WHEN Munster fell 17 points behind a rampant Clermont Auvergne team with 25 minutes still to play at the splendid Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin yesterday, there was every reason to fear a defeat of embarrassing proportions.

Munster have secured a bonus point in a 26-19 loss to Clermont Auvergne that almost certainly sends the French side out of the 2007/8 Heineken Cup.

HE HASN’T gone away you know. He’s 34, has already won a record 83 caps for Munster in the Heineken Cup (also a tournament record), but yesterday in Limerick, when coach Declan Kidney named a squad of 26 for Sunday’s crucial away group game against Clermont, there he was again — Anthony Foley.

Captain Chris Paterson kicked Scotland to their first win against Wales since 2003 in today’s RBS 6 Nations clash at Murrayfield.

Guinness Premiership leaders Leicester will underline their enviable squad strength by parading the big guns against Madejski Stadium opponents London Irish on St Stephen's Day.

Bad weather claimed its first victims of the festive sporting programme in the UK tonight as fog and freezing temperatures continued to affect large parts of country.

Weather began to play havoc with the festive sporting fixtures tonight as the Magners League clash between Llanelli Scarlets and Newport Gwent Dragons was postponed due to thick fog.