A late penalty from full-back Scott Spedding made it back-to-back victories for Clermont over Saracens in the Champions Cup.

Clermont took out their frustration over the chaotic postponement of their Champions Cup clash at Allianz Park by inflicting a record 46-14 defeat on holders Saracens.

Saracens’ trophy hunters may not have achieved greatness yet, but Billy Vunipola believes they are striving to bring Barcelona-esque levels of domination to European rugby.

Champions Cup

Ulster 39 Clermont 32: Ulster has enjoyed some spectacular victories in Europe but, surely, none can have matched this lunchtime encounter for excitement, unpredictability and high-class rugby.

Clermont beat Bordeaux in a cracker in Ulster's pool.

Clermont Auvergne overcame a ferocious Ospreys fightback to retain their proud European home record with a bonus-point 34-29 win in Pool Two of the Champions Cup.

France 38 Romania 11: If Ireland had allowed any complacency to creep into their minds ahead of Sunday’s clash with Romania then this will have surely eradicated it.

France coach Philippe Saint-Andre has left out fly-half Francois Trinh-Ducfrom his 31-man World Cup squad, in favour of Frederic Michalak.

Anthony Watson scored two tries and Jonny May also crossed as England opened preparations for the World Cup with an edgy 19-14 victory over France at Twickenham.

Toulon made rugby union history at Twickenham as they clinched a hat-trick of European titles by defeating fellow French heavyweights Clermont Auvergne 24-18 in the Champions Cup final.

Dan Biggar scored a try and Leigh Halfpenny kicked five penalties as Wales kept alive their RBS 6 Nations title hopes by beating France in Paris.

RBS Six Nations

A week ago it was the return to France of Vern Cotter that was taxing French minds ahead of their Six Nations opener against Scotland. 

France 15 Scotland 8: They put a brave face on it but it was evident from the shrugs and pouts that a hard-fought tryless 15-8 victory over a feisty Scotland in Paris was not quite enough for the French. 

Defeat at home to Clermont last weekend has prompted Anthony Foley to make four changes to his staring side, but his opposite number has also made four changes.

Saracens 46 Clermont Auvergne 6

Clermont 22 Leicester 16

Clermont Auvergne 28 Racing Metro 3

New Zealand managed to take victory tonight in a closely-fought game in Paris.

Racing Metro 13 ASM Clermont Auvergne 9

Racing Metro 13 Clermont Auvergne 9

Clermont Auvergne 15 Toulon 16

It may be an all-French affair when ASM Clermont Auvergne and Toulon clash at the Aviva Stadium this evening in the 18th Heineken Cup final, but there will be no escaping an Irish tinge to events in Dublin.

Clermont 16 Munster 10

Munster head coach Rob Penney revealed last night that he believes Ronan O’Gara will have a pivotal role to play if the two-time Heineken Cup champions are to upset the odds and beat ASM Clermont Auvergne in Montpellier today.

Three key areas where Munster must impose themselves this evening

French scrum-half Morgan Parra says that Clermont Auvergne have been working overtime in the video analysis room in a bid to ensure they don’t get caught by Munster in Saturday’s Heineken Cup semi-final.

French scrum-half Morgan Parra says that Clermont Auvergne have been working overtime in the video analysis room in a bid to ensure they don’t get caught by Munster in Saturday’s Heineken Cup semi-final.

Clermont Auvergne 36 Montpellier 14

Declan Kidney has warned Ireland not to expect French flamboyance at the Aviva Stadium this evening but whatever way Philippe Saint-Andre’s team decide to play, the Irish head coach does not want them being able to settle into their chosen game plan.

Vincent Clerc accepts current Six Nations leaders England are the best team in the tournament this year while France, Ireland and the others are struggling to stay on terms.

For a team that has lost all three matches in this year’s Six Nations, the French have been remarkably positive as they prepare for what is undoubtedly going to be another bruising encounter against Ireland in Dublin this afternoon.

The mood in France has been very optimistic this week. It’s almost a polar opposite of the build up to the England game when all the talk was doom and gloom.

France head coach Philippe Saint-Andre will abandon tradition and gladly settle for the most tedious of victories against Ireland in Dublin on Saturday.

England 23 France 23

England 23 France 13

France 6 Wales 16

Will cautious Philippe Saint-Andre let multi-talented backline express themselves?

Clermont Auvergne 46 Exeter 3

Leinster captain Leo Cullen has called on his teammates to put in a big performance against Connacht on Saturday in the hope that it will give the province something to build on in 2013.