.

Ian McGeechan confirmed he will not be replacing injured centre Tom Shanklin as the 2009 British and Irish Lions squad met for the first time today without two other significant names.

Paul O'Connell and 28 of his fellow Lions are gathering in England today ahead of their upcoming tour of South Africa.

Cardiff Blues 26 Leicester 26 (Leicester won 7-6 on penalties)

Tom Shanklin anticipates a nervous month in the build-up towards this summer’s British and Irish Lions tour.

TOBY FLOOD believes Leicester’s presence at the business end of the Heineken Cup has more than justified his move from his beloved Newcastle Falcons.

British and Irish Lions head coach Ian McGeechan today admitted it could be two weeks before he names a replacement for scrum-half Tomas O’Leary.

Munster scrum half Tomas O’Leary has been ruled out of the Lions tour to South Africa after breaking his ankle in the Magners League match against Scarlets last night.

IRELAND’S Grand Slam-winning Lions have already pocketed an extra €90,000 each from their remarkable on-field successes this year.

ENGLAND legend, Dean Richards, believes Ronan O’Gara should be the Lions test-match out-half against South Africa this summer, describing the Munster and Ireland No 10 as someone who can deliver in high pressure situations.

HARRY ELLIS is ready to resume his ride on rugby’s “roller-coaster” when Leicester meet Bath in today’s Heineken Cup quarter-final.

England 26 Scotland 12

England 34 France 10

TOBY Flood hopped back on England’s fly-half merry-go-round yesterday after replacing Andy Goode in the team to face Ireland at Croke Park on Saturday.

Wales have given Ryan Jones, Gavin Henson and Shane Williams extra time to recover fitness ahead of their “massive game” against England on Saturday.

England 36 Italy 11

JAMIE NOON has answered England’s latest injury SOS and will start against Italy in the RBS 6 Nations opener at Twickenham today after Mike Tindall was ruled out with a back injury.

Jamie Noon is ready to answer England’s latest injury SOS and replace Mike Tindall in the team to play Italy at Twickenham tomorrow.

THOSE harbouring ambitions of playing a part in the RBS 6 Nations will be hoping to impress their respective national coaches in tonight’s intriguing Ireland A-England Saxons tie at Donnybrook (kick-off 7.35pm).

Harry Ellis will start at scrum-half for England against Italy on Saturday after Danny Care failed to recover from an ankle injury.

DANNY CIPRIANI is one of six capped players named in the England Saxons side to face Ireland A at Donnybrook. The Wasps fly-half was sent down to the Saxons by Martin Johnson earlier this week in the hope of him rediscovering some of his form, away from the pressures of the 6 Nations.