Stuart Lancaster admitted England were comprehensively beaten in a 25-20 defeat to France that has set alarm bells ringing just one match before the World Cup begins.

England have selected Luther Burrell and Jonathan Joseph as their centres for Saturday’s World Cup warm-up against France in Paris. 

Stuart Lancaster has urged Twickenham to will England to victory tomorrow evening as he prepares to order his RBS 6 Nations title hopefuls to carry the game to France.

England have recalled lock Courtney Lawes and full-back Mike Brown for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash with Scotland.

England won’t lack for confidence when they arrive in the Aviva Stadium tomorrow, says Donal Lenihan.

Mike Brown is still suffering concussion symptoms and faces a race against time to prove his fitness for the pivotal RBS 6 Nations clash between Ireland and England in Dublin.

England 47 Italy 17

Wales star and qualified doctor Jamie Roberts believes the fallout from the George North concussion controversy will contribute towards making rugby union a safer sport. 

Wales 16 England 21: RBS Six Nations: If England do go on to do something rather special in 2015 then we may look at this as the moment when Stuart Lancaster’s men came of age.

England have named Danny Cipriani and Nick Easter on the bench for Friday night’s RBS 6 Nations opener against Wales in Cardiff.

Stuart Lancaster has pledged to “make it absolutely crystal clear” to Dylan Hartley that any more lapses in discipline could blow England’s RBS 6 Nations chances.

Stuart Lancaster has pledged to "make it absolutely crystal clear" to Dylan Hartley that any more lapses in discipline could blow England’s Six Nations chances.

Danny Cipriani and Nick Easter have the chance to reignite their Test careers in England’s 34-man Six Nations training squad, with Sam Burgess also handed World Cup lift-off.

Toulon full-back Delon Armitage has had his 12-week ban for using abusive language reduced to eight on appeal.

The last time Nick Easter walked onto the pitch at the Aviva Stadium was in 2011, and England looked on the cusp of a first Six Nations Grand Slam for eight years.

Harlequins 24 Leinster 18

Harlequins director of rugby Conor O’Shea has backed Nick Easter to continue playing for some time after the veteran number eight inspired a 24-18 Champions Cup victory over Leinster.

Harlequins 24 Leinster 18

Almost half a century has come and gone since Europe last belonged to Glasgow, when Jock Stein’s famously home-spun Celtic Bhoys beat Inter Milan in the 1967 final.

Graham Norton is joined by X-Men stars Hugh Jackman, Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy, with music from Eurovision hopeful Molly on BBC1 at 10.35pm.

Racing Metro 8 Harlequins 32

Harlequins 12 Munster 18

Paul O’Connell knows that a 100% performance improvement is required if Munster are going to progress to the semi-final of the Heineken European Cup.

Doug Howlett says it’s crucial that Munster put to bed the dismal Rabo Direct Pro 12 loss to Glasgow last weekend.

THE problem for Ugo Monye is that his career-defining moment has already been and gone.

England coach Stuart Lancaster will this morning confirm his starting line-up for Sunday’s RBS 6 Nations game against Ireland in Dublin – and he is expected to keep changes to a minimum.

WITH just four teams qualified at this stage and all the second-placed sides still mathematically fighting for the knockout stages, the Heineken Cup has delivered once again.

Harlequins 53 Zebre 5

Connacht 22 Harlequins 30

Connacht 22 Harlequins 30

TOM Wood should be the standard-bearer for English rugby. The flanker ought to be captain of the national team. He should be starring for a club that have been the coming force in the English game for the past three years.

Harlequins drew first blood in this season’s battles with Heineken Cup opponents Connacht, but coach Eric Elwood is not unduly worried, knowing there are more significant challenges ahead.

NORTHAMPTON produced a disciplined and ruthless performance to defeat Aviva Premiership leaders Harlequins and record their seventh win in their last eight outings.

SCARLETS number eight Ben Morgan could be in line for an immediate England call-up after turning down the chance to play for Wales.

Conor O'Shea has no doubt about the size of unbeaten Harlequins’ Heineken Cup task against French giants Toulouse tomorrow night.

England forward Nick Easter has conceded he could have been one of the players shamed in the leaked review of the World Cup, but has moved defend his position.

IN THE END, perhaps the only way to rid the English rugby team of the arrogance and self-righteousness that has pervaded their squad since 2003 was with a stick of dynamite planted firmly in the centre of the Twickenham pitch.

Gloucester 9 Harlequins 28

Harlequins 25 Connacht 17

France 19 England 12

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.

Toby Flood will start at inside centre alongside fly-half Jonny Wilkinson in England’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final against France.

Delon Armitage will start on the left wing for England in place of Mark Cueto in Saturday’s decisive Rugby World Cup Pool B showdown with Scotland.

Thomas Waldrom has joined England’s Rugby World Cup squad as the official replacement for injured prop Andrew Sheridan, manager Martin Johnson has announced.