Brian O’Driscoll says “the head is good” but the Ireland centre will face a cognitive test today to determine if he can face Italy in Saturday’s final Six Nations clash.

Toulon 62 Sale 0

Saracens boss Mark McCall has targeted an across-the-board improvement from his team in tomorrow’s Heineken Cup clash against Munster.

Age is but a number according to Munster, Ireland and Lions second row forward Donncha O’Callaghan, who is determined to set a new benchmark for longevity at the top of the Irish game.

The Irish Rugby Union Players’ Association (IRUPA) has downplayed fears that more of its members will be forced to quit the game due to injuries.

When the Heineken Cup celebrated its 15th birthday two years ago, fans were asked to select their most memorable games from the tournament’s history.

Donncha O’Callaghan was casting a withering glance up the 18th fairway from the comfort of Munster’s temporary team room in the Fota Island Resort clubhouse.

In a land of fresh starts, who better to shed some light on the transformation of the England rugby team than new father, Ben Foden?

Sotheby’s will offer the only privately owned version of Edvard Munch’s haunting work The Scream at an auction in New York on May 2, where it is expected to fetch more than $80m (€60m).

England and Sale prop Andrew Sheridan will join Toulon this summer.

Wasps today confirmed that long-serving head coach Shaun Edwards has left the club paving the way for a potential role with England.

HT England 34 Romania 3

BEN FODEN has backed Mike Tindall to “show the critics he is here to win a World Cup” when England tackle Romania in Saturday’s Pool B clash at the Otago Stadium.

Lewis Moody has returned from injury to captain an England team featuring nine changes for Sunday’s Rugby World Cup clash with Georgia.

Lewis Moody has returned from injury to captain an England team featuring nine changes for Sunday’s Rugby World Cup appointment against Georgia.

England were today considering whether to appeal against Courtney Lawes’ two-match ban for recklessly striking Argentina hooker Mario Ledesma with his knee.

England’s back row resources have been stretched before they even depart for the World Cup after Tom Wood was forced to pull out of tomorrow’s final warm-up international against Ireland.

Matt Stevens’ return from the ignominy of a drugs ban continued today when he was confirmed in England’s 45-man Rugby World Cup training squad.

Nick Evans was hailed as “a genuine world class player” after his 22-point haul guided Harlequins to victory over Wasps and into the Amlin Challenge Cup semi-finals.

Simon Shaw believes England must pay more respect to their opponents if they are to avoid a repeat of the RBS 6 Nations heartache suffered against Ireland.

Martin Johnson has no intention of banning the phrase ’Grand Slam’ from the England camp this week as they build up to Saturday’s decisive showdown in Ireland.

England manager Martin Johnson has made one change for Sunday’s Calcutta Cup game against Scotland, with Alex Corbisiero replacing the injured Andrew Sheridan at loose-head prop.

Ospreys coach Sean Holley has billed tomorrow’s Heineken Cup clash against struggling London Irish as a season-defining game.

Louis Deacon has been recalled to the England squad for the RBS 6 Nations as a replacement for banned Gloucester lock Dave Attwood.

Newport Gwent Dragons 16 Wasps 23

Martin Johnson has confirmed that Jonny Wilkinson will not require shoulder surgery - but he remains doubtful for England's clash with New Zealand on November 6.

Jonny Wilkinson has handed England an injury scare on the first day of their pre-autumn international training camp.

Leinster 6 London Wasps 41, Donnybrook

Ben Youngs and Courtney Lawes will make their first starts for England after manager Martin Johnson made two changes for Saturday’s second Test against Australia.

Australia 27 England 17

Wasps 15 Cardiff Blues 18

France 12 England 10

MARTIN JOHNSON yesterday insisted his decision to drop Jonny Wilkinson does not signal the beginning of the end for England’s World Cup-winning fly-half.

England have placed Stade Francais lock Tom Palmer on standby for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash with France amid growing concerns over the fitness of Steve Borthwick.

Jonny Wilkinson has been dropped by England for only the third time in his 12-year international career.

Lewis Moody has been dropped for England’s Calcutta Cup game against Scotland on Saturday.

Martin Johnson has confirmed that Simon Shaw and Delon Armitage are both unlikely to be fit for England’s Calcutta Cup clash with Scotland at Murrayfield on March 13.

England 16 Ireland 20

England 16 Ireland 20

England 6 Ireland 8

HERE’S no need to delve into the DVD collection to sum up what makes Stephen Ferris the player he is. Proof of the Ulster man’s DNA surfaced in what should have been a routine training session in Durban last summer.

Mark Cueto has become the latest England player to be struck down with a stomach bug.

THIS Irish rugby squad is fast becoming a victim of its own success with expectation levels at home at an all time high coming into this year’s Six Nations. We have also become a treasured scalp for even the top teams. Nothing illustrated this more than the sight of a French side doing a lap of honour after beating Ireland in Paris.

Martin Johnson revealed England are preparing to take Italy on at their own game after he announced a forward-dominated bench for Sunday’s RBS 6 Nations showdown at the Stadio Flaminio.