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.

Ireland and Lions scrum-half Conor Murray has given Munster a massive boost ahead of their must-win Champions Cup clash at Leicester by saying a new deal to keep him at the province was “almost a no-brainer”.

Wales scrum-half Rhys Webb faces a fight to play again this season.

Warren Gatland has urged the pundits to keep writing Wales off as his players prepare for battle with fellow World Cup heavyweights England and Australia.

Warren Gatland has defended his decision to play Leigh Halfpenny in Wales’ final World Cup warm-up game against Italy.

Wales full-back Leigh Halfpenny has been ruled out of the World Cup after suffering knee ligament damage on Saturday.

The man who guided South Africa to World Cup glory believes Ireland are ready to lift the Webb Ellis Cup this time round.

Jonathan Davies believes mental toughness must be prominent in Wales’ armoury if they are to emerge from the so-called World Cup pool of death.

Three of Welsh rugby’s biggest names — James Hook, Mike Phillips and Richard Hibbard — face uncertain international futures after seeing their World Cup hopes extinguished.

Wales want to put down an immediate marker in terms of their discipline when they face opening World Cup warm-up opponents Ireland tomorrow.

Wales hooker Scott Baldwin will make his first RBS 6 Nations start tomorrow after edging out "top player" Richard Hibbard for the number two shirt against France.

Warren Gatland revealed a glowing recommendation from one of world rugby’s outstanding coaches played its part in New Zealand-born Gareth Anscombe making an unlikely journey from Super Rugby to potential Wales Test star.

Warren Gatland has revealed that a glowing recommendation from one of world rugby’s outstanding coaches played its part in New Zealand-born Gareth Anscombe making an unlikely journey from Super Rugby to potential Wales Test star.

They stand shoulder to shoulder with the All Blacks this morning — win for win, try for try, point for point. Ireland’s golden autumn now promises more, much more than a successful defence of the Six Nations title in the New Year.

George North will start in the centre when Wales open their autumn Test campaign against Australia at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.

Nobody expected Conor Murray to be Ireland’s first choice scrum-half during the 2011 World Cup — or to overtake his Welsh and English rivals in the battle for the No 9 jersey on the & Lions tour last year.

Bath centre Gavin Henson has been named in the Probables squad to prepare for Wales’ senior trial match on May 30.

Toulouse 16 Racing Metro 21

Having already lost inspirational captain Peter O’Mahony for the business end of the season, Rob Penney will be mindful of making sure his key personnel are fresh and raring to go when Munster set out to upset the odds once again by toppling Heineken Cup champions Toulon in Marseille on Sunday week.

Do you know the difference between a kick escort and a jackal? The Grenoble coach presents the top 10 vital rugby lingo phrases you need for this weekend’s quarter-finals.

Wales 51 Scotland 3

Senior statesman Gethin Jenkins has backed reigning RBS 6 Nations champions Wales to recover from their Dublin debacle and retrieve a campaign that is hovering on the brink.

Wales boss Warren Gatland pulled no punches after dropping scrum-half star Mike Phillips for tomorrow night’s crunch RBS 6 Nations clash against France in Cardiff.

Wales scrum-half Mike Phillips has been relegated to the bench for Friday’s RBS 6 Nations clash against France in Cardiff.

In the end, all that talk of rancour and revenge was just that.

Irish One Direction star Niall Horan had a run in with Welsh scrum-half Mike Phillips on twitter after the big game.

Three battles Ireland must shade to beat Wales

Wales are braced for an Irish backlash over Brian O’Driscoll’s Lions snub.

Rhys Priestland says there is “a buzz about the place” as reigning champions Wales prepare to meet title pretenders Ireland in Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations showdown at the Aviva Stadium.

Mike Phillips claims friendships made on last year’s victorious Lions tour between the Irish and Welsh players will be put on the back burner this weekend in Dublin.

Wales 23, Italy 15

Johnny Sexton came through Racing Metro’s Top 14 clash unscathed on Saturday and showed the kind of form that will give his international team-mates a massive boost.

I hardly noticed. Six months in Paris came and went on New Year’s Day.

Harlequins 17 Racing Metro 3

Harlequins 17 Racing Metro 3

EVER return somewhere, full of nostalgic memories, believing everything would be just like before, only to be disappointed? Going back to Thomond Park last Sunday was nothing like that at all.

Ronan O’Gara says Racing Metro will have to take a leaf out of Munster’s book if they are to rescue their faltering hopes of reaching the Heineken Cup quarter-finals for the first time after being hammered 32-8 by Harlequins at the weekend.

Racing Metro 8 Harlequins 32

It’s been a feelgood week around the Racing training ground in Paris.

Racing Metro have signed Wales scrum-half Mike Phillips on a two-and-a-half-year deal.