Northampton Saints flanker Teimana Harrison has leapt to the defence of Dylan Hartley, who was banned for six weeks yesterday following his red card against Leinster, with Harrison insisting his teammate “is not a prick”.

Dylan Hartley's suitability to lead the British and Irish Lions has been questioned by Brian O'Driscoll as the England captain waits to discover the damage caused to his career by yet another major disciplinary lapse.

Jim Mallinder offered no consolation to Dylan Hartley after the England captain lasted just six minutes off the bench as Northampton were dominated 37-10 by Leinster at Franklin's Gardens.

The game was littered with red cards.

Here’s the lowdown on four big games across Europe...

Chris Ashton rescued Saracens from disaster as injury-ravaged Northampton's brave attempt at causing a major upset in the fierce rivals' Champions Cup quarter-final at Allianz Park ended in a 29-20 defeat.

Eddie Jones is yet to name his first England captain but insists he will pick his “best player” for the role.

Eddie Jones looks set to select a sprinkling of uncapped talent and leave out some established names when his first England elite player squad is announced today.

Northampton 9 Racing 92 9: Northampton’s England contingent failed to make an impression as Eddie Jones resumed his busy pre-Christmas scouting tour of the Aviva Premiership clubs last night.

Worcester 13 Northampton 12: It wasn’t just a new dawn for English rugby that kicked off at Sixways last night, just six days removed from the World Cup hosts’ disastrous exit. 

England 13 Australia 33: Having been in the World Cup for just 15 days, England are now set to enter a month-long period of reviews, damning indictments and calls for heads to roll.

From shortly before 8pm tonight the streets from Camden to Carmarthen will be deserted.

England have selected Brad Barritt and Jonathan Joseph as their centre pairing for Saturday’s World Cup warm-up game against Ireland at Twickenham.

If Stuart Lancaster doesn’t feel let down by his players, then he really should.

England have recalled lock Courtney Lawes and full-back Mike Brown for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash with Scotland.

Courtney Lawes will make his England return in Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash with Scotland emboldened by a glowing reference from forwards coach Graham Rowntree.

England won’t lack for confidence when they arrive in the Aviva Stadium tomorrow, says Donal Lenihan.

England will use ‘template’ of Wales game to curb Aviva fervour.

Stuart Lancaster’s week started with some bad news.

Mike Brown is still suffering concussion symptoms and faces a race against time to prove his fitness for the pivotal RBS 6 Nations clash between Ireland and England in Dublin.

England appear to have stumbled on the missing ingredient of a cutting edge that has eluded them for years.

“At this level you have to make sure you are accurate. Unfortunately, we weren’t."

Wales 16 - England 21: Despite injuries England came from 10 points down to record a famous victory in Cardiff. The Millennium Stadium was enthralled as the 2015 RBS 6 Nations began with a blood and thunder collision.

England have named Danny Cipriani and Nick Easter on the bench for Friday night’s RBS 6 Nations opener against Wales in Cardiff.

England’s preparations for the RBS 6 Nations continued to unravel with the news Owen Farrell will miss the entire Championship because of a knee injury.

Forwards Tom Croft and Christian Day have been called up to England’s RBS 6 Nations training squad as injury cover, the Rugby Football Union has announced.

England held their nerve in the face of a second-half fightback by Australia to end a frustrating autumn with a vital 26-17 victory at Twickenham.

England head coach Stuart Lancaster defended his selection of Owen Farrell after the out-of-form half-back was moved to inside-centre for the QBE International against Samoa at Twickenham on Saturday.

AUTUMN INTERNATIONAL:

South Africa have recalled World Cup winners JP Pietersen and Schalk Burger among five changes for Saturday’s QBE International against England at Twickenham.

It is a sign of England’s growing maturity that the talk in the gym ahead of their game against New Zealand today has been of ‘Dad Strength’.

George North’s quartet of tries reinvigorated Northampton’s European campaign, but the 34-6 victory over the Ospreys came at a cost with England centre Luther Burrell departing early through injury.

New Zealand 28 England 27

A woman who suffered from a mystery condition that stopped her breathing every five minutes as she slept has finally been diagnosed 25 years later – by her mother.

Ireland full-back Rob Kearney is ready to cross swords with swashbuckling England counterpart Mike Brown for both personal and collective gain at Twickenham today.

Tom Wood has a unique take on what makes a nice day out.

France 26 England 24