France 38 Romania 11: If Ireland had allowed any complacency to creep into their minds ahead of Sunday’s clash with Romania then this will have surely eradicated it.

France coach Philippe Saint-Andre has left out fly-half Francois Trinh-Ducfrom his 31-man World Cup squad, in favour of Frederic Michalak.

Clermont Auvergne 27 Northampton Saints 5: Nick Abendanon hopes his stellar evening against Northampton has offered England additional reason to soften their stance on selecting overseas-based players.

Stuart Lancaster is convinced England can win the World Cup despite presiding over a fourth successive runners-up finish in the RBS 6 Nations.

What a day of rugby!

Italy 0 France 29

France 13 Wales 20

France 15 Scotland 8: They put a brave face on it but it was evident from the shrugs and pouts that a hard-fought tryless 15-8 victory over a feisty Scotland in Paris was not quite enough for the French. 

Leigh Halfpenny says Wales will carry their Twickenham "hurt" of last season into tomorrow night’s RBS 6 Nations opener against England.

AUTUMN INTERNATIONAL:

Saracens 30 Clermont Auvergne 23

Clermont 22 Leicester 16

France 30 Italy 10

France 26 England 24

Clermont Auvergne 28 Racing Metro 3

Clermont Auvergne 23 Harlequins 13

French hooker Benjamin Kayser, who is trying to reach a Heineken Cup final with a third club, believes that Munster’s experience in the competition will ensure that Clermont will not underestimate them in tomorrow’s semi-final.

Clermont Auvergne 36 Montpellier 14

Courtney Lawes is ready to strike fear into the French ‘bully boys’ when he is unleashed from the England back row for the first time.

France 6 Wales 16

Girls were kissed, faces and even rear ends were painted, and despite all the beer and the match beatings, Poznan will be sorry to see the back of the Irish.

Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall put English rugby’s European failure down to the gulf in the salary cap between the Aviva Premiership and the rest.

ULSTER boss Brian McLaughlin was a man of mixed emotions on Saturday.

GLASGOW WARRIORS maintained their pursuit of Leinster in Heineken Cup Pool Three with a 20-15 victory over Montpellier at Firhill.

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.

STADE FRANCAIS seized the initiative in Heineken Cup Pool Four with victory over Ulster at Stade Jean Bouin.

Stade Francais 29 Ulster 16

STADE FRANCAIS could face the wrath of the citing commissioner following a controversial finish to Saturday’s Heineken Cup Pool Four classic against Ulster at Ravenhill.

ENGLAND romped to their most emphatic victory over France since the glory days of 2003 as Martin Johnson’s under-fire side enjoyed a staggering return to form at Twickenham.

Ireland enter their 2009 RBS 6 nations opener against France today in the unusual position of being favourites for the fixture.

LEICESTER coach Heyneke Meyer hailed a “brilliant” performance by Toby Flood after Tigers launched their Heineken Cup campaign with victory over the Ospreys at Welford Road.

LEICESTER captain Martin Corry admits his side’s Heineken Cup hopes are “out of their hands” after sinking to a 22-11 defeat in Toulouse.

Argentina captain Agustin Pichot could join current Pumas coach Marcelo Loffreda at Leicester next season after claiming he has been approached by the English giants.

LEICESTER kept alive their hopes of an unprecedented trophy treble by stunning French Championship leaders Stade Francais to book a place in the Heineken Cup semi-finals.

SALE director of rugby Phillipe Saint-Andre insisted his side’s Heineken Cup hopes remains alive after beating Stade Francais at Edgeley Park.

A Pakistani woman whose daughter’s carry-on luggage caused an airport to shut down for nine and a half hours says it was her ethnic background, not a few bottles of suspicious liquids, that set off security officials.

Stade Francais 12 Toulouse 18 (aet)

Gloucester 0 Stade Francais 27

Cardiff Blues 15 Stade Francais 38

A plane bound for London returned to New York’s Kennedy Airport early today after a flight attendant found a threatening note on a seat in the aircraft.