MARTIN JOHNSON believes any one of seven teams can win the Rugby World Cup — and he places England right at the heart of the pack.

Toby Flood will start at inside centre alongside fly-half Jonny Wilkinson in England’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final against France.

Northampton coach Jim Mallinder has today named his side for tomorrow’s Heineken Cup final clash with Leinster at the Millennium Stadium (kick-off 5pm).

Ulster Coach Brian McLaughlin had named his team for Sunday's Heineken Cup quarter-final clash against Northampton Saints at the Stadium:MK in Milton Keynes, kick-off 2pm.

They’re providing the backbone to England’s rejuvenation but Northampton Saints have hit a glass ceiling, as Julian Bennetts explains

NORTHAMPTON got their Heineken Cup campaign off to a nervy start with a somewhat fortunate 18-14 Pool One win over a lively Castres side at Franklin’s Gardens.

Munster 33 Northampton 19

NO-ONE could ever accuse Ben Foden of lacking confidence. For instance, there are always the YouTube videos of the Northampton Saints full-back and pop-star girlfriend Una Healy performing acoustic duets at their home in St Albans, landing him the sobriquet of ‘BenUna’.

Ben Foden has revealed that Northampton’s ambitious young England contingent are eager to use the Heineken Cup to forge their reputations.

Stephen Myler has received a vote of confidence from coach Jim Mallinder to play ahead of Shane Geraghty at out-half for Northampton Saints against Munster in the Heineken Cup quarter-final at Thomond Park on Saturday.

MUNSTER chiefs are confident that Lions pair Paul O’Connell and Keith Earls will be fit for Saturday’s Heineken Cup quarter-final with Northampton Saints.

MUNSTER skipper Paul O’Connell has revealed his three-week injury lay-off has left him feeling refreshed ahead of Saturday’s clash with Guinness Premiership’s form team Northampton Saints.

Two years ago, the future of English rugby was spelt Danny Cipriani after the teenage Wasps prodigy did the unthinkable and usurped Jonny Wilkinson as England’s fly-half.

MICHAEL BRADLEY reckons Paddy Wallace is ready to reclaim his Ireland centre jersey in the Six Nations opener against Italy.

PREMIER RUGBY has flexed its muscles to deny Ireland access to Leicester winger Johne Murphy for tomorrow’s A game against England Saxons in Bath (2 pm).

DANNY Cipriani has withdrawn from the England Saxons squad ahead of Sunday’s game against Ireland A after suffering a family bereavement.

AN INEVITABLE result? The Greeks thought only tragedy was inevitable, and they invented the idea.

Munster 12 Northampton 9

Munster coach Tony McGahan hailed his players’ desire and belief after the province secured their passage into the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup for a 12th straight season.

Munster 12 Northampton 9

AN OCCASION that every player dreams of! Ben Foden may be on the brink of a long and distinguished career as the England full-back but the star of Northampton’s victory over Perpignan last Sunday has only one thought in his mind right now – to be a member of the Saints side that beats Munster in tonight’s crunch Heineken Cup Pool One decider at Thomond Park.

Northampton 34 Perpignan 0

Benetton Treviso 18 Northampton Saints 21

MA’A NONU fears embattled England are ready to “explode” as they attempt to salvage some pride from an autumn beset by problems.

NEW ZEALAND have named virtually their strongest side – including Richie McCaw and Dan Carter — for Saturday’s clash with England at Twickenham.

Ayoola Erinle will make his first England start after replacing Shane Geraghty at inside centre in the team to play New Zealand at Twickenham on Saturday.

Shane Geraghty is convinced England can transform their fortunes in the space of a week and pull off what many fans would view as an improbable victory over New Zealand on Saturday.

England 16 Argentina 9

AUSTRALIA captain Rocky Elsom has warned the Wallabies to underestimate the new-look England side at their peril.

Steve Thompson will complete a remarkable international comeback when he starts for England against Australia at Twickenham on Saturday.

Martin Johnson will name one of the most inexperienced England teams in memory to face Australia at Twickenham on Saturday – and that is despite the return of Jonny Wilkinson.

MARTIN JOHNSON finds himself in the rare position of being an England coach finalising his Test selection without having to fret over the fitness of Jonny Wilkinson.

Perpignan 29 Northampton Saints 13

Dylan Hartley insists Northampton will step into the unknown without any fear at Perpignan tomorrow night, after their momentous victory over two-time European champions Munster.

ANOTHER great night for European rugby at Franklin’s Gardens saw Northampton deservedly claim the Heineken Cup points but only after French referee Christophe Berdos came up with a highly controversial decision at the death that clearly irked Munster veterans Paul O’Connell and Ronan O’Gara.

FOR some time now, Michael Cheika and Tony McGahan had feared that their opening Heineken Cup encounters against London Irish and Northampton respectively were fraught with danger, given the lack of collective game time accumulated by their respective first choice teams compared to their English counterparts.

SHANE GERAGHTY has made an irresistible case to run England’s back division alongside Jonny Wilkinson in the autumn Test matches.

NOT a single member of the Munster squad or management was prepared to say a derogatory word about French referee Christophe Berdos or criticise the IRFU for keeping their key players in cotton wool almost up to the eve of Saturday’s crucial Heineken Cup tie against Northampton Saints.

ANOTHER blow for Tony McGahan and his management team.

Northampton 31 Munster 27

THE majority of the Munster team that under-performed so disappointingly against Leinster last week have an opportunity to redeem themselves in this evening’s Heineken Cup opener against Northampton Saints at Franklin’s Gardens.

Northampton Saints have selected three Irishmen in centre James Downey, flanker Neil Best and number eight Roger Wilson in their side to play Munster in the Heineken Cup at Franklins Gardens on Saturday.

NORTHAMPTON staged the kind of second-half comeback at Wasps yesterday that their Heineken Cup opponents Munster could have done with in the RDS, but still came up short, losing 20-15.

England Saxons 22 Ireland A 49