SAMOA ended their disappointing World Cup campaign on a high note as three first-half tries did for the United States in an entertaining Pool A dead-rubber in rainy St Etienne.

Samoa 25 United States 21

United States coach Peter Thorburn has challenged his side to improve their cutting edge and perform for the full 80 minutes when they take on Samoa in St Etienne tomorrow.

THE United States Eagles refused to use their heroics against England as an excuse for their failure to beat Tonga in their World Cup Pool A clash in Montpellier yesterday.

United States 15 Tonga 25

England 28 USA 10

USA Rugby’s PR department are struggling to create a fuss in the build-up to tomorrow’s inaugural Setanta Sports Challenge Cup between their World Cup-bound national team and tourists Munster at Toyota Park (kick off 8:10pm Irish time).

Leinster 35 Dragons 13

ULSTER made it two wins out of two in their defence of their Celtic League title, now called the Magners League, as the a gutsy Dragons ran out of steam in a tremendous match.

Newport Gwent Dragons 25 Ulster 32

Glasgow 23 Dragons 24

Edinburgh Gunners 35 Llanelli Scarlets 18

Ospreys 25 Scarlets 13

Llanelli 30 Ospreys 17

The Llanelli Scarlets team to play Munster at Stradey Park on Saturday has been named and is listed below.

Danny Grewcock is ready for England’s daunting mission against France in Paris, but the Bath lock admits: “We have to raise our game.”

Matt Dawson has been recalled to the England starting line-up for Sunday’s Six Nations Championship showdown against France in Paris.

PAUL O’CONNELL returned to training with the Ireland squad in Bray yesterday for the first time since sustaining a shoulder injury in the Six Nations defeat by France in Paris.

Ulster 30 Llanelli 13

Edinburgh 33 Llanelli 32

Llanelli 20 Leinster 18

AMID all the hype surrounding the return of Brian O’Driscoll and Denis Hickie, Adam Byrnes slipped back into the Leinster pack with the minimum of fuss.

Newport-Gwent Dragons 16 Llanelli Scarlets 28

Munster 14 Llanelli 13

Munster 14 Llanelli 13

Llanelli have had to endure a horrid programme of three games in six days at the start of their campaign.

Cardiff 20 Llanelli 16

Comeback hero Gregor Townsend faces a long spell on the sidelines after picking up an ankle injury while setting up a try at Netherdale.

Llanelli Scarlets 15 Edinburgh 21

Sale Sharks have identified veteran Irish international Eric Elwood as a potential threat to their European Challenge Cup ambitions.

Connacht veteran Eric Elwood is confident his side will bounce back from their disheartening 25-18 Challenge Cup semi-final first leg loss to Sale Sharks in Galway.

Sale Sharks bagged a Challenge Cup semi-final first leg lead as England winger Mark Cueto scored two late tries in their defeat of Connacht.

Jason Robinson and 10 other full internationals will make up the majority of the Sale Sharks side that will be hot favourites to overturn Connacht in the first-leg of the European Challenge Cup semi-final the Sportsground on Saturday.

London Irish 6 Sale Sharks 9

Ireland flanker Denis Leamy knows he faces a fight to retain the number seven shirt for next Saturday's clash with Argentina - even if it coincides with his 23rd birthday.

Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan described his side’s hard-earned 55-6 win over the United States at Lansdowne Road as “a tough day at the office“.

Ireland 55 USA 6

Ireland 13 USA 6

AMERICAN debutante Mike McDonald insists he isn’t fazed at the prospect of propping down against John Hayes tomorrow at Lansdowne Road (1pm) - he’s used to fighting against the odds.

The United States have decided on four changes, one of them positional, for their weekend match against Ireland in Dublin.

USA coach Tom Billups is under no illusions about the task facing his Eagles as they prepare to face Ireland at Lansdowne Road next month.

Sale Sharks 16 London Irish 17

Sale 26 Leicester 19