Italy 0 France 29

France coach Philippe Saint-Andre has made eight changes for Sunday’s RBS 6 Nations clash with Italy at the Stadio Olimpico.

Steffon Armitage scored a hat-trick as Toulon secured top spot in Champions Cup Pool 3 with a game to spare thanks to a 60-22 bonus-point win over Ulster.

Clermont Auvergne have been knocked off the summit of the Top 14 ahead of their two Champions Cup clashes with Munster after they went down 27-19 away to champions Toulon on Saturday night.

Champions Cup: Toulon were made to battle hard by Scarlets before starting their Champions Cup defence with a 28-18 victory at Stade Felix Mayol.

Come Sunday the veins under Cedric Abellon’s war paint will be throbbing.

Are the days of signing top, top names now more difficult for Munster because of finances?

Jimmy Gopperth, come on down.

Joe Schmidt sees Peter O’Mahony as a key figure in Ireland’s assault on the Six Nations title at Stade de France on Saturday.

France have included centre Gael Fickou in one of four changes to their starting XV for Saturday’s clash with Ireland on the final weekend of the RBS 6 Nations.

France jumped ahead of Ireland in the IRB’s World Rankings following Saturday’s narrow victory over Scotland.

France coach Philippe Saint-Andre has made seven changes to his team for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash against Scotland at Murrayfield.

Jonny Wilkinson hit the post with a penalty attempt with the final kick of the game as Top 14 leaders Toulon were held to a 26-26 draw at home by Munster’s Heineken Cup semi-final opponents, Clermont Auvergne.

France 6 Wales 16

French coach Philippe Saint-André fears the impact of foreign stars in France’s Top 14 is hurting the national side.

Six Nations

Toulon centre Mathieu Bastareaud has been recalled to France’s preliminary RBS 6 Nations squad but there is no place for Toulouse winger Maxime Medard.

Argentinian head coach Santiago Phelan has recalled star back Juan Martin Hernandez to his squad ahead of the Pumas visit to the Aviva Stadium on Satruday (5.30pm).

Frederic Michalak was today retained at fly-half for France as coach Philippe Saint-Andre made several changes ahead of Saturday’s clash with Australia in Paris.

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.

Perpignan will provide an exit route for Munster inside centre Lifeimi Mafi following the Irish province’s signing yesterday of James Downey from Northampton Saints.

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

IT is unlikely many Irish fans are looking to the future with the World Cup heartache so fresh in their minds.

France 14 Tonga 19

New Zealand 37 France 17

France 46 Canada 19

THIS is a time to accentuate the positives and from an Irish perspective there were plenty of those to cling to despite a second defeat in a row for a team struggling to find its feet with the World Cup looming.

Ireland coach Declan Kidney refused to be cheered by a vastly improved second-half performance in last night’s 19-12 defeat by France.

France 19 Ireland 12

FRANCE coach Marc Lièvremont has thrown down the gauntlet to his players ahead of Saturday’s World Cup warm-up with Ireland in Bordeaux by declaring that Les Bleus are now in “competition mode”.

Sebastien Chabal was left out of France’s provisional World Cup squad for sporting rather than political reasons, according to national team boss Marc Lievremont.

Sebastien Chabal has been omitted from France’s provisional 32-man squad for the World Cup in September.

TOMÁS O’LEARY will be given “every chance” to prove his fitness to face France in tomorrow’s must-win Six Nations game against France.

FOR us mere mortals, the honour of representing your country is one of the greatest achievements that can be bestowed in life.

France full-back Clement Poitrenaud has warned Ireland that they should not expect Les Bleus to continue their free-flowing approach in Sunday’s RBS 6 Nations clash at the Aviva Stadium.

A PUBLIC spat between France coach Marc Lièvremont, his Stade Francais counterpart Michael Cheika and centre Mathieu Bastareaud is threatening to overshadow France’s preparations for Sunday’s Six Nations encounter with Ireland at the Aviva Stadium.

IRELAND defence coach Les Kiss has applauded the manner in which France returned to winning ways in last weekend’s Six Nations opener after their traumatic 43-points defeat to Australia in November.

Ireland number eight Jamie Heaslip is on course to make his comeback in Sunday’s RBS 6 Nations clash with France.

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

IRELAND have been warned that life in the Six Nations is not about to get any easier after a clinical French team made a winning start to the defence of their title in Paris.

Head coach Andy Robinson was frustrated as Scotland lost 34-21 to France to suffer defeat on the opening RBS 6 Nations weekend yet again and extend their poor record in Paris.

Scotland went in search of a first RBS 6 Nations win over reigning Grand Slam champions France in Paris with Alastair Kellock restored as captain.