Clermont 22 Leicester 16

Leicester captain Ed Slater refuses to cast his Tigers as underdogs when they challenge Clermont’s supremacy at the Stade Marcel Michelin today.

Clermont Auvergne 28 Racing Metro 3

Clermont Auvergne 23 Harlequins 13

Clermont Auvergne 15 Toulon 16

Clermont Auvergne coach Vern Cotter yesterday played down the loss of his captain Aurelien Rougerie and flanker Gerhard Vosloo for today’s Heineken Cup semi-final.

As May beckons Munster and Leinster prepare for a French test. At the end of contrasting seasons, and facing a different calibre of opponent, the Red Army travel in hope, the blues wait in expectation.

Keith Earls has reclaimed his place in the starting line-up for Munster’s Heineken Cup semi-final in Montpel0lier against Clermont Auvergne.

Clermont Auvergne may be the envy of most clubs in Europe with the wealth of talent at their disposal but while that depth is apparent at out-half, filling the 10 shirt on Saturday is their biggest concern at the moment.

Are Clermont the best team to never win a Heineken Cup?

Clermont Auvergne 36 Montpellier 14

Joe Schmidt has all but accepted the shift of power from Ireland to France after back-to-back Heineken Cup defeats by Clermont Auvergne.

Clermont Auvergne 15 Leinster 12

FOR the third season in-a-row, the best two sides in the Heineken Cup meet outside the decider itself.

Isa Nacewa admits Leinster and Clermont Auvergne know each other so well their crunch Heineken Cup meeting on Sunday is almost a derby fixture.

The thing about Brian is ...

As Ulster adapt to being favourites for a Heineken Cup semi-final, champions Leinster face the sternest test in the defence of their title and an all-Irish final hangs in the balance.

Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall put English rugby’s European failure down to the gulf in the salary cap between the Aviva Premiership and the rest.

Saracens 3 Clermont Auvergne 22

Ireland coach Mark Tainton is confident Keith Earls will cope much better with the threat of England outside centre Manu Tuilagi than he did when he came up against him in the World Cup warm-up match last August.

France 22 England 24

Keith Earls is really enjoying filling the void left by Ireland’s most iconic player.

Scotland wing Rory Lamont suffered a suspected broken leg in the 23-17 RBS 6 Nations loss to France at Murrayfield yesterday.

Full-back Stuart Hogg will make his first Test start today as Scotland look to revive their RBS 6 Nations campaign against Rugby World Cup finalists France.

FRANCE centre Aurelien Rougerie believes referee Dave Pearson was right to postpone Saturday night’s Six Nations clash with Ireland.

Ireland’s RBS 6 Nations clash with France was tonight given the go-ahead after the Stade de France passed a pitch inspection by referee Dave Pearson.

Declan Kidney is undoubtedly Ireland’s most successful coach of the modern era.

Declan Kidney has made just one change to his starting XV for Saturday’s crucial Six Nations showdown against France at the Stade de France (8pm) with Keith Earls replacing Fergus McFadden.

Vive la France.

France 30 Italy 12

Clermont Auvergne 19 Ulster 15

IRISH provinces will be chasing a financial jackpot this weekend as they look to secure a Heineken Cup quarter-final home draw, with local economies benefiting by up to €10.5 million, according to figures released by the tournament organisers.

GLASGOW WARRIORS maintained their pursuit of Leinster in Heineken Cup Pool Three with a 20-15 victory over Montpellier at Firhill.

CLERMONT AUVERGNE picked up their first win of this season’s Heineken Cup in some style as they put Aironi to the sword in a one-sided clash at Stade Marcel Michelin last night.

ULSTER coach Brian McLaughlin admitted he was totally exhausted and mentally drained after his side came back from the dead to get their Heineken Cup challenge off to awinning start.

Ulster 16 Clermont-Auvergne 11

THE International Rugby Board are considering altering their disciplinary procedures after finding themselves unable to take action over an allegation of foul play during last month’s World Cup final.

The International Rugby Board are considering altering their disciplinary procedures after finding themselves unable to take action over an allegation of foul play during last month’s World Cup final.

DRAMA seems to follow this French team like a bad smell. It’s not enough that manager Marc Lievremont has blasted his players, and the players ignore his every public word.

WAS it the familiarity of Wales that caught Ireland off guard on Saturday?

FRANCE No.8 Imanol Harinordoquy hopes Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final with England will mark the start of the tournament for Les Bleus.

FRANCE coach Marc Lièvremont has sprung a major surprise by handing Morgan Parra a rare start at fly-half for this weekend’s pivotal World Cup Pool A clash against New Zealand.

FRANCE coach Marc Lievremont was “satisfied” after seeing his side claim a second straight bonus-point win in Pool A with a 46-19 success over Canada in Napier.

HAVING quit rugby union for rugby league and then come back again, France centre Fabrice Estebanez has finally made up his mind what he wants to do: shine at the World Cup.