CONNACHT’S strong record against Welsh sides at the Sportsground this season will be under pressure this evening when they entertain the Neath/Swansea Ospreys (6.30pm).

Border Reivers 34 Leinster 35

Leinster 62 Borders 14

ULSTER and their Ireland centre Kevin Maggs aim to continue their recent good Celtic League form against the Borders at Netherdale (7.30 pm), this evening.

The Borders are languishing at the bottom of the Celtic League and they will give Ally Warnock, Andy Turnbull and Johnny Weston their first Celtic League starts of the season at Donnybrook tonight.

Hugo Southwell completed a remarkable rise to prominence today when he was named as Scotland’s starting full-back to take on Australia, the World Cup finalists, in Melbourne on Sunday.

Head coach Matt Williams today admitted Scotland face a “massive task” in Sunday’s first Test against Australia in Melbourne but backed his players to rise to the challenge.

Instead of preparing for Friday’s Test match against Samoa and a sixth Scotland cap, Tom Philip was today left to contemplate knee reconstruction surgery and nine months of intense rehabilitation after a seemingly innocuous accident on the beach left him with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.

Glasgow winger Sean Lamont will make his Scotland Test debut against Samoa in Wellington on Friday.

Scotland coach Matt Williams has named five uncapped players in the 22-man squad for Saturday's Staffware Tour challenge match against the Barbarians at Murrayfield.

Borders 10 Munster 18

Borders 21 Leinster 26

MUNSTER ladies will be attempting to end an eight-year wait when the senior hockey inter-provincial tournament is staged at Harlequin Park, Cork, this weekend.

CLIVE WOODWARD has vowed to take no notice of the Six Nations form guide, which suggests tournament favourites England will give Wales a Millennium Stadium mauling on Saturday.

Scotland coach Ian McGeechan has made just one change to his squad for the RBS 6 Nations clash in France despite suffering an embarrassing home defeat by Ireland on Sunday.

London Wasps wing Kenny Logan has been handed the chance to reclaim a Scotland international jersey after being named in a 50-strong RBS Six Nations Championship training squad for senior and A teams.

Pontypridd 12 Neath 13

Scotland international Gregor Townsend will play in any position for a Six Nations appearance.

Scotland coach Ian McGeechan has lived up to his loyalty label by avoiding a selection panic in the wake of his team’s record 43-3 defeat by England.

Scotland coach Ian McGeechan has kept faith with the side that suffered a record 43-3 defeat by England on Saturday at Twickenham.

Scotland coach Ian McGeechan has made two changes to his team to face England at Twickenham on Saturday - ditching Kenny Logan as his goalkicker.

Edinburgh Reivers back-row Simon Taylor will get the chance to stake his place for an international recall when he starts for Scotland A against Wales at Myerside on Friday.