Cian Healy bristles at criticism of Ireland’s scrum and is eager to establish his own reputation by routing Martin Castrogiovanni at Croke Park on Saturday.

England international Matt Stevens is set to relaunch his rugby career with Saracens in 2011.

Clermont Auvergne 40 Leicester 30

YANN DAVID will earn just his second cap for France in Friday’s Test against world champions South Africa.

England have been dealt another major injury setback with the loss of World Cup winner Phil Vickery from their autumn Tests.

Leicester 32 Ospreys 32

Ospreys boss Scott Johnson has emphasised the need for discipline and patience when his star-studded Welsh challengers launch their Heineken Cup campaign at Leicester tomorrow.

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?

IN this War of Attrition, it was The Battle of the Breakdown that ultimately proved decisive, a battle just shaded by the Leinster pack.

Leicester 16 Leinster 19

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

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.

JERRY FLANNERY and Ronan O’Gara will be cheering on their biggest rivals in the Heineken Cup final, claiming that a Leinster victory would put the seal on a season when Irish rugby ranked alongside the best in the world.

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.

LEICESTER head coach Richard Cockerill is unconcerned about his side being underdogs for Sunday’s Heineken Cup semi-final with Cardiff Blues at the Millennium Stadium.

England 26 Scotland 12

ENGLAND have already been slapped on the wrist by the IRB for Brian Smith’s criticisms of one referee but Martin Johnson doesn’t expect the episode to have any bearing on how today’s game at Croke Park is officiated.

Wales 23 England 15

Andy Goode will make his first England appearance in over two years in Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash with Italy after being handed a surprise recall.

England prop Julian White found himself at the centre of an eye-gouging storm tonight - just a fortnight before this season's RBS 6 Nations Championship.

England boss Martin Johnson last night warned: “Illegal drug use cannot be tolerated.”

BATH look set to get tough with Matt Stevens after the England star’s drugs confession left his rugby career hanging by a thread.

Veteran Leicester prop Julian White has been called into England’s elite squad as a replacement for Matt Stevens.

Leicester 38 Perpignan 27

Leicester 12 Ospreys 6

Lawrence Dallaglio is free to play for Wasps once more after the Rugby Football Union backdated a one-week ban on the former England captain to include his punishment by Wasps.

Lawrence Dallaglio has been suspended for a week by his club Wasps.

Ireland international lock and London Irish captain Bob Casey has been cited for an alleged stamp on lock Cornelius van Zyl in the Round 6 Heineken Cup Pool 1 match against Benetton Treviso last Saturday.

Leicester 25 Leinster 9

GLOUCESTER boss Dean Ryanbelieves today’s Heineken Cup showdown against a star-studded Ospreys side “falls right into the top bracket” of European club rugby.

Leinster 22 Leicester Tigers 9

THE FIRST game of any Heineken Cup campaign is always one to whet the appetite, but Shane Jennings has added reason to count down the days to Saturday’s game ever since Leinster were paired with the Leicester Tigers last June.

England wing David Strettle’s World Cup hopes hang in the balance after he broke a metatarsal bone in his left foot during training.

MIKE TINDALL’S hopes of reviving his World Cup dream appear to be fading as England build towards their tournament warm-up Tests.

LEINSTER have reappointed Brian O’Driscoll as captain for the third consecutive year.

England’s World Cup preparations have suffered a setback after Leicester prop Julian White ruled himself out of the tournament.

Leicester 9 Wasps 25

Gloucester and Sale Sharks are expected to provide a large chunk of England boss Brian Ashton’s South Africa tour squad when it is announced at Twickenham later today.

LLANELLI SCARLETS have marched imperiously on Europe this season – but captain Simon Easterby believes they will need to “raise the bar” in today’s semi-final showdown against Leicester at the Walkers Stadium.

Leicester 21 Stade Francais 20

IF THERE was a Lions tour this summer, Eddie O’Sullivan would be nailed on as head coach after standing head and shoulders over his opposite numbers over the past few months.

BRIAN ASHTON believes England have been relegated to the “second division of world rugby” as they prepare for a Twickenham showdown with RBS Six6 Nations title favourites France.

England have suffered a triple injury blow for Sunday’s Six Nations showdown with title favourites France at Twickenham.