London Irish boss Brian Smith wants the Exiles to “steal a win” when they tackle Guinness Premiership rivals Newcastle at Kingston Park tomorrow night.

Sale 59 Connacht 9

Jason Robinson and 10 other full internationals will make up the majority of the Sale Sharks side that will be hot favourites to overturn Connacht in the first-leg of the European Challenge Cup semi-final the Sportsground on Saturday.

Sale Sharks 16 London Irish 17

THE appointment by Sale of Philippe Saint-Andre as director of rugby is already starting to pay dividends with the signings of Sebastien Chabal and Robert Todd.

Gloucester secured their place in the Heineken Cup quarter-finals tonight as rugby director Nigel Melville declared: “We did what we needed to do.”

BACK-ROW prospect James Forrester makes his first start for more than two months in Gloucester’s Pool Five appointment with Treviso today.

Bourgoin 18 Gloucester 37

ENGLAND captaincy candidate Phil Vickery has given Gloucester a major Heineken Cup boost ahead of tomorrow’s crucial clash against Bourgoin.

Phil Vickery has given Gloucester a major Heineken Cup boost ahead of tomorrow’s crucial clash against Bourgoin.

IT isn’t just wishful thinking that leads me to believe that Alan Gaffney and Munster can fly out of England’s west country tonight with a major scalp in the cargo hold.

GLOUCESTER’S worst fears have been realised with the withdrawal yesterday of England World Cup-winning tight head prop Phil Vickery from their side to meet Munster in the Heineken European Cup at Kingsholm tomorrow.

Gloucester 49 Bourgoin 13

Leinster 23 Gloucester 15

Gloucester were the better side in the first-half of their Powergen Cup semi-final against Leicester, but the Tigers are 6-3 up at half-time.

England forwards Lawrence Dallaglio and Julian White look certain to miss national squad training today after picking up injuries during the latest round of Zurich Premiership action.

GLOUCESTER’s loss to Munster continues to rankle the English club.

Munster 33 Gloucester 6

PAUL GRAYSON last night assessed Northampton’s make-or-break Heineken Cup clash against Ulster in Belfast and admitted: “It is going to be incredibly difficult.”

EDINBURGH GUNNERS team manager Ian Rankin believes rowdy Celtic supporters contributed to his side’s Heineken Cup exit.

Gloucester centre Robert Todd is recovering at home after a severe bout of gastroenteritis resulted in him being rushed to hospital following the team’s return from their Heineken Cup match in France.

Gloucester centre Robert Todd has been taken to hospital in England after collapsing twice in France.

Perpignan 31 Gloucester 23