CONNACHT touched down in France yesterday with news that opponents Toulouse are taking no chances in their team selection for today’s Heineken Cup fifth round clash.

Argentina utility back Juan Martin Hernandez will miss the Rugby World Cup after failing to recover in time from a right knee injury.

AFTER so pulsating a spectacle as this Heineken Cup semi-final, it is difficult to imagine how the final in Cardiff in just under three weeks will come anywhere close to matching it.

Leinster 32 Toulouse 23

Donal Lenihan talks us through the tactics

Toulouse coach Guy Novès has made four changes to his side, from the one that defeated Biarritz in their Heineken Cup quarter-final clash in San Sebastian, for tomorrow’s last four match with Leinster at the Aviva Stadium, kick-off 3.30pm.

Argentina coach Santiago Phelan has made three changes to his starting line-up, from the side that lost 15-9 in Paris last weekend, to face Ireland at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday. (kick-off 2.30pm)

Biarritz 19 Toulouse 21

FOUR days on and the sense of excitement and anticipation that filled the masses at Thomond Park is every bit as palpable.

BYRON KELLEHER has warned three-time Heineken Cup champions Toulouse to raise their level of performance despite a crushing 42-16 quarter-final win over rivals Stade Francais at Le Stadium yesterday.

Toulouse 42 Stade Francais 16

Toulouse 23 Cardiff Blues 7

ARGENTINA have made a diplomatic response after Wales boss Warren Gatland questioned the Pumas’ unofficial status as world rugby’s most revered scrummagers.

Glasgow 16 Toulouse 22

Juan Martin Hernandez has been included in the Argentina squad for next month’s tour of Europe after recovering from a hand injury.

WHY Guy Noves waited until after Saturday’s game to stress his annoyance at the ERC’s decision to appoint Nigel Owens as match referee is bizarre.

Maleili Kunavore and Thierry Dusautoir got the nod over Florian Fritz and Yannick Nyanga, repsectively, in the most contentious selection issues for Toulouse ahead of the Heineken Cup final against Munster on Saturday.

TOULOUSE coach Guy Noves admits his patched-up team have a mountain to climb in today’s Heineken Cup semi-final against London Irish (3pm).

Injury-hit Toulouse will have to draw on all their experience to overcome London Irish in the Heineken Cup semi-final at Twickenham on Saturday.

Toulouse 41 Cardiff Blues 17

France 10 Argentina 34

France 10 Argentina 34

Argentina 63 Namibia 3

ARGENTINA captain Agustin Pichot returns for tomorrow’s World Cup clash with Namibia. Pichot was struggling with a hamstring injury, but will lead the Pumas in the Pool D match at Stade Velodrome in Marseille.

Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe expects some of the lesser lights of world rugby to follow Argentina’s lead and establish themselves as forces to be reckoned with over the next few years.

A SECOND World Cup victory for Argentina was inevitable, and securing a bonus point by scoring four tries was an immensely satisfying return from a most difficult night at the Stade Gerland in Lyon last night.

Argentina 33 Georgia 3

Juan Martin Hernandez has been selected at fly-half for Argentina for their World Cup opener against hosts France in Paris on Friday.

LOCK Fabien Pelous has vowed France will sacrifice flair in order to win by any means possible in Friday’s World Cup opener against Argentina.

Gonzalo Longo and Jose Maria Nunez Piossek are a doubt for Argentina’s opening game of the World Cup against France on September 7.

Tomas De Vedia insists he is not nervous ahead of his senior debut for Argentina in Saturday’s first Test against Ireland in Santa Fe as others look to press their claims for a place in the World Cup squad.

Tomas De Vedia insists he is not nervous ahead of his senior debut for Argentina in tomorrow’s first Test against Ireland in Santa Fe as others look to press their claims for a place in the World Cup squad.

Argentina coach Marcelo Loffreda has called up 30 players for the forthcoming European tour.

Leinster will be glad to hear that their Heineken Cup opponents Bourgoin have allowed Augusto Petrilli to join up with Argentina as one of just five overseas based players to make the flight to Buenos Aires for Saturday's international against South Africa.

Argentina have named an unchanged side to face Ireland following their 24-14 win over Six Nations champions France in Marseille.

The Argentine Rugby Union have announced a 25-man squad for their European tour next month.

Argentina coaches Marcelo Loffreda and Daniel Baetti have included full-back Ignacio Corleto in the line-up to play Australia in the Rugby World Cup opening match on Friday.

Argentina, Ireland's opponents on Saturday week, had a convincing 45-9 victory over Italy A at the Maurizio Natali Stadium in Colleferro, southeast of Rome, on Tuesday evening.