CONOR O’SHEA will keep Harlequins playing the high-tempo rugby that put Munster to the sword when the Londoners meet Michael Cheika’s Stade Francais tonight.

ENGLAND centre Riki Flutey admits Wasps are “hurting” ahead of tonight’s Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final clash against London rivals Harlequins.

IF the England Saxons expected to neuter the Wolfhounds at a gale-lashed Ravenhill last night they were in for a big surprise, as they were cut down to size in no uncertain terms.

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

Jonny Wilkinson has been retained in an unchanged England team for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations showdown with Ireland at Twickenham, despite concerns over his form and fitness.

MARTIN JOHNSON admitted he was relieved to escape Rome with a victory after watching England battle to an unconvincing win against Nick Mallett’s Italy yesterday at the Stadio Flaminio.

England manager Martin Johnson has finalised a forwards-dominated bench for Sunday’s RBS 6 Nations clash with Italy.

Leicester tight-head prop Dan Cole will make his full England debut in Sunday’s RBS 6 Nations clash with Italy in Rome.

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.

IT IS usually wise to downplay the opposition before a huge Test match, but Australia captain Rocky Elsom has a simple message for his side ahead of their visit to Croke Park next Sunday: this is the best team in Ireland’s history.

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.

THE smiles were back and promises kept as the 2009 British and Irish Lions produced the performance of this South African tour to emphatically avoid a whitewash at Ellis Park, Johannesburg on Saturday with a victory that highlighted just how unlucky they were to lose the three-game Test series.

British and Irish Lions boss Ian McGeechan has made wholesale changes for Saturday's final Test against world champions South Africa.

Ireland fly-half Ronan O’Gara will captain the British and Irish Lions in tomorrow night’s clash against the Emerging Springboks at Newlands.

IRELAND full-back Rob Kearney, who realised a lifetime ambition when coming on for the Lions at Kings Park on Saturday, believes a Test series victory is still possible.

BRIAN O’DRISCOLL said earlier in the week that winning becomes a habit.

Brian O’Driscoll will captain the British and Irish Lions in their second tour match against the Golden Lions in Johannesburg on Wednesday.

ENGLAND romped to their most emphatic victory over France since the glory days of 2003 as Martin Johnson’s under-fire side enjoyed a staggering return to form at Twickenham.

Ben Foden’s blistering form for Northampton has been rewarded with a call-up to the elite England squad.

TOBY FLOOD steps into the number 10 limelight vacated by Danny Cipriani at Twickenham on Saturday determined to make some publicity of his own.

England manager Martin Johnson appeared to provide an early glimpse into his thinking ahead of a demanding autumn Test campaign by making eight players available for EDF Energy Cup action this weekend.

England Saxons 34 Ireland A 12

Harlequins forward Nick Easter will captain England in next Sunday’s clash against the Barbarians at Twickenham.

England have included 13 capped internationals in a 27-man training squad to prepare for the traditional end-of-season challenge against the Barbarians at Twickenham on June 1.

Former Ireland Schools international Gavin Duffy has been selected at full back on the Harlequins side to meet Montferrand in the Parker Pen Challenge Cup final at Reading on Saturday.

WASPS coach Warren Gatland is keeping a close eye on the build-up to the Connacht-Harlequins Parker Pen Cup semi-final in Galway on Sunday.

NEC Harlequins made four changes to their pack to face Connacht in the second leg of the Parker Pen Challenge Cup Semi Final in Galway on Sunday afternoon.

NEC Harlequins have gone with Irish international Paul Burke, Roy Winters and George Harder as their three changes from the Zurich Premiership draw with London Irish to play Connacht in the first leg of the Parker Pen Challenge Cup semi-final at the Stoop on Sunday.