WITH just two days separating the games against Connacht and France, Declan Kidney’s resources were always going to be stretched this week, so yesterday’s injury update from Carton House was timely and welcome in equal measure.

Leinster 32 Toulouse 23

A HEINEKEN CUP semi-final was not at the top of Joe Schmidt’s list of priorities when he started the season as Leinster’s new head coach.

Biarritz 20 Toulouse 27

GLASGOW WARRIORS’ French misery continued as their European dreams were shattered following a 36-10 loss to Toulouse last night.

A SLOPPY first-half defensive showing from Glasgow at Firhill allowed holders Toulouse to take control of Pool Six in the Heineken Cup.

Glasgow Warriors 16 Toulouse 28

WASPS head coach Tony Hanks was proud of his players after the London club came close to pulling off a shock victory at the reigning Heineken Cup champions.

Ireland 23 Barbarians 29

MARTIN JOHNSON admitted England must become smarter after suffering a second-half collapse in yesterday’s 35-26 victory over the Barbarians.

THE waiting is over.

Toulouse 26 Leinster 16

BYRON KELLEHER has warned three-time Heineken Cup champions Toulouse to raise their level of performance despite a crushing 42-16 quarter-final win over rivals Stade Francais at Le Stadium yesterday.

Toulouse 42 Stade Francais 16

SALE director of rugby Kingsley Jones felt poor discipline had cost his side victory against Toulouse at Edgeley Park.

Toulouse 33 Harlequins 21

WORLD champions South Africa suffered a second successive loss on their northern hemisphere tour as France triumphed in Toulouse last night.

BYRON KELLEHER admits Toulouse are still smarting from their 2008 Heineken Cup defeat to Munster as they chase a fourth European title.

SOUTH AFRICA rugby bosses face one inevitable downside to their national side’s series win over the Lions – their best players’ appearance in the shop window makes them prime targets for British and French clubs.

New Zealand 14 France 10

Italy 8 France 50

FRANCE are taking inspiration from Wales’ attacking model as they attempt to settle on their own style for the RBS 6 Nations Championship, according to Les Bleus winger Cedric Heymans.

Ireland enter their 2009 RBS 6 nations opener against France today in the unusual position of being favourites for the fixture.

Toulouse 26 Newport Gwent Dragons 7

Munster returned to the Millennium Stadium targeting a repeat of their greatest European day and a second Heineken Cup title in three seasons.

LONDON IRISH coach Toby Booth felt his side squandered a golden opportunity to reach their first Heineken Cup final with Saturday’s 21-15 defeat by Toulouse.

London Irish 15 Toulouse 21

CARDIFF BLUES coach Dai Young believes Toulouse can go all the way to a fourth Heineken Cup title after his side were taken apart 41-17 at Le Stadium.

Toulouse 41 Cardiff Blues 17

TOBY FLOOD openly admits he is enduring a week from hell as England prepare to complete their failed RBS 6 Nations campaign.

France have recalled scrum-half Jean-Baptiste Elissalde but named utility back Cedric Heymans on the bench for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations Championship title decider against Wales in Cardiff.

England arrive in Paris seeking a first Six Nations victory at Stade de France for eight years today.

England boss Brian Ashton has identified the RBS 6 Nations clash against tournament favourites France as “a big, big game” for some of his team.

Scrum-half Morgan Parra will make his first start for France in Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations Championship match against England in Paris.

VINCENT CLERC was hailed as Moses by team-mate Cedric Heymans following his three-try haul against Ireland.

FRANCE head coach Marc Lievremont maintains the second-half implosion against Ireland should not cloud the overall impression of his side’s progress during the first two rounds of the RBS 6 Nations Championship.

RONAN O’GARA’S vast international experience and his leadership role with Munster, made him the right man to address the Irish troops prior to the game against France.

Ronan O’Gara feels Ireland have regained some credibility with their agonising 26-21 RBS 6 Nations defeat by France – but he refuses to celebrate failure.

France 26 Ireland 21

Vincent Clerc’s hat-trick of tries left France in front by 19-6 at half-time in their RBS 6 Nations Championship clash against below-par Ireland in Paris.

AS CHAMPIONSHIP openers go, last weekend’s games produced sufficient talking points to whet the appetite of what lies ahead. Two away wins for Wales and France bucked the trend of most tournaments, particularly the Heineken Cup, where victories on the road are so hard to come by.

NEW-LOOK France got their RBS 6 Nations Championship campaign off to the perfect start with an impressive victory against lacklustre Scotland at Murrayfield.

MARC LIEVREMONT didn’t take long to usher in a new dawn in French rugby yesterday by naming six uncapped players in a much-changed squad for the Six Nations Championship opener against Scotland.

Leinster 20 Toulouse 13