When the Ireland management invited Marvin Hagler to give their players a fighting talk, The Marvellous One voiced fears for their collective safety.

Ireland's five-match unbeaten run against France came to a punishing end as Guy Noves' side edged home a tight Six Nations encounter at Stade de France today.

France are playing catch-up on Europe’s best sides, according to second row Yoann Maestri.

China has been one of Apple’s most reliable strongholds during its historic stretch of technology dominance. Even when sales began to level out in the US, Europe, and Japan, China was a buffer, promising a massive market of newly middleclass customers looking for a high-end, brand-name smartphone.

Ulster 38 Toulouse 0: Four times French giants Toulouse have visited Belfast, and each time left with the tails firmly stuck between their legs.

The issues and decisions that will impact tomorrow’s tournament-defining clash with France...

Stuart Lancaster is convinced England can win the World Cup despite presiding over a fourth successive runners-up finish in the RBS 6 Nations.

Italy 0 France 29

Racing Metro coach Laurent Labit fears Johnny Sexton could suffer more concussions because of his tackling style.

France 15 Scotland 8: They put a brave face on it but it was evident from the shrugs and pouts that a hard-fought tryless 15-8 victory over a feisty Scotland in Paris was not quite enough for the French. 

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

Apple’s quarterly results smashed Wall Street expectations with record sales of big-screen iPhones in the holiday shopping season and a 70% rise in China sales, powering the company to the largest profit in corporate history.

AUTUMN INTERNATIONAL:

Apple forecast a strong holiday quarter after a better-than-expected 16% jump in iPhone sales, and the strongest growth in Mac computer shipments in years helped the company surpass Wall Street’s targets.

Scotland 17 France 19

France 30 Italy 10

France 26 England 24

France head coach Philippe Saint-Andre insists the post-2011 World Cup rebuilding phase is over as he targets a critical RBS 6 Nations victory over England today.

Three key areas of confrontation at the Aviva today

Courtney Lawes is ready to strike fear into the French ‘bully boys’ when he is unleashed from the England back row for the first time.

France 6 Wales 16

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

Full-back Stuart Hogg will make his first Test start today as Scotland look to revive their RBS 6 Nations campaign against Rugby World Cup finalists France.

Ireland’s RBS 6 Nations clash with France was tonight given the go-ahead after the Stade de France passed a pitch inspection by referee Dave Pearson.

Time is a healer, they say, but have Ireland had enough hours, minutes and seconds to put right the wrongs of last Sunday’s effort and produce a performance against France tonight in Paris?

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

IN A game that was always about a performance, not the result, Connacht fulfilled their brief.

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

HARLEQUINS’ record 14-match unbeaten run came to a halt at The Stoop last night after they were overpowered by four-time Heineken Cup champions Toulouse.

GLOUCESTER head coach Bryan Redpath was delighted with the performance of under-fire centre Mike Tindall as he ended a difficult week with a resolute performance in a tense 21-17 defeat at Toulouse .

HEINEKEN Cup champions Toulouse booked a semi-final date with 2009 winners Leinster in Dublin after a thrilling 27-20 extra-time victory over Biarritz at Estadio Anoeta yesterday.

GLASGOW WARRIORS’ French misery continued as their European dreams were shattered following a 36-10 loss to Toulouse last night.

WASPS head coach Tony Hanks was proud of his players after the London club came close to pulling off a shock victory at the reigning Heineken Cup champions.

HE may have looked strangely subdued come the final whistle in Paris on Saturday, but Toulouse coach Guy Noves livened up somewhat when praising his team after they recorded a record fourth Heineken Cup triumph.

Toulouse coach Guy Noves has decided to go with David Skrela at out-half against Leinster in the Heineken Cup semi-final on Saturday.

BYRON KELLEHER has warned three-time Heineken Cup champions Toulouse to raise their level of performance despite a crushing 42-16 quarter-final win over rivals Stade Francais at Le Stadium yesterday.

France lock Sebastien Chabal has been forced to pull out of Les Bleus’ RBS 6 Nations opener against Scotland at Murrayfield with a back injury.

SALE director of rugby Kingsley Jones felt poor discipline had cost his side victory against Toulouse at Edgeley Park.

A PROTEST against war in Iraq turned violent yesterday in Brussels when dozens of youths clashed with police and attacked American-owned businesses.