Connacht produced one of the biggest upsets in the history of the Heineken Cup as they rounded off a perfect weekend in Europe for the Irish provinces with a 16-14 win in Toulouse.

We’ve been spoilt over the years with the frequency of Munster and Leinster being paired with Toulouse and Clermont Auvergne in either the pool or knockout stages of the Heineken Cup. At its best, French club rugby is irresistible and in those two outstanding sides, we have been exposed to the very best it has to offer.

Edinburgh captain Greig Laidlaw hailed the record-breaking Murrayfield crowd for helping them over the line in their “exhausting” Heineken Cup win over four-times champions Toulouse.

Edinburgh 19 Toulouse 14

Edinburgh will be aiming to become the first Scottish team to qualify for the Heineken Cup semi-finals as they host Toulouse today.

Triple Grand Slam winner Gethin Jenkins has set his sights on extending Wales’ upward curve Down Under this summer.

Wales 16 France 9

Saturday’s game against England at Twickenham will be Ireland’s 14th test game in eight months and will have a defining influence on how that period is judged.

France 22 England 24

France half-backs Francois Trinh-Duc and Morgan Parra have been dropped for the RBS 6 Nations clash against England in Paris on Sunday.

France 17 Ireland 17

Scotland wing Rory Lamont suffered a suspected broken leg in the 23-17 RBS 6 Nations loss to France at Murrayfield yesterday.

Scotland 17 France 23

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.

They may be the new boys in the Six Nations coaching club but for Philippe Saint-André, Jacques Brunel and Stuart Lancaster that is where the similarities end.

There is a strange sense of Groundhog Day about Ireland’s opening two fixtures in this season’s RBS Six Nations Championship.

GLOUCESTER floored Heineken Cup heavyweights Toulouse at Kingsholm after a brilliant performance inspired by their try-hungry backs.

Toulouse 24 Connacht 3

PAUL O’CONNELL’S decision to commit to Munster until the end of the 2013/14 season is about the only bit of good news to come the province’s way over the last few weeks.

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

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

IT was hard at times last Saturday night, even in the midst of a live radio commentary, not to just sit back and admire the quality of rugby produced by Leinster.

THERE is a bit of a way to go yet for Connacht, who suffered stage-fright in the face of high-quality opposition at Saturday night’s historic Heineken Cup clash at the Sportsground.

Connacht 10 Toulouse 36

GERRY KELLY was working on an intriguing seating plan as darkness fell in the Sportsgrounds yesterday.

Toulouse 21 Gloucester 17

PERCEPTIONS can really mess with the head sometimes.

Yes says Donal Lenihan

TO borrow from the brewery giant’s oft-quoted advertising slogan, if the Heineken Cup refreshes places that others can’t reach, then the French could do with a couple of brews at the moment.

HARLEQUINS qualified for the Heineken Cup next season in dramatic fashion as they won the Amlin Challenge Cup, Europe’s second-tier knockout tournament, for a record third time.

Harlequins 19 Stade Francais 18

CAN anyone stop the French Top 14 financial juggernaut? It’s a loaded question.

Toulouse 42 Stade Francais 16

Edinburgh 9 Stade Francais 7

Controversial centre Mathieu Bastareaud has been recalled to the France squad for the 2010 RBS 6 Nations Championship.

Stade Francais 15 Bath 13

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

Stade Francais 29 Ulster 16

Stade Français have made a rash of changes for their Heineken Cup showdown with Ulster at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels tomorrow.

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.

Ulster 23 Stade Francais 13

STEVE MEEHAN admits it will take “a really good effort” for Bath to reach this season’s Heineken Cup quarter-finals following their shattering defeat against French giants Stade Francais.

Bath 27 Stade Francais 29