Gregor Townsend is likely to be out of action for six weeks after a scan on his knee revealed the Scottish outhalf had badly twisted cruciate ligaments in Sunday's Six Nations clash with France. It now appears as though the final encounter with Ireland in April will be his only other appearance in the competition.

An injury after just three minutes of the 16-6 defeat to France in Paris ruled him out of the game.

Fabrice Landreau, the French hooker who was ruled out of Sunday's victory over Scotland because of a back injury, said yesterday he should be fit for their next match against Ireland on Saturday week, February 17th.

Rod MacQueen has confirmed the worst-kept secret in Australian rugby by announcing he will be standing down as coach to the world champions in September. The 51-year-old will stand down after the Lions' three-Test tour Down Under in June and July and the Tri-Nations series which ends in September.

He led the Wallabies to 32 wins, one draw and seven losses during his four-year spell at the helm with his side lifting the World Cup in 1999.