England 18 Italy 11

Italy 9 Wales 26

Scotland 34 Italy 10

Italy 23 France 18

Andy Robinson started a period of introspection over his future as after Scotland collected the Six Nations wooden spoon.

PHIL GODMAN kicked a last-minute drop-goal for Edinburgh last night to clinch victory over Racing Metro and keep them at the top of Pool 2 in the Heineken Cup.

Racing Metro 20 Cardiff Blues 26

Italy 27 USA 10

Scotland were today aiming to avoid the RBS 6 Nations wooden spoon in their clash with Italy at Murrayfield.

Italy prop Andrea Lo Cicero is relishing the prospect of taking on France in Rome on Saturday.

Nick Mallett embarks on his fourth RBS 6 Nations campaign as coach of Italy looking for continued progress from his players.

Clermont Auvergne 28 Racing Metro 17

JOE SCHMIDT’S European euphoria was dampened last night by confirmation that Leinster will travel to Saturday’s clash against Saracens at Wembley without hamstrung Brian O’Driscoll.

FRANCE captain Lionel Nallet preferred to dwell on his team’s victory over Italy rather than the prospect of registering a heavy win against Wales next weekend to retain the RBS 6 Nations Championship title.

Italy coach Nick Mallett has told his players to forget Mauro Bergamasco's 13-week ban for eye-gouging and instead focus on beating France on Sunday.

JONNY WILKINSON clocked up 1,000 points for England as he guided the World Cup finalists through a hazardous Italian job and revived their RBS Six Nations campaign.

Italy prop Andrea Lo Cicero will not be fooled into thinking the Azzurri will face a weak England side in Sunday’s RBS 6 Nations game in Rome.

Scotland 18 Italy 16

ITALY’S stuttering World Cup campaign showed no sign of improvement last night as they struggled to an unconvincing Pool C win over brave Portugal at the Parc des Princes.

ITALY got their Rugby World Cup campaign back on track last night with a laboured victory over Pool C rivals Romania in Marseille.

FULLBACK Federico Serra scored 19 points as Argentina beat Italy 24-6 in Mendoza on Saturday in their final home test before the World Cup.

Italy 23 Wales 20

ITALY captain Marco Bortolami has admitted he feared the Azzurri might throw away their chance to make history in the RBS 6 Nations Championship against Scotland.

A LOT has been made of Bernard Laporte’s insistence on experimentation for this year’s RBS 6 Nations Championship, but it will be interesting to see if France’s head coach sticks to his word following the comprehensive opening day rout of beleaguered Italy.

Italy coach Pierre Berbizier will start Salvatore Perugini at prop instead of Andrea Lo Cicero for Saturday’s Six Nations Championship opener against France.

AUSTRALIA coach John Connolly was mightily relieved to see his side avoid a major upset against a spirited Italy in the second of their four-game European tour.

ENGLAND head coach Andy Robinson praised the staying power and attitude of his players following the 46-19 victory over the Barbarians at Twickenham.

Italy coach Pierre Berbizier has made three changes to his starting line-up for the Six Nations Championship clash against Wales in Cardiff.

IN a year when Italy has been devastated by injuries, new coach Pierre Berbizier has dropped a bombshell by excluding one of his most experienced players for tomorrow’s RBS Six Nations opener against Ireland in Dublin.

Italy coach Pierre Berbizier has dropped Andrea Lo Cicero in favour of Fabio Ongaro in his team for the RBS 6 Nations opener against Ireland.

ITALY general manager Marco Bollesan believes all the pressure will be on Ireland during Saturday’s opening RBS 6 Nations clash at Lansdowne Road.

THOUGH the main focus of the final weekend will be in Cardiff, France’s game with Italy could play a major part in the outcome of the championship.

SCOTLAND forward Simon Taylor was pleased with his side’s opening RBS Six Nations victory - despite a disappointing overall performance.

ITALY coach John Kirwan has warned his side they must eradicate the errors that blighted their loss to Wales or risk suffering a third successive RBS Six Nations defeat when they face Scotland on Saturday.

Wales are facing another testing examination of their RBS 6 Nations title credentials today at the Stadio Flaminio, mindful of the humiliation that haunted their last trip to Rome.

Italy 17 Ireland 28

THE Eternal City was at its picture postcard best in yesterday’s glorious sunshine and with more of the same expected for the weekend, conditions should be perfect for Ireland’s Six Nations opener against Italy in the Stadio Flaminio tomorrow.

THE Six Nations Championship title may out of reach but Ireland did enough to suggest they will win another Triple Crown in 2004 after putting Italy to the sword.

Ireland: Dempsey, S. Horgan, D’arcy, O’Driscoll, Murphy, O’Gara, Stringer, Corrigan, Byrne, Hayes, O’Kelly, O’Callaghan, S. Easterby, Gleeson, Foley.

REGARDED by many as the minnows of the Six Nation’s championship, Italy arrive in Dublin today with designs on being the ultimate party poopers.