Northampton 9 Racing 92 9: Northampton’s England contingent failed to make an impression as Eddie Jones resumed his busy pre-Christmas scouting tour of the Aviva Premiership clubs last night.

Worcester 13 Northampton 12: It wasn’t just a new dawn for English rugby that kicked off at Sixways last night, just six days removed from the World Cup hosts’ disastrous exit. 

Andy Farrell insists Stuart Lancaster had the final say in England selection meetings in response to claims he was the dominant voice in picking the team.

For all the trials and tribulations Joe Schmidt experienced in narrowing his World Cup squad down to the requisite 31, at least we have a good idea who will be in his starting XV.

England head coach Stuart Lancaster has admitted to shedding tears over the selection of his 31-man World Cup squad.

England head coach Stuart Lancaster will stand or fall on the decision to drop Danny Cipriani from his final squad of 31 for the World Cup, which will be announced today.

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

England have selected Luther Burrell and Jonathan Joseph as their centres for Saturday’s World Cup warm-up against France in Paris. 

Stuart Lancaster insists Owen Farrell must excel during the World Cup warm-up matches if he is displace George Ford as England’s fly-half.

England will go into a World Cup campaign on home soil without star centre Manu Tuilagi after he pleaded guilty to two counts of assaulting a police officer.

England 25 Scotland 13

Ronan O’Gara says Ireland could have kicked a lot more against England, and chose not to.

Ireland begin a short training camp in Galway today, with England firmly in their sights and vengeance in their minds 12 days out from an RBS 6 Nations clash in Dublin that head coach Joe Schmidt is already billing as monumental.

Jonathan Sexton might have thought he had put to bed all the doubts and debate about his selection when he walked off the Lansdowne turf two nights ago, but it was only in the hours afterwards that the Irish out-half finally managed to make his case airtight.

England 47 Italy 17

England appear to have stumbled on the missing ingredient of a cutting edge that has eluded them for years.

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

England have named Danny Cipriani and Nick Easter on the bench for Friday night’s RBS 6 Nations opener against Wales in Cardiff.

It should have been a day when the retention of Ian Keatley for another two seasons was celebrated by Munster supporters, along with the commitment shown by three up and coming players, writes Simon Lewis.

George North’s quartet of tries reinvigorated Northampton’s European campaign, but the 34-6 victory over the Ospreys came at a cost with England centre Luther Burrell departing early through injury.

Northampton 33 Leinster 21

England imploded at the Waikato Stadium to conclude their series against New Zealand with an error-ridden 36-13 defeat as the All Blacks amassed a record-equalling 17th successive victory.

England fly-half Owen Farrell has been ruled out of Saturday’s final Test against New Zealand due to a knee injury.

New Zealand 28 England 27

New Zealand 28 England 27

Manu Tuilagi has been warned to expect an aerial bombardment as New Zealand seek to expose the England wing’s inexperience in his new position.

England 29 Wales 18

ENGLAND 29 WALES 18

The last 20 minutes of England’s defence of their Twickenham fortress on Saturday was fascinating.

England winger can’t believe he’s playing against boyhood hero Brian O’Driscoll.

Graham Rowntree insists England’s youngsters will not be overawed at the thought of facing Ireland’s legends when they run out for their first international at Twickenham today.

In a quiet media room inside Twickenham yesterday afternoon Andy Farrell attempted to explain why the Lions coaching staff that he was a part of dropped Brian O’Driscoll for the Third Test against Australia last summer.

Scotland 0 England 20

Warren Gatland wants his Welsh team to take a leaf out of the Northampton Saints play-book when they arrive at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

France 26 England 24

France 26 England 24

England wing Jack Nowell may have been refused entrance to an 18 certificate film on Wednesday night, but Stuart Lancaster insists he is part of an untested trio that is ready for the Stade de France.

Leinster 9 Northampton 18

HEINEKEN CUP POOL ONE:

Northampton 27 Ospreys 16