Scotland were today aiming to avoid the RBS 6 Nations wooden spoon in their clash with Italy at Murrayfield.

IF ENGLAND wanted to dampen expectations that they will claim their first Grand Slam in eight years in Dublin next weekend then they did rather a good job of it at Twickenham yesterday.

Ronan O’Gara will line up opposite Ruaridh Jackson as Ireland take on Scotland in the RBS 6 Nations at Murrayfield today.

HALFWAY through his team’s bid to complete another Grand Slam tour Graham Henry is anticipating a much tougher examination next weekend than the All Blacks were subjected to at Murrayfield on Saturday.

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.

ALEX GROVE insists Scotland can now “beat anyone in the world” after helping them end their 27-year losing streak to Australia in just his second Test. Worcester centre Grove, who does not turn 22 until a week today, has enjoyed a dream start to international rugby, with two wins from two matches.

THE Andy Robinson era got off to a solid but unspectacular start as Scotland eased to victory in their opening autumn international against Fiji.

SCOTLAND’S World Cup run came to a disappointing end at the quarter-final stage as Argentina stuttered into a last-four date with South Africa with a scrappy victory in Paris last night.

Scotland 18 Italy 16

ALLY HOGG claimed a hat-trick of tries as Scotland warmed up for their clash with World Cup favourites New Zealand by strolling to victory in the Pool C match with Romania at Murrayfield last night.

EDDIE O’SULLIVAN’S Irish coaching record is second to none and he is a self confessed winning freak.

RAPHAEL IBANEZ went through the whole range of emotions in the final heart-stopping minutes of France’s dramatic 46-19 success over Scotland, which clinched yet another RBS 6 Nations Championship title.

JASON ROBINSON believes there are “signs of something special” after England’s World Cup heroes reunited to launch the Brian Ashton era in trophy-winning fashion at Twickenham.

Scotland 18 Samoa 11

Munster 20 Northampton 18

Northampton 33 Glasgow 23

Stade Francais 35 Cardiff 16

Neath-Swansea Ospreys 24 Harlequins 7

Connacht 28 Glasgow 28

ULSTER apart, these are vital weeks for the Irish provinces in the Celtic League.

I T’S A big evening in the fledgling Celtic Cup with the four Irish provinces all in action.