Sale can go all the way in this season’s Heineken Cup, according to the coach of group rivals Clermont-Auvergne.

IN terms of team make-up, of personnel, you could hardly get a greater contrast in this year’s Heineken Cup than Munster and Clermont Auvergne, who meet in round two in Thomond Park tomorrow.

HEINEKEN Cup crowds last weekend were the highest on record, with almost 137,000 fans attending games in the six pools.

THE buzz and excitement once the sole preserve of Munster’s home games in the Heineken Cup is likely to be transferred to the RDS this afternoon (5.15) when Leinster take on Glasgow Warriors in a must-win encounter.

Argentina have named an unchanged side to face Ireland following their 24-14 win over Six Nations champions France in Marseille.

England fly-half Charlie Hodgson has denied a Sunday newspaper report suggesting he is ready to quit Sale for a lucrative move to Leicester.

New Zealand international Taine Randell has been appointed tour captain for the Barbarians.

Gareth Jenkins today paid tribute to departing fly-half Stephen Jones after his Llanelli Scarlets team clinched the Celtic League title.

The Celtic League title race is set for a thrilling conclusion tomorrow night with three teams seeking championship honours.

Neath-Swansea Ospreys 15 Llanelli Scarlets 18

Stephen Jones is to join French club Montferrand on a two-year contract after Leicester lost out in the race to sign the Welsh fly-half.

LEICESTER yesterday appointed Pat Howard as their new backs coach – and the former Wallaby has vowed to help the Tigers reclaim the glory days.

Harlequins hooker Tani Fuga will be available for the Parker Pen Challenge Cup final following his successful appeal for stamping.

Leicester are expected to unveil their new head coach tomorrow as their search for Dean Richards’ replacement finally looks over.

SPORTS fans in Galway are spoiled for choice this weekend.

The Parker Pen Challenge Cup final will be staged at the Madejski Stadium, Reading, on Saturday, May 22, kick-off 12pm.

Jonathan Thomas earns his first home start for Wales in tomorrow’s RBS 6 Nations Championship clash against France, determined to make up for the away-day blues he suffered in Ireland.

Simon Danielli is backing Bath to wipe out a five-point deficit and remain on course for a domestic and European double when they take on Beziers tomorrow.

Tony Marsh today rubbished England boss Clive Woodward’s comment that France are red-hot favourites to beat the Six Nations champions in their World Cup semi-final showdown.

BERNARD Laporte last night insisted there would be no mind games from France in the run-up to the World Cup semi-final showdown against England.

Bernard Laporte today insisted there would be no mind games from France in the run-up to the World Cup semi-final showdown against England.

RENOWNED Bondi Beach, a few miles outside of Sydney, was the spectacular setting yesterday for the utterly predictable French selection to face Ireland in the quarter-final of the World Cup in Melbourne on Sunday.

HE has beaten cancer and made light of All Black rejection, so why should French centre Tony Marsh have any fears as he prepares for Sunday’s World Cup showdown with Ireland at Melbourne’s Telstra Dome?

Injury and illness look to be France’s most dangerous early opponents as they embark on a World Cup campaign they hope will culminate in at least a third final appearance in five attempts.

Tony Marsh today completed a courageous comeback from cancer when he was named ahead of Damien Traille to play in France’s opening World Cup clash against Fiji.

WORLD CUP warm-up matches were made for players like Rhys Oakley – and the Wales flanker intends grasping his chance against Ireland at Lansdowne Road today.

FRANCE centre Tony Marsh has revealed his “pure happiness” at being recalled to the national team set-up just five months after being diagnosed with testicular cancer.

Wasps produced a blistering performance in searing Twickenham heat to be crowned English champions for the third time.

Leinster go into today’s Heineken Cup semi-final against Perpignan at Lansdowne Road having not lost a game in the competition so far this campaign.

DON’T mention Heineken Cup semi-finals to Leinster coach Matt Williams, he’s been sending his players into cup finals all season.

Leinster’s Australian coach Matt Williams is refusing to contemplate the possibility of a Heineken Cup final against Munster.

IRELAND will welcome back Munster lock Paul O’Connell for training this week ahead of their RBS Six Nations trip to Wales.

Toulouse and Northampton Saints will play their Heineken Cup quarter-final on April 12 in the 36,500 capacity Stadium Municipal de Toulouse.

David Quinlan, one of the rising stars of Leinster rugby has joined the Irish squad in Lanzarote for their warm weather training week.

LEINSTER coach Matt Williams believes his side’s sparkling form in this season’s Heineken Cup is just the start of things to come.

Cardiff 0 Northampton 31

Sale Sharks’ coach Jim Mallinder has predicted a thrilling race to the wire to reach this season’s Heineken Cup quarter-finals from Pool Three.

Leinster 12

Heineken Cup half-times:

ASIDE from long-term injury absentees David Wallace and Rob Henderson, Munster coach Alan Gaffney will have a full strength panel from which to pick the team to play Viadana in Italy on Saturday night next in Pool 2 of the Heineken Cup.

LEINSTER have decided not to cite Montferrand wing David Bory — but the French international could still find himself in hot water with his club and may yet miss the return Heineken Cup fixture at Donnybrook this weekend.

A last-gasp try by Denis Hickie earned Leinster a win over Montferrand in France.

Leinster make two changes to the team to face Montferrand in France on Saturday, as Matt Williams‘ side attempt to consolidate their position at the top of their pool.