BIARRITZ centre Damien Traille has lost his battle to be fit for the Heineken Cup final after failing to recover in time from a fractured forearm.

THE fearsome masked presence afield of Imanol Harinordoquy in the Biarritz gutting of Munster reminded me of a page in the classic novel Ivanhoe where the chain-mail clad Crusader, during a lull in the battles, was having a peaceful conversation with a robed Saracen.

WHILE he may have the kind of French name Irish people may struggle to get their tongues around, there has never been any doubt as to Imanol Harinordoquy’s brilliance on the rugby pitch.

BIARRITZ and France international No.8 Imanol Harinordoquy is fit for Sunday’s Heineken Cup semi-final with Munster at San Sebastian.

RAPHAEL IBANEZ went through the whole range of emotions in the final heart-stopping minutes of France’s dramatic 46-19 success over Scotland, which clinched yet another RBS 6 Nations Championship title.

Raphael Ibanez went through the whole range of emotions in the final heart-stopping minutes of France’s dramatic 46-19 success over Scotland that clinched yet another RBS 6 Nations Championship title.

FRANCE Coach Bernard Laporte has made five changes to the team to play Ireland in the Six Nations in Dublin on Sunday from the one that hammered Italy 39-3 on the tournament’s opening weekend.

Imanol Harinordoquy has been named in the France team for the crucial RBS 6 Nations clash with England on Saturday.