Chris Ashton admitted he could not resist risking the wrath of coach Martin Johnson by celebrating two of his four tries with a swallow dive as England crushed Italy 59-13 at Twickenham.

ENGLAND’s defence coach Mike Ford last night dismissed the try-laden Tri-Nations as not being proper Test rugby.

ENGLAND centre Riki Flutey has agreed a three-year deal to rejoin his former club Wasps.

WITH four Top 14 sides in the Heineken Cup quarter-finals, this is shaping up to be the ‘Year of the French’ and it’s a surge sourced by economics off the pitch as much as élan or elbow grease on it.

NORMAL business resumes for Heineken Cup champions Leinster at the RDS tonight (6 pm) with the return of Jonathan Sexton and Shane Jennings to face Pool Six whipping boys Brive.

Brive coach Ugo Mola has included former Connacht lock Damien Browne in his side to tackle Leinster in the Heineken Cup at the RDS on Saturday.

London Irish 34 Brive 13

Brive will look to England fly-half Andy Goode to steer them to a win over Leinster in the Heineken Cup in France tomorrow afternoon.

LEINSTER learned some harsh lessons on their last European Cup trip to France and Kurt McQuilken is hoping they can use that experience to avoid a repeat on Saturday in Brive.

LEINSTER coach Michael Cheika will look to Munster’s Heineken Cup ‘bouncebackability’ as the champions bid to recover from a round one home defeat by London Irish at the RDS.

England have rewarded Chris Robshaw and Jordan Turner-Hall for their outstanding seasons by including them among six debutants for Saturday’s clash with the Barbarians.

Northampton 15 Bourgoin 3

England star Jonny Wilkinson is expected to be unveiled tonight as Toulon’s marquee signing for next season.

Iain Balshaw looks set to become the latest England international who will ply his trade in French club rugby next season.

Joe Worsley will make his first start for England since the group stages of the 2007 World Cup after being selected at open-side flanker for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations game against Wales.

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.

England 6 New Zealand 32

Martin Johnson has included four debutants — Delon Armitage, Ugo Monye, Riki Flutey and Nick Kennedy — in the England team to start against the Pacific Islanders on Saturday.

Martin Johnson has included four debutants – Delon Armitage, Ugo Monye, Riki Flutey and Nick Kennedy – in the England team to start against the Pacific Islanders on Saturday.

England manager Martin Johnson appeared to provide an early glimpse into his thinking ahead of a demanding autumn Test campaign by making eight players available for EDF Energy Cup action this weekend.

England have made wholesale changes to their back division for Saturday’s second Test against New Zealand.

New Zealand 37 England 20

Jonny Wilkinson has been named in the Newcastle side for Friday night’s European Challenge Cup semi-final against Worcester at Sixways.

England 33 Ireland 10

England 13 Ireland 10

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

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

England look to have avoided the injury scourge that has blighted their RBS 6 Nations campaign ahead of tomorrow’s showdown against France.

Shane Geraghty’s hopes of forcing his way into England contention for the RBS 6 Nations clash against France next Saturday could be dashed by injury.

Italy 19 England 23

JONNY WILKINSON has avoided the axe for England’s RBS Six Nations Championship clash against Italy in Rome on Sunday. The Newcastle out-half retains his place, despite producing a poor performance when England slumped 26-19 at home to Wales in their tournament opener.

Jonny Wilkinson has avoided the axe for England’s RBS 6 Nations Championship clash against Italy in Rome on Sunday.

Jonny Wilkinson looks set to clear a second major hurdle tomorrow by keeping his place in the England team for next Sunday’s RBS 6 Nations clash against Italy.

Newcastle head coach John Fletcher believes yesterday’s thrilling 22-19 triumph at Saracens showed Jonny Wilkinson exactly why he should remain in the north-east.

Newcastle 25 Brive 19

Brian Ashton looks set to break new ground during his 15-Test reign as England head coach later today – by naming an unchanged team.

MARTIN CORRY has declared England’s record World Cup defeat against South Africa must not be a “a terminal hammer blow” for the struggling Webb Ellis Trophy holders.

England have received a timely double boost ahead of their crucial World Cup clash against Samoa in Nantes next Saturday with Jonny Wilkinson and Olly Barkley both returning to the starting line-up.

England have summoned Newcastle back Toby Flood to join their World Cup squad.

England centre Jamie Noon has been ruled out of the remainder of the World Cup due to a knee ligament injury.

England could suffer a double World Cup injury setback during the next 24 hours. Full-back Jason Robinson and centre Jamie Noon are both battling to play any further part in the tournament.

England 15 France 21

David Strettle and Mike Tindall could both be ruled out of World Cup contention today when England boss Brian Ashton assesses his casualty list.