After the sobering sight of four World Cup semi-finalists coming from the southern hemisphere, last weekend offered a glimmer of hope for European rugby. The question now is, was it an aberration or a line in the sand?

Champions Cup

As they prepare to head into the lion’s den against title holders Toulon on Sunday afternoon, Jonathan Sexton believes that Leinster need to attack the strengths of the Top 14 giants in their latest European Rugby Champions Cup fixture.

South Africa 64 USA 0: Heyneke Meyer paid tribute to Bryan Habana after the wing equalled the Rugby World Cup try-scoring record as his South Africa side confirmed their quarter-final spot with a comprehensive 10-try victory over USA.

Sam Warburton says he does not feel any sense of surprise after Wales finally ended their southern hemisphere hoodoo.

South Africa 38 Wales 16

When the chips were down in Paris, England’s dinner-suited players found themselves cast in the role of hapless bystanders among the pilgrims in downtown Rome, near the Vatican.

Oscar Pistorius was probably on his stumps when he fatally shot his girlfriend through a toilet door, a forensic analyst has told his murder trial.

Two trams have collided near a busy railway station in Holland, leaving 36 passengers injured.

South Africa flanker Schalk Burger is set to miss the three-Test series against England next month due to a knee injury.

Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall put English rugby’s European failure down to the gulf in the salary cap between the Aviva Premiership and the rest.

GLASGOW WARRIORS maintained their pursuit of Leinster in Heineken Cup Pool Three with a 20-15 victory over Montpellier at Firhill.

France have recalled scrum-half Jean-Baptiste Elissalde but named utility back Cedric Heymans on the bench for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations Championship title decider against Wales in Cardiff.

MARC LIEVREMONT insists France are by no means the finished article after making six changes to the line-up that dismantled Scotland for Saturday’s clash with Ireland.

Marc Lievremont insists France are by no means the finished article after making six changes to the line-up that dismantled Scotland for Saturday's clash with Ireland.

France have made six personnel changes to their team for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations Championship clash against Ireland in Paris.

THE newly installed triumvirate of youthful coaches at the helm of the French rugby team are displaying a united front that was missing from Bernard Laporte’s days.

NEW-LOOK France got their RBS 6 Nations Championship campaign off to the perfect start with an impressive victory against lacklustre Scotland at Murrayfield.

LAWRENCE Dallaglio admits European champions Wasps “have to do the business” on Saturday after suffering their biggest Heineken Cup defeat for almost six years.

RAPHAEL IBANEZ went through the whole range of emotions in the final heart-stopping minutes of France’s dramatic 46-19 success over Scotland, which clinched yet another RBS 6 Nations Championship title.

Ireland may mourn the cruel demise of their RBS 6 Nations title dream for some time to come but Denis Hickie is adamant the experience will prove invaluable at the World Cup.

French Barbarians 14 Argentina 28

Elvis Vermeulen will get another chance to stake his claim for a starting spot against England on March 11 when he turns out for the French Barbarians against Argentina this weekend.

England face a France side gunning for the Grand Slam, after they followed up away victories over Italy and Ireland with a come-from-behind 32-21 win over Wales at the Stade de France on Saturday.

Wales were looking to upset the form book in their RBS 6 Nations Championship clash with France tonight.

Pierre Mignoni will start his third match in a row for France when Wales come to Paris on Saturday – but he does not feel the scrum-half jersey is his for keeps just yet.

GARETH JENKINS reacted to Wales’ 21-9 defeat to Scotland by making seven changes for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash with France, including four in a revamped pack.

France's rotation policy continues for this weekend's RBS 6 Nations clash against Wales - and team manager Jo Maso has vowed it will be in full force until the end of the tournament.

France head coach Bernard Laporte has made seven changes for his side’s clash with New Zealand in Paris on Saturday.

Clermont Auvergne 27 Leicester 40

Hooked to a respirator, Prince Rainier of Monaco remained critically ill today at a seaside clinic in the tiny Mediterranean enclave that he transformed into a glitzy resort for the rich.

Montferrand v Harlequins teams

Amsterdam police have intercepted enough illegal chemicals to make three million ecstasy pills.