Triple Grand Slam winner Gethin Jenkins has set his sights on extending Wales’ upward curve Down Under this summer.

France 17 Ireland 17

France coach Philippe Saint-André has confirmed full-back Maxime Medard will miss the RBS 6 Nations clash with Ireland on Sunday with a knee injury.

France have called up Clement Poitrenaud after full-back Maxime Medard was ruled out of Sunday’s RBS 6 Nations clash againstIreland with a knee injury.

GLOUCESTER floored Heineken Cup heavyweights Toulouse at Kingsholm after a brilliant performance inspired by their try-hungry backs.

GLOUCESTER head coach Bryan Redpath was delighted with the performance of under-fire centre Mike Tindall as he ended a difficult week with a resolute performance in a tense 21-17 defeat at Toulouse .

SEBASTIEN CHABAL was left out of France’s provisional World Cup squad for sporting rather than political reasons, national team boss Marc Lievremont declared.

Sebastien Chabal was left out of France’s provisional World Cup squad for sporting rather than political reasons, according to national team boss Marc Lievremont.

Sebastien Chabal has been omitted from France’s provisional 32-man squad for the World Cup in September.

A HEINEKEN CUP semi-final was not at the top of Joe Schmidt’s list of priorities when he started the season as Leinster’s new head coach.

France coach Marc Lievremont insists the changes made to his side for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations match with England are based on squad rotation rather than any special measures designed to outfox Martin Johnson’s men.

ONLY yesterday morning one of the great cliches was set free once again and allowed to snort its way across breakfast tables everywhere.

Ireland are in a one-point lead against France in today's RBS Six Nations clash, leading by 10 points to 9 after 22 minutes.

TOMÁS O’LEARY will be given “every chance” to prove his fitness to face France in tomorrow’s must-win Six Nations game against France.

France full-back Clement Poitrenaud has warned Ireland that they should not expect Les Bleus to continue their free-flowing approach in Sunday’s RBS 6 Nations clash at the Aviva Stadium.

FRENCH stars Imanol Harinordoquy and Clément Poitrenaud sat out training with Les Bleus yesterday.

I COULDN’T help but feel sorry for Italy at the final whistle on Saturday at the Stadio Flaminio, watching as their outstanding captain Sergio Parisse sank to his knees, shattered, heartbroken and drained after yet another heroic performance in defeat.

France coach Marc Lievremont has made only one change to his team to face Ireland in the RBS 6 Nations on Sunday.

GLASGOW WARRIORS’ French misery continued as their European dreams were shattered following a 36-10 loss to Toulouse last night.

Toulouse 36 Glasgow Warriors 10

WASPS head coach Tony Hanks was proud of his players after the London club came close to pulling off a shock victory at the reigning Heineken Cup champions.

ARGENTINA bounced back from their home series defeat by Scotland in style with a record thrashing of Six Nations champions France in Buenos Aires.

FRANCE coach Marc Lièvremont blamed his team’s horrific opening 20 minutes for their 42-17 loss to South Africa in Cape Town on Saturday.

Wenceslas Lauret will make his international debut for France against South Africa on Saturday after being named in the starting XV by Marc Lievremont for the clash at Newlands.

HE may have looked strangely subdued come the final whistle in Paris on Saturday, but Toulouse coach Guy Noves livened up somewhat when praising his team after they recorded a record fourth Heineken Cup triumph.

IF Martin Johnson needed any reassurance the anguish of developing a new England team can ultimately be worth it, he need only listen to Marc Lievremont.

FRANCE defence coach Dave Ellis was delighted with his side’s six-try show against Italy as Les Bleus remained on course for the Grand Slam.

France 46 Italy 20

Mathieu Bastareaud will be on the bench when France continue their bid for an RBS 6 Nations grand slam against Italy on Sunday.

IN THE final game of the 2002 Six Nations championship, Ireland faced France. It was Eddie O’Sullivan’s first year as head of Ireland’s coaching team and spirits were high.

FRANCE coach Marc Lièvremont was reluctant to talk up comeback king Mathieu Bastareaud ahead of Ireland’s forthcoming trip to Paris, despite the Stade Francais man announcing his return to the international stage with a brace of tries yesterday.

SALE director of rugby Kingsley Jones felt poor discipline had cost his side victory against Toulouse at Edgeley Park.

France have made four changes in personnel to their 23-man squad for the RBS 6 Nations Championship match against England at Twickenham on Sunday week.

Clement Poitrenaud has called on France’s critics to give the team more time to adapt to their new ambitious approach.

Ireland 30 France 21

Ireland enter their 2009 RBS 6 nations opener against France today in the unusual position of being favourites for the fixture.

FRENCH ace Julien Malzieu says France must “be creative” against Ireland today in Croke Park.

Clement Poitrenaud’s turnaround from flaky dilettante to committed professional will be completed on Saturday when he starts for France in their RBS 6 Nations opener against Ireland at Croke Park.

Sebastien Tillous-Borde will be Lionel Beauxis’ half-back partner for France in their RBS 6 Nations opener against Ireland in Dublin on Saturday.

Toulouse 26 Newport Gwent Dragons 7

Clement Poitrenaud is to miss France’s RBS 6 Nations Championship clash with England next weekend after suffering an ankle fracture on Saturday.

New France coach Marc Lievremont has made sweeping changes in his first squad selection ahead of the RBS 6 Nations Championship clash against Scotland at Murrayfield on February 3.

LEICESTER captain Martin Corry admits his side’s Heineken Cup hopes are “out of their hands” after sinking to a 22-11 defeat in Toulouse.