IF the England Saxons expected to neuter the Wolfhounds at a gale-lashed Ravenhill last night they were in for a big surprise, as they were cut down to size in no uncertain terms.

DOUG HOWLETT is just one of a number of senior players set tointensify Munster’s pre-season effort when they take on Gloucester at Musgrave Park tonight (7pm).

Glasgow Warriors 33 Gloucester 11

FELIX JONES gave a virtuoso performance than suggested Leinster’s loss may be Munster’s gain as Ireland A produced a shock maiden Churchill Cup victory in some style last night.

England will start with Toby Flood at fly-half in Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations showdown with Ireland at Croke Park.

CARDIFF BLUES will complete a triumphant march into the Heineken Cup quarter-finals tonight, but head coach David Young insists: “There is still work to be done.”

Ben Foden’s blistering form for Northampton has been rewarded with a call-up to the elite England squad.

Harlequins forward Nick Easter will captain England in next Sunday’s clash against the Barbarians at Twickenham.

England have included 13 capped internationals in a 27-man training squad to prepare for the traditional end-of-season challenge against the Barbarians at Twickenham on June 1.

Steve Borthwick will captain England on their New Zealand tour next month.

Danny Cipriani will make his first Test start when England tackle RBS 6 Nations Championship opponents Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday.

SHANE HORGAN will start Ireland A’s clash with England Saxons at Welford Road next Friday.

GLOUCESTER boss Dean Ryan accepts his team will head into “a confrontational environment” when they tackle Heineken Cup hosts Bourgoin tonight.

ROB ANDREW has hailed “an English solution for the English game” after the Twickenham unveiling of a new detailed agreement governing professional rugby in England.

Ulster 14 Gloucester 32

ULSTER have been hit with a double whammy ahead of tonight’s opening Heineken Cup clash with Gloucester at Ravenhill. Flanker Stephen Ferris has been told he will be sidelined for up to six weeks while veteran fly-half David Humphreys is a major concern due to an ankle injury.

David Humphreys will have to come through a fitness test on a damaged ankle beofre Mark McCall can insert him at out-half for Friday's Heineken Cup opener against Gloucester at Ravenhill.

Bath prop David Barnes has been appointed tour captain of the newly-named England Saxons in this season’s Barclays Churchill Cup competition.