Scotland and Edinburgh prop Allan Jacobsen has retired from international rugby, the Scottish Rugby Union has announced.

Irish drivers, Robert Barrable and Keith Cronin had contrastingfortunes in their respective outings in the Barum Czech Rally Zlin (Czech Republic) and Rallye Terre de Lozere (France).

As the last step along the road to a Heineken Cup final, this was not the procession many believed Ulster would enjoy against Edinburgh on Saturday.

Edinburgh captain Greig Laidlaw hailed the record-breaking Murrayfield crowd for helping them over the line in their “exhausting” Heineken Cup win over four-times champions Toulouse.

Edinburgh 19 Toulouse 14

Scotland wing Rory Lamont suffered a suspected broken leg in the 23-17 RBS 6 Nations loss to France at Murrayfield yesterday.

Full-back Stuart Hogg will make his first Test start today as Scotland look to revive their RBS 6 Nations campaign against Rugby World Cup finalists France.

Wales head coach Warren Gatland hailed the maturity of his side after seeing them take a second step on the road to a potential RBS 6 Nations Triple Crown with a 27-13 victory over Scotland at the Millennium Stadium yesterday.

PHIL GODMAN kicked a last-minute drop-goal for Edinburgh last night to clinch victory over Racing Metro and keep them at the top of Pool 2 in the Heineken Cup.

ULSTER produced a workmanlike performance studded with occasional flashes of brilliance to take all five RaboDirect Pro12 points against a below-par Edinburgh at windswept Murrayfield.

DAN PARKS kicked 20 points as Cardiff Blues maintained their unbeaten start to the Heineken Cup and leapfrogged Edinburgh to go top of Pool Two at Cardiff City Stadium last night.

EDINBURGH continued their run of impressive form as they racked up seven tries against RaboDirect Pro12 basement side Aironi at Murrayfield.

TIM VISSER’S try double earned Edinburgh a sensational Heineken Cup Pool Two success over Racing Metro at Murrayfield last night.

SCOTLAND’S dejected players immediately turned their attentions to beating England in Auckland on Saturday after a loss to Argentina left them facing World Cup elimination.

Scotland’s dejected players immediately turned their attentions to beating England in Auckland next Saturday after a loss to Argentina which left them facing World Cup elimination.

A TRY in the 77th minute by Scotland centre Joe Ansbro lit up the leaden Edinburgh sky to give his side a World Cup boost at Murrayfield on Saturday.

Sweden’s Fredrik Jacobsen shot a seven-under-par 63 to leap to the top of the Travelers Championship at Cromwell, Connecticut.

Carlton Cole will make his 100th Premier League start for West Ham today as they look to move off the bottom with a victory over fellow strugglers Blackburn at Upton Park.

AS a symbol of West Ham’s season it was just about perfect.

Manchester City 2 West Ham 1

Scott Parker is set to miss West Ham’s vital Premier League clash at Manchester City on Sunday.

West Ham 1 Aston Villa 2

Midfielder Scott Parker is a doubt for West Ham ahead of their Barclays Premier League clash with Aston Villa at Upton Park.

West Ham manager Avram Grant will serve the first match of a touchline ban during tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League clash at Bolton.

Tottenham 0 West Ham 0

Scotland were today aiming to avoid the RBS 6 Nations wooden spoon in their clash with Italy at Murrayfield.

West Ham will be without striker Robbie Keane for tomorrow’s crunch Barclays Premier League clash at London rivals Tottenham.

IF ENGLAND wanted to dampen expectations that they will claim their first Grand Slam in eight years in Dublin next weekend then they did rather a good job of it at Twickenham yesterday.

Stoke manager Tony Pulis made four changes for the FA Cup quarter-final visit of West Ham as he sought revenge for last week’s Premier League defeat against the same opposition.

West Ham have no fresh injury worries for the visit of Stoke in the Barclays Premier League.

IT WAS not the performance Ireland would have wished for but Declan Kidney’s side just about got back to winning ways at Murrayfield yesterday.

Head coach Andy Robinson was unhappy with the refereeing of Nigel Owens as Scotland fell to a 21-18 RBS 6 Nations loss to Ireland at Murrayfield.

Ronan O’Gara will line up opposite Ruaridh Jackson as Ireland take on Scotland in the RBS 6 Nations at Murrayfield today.

Steven Gerrard returned to lead Liverpool out at West Ham today after missing their last three matches with a groin injury.

Matthew Upson (Achilles) took part in a light training session today but is unlikely to be involved in West Ham’s game against Liverpool on Sunday.

THOMAS HITZLSPERGER hailed a fantastic night for himself and West Ham after helping fire them to a 5-1 FA Cup win over Burnley on his debut.

West Ham will give a debut to Thomas Hitzlsperger in their FA Cup fifth round clash with Burnley on Monday.

West Ham will give a late fitness test to calf injury victim Robbie Keane before deciding whether to include him in their squad for tomorrow’s clash with relegation rivals West Brom.

Winston Reid replaced the injured Danny Gabbidon in defence for West Ham as they looked to climb out of the relegation zone with a vital win over fellow strugglers Birmingham at Upton Park.

Avram Grant will wait to see strikers Frederic Piquionne and Carlton Cole in a late training session before naming his side for Sunday’s clash against Birmingham.

ROBBIE KEANE struck a debut goal and Victor Obinna hit two more as West Ham climbed off the bottom of the Barclays Premier League last night.