Wasps 28 Leinster 48

Warren Gatland is not quite as mobile as he once was – two dodgy heels, the legacy of a nasty fall in his native New Zealand last year, have put a brake on the former All Black hooker – but he will still leave his peers standing this weekend.

Stephen Donald, the outside-half from New Zealand who kicked the All Blacks to a first world title in almost a quarter of a century before flying halfway round the planet for a lucrative stint in Premiership rugby with Bath, has had enough of life in these parts. He is about to leave the Recreation Ground with a season still left on his very expensive contract and take up employment in Japan, where the weekly demands on mind and body are somewhat less severe.

These are the games that win championships. The days when opponents stick to you like glue, when your gameplan is compromised, when your kicker is off-colour but still the resolve is there to come through victorious.

Today

London Wasps’ supporters are going through the uncertainty familiar to every club in any code who undergo a change in ownership at the same time as asking themselves what they are all about.

Former England Saxons captain George Skivington has extended his contract with London Irish.

It is fair to say that Harlequins, the reigning English champions, did not perform cartwheels of joy when Saracens, their immediate predecessors and chief rivals for this year’s title, secured the services of the Samoan prop James Johnston for next season.

The match in Rome may have been the Ireland star's last Six Nations match

England missed out on title after thrashing by Wales

The Italy captain, Sergio Parisse, has praised Ireland’s Brian O’Driscoll as one of the greatest centres in the history of the sport, ahead of today’s Six Nations game at the Stadio Olimpico.

Sexton damaged a tendon in his left foot in training

The Saracens prop will be making his first start for the Red Roses

Goode joins from Worcester