Leicester romped to a seven-try European Champions Cup victory as they ran Castres ragged at Welford Road.

The last time Munster played Castres, Rory Scannell was a Leaving Certificate student watching from his sofa as Ronan O’Gara sent the game-winning drop goal between the posts. 

Brive 27 Castres 22: Veteran captain Rodrigo Capo Ortega and experienced scrum-half Rory Kockott are expected to return for Castres for Sunday’s Champions Cup open clash with Munster after missing this surprise loss at Stade Amedee Domenech on Saturday evening.

For a small town, Enniskillen has given birth to more than its share of international sportsmen, amongst them Olympic gold medal sprinter Robert Kerr, champion heavyweight boxer Gordon Ferris and ex-Celtic goalkeeper Michael McGovern.

France coach Philippe Saint-Andre has left out fly-half Francois Trinh-Ducfrom his 31-man World Cup squad, in favour of Frederic Michalak.

It’s almost ten days on, but the sense of relief has yet to flush fully from Ian Madigan’s system though his attention has long turned towards the Champions Cup quarter-final with Bath.

France coach Philippe Saint-Andre has relegated powerful centre Mathieu Bastareaud to the bench for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash against Wales in Paris.

France coach Philippe Saint-Andre has relegated powerful centre Mathieu Bastareaud to the bench for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash against Wales in Paris.

RBS Six Nations

After France’s rather unimpressive, tryless win over Scotland, Philippe Saint-Andre was at pains to claim there is still flair in the team — but that concept is dead and buried, writes Ronan O’Gara.

France have named their starting XV for the Six Nations match against Ireland on Saturday evening.

France 15 Scotland 8: They put a brave face on it but it was evident from the shrugs and pouts that a hard-fought tryless 15-8 victory over a feisty Scotland in Paris was not quite enough for the French. 

RBS Six Nations: France v Scotland: The start of a new Six Nations campaign is usually destined to throw Frenchmen of every age, shape and political persuasion into a tizzy. As former captain Fabien Pelous once said: "It is like the start of a new romance. You see a girl across the room, your eyes meet and you both know that everything is possible."

Leigh Halfpenny says Wales will carry their Twickenham "hurt" of last season into tomorrow night’s RBS 6 Nations opener against England.

Amid the hype and bluster surrounding the Six Nations launch, the French provided a moment of context and a sharp dose of reality.

Leinster remain on course to qualify from European Champions Cup Pool Two following a 50-8 bonus point thrashing of Castres at the RDS.

With Jimmy Gopperth at 10 instead of Ian Madigan, Mike Ross demoted from the 23 and Jack Conan preferred to Dominic Ryan, Matt O’Connor has provided no scarcity of pre-match debating points for Leinster fans today.

AUTUMN INTERNATIONAL:

Castres 16 Leinster 21

No Rory Kockott calling the shots at ten. No Remi Lamerat bursting through the centre. And no Ibrahim Diarra causing mayhem from the back row.

The tournament’s name may have changed but the key to European rugby remains to target four wins in the pool stages. Nothing else matters. Munster face a tough ask but possess players who can think for themselves and get the job done, writes Ronana O'Gara.

Castres 22 Leinster 29

HEINEKEN CUP POOL 6:

Ospreys 21 Castres 12

Ronan O’Gara has poured cold water on the prospect of Munster, Ireland and Lions scrum-half Conor Murray joining him at Racing Metro.

Leinster 19 Castres 7

Leinster head coach Matt O’Connor felt his side should have made more of their opportunities during the first half of their 19-7 Heineken Cup victory over Castres Olympique.

Leinster 19 Castres 7

James Hart was woken early yesterday morning.

Ulster boss Mark Anscombe praised the spirit of his team after they secured a scrappy 9-8 victory over Castres at Stade Pierre-Antoine in the Heineken Cup.

Ulster boss Mark Anscombe praised the spirit of his team after they earned a home tie in the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup with a scrappy 9-8 victory over Castres at Stade Pierre-Antoine.

Castres 8 Ulster 9

Ulster have suffered a major blow ahead of their crucial Heineken Cup clash with Castres at Olympique at Stade Pierre-Antoine, with talented full-back Jared Payne ruled out after exacerbating a groin injury last week in the victory over Glasgow.

Glasgow 6 Castres 9

Ulster’s new back-row sensation, Iain Henderson, knew earlier in the week he would be making his Heineken Cup debut tonight when French side Castres visit Ravenhill.

Simon Lewis looks at the battle ahead

All the evidence may point to Castres running up the white flag in Limerick today but Munster have plenty of reasons to expect yet another tough challenge on a crucial afternoon of Heineken Cup rugby at Thomond Park.

MUNSTER’S hopes of continuing their winning start in Heineken Cup Pool 1 received an eve-of-game boost yesterday when Castres Olympique rang the changes to their starting line-up for today’s clash at Stade Ernest Wallon.

IF THIS was supposed to be a step up in class, then the British & Irish Lions coped with it admirably. They met fire with fire, kept their try-line intact for the first time on tour and strode majestically forward towards next week’s first Test at the same venue.

Sharks 3 British and Irish Lions 39

WITH THE crucial opening test against South Africa in Durban looming large on the horizon, the Lions management are ready to move into phase two of this tour.

South Africa has released prop Deon Carstens to play for Natal Sharks against the British & Irish Lions on Wednesday at the Absa Stadium in Durban.