Champions Cup

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

European Champions Cup Pool 3

Jimmy Gopperth, come on down.

Scotland 17 France 19

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

Toulon 45 Cardiff 25

Six Nations

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.

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.

MARTIN JOHNSON believes any one of seven teams can win the Rugby World Cup — and he places England right at the heart of the pack.

FRANCE No.8 Imanol Harinordoquy hopes Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final with England will mark the start of the tournament for Les Bleus.

New Zealand 37 France 17

FRANCE coach Marc Lièvremont has sprung a major surprise by handing Morgan Parra a rare start at fly-half for this weekend’s pivotal World Cup Pool A clash against New Zealand.

FRANCE coach Marc Lievremont was “satisfied” after seeing his side claim a second straight bonus-point win in Pool A with a 46-19 success over Canada in Napier.

FRENCH scrum-half Dimitri Yachvili has warned the rest of the rugby giants his side can beat anyone to win the World Cup.

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”.

Biarritz forward Raphael Lakafia will make his France debut against Ireland in Bordeaux on Saturday.

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

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 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.

Biarritz prop Sylvain Marconnet has been recalled by France coach Marc Lievremont to his 30-man squad for the defence of their RBS 6 Nations crown.

South Africa 42 France 17

Wenceslas Lauret will make his international debut for France against South Africa on Saturday after being named in the starting XV by Marc Lievremont for the clash at Newlands.

PERPIGNAN captain Nicolas Mas admits Sunday’s 14-37 defeat at the hands of Munster was a “huge disappointment.”

Perpignan 14 Munster 37

Maxime Mermoz has pulled out of Saturday’s final autumn international against New Zealand with a right thigh strain

SOUTH AFRICAN prop Tendai Mtawarira’s participation in tonight’s Test against France in Toulouse is in doubt due to ongoing confusion surrounding his citizenship.

DANNY CIPRIANI has been left out of England’s squad for the summer Test series against Argentina – but there is a recall for 2003 World Cup-winning hooker Steve Thompson.

France coach Marc Lievremont has drafted Francois Trinh-Duc and Mathieu Bastareaud into his squad to face RBS 6 Nations champions Wales on Friday night after Lionel Beauxis and Maxime Mermoz pulled out with injuries.

Florian Fritz will miss France’s RBS 6 Nations matches against Scotland and Wales after being suspended for three weeks for striking an opponent during last weekend’s game against Ireland.

Leicester 38 Perpignan 27