Fiji-born Manoa Vosawei will fill the gaping hole at No.8 left by Sergio Parisse, who will miss Saturday's Six Nations game against Wales in Rome due to suspension.

France coach Philippe Saint-Andre on Thursday made seven changes to his side to take on England in a Six Nations match at Twickenham on Saturday.

Brad Barritt may not be a fans' favourite but so long as he has the respect of his team-mates England's midfield defensive anchorman is perfectly happy to keep adding to his tackle count.

France great Serge Betsen believes Saturday's Six Nations match against England at Twickenham will represent the "biggest game ever" for an emerging French side.

Italy captain Sergio Parisse will miss the rest of the Six Nations Championship after picking up a 30-day ban on Wednesday for swearing at a referee.

Prop forward Geoff Cross has been called up into the Scotland side for Sunday's Six Nations international against Ireland at Murrayfield in the only change to the side that beat Italy earlier this month.

Wales's Sam Warburton will have to make do with a place on the bench after interim head coach Rob Howley confirmed his replacements Tuesday for Saturday's Six Nations international away to Italy.

England coach Stuart Lancaster has warned that France will be no pushovers in Saturday's showdown at Twickenham despite starkly contrasting starts to the Six Nations tournament for the sides.

Ireland were hit by a new injury blow on Monday as it was announced that backrow forward Chris Henry is out of the rest of the Six Nations with a knee injury.

Italy coach Jacques Brunel on Sunday named veteran flanker Mauro Bergamasco in his 31-man squad for the upcoming Six Nations clash against Wales at Rome's Olympic Stadium.

Harlequins boss Conor O'Shea praised the performance of Danny Care after the scrum-half's fine solo try in a 25-21 win over Leicester returned the champions to the top of the English Premiership.

France's Six Nations title hopes may have gone but coach Philippe Saint-Andre said on Saturday that next weekend's game with championship leaders England at Twickenham would be their grand slam match.

South African centre Gavin Hume scored the only try as Perpignan defeated Toulouse 19-18 on Friday to shatter Guy Noves' dream of celebrating his 1,000th match with the French champions with victory.

Prop forward Joe Marler has said England would back themselves to win the World Cup if it started tomorrow but stressed there was plenty of work to be done before they play host to the next edition in 2015.

Ireland's Cian Healy will miss the Six Nations matches against Scotland and France after receiving a three-week ban for stamping on England's Dan Cole during last weekend's defeat in Dublin.

British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland admitted to the London Evening Standard on Tuesday that he is wary of picking too many English players for this year's tour of Australia despite their fine form in the Six Nations.

South African-born flanker Antonie Claassen on Monday was called up by coach Philippe Saint-Andre for the 23-strong French squad to prepare for the Six Nations match against England at Twickenham on February 23.

Ireland prop forward Cian Healy was cited Monday for stamping on England front row Dan Cole during Sunday's Six Nations international at Dublin's Lansdowne Road.

England coach Stuart Lancaster was delighted by the maturity of his youthful side after they emerged from a brutal encounter in Dublin as the only side in this season's Six Nations who can win a Grand Slam.

Owen Farrell held his nerve as England beat Ireland 12-6 at a rain-soaked Lansdowne Road on Sunday and so became the only side in this season's Six Nations capable of winning the Grand Slam.