LONDON IRISH boss Brian Smith vowed his men will fight fire with fire in today’s Heineken Cup quarter-final against fierce and physical rivals Perpignan.

Gloucester head coach Dean Ryan is determined not to abandon his attacking principles in the cauldron of a Heineken Cup quarter-final against European heavyweights Munster.

MUNSTER, London Wasps and Perpignan could all be without key front-row forwards when the Heineken Cup resumes on the second weekend in January.

London Irish flanker Kieran Roche will not require surgery on a fractured eye socket, suffered during Saturday’s 23-6 Heineken Cup defeat to Perpignan.

Perpignan 23 London Irish 6

LONDON IRISH director of rugby Brian Smith described Mike Catt as a “special player”, after the England veteran defied a back problem to help the Exiles to a 24-16 Heineken Cup victory over Perpignan yesterday.

England have summoned Newcastle back Toby Flood to join their World Cup squad.

Andy Farrell will play the biggest game of his Rugby Union career on Friday night when he lines up at fly-half in the World Cup showdown against South Africa.

England’s World Cup captain Phil Vickery has been banned for two matches, dealing the Web-Ellis Trophy holders another damaging blow.

BRIAN ASHTON claims it would be “wrong to interpret” that Nick Easter has moved ahead of Lawrence Dallaglio in the battle for England’s World Cup number eight shirt.

England boss Brian Ashton has named his 30-man World Cup squad – with Mike Tindall and Charlie Hodgson the big-name casualties.

David Strettle and Mike Tindall could both be ruled out of World Cup contention today when England boss Brian Ashton assesses his casualty list.

BRIAN ASHTON believes England have been relegated to the “second division of world rugby” as they prepare for a Twickenham showdown with RBS Six6 Nations title favourites France.

England have suffered a triple injury blow for Sunday’s Six Nations showdown with title favourites France at Twickenham.

A THIRD Triple Crown in four years followed by the World Cup? The first proposition is more or less in the bag, the second no longer a pipe-dream after this amazing 43-13 walloping of the “auld enemy” at Croke Park on Saturday.

‘ONE swallow never made a summer’ ought to be the viewpoint of the Irish front-row forwards as they measure up to what could be a decisive element of Saturday’s Six Nations clash with England at Croke Park.

ENGLAND forward Perry Freshwater was on the scoresheet as Perpignan comfortably overcame French rivals Castres in Heineken Cup Pool One last night.

BELEAGURED England boss Andy Robinson has reacted to his team’s shambolic defeat against Argentina by making seven changes for the Twickenham appointment with South Africa on Saturday.

England boss Andy Robinson has reacted to his team's shambolic defeat against Argentina by making seven changes for the Twickenham appointment with South Africa on Saturday.

England 18 Argentina 25

DEFIANT head coach Andy Robinson has insisted he can handle the pressure after presiding over England’s worst slump for 34 years.

ANDY ROBINSON has predicted a “phenomenally tough” game against Argentina at Twickenham on Saturday as England strive to avoid their seventh successive Test defeat.

England boss Andy Robinson has made just one change for Englands' clash against Argentina at Twickenham on Saturday.

IAIN BALSHAW has urged England to show “no fear” when they face the most daunting prospect in world rugby – stopping New Zealand.

ENGLAND hooker Steve Thompson is a doubt for the November internationals — adding fuel to concerns raised by Twickenham medical chiefs today over the “unprecedented” number of injuries.

ENGLAND head coach Andy Robinson faces a potential front-row crisis for the summer tour of Australia following the loss of Matt Stevens.

SALE SHARKS have slammed England’s medical staff after their Lions prop Andrew Sheridan was diagnosed with a prolapsed disc in his neck.

PERPIGNAN coach Philippe Boher is under no illusions of the difficulty facing his side in Saturday’s Heineken Cup quarter-final against Munster.

PERPIGNAN are bidding to create a Munster-type empathy with their fans by tapping into the renowned Catalan passion for sport.

YOU might imagine that Ireland’s Triple Crown heroes would prefer to put up their feet and call it a day for this season.

ENGLAND have suffered an injury blow ahead of tomorrow’s RBS 6 Nations Championship clash against Ireland with prop Matt Stevens out.

England have suffered an injury blow ahead of Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations Championship clash against Ireland with prop Matt Stevens being ruled out.

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

SCOTLAND head coach Frank Hadden insists Nathan Hines was never going to be fully prepared in time for a start against England in the RBS 6 Nations Championship on Saturday.

ANDY ROBINSON expects England to encounter a “highly-charged” Wales team in Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations opener at Twickenham.

England boss Andy Robinson has named a revised 27-man squad to prepare for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations opener against Wales at Twickenham.

England 40 Samoa 3

England will put an emphasis on attack against Samoa at Twickenham tomorrow - and head coach Andy Robinson wants a “more ruthless edge” to the world champions’ finishing ability.

Leicester lock Louis Deacon will make his England debut in Saturday’s clash against Samoa at Twickenham.

England captain Martin Corry today backed head coach Andy Robinson as the best man to mastermind a successful World Cup defence.

England boss Andy Robinson has named five uncapped players – including New Zealand-born Wasps star Mark Van Gisbergen – in his 30-man squad for the autumn Tests.

Andy Goode has witnessed the effects of Argentina's destructive scrummaging at first hand - but believes England's pack has the muscle to win the forward battle in tomorrow's Churchill Cup final.

Harlequins 26 Leicester 23