French coach Philippe Saint-André fears the impact of foreign stars in France’s Top 14 is hurting the national side.

French approach

CONNACHT touched down in France yesterday with news that opponents Toulouse are taking no chances in their team selection for today’s Heineken Cup fifth round clash.

PAUL O’CONNELL’S decision to commit to Munster until the end of the 2013/14 season is about the only bit of good news to come the province’s way over the last few weeks.

New France coach Philippe Saint-Andre has included two uncapped players in his provisional 30-man squad for the RBS 6 Nations.

IT was hard at times last Saturday night, even in the midst of a live radio commentary, not to just sit back and admire the quality of rugby produced by Leinster.

PERCEPTIONS can really mess with the head sometimes.

THE contrasting fortunes of Tony McGahan and Joe Schmidt heading into the crucial back-to-back rounds of the Heineken Cup could not be highlighted more forcibly than by the selection dilemmas facing both men this week.

SATURDAY sees the culmination of the domestic competitions in this part of the world with the Magners League, Guinness Premiership and the French Top 14 championship all up for grabs.

Sale 13 Toulouse 19

France coach Marc Lievremont today made four changes to his squad for Saturday’s Test against New Zealand in Marseille.

WORLD champions South Africa suffered a second successive loss on their northern hemisphere tour as France triumphed in Toulouse last night.

SOUTH AFRICAN prop Tendai Mtawarira’s participation in tonight’s Test against France in Toulouse is in doubt due to ongoing confusion surrounding his citizenship.

YANN DAVID will earn just his second cap for France in Friday’s Test against world champions South Africa.

Yann David will earn just his second cap for France in Friday’s Test against world champions South Africa.

NORTHAMPTON were crowned Challenge Cup champions after surviving a ferocious assault from French bruisers Bourgoin at Twickenham Stoop last night.

Northampton 15 Bourgoin 3

France have gone with experience after making six changes to their squad for Saturday's RBS 6 Nations Championship title decider against Wales in Cardiff.

FRANCE head coach Marc Lievremont’s revolving door policy continued yesterday when he named three uncapped players in his starting XV for Sunday’s RBS Six Nations Championship clash with Italy.

France have named three uncapped players in their starting XV for Sunday’s RBS 6 Nations clash with Italy in Paris.

Jerome Thion is set to be available for France when they face Italy at the Stade de France this weekend after he came through training unscathed.

ITALY loose forward Mauro Bergamasco will miss the rest of the RBS 6 Nations Championship after he was handed a 13-week ban for poking Wales full-back Lee Byrne in the eye.

France coach Marc Lievremont has made eight changes to his 22-man squad to take on Italy in their penultimate RBS 6 Nations clash on March 9.

IT was hard fought and frantic, and occasionally hair-raising, but seeing off Bourgoin brought rewards both immediate and long-lasting for Munster.