Wales 31 Scotland 24

FRANCE U-20s 20 IRELAND U-20s 15

Former Wales captain Rob Howley has paid tribute to Scotland star Chris Paterson on the eve of him joining international rugby’s 100-cap club.

Richard Hill is ready to face his “biggest challenge for Saracens” in tomorrow’s Heineken Cup semi-final showdown against tournament heavyweights Munster.

France U-20 24 Ireland U-20 13

FRANCE U-20 24 IRELAND U-20 13

THE waiting is over. The sixth Rugby World Cup kicked off last night, with 20 teams competing for the coveted William Webb Ellis trophy.

FRANCE have made wholesale changes to their starting line-up for today’s Test against England as they look to complete a cross-channel double over the world champions in the space of a week.

Frederic Michalak and Jean-Baptiste Elissalde will form the half-back partnership combination for France when they take on England in a World Cup warm-up match in Marseille tomorrow.

England 15 France 21

Fabien Pelous will make his return to international rugby tomorrow after being named in France’s team for the World Cup warm-up match against England at Twickenham.

FRANCE are determined to learn from their mistakes of four years ago as they head into their series of warm-up matches ahead of the World Cup.

INJURED France captain, Fabien Pelous, is in the dark about whether he will play in this year’s RBS Six Nations Championship.

Fabien Pelous has been ruled out of action for up to six weeks with an ankle injury – but the France captain should be fit for the start of the RBS 6 Nations Championship.

CHRISTIAN CULLEN is poised for a Heineken Cup return in Cardiff tomorrow, after injury, with John Kelly and Barry Murphy ruled out of the clash at the Arms Park.

GEORGE CHUTER will hurl himself into the seething cauldron of a Heineken Cup showdown between Leicester and Munster on Sunday as proof that sporting life can begin at 30.

France playmaker Frederic Michalak believes Bernard Laporte’s side must impose their famous attacking philosophy on Ireland if they are to get their RBS 6 Nations Championship campaign back on track.

France team manager Jo Maso knows Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations showdown with Ireland will not be the easygoing fixture it used to be in the days when Ireland were seen as one of the tournament’s makeweights.

Gareth Llewellyn’s experience of French Championship rugby could prove useful when he lines up for Wales against Romania at the Millennium Stadium tonight.

George Gregan appears destined to smash Jason Leonard’s world record and become the most capped player in rugby history after he today agreed a new three-year contract with the Australian Rugby Union.

The British and Irish Lions’ “massive contribution” to rugby will honoured in the second Parliamentary Rugby Awards in Britain.

TEST centurion Jason Leonard last night admitted the prospect of spending a month away from his family during England’s tour to New Zealand and Australia was reason behind his decision to quit international rugby.

MIKE CATT will complete one of English rugby’s great comebacks when he runs out in the World Cup semi-final against France on Sunday.

England boss Clive Woodward today thrust Mike Catt into the World Cup semi-final spotlight, and declared: “He deserves his chance.”

WHEN Jason Leonard trundles down the tunnel at the Suncorp Stadium on Sunday, he will make all of England proud — and one particular Frenchman just a shade sad.

Jason Leonard will equal international rugby’s world cap record when he lines up for England against Wales on Sunday.

Extra security arrangements were in place for England’s Pool C finale against Uruguay at Suncorp Stadium today.

WITH THE Six Nations folded up and tucked away, rugby’s focus has swung emphatically back to the quarter-finals of the Heineken European Cup.

Jason Leonard took centre stage at Twickenham today as the rugby world acclaimed his remarkable feat of winning 100 international caps.

ENGLAND boss Clive Woodward last night revealed a fascinating glimpse into his World Cup thinking by selecting flyhalf rivals Jonny Wilkinson and Charlie Hodgson in the same team for next Saturday’s showdown with France.

A club versus country row similar to the one threatening to tear apart the game in England is inflicting itself on French rugby too.