Claudio Ranieri has issued Esteban Cambiasso an ultimatum and insisted Leicester need to know if he will stay.

Nigel Pearson was sensationally sacked by Leicester City last night despite keeping the club in the Barclays Premier League last season.

RBS 6 Nations

Saturday’s siege will come from all angles but amidst all the chaos and carnage that Cardiff will deliver Rory Best knows that Paul O’Connell will lead Ireland’s ground offensive just as he has 99 times before.

Ireland’s RBS 6 Nations title-chasing squad returned to their Co Kildare training base last night under no illusions about the size of the task facing them in Wales next weekend.

Big statement alert: I don’t think in the history of rugby in this country have we had a better captain-coach combination guiding our fortunes into the next World Cup.

We have become programmed to expect the worst when we travel to Paris in the spring but mercifully this Irish team failed to read the script and accept the inevitable.

It’s amazing how people react to a result. Regardless of a win, loss or draw it’s usually an over reaction.

Scotland head coach Scott Johnson admits not even a victory over Italy this afternoon will cure the Dark Blues’ problems.

Irish referee Alain Rolland’s final international before retirement will be a repeat of the infamous 2011 World Cup semi-final between Wales and France when he controversially sent off Sam Warburton.

Ireland 40 Samoa 9

Jamie Heaslip will captain Ireland, despite being named vice-captain by new head coach Joe Schmidt, as new skipper Paul O’Connell is not fit enough to start the match.

Paul O’Connell will be available to face Samoa on Saturday but doubts remains over the lock’s ability to last the 80 minutes of his first Ireland Test in 19 months.

Nigel Owens will referee Ireland’s Autumn international with New Zealand — 16 months after the chance to claim a first win over the All Blacks was lost on the back of his controversial decision in Christchurch.

Combined 0 British & Irish Lions 64

Combined Country 0 British & Irish Lions 64

The British and Irish Lions insist they will not be “drawn into silliness” tomorrow after being promised a physical welcome by opening Australia tour opponents Western Force.

Saracens hooker Schalk Brits is set to miss the first three Aviva Premiership games of next season after being banned for striking his club colleague Owen Farrell.

Saracens hooker Schalk Brits could be cited after he punched his club colleague Owen Farrell during today’s clash between the British and Irish Lions and Barbarians.

British & Irish Lions 59 Barbarians RFC 8

The English contingent on this summer’s British & Irish Lions tour of Australia will be reacquainted with referee Steve Walsh when he takes charge of the opening game of the trip against the Barbarians.

Hooker Richard Hibbard has rejected suggestions the Wales front-row conned referee Steve Walsh during their RBS 6 Nations victory over England.

England forwards coach Graham Rowntree is “seeking clarification” from the International Rugby Board over the performance of referee Steve Walsh in Saturday’s 30-3 defeat to Wales.

Wales 30 England 3

There has been times over his decorated coaching career that Declan Kidney has been characterised as a lucky general.

Ireland lock Donnacha Ryan believes he and his teammates can be proud of the way they recovered from back-to-back defeats against England and Scotland to secure a draw against France in Dublin on Saturday.

Ireland 13 France 13

Jamie Heaslip faces a tough week trying to motivate his battle weary troops ahead of Saturday’s Six Nations finale in Rome following the “frustration” of playing out a 13-13 draw with France at the Aviva.

Keith Earls has pointed the finger of blame at referee Steve Walsh for Ireland’s failure to overcome France at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday as the sides played out a draw for the second year in a row.

Deflated Ireland captain Jamie Heaslip has refused to criticise the decision not to award Ireland a potential match-winning penalty late on today.

Warren Gatland will not bring his Wales coach Shaun Edwards on the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia next year.

It’s now or never for the Irish rugby squad if they wish to create history and beat New Zealand on their own hollowed turf.

England head coach Stuart Lancaster claims his players already have their minds set on revenge after their narrow first Test loss to South Africa.

Superstitious Wales skipper Sam Warburton has banned himself from talking about the Grand Slam his World Cup semi-finalists are now favourites to achieve next month.

England 12 Wales 19

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.

SOUTH AFRICA’S Craig Joubert will take charge of Saturday’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final between Ireland and Wales in Wellington.

South Africa’s Craig Joubert will take charge of Saturday’s first northern hemisphere showdown, between Wales and RBS 6 Nations rivals Ireland in Wellington, tournament organisers have announced.

France 14 Tonga 19

Wales 81 Namibia 7

IRELAND coach Declan Kidney admitted his side “just have to get better” after Saturday night’s seven-point loss to France in Bordeaux.

France 19 Ireland 12

LIMERICK referee George Clancy will take charge of the opening game of this year’s Rugby World Cup.