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.

EXPECT a few tweaks here and there but there will be no “knee-jerk reaction” by the Irish brains trust this week as they digest last Sunday’s defeat to Wales and prepare for this Saturday’s follow-up against the French in Paris.

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

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.

THE one area of consistent performance from the unpredictable French has been the solidity of their set piece.

Pascal Pape accepts France could be excused for feeling like World Cup outcasts as they prepare to tackle New Zealand in Sunday’s final.

DRAMA seems to follow this French team like a bad smell. It’s not enough that manager Marc Lievremont has blasted his players, and the players ignore his every public word.

France 19 England 12

France 47 Japan 21

LAST week it was Julien Pierre and Romain Millo-Chluski. Today it is Pascal Pape and Lionel Nallet.

WITH just two days separating the games against Connacht and France, Declan Kidney’s resources were always going to be stretched this week, so yesterday’s injury update from Carton House was timely and welcome in equal measure.

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.

France 28 Wales 9

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.

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

FRANCE second row Julien Pierre has predicted Sunday’s clash between the Grand Slam champions and Ireland at the Aviva Stadium “will be like war”.

France coach Marc Lievremont has made only one change to his team to face Ireland in the RBS 6 Nations on Sunday.

Racing Metro 11 Leinster 36

LEINSTER’S ambition of a home Heineken Cup quarter-final spot has been facilitated by another weakened Racing Metro selection for tonight’s final Pool 2 clash at Stade Yves Du Manoir in Paris.

Leinster coach Joe Schmidt has named his side for Friday night’s Heineken Cup match against Racing-Métro 92 at the Stade Yves du Manoir, kick-off 8pm.

QUALIFICATION already secured, Leinster travel to Paris this week intent on taking care of the last vestiges of unfinished business in Pool Two of the Heineken Cup — securing a home berth for the quarter-finals.

AUSTRALIA coach Robbie Deans has stressed the importance of tomorrow’s Test with France as the Wallabies look to end their European tour on a high note.

France number eight Imanol Harinordoquy has been dropped from the squad for next weekend’s Test with Australia.

Sebastien Chabal has been recalled to the France XV for Saturday’s Test against Argentina in Montpellier.

Out-half Jonathan Sexton will start for Leinster against Racing-Metro in Pool 2 of the Heineken Cup at The RDS tomorrow afternoon (1.30pm).

JONATHAN SEXTON faces another 24 hours of uncertainty before being confirmed in Leinster’s starting line-up for the Heineken Cup opener against French league leaders Racing Metro at the RDS tomorrow (1.30pm).

Lionel Nallet talks to Ian Moriarty about Racing Metro’s ambitions in their first Heineken Cup.

Maybe the GAA can learn a thing or two from rugby –- like kicking off its premier competition with a bang. While the summer Championships often sleepwalk into summer, the Heineken Cup starts this weekend with heavyweight collisions. Alan Good looks ahead.

ROB KEARNEY believes Toulon and Racing Metro need to prove their worth at Heineken Cup level before they can be considered challengers.

LEINSTER flanker Shane Jennings expects a testing afternoon from Racing Metro’s pack in Saturday’s Heineken Cup opener at the RDS.

Argentina fly-half Juan-Martin Hernandez and French winger Benjamin Fall will not travel with the Racing Metro squad that will face Leinster in the opening round of the Heineken Cup next Saturday at the RDS (kick off: 1:30pm), it was confirmed today.

THE escalating Jonny Wilkinson debate spread across the Irish Sea yesterday and, like Martin Johnson, Ireland defence coach Les Kiss was effusive in his praise of the under-fire out-half.

HISTORY beckons for an elite band of Irish sportsmen in the Stade de France this evening.

BACK from injury and looking “big, strong and fit,” Stephen Ferris last night gave Ireland a massive Six Nations boost by presenting himself for duty ahead of tomorrow’s Stade de France rendezvous with France.

France lock Lionel Nallet has warned Les Bleus to be on their guard against Ireland this weekend – but has not been overly gushing in his analysis of Declan Kidney’s Grand Slam champions.

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

NINETEEN internationals in a calendar month involving 12 different countries provides a surfeit of information not only on the state of the game but also on the form lines of the main pretenders for honours with the 2011 World Cup now coming into sharp focus.

France coach Marc Lievremont today made four changes to his squad for Saturday’s Test against New Zealand in Marseille.

Who will win the Heineken Cup final?

Leicester scrum-half Julien Dupuy has been called up by France for the first time ahead of Les Bleus’ summer tour to the southern hemisphere.

Italy 8 France 50

France will go with an unchanged squad for their last match in the RBS 6 Nations Championship, against Italy in Rome on Saturday.

France have made four changes in personnel to their 23-man squad for the RBS 6 Nations Championship match against England at Twickenham on Sunday week.