France prop Nicolas Mas admits a weight has been lifted off his shoulders after his Perpignan side picked up a vital win at home to Biarritz last Friday.

Second-row Geoff Parling seems to be in line for a first England start after Tom Palmer was dropped from Saturday's match-day squad with assistant coach Graham Rowntree admitting he's not been happy with his side's lineout.

Declan Kidney is adamant Ireland will be taken right to the wire by Italy on Saturday - just like the last RBS 6 Nations meeting between the two over a year ago.

Italy manager Luigi Troiani has warned his players they will have to take advantage of any Irish errors when the two meet in their RBS 6 Nations clash at Dublin on Saturday.

Alun Wyn Jones has admitted his sympathy for namesake Ryan, who has been dropped to the bench for Wales' RBS 6 Nations clash with England on Saturday, having skippered his side last time out.