Almost half a century has come and gone since Europe last belonged to Glasgow, when Jock Stein’s famously home-spun Celtic Bhoys beat Inter Milan in the 1967 final.

Jonny Wilkinson has capped a triumphant Heineken Cup campaign with Toulon by being named European player of the year.

Leinster and Ireland forward Jamie Heaslip has been nominated for the 2013 European Player of the Year award.

As a Lions candidate in a position already over-subscribed by Test captains, let alone internationals, Tommy O’Donnell may have bolted just a little too late with his standout performance in Montpellier at the weekend.

In a wonderful contest made even better by the colour and pageantry of the rival fans, the only silence on the day came when Clermont captain Julien Bonnaire addressed the massive Clermont hordes, ten minutes after this Heineken Cup semi-final.

Clermont Auvergne 16 Munster 10

It was around midnight on Saturday when the first of the cars, horns blaring and flags flying, pulled off the A75 and headed towards the centre of Clermont-Ferrand.

“Sizzled, suffered, then won” – that was how L’Equipe chose to set the tone for what was a day of high drama at the Stade de la Mosson on Saturday.

Clermont Auvergne coach Vern Cotter yesterday played down the loss of his captain Aurelien Rougerie and flanker Gerhard Vosloo for today’s Heineken Cup semi-final.

He speaks of a new adversary in glowing terms, but Munster’s Peter O’Mahony hopes not to yield an inch of ground to Clermont Auvergne’s experienced flanker Julien Bonnaire.

Paul O’Connell last night described Saturday’s Heineken Cup semi-final against raging hot favourites Clermont Auvergne as the biggest challenge he has faced in a Munster jersey.

Clermont Auvergne travel to Dublin on a three-pronged mission later this week.

Isa Nacewa admits Leinster and Clermont Auvergne know each other so well their crunch Heineken Cup meeting on Sunday is almost a derby fixture.

WITH five of the eight quarter-finalists coming from Ireland and France it appears strange that the national sides of both are left disappointed with mid-table finishes in the northern hemisphere’s trophy international tournament.

Wales 16 France 9

France 22 England 24

France 17 Ireland 17

Circumstances have changed but Ireland can find success in Paris this weekend.

This is the part in the movies where one actor surveys the scene and remarks that things are quiet, too quiet. So be it. Right now, quiet is good.

So back we go to Stade de France, where the pitch has thawed since that icy debacle of three weekends ago and the intrigue surrounding this RBS 6 Nations clash tomorrow between France and Ireland (3pm, Irish time) has increased considerably.

France have made two changes to the side that beat Scotland last time out for their rearranged RBS 6 Nations game with Ireland on Sunday in Paris.

France have made two changes to the side that beat Scotland last time out for their rearranged RBS 6 Nations game with Ireland on Sunday.

France flanker Imanol Harinordoquy anticipates Scotland will provide a much sterner test for the Rugby World Cup finalists than many observers are anticipating in tomorrow’s RBS 6 Nations clash at Murrayfield.

France coach Philippe Saint-Andre has not made any changes to his matchday squad for the RBS 6 Nations clash with Scotland at Murrayfield on February 26.

France scrum-half Dimitri Yachvili has been ruled out of Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash against Ireland in Paris with a back problem.

France have brought Imanol Harinordoquy into their team for Saturday’s Six Nations home clash against Ireland in one of four changes to the starting lineup from last weekend’s victory over Italy.

France have promoted Imanol Harinordoquy to their starting line-up as one of four changes for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash with Ireland.

New France coach Philippe Saint-Andre has included two uncapped players in his provisional 30-man squad for the RBS 6 Nations.

CLERMONT AUVERGNE picked up their first win of this season’s Heineken Cup in some style as they put Aironi to the sword in a one-sided clash at Stade Marcel Michelin last night.

Clermont Auvergne 54 Aironi 3

DEFLATED French hooker Dimitri Szarzewski claimed his side were “playing 15 against 16” in their Rugby World Cup final defeat against New Zealand due to the passionate home support in Auckland.

Israel Dagg has revealed New Zealand’s sense of “great relief” at ending a 24-year wait to be crowned world champions.

1. Half-back mastery

MARTIN JOHNSON insists England’s preparations for tomorrow’s clash with Romania will not be thrown off course by the arrival in Dunedin of Zara Phillips.

France coach Marc Lievremont has made true on his promise to ring the changes for this weekend's return friendly against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium, by making 13 changes to the side that started in Bordeaux on Saturday.

Sebastien Chabal was one of six players dropped from the France squad tonight as coach Marc Lievremont held true to his promise of making changes following yesterday’s defeat to Italy.

France were looking for a big win against Italy in Rome to keep alive their hopes of retaining their RBS 6 Nations title.

Sebastien Chabal has retained his place in the France XV for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash in Italy.

JULIEN BONNAIRE has promised there will be no fear in the France ranks when Marc Lievremont’s troops run out at Twickenham tomorrow.

France tonight suffered a blow to their preparations for Saturday’s clash with England when full-back Maxime Medard was ruled out.

Julien Bonnaire has promised there will be no fear in the France ranks when Marc Lievremont’s troops run out at Twickenham on Saturday.

FRANCE coach Marc Lievremont insists the changes made to his side for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations match with England are based on squad rotation rather than any special measures designed to outfox Martin Johnson’s men.

France coach Marc Lievremont insists the changes made to his side for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations match with England are based on squad rotation rather than any special measures designed to outfox Martin Johnson’s men.