No Monsiuer Smith For France

 France have been forced to pull David Smith, a late call-up, out of their plans for Friday’s Six Nations match with Wales after discovering he did not qualify to play for Les Bleus.

The embarrassment for the French Rugby Federation emerged only hours after the Samoa-born wing was brought in to cover injuries in the squad.

After Marvin O’Connor and Teddy Thomas were ruled out by problems sustained on club duty over the weekend, the head coach, Guy Novès, summoned the wings Djibril Camara and Smith.

But Castres’ Smith informed French officials he had played for New Zealand at the 2008 Edinburgh Sevens, scuppering his prospect of a debut in Cardiff.

In a statement on its website, the FFR said it had a document dating from August 2014 which indicated the 29-year-old Smith “appeared eligible” for France.

“On his arrival, David revealed to us he played in 2008 at Edinburgh in the international Sevens tournament for New Zealand,” the FFR said. “Because of this fact, David Smith isn’t eligible for selection for the France XV according to international rules and will be released from the squad on Monday morning.”

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Ulster v Castres - Team Preview

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Ruan Pienaar returns to the Ulster squad for Friday night's Heineken Cup Pool 4 opener with Castres at Ravenhill.

The South Africa scrum-half has been away with the Springboks, playing in the Rugby Champioship.

He starts on the bench as Ulster make one change from the team which beat Connacht in the RaboDirect PRO 12 last Friday.

Back row Iain Henderson will make his home debut for Ulster replacing injured Nick Williams (rib), and he will play at blindside which means Stephen Ferris will switch sides to No 7.

Castres are currently sixth in the Top 14 and arrive in ominous form, having beaten mighty Clermont Auvergne at the weekend.

However, the visitors - for whom Pedrie Wannenburg plays against his former team - have just one tournament victory on the road from their last 17 starts.

Ulster: 15 Jared Payne, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Darren Cave, 12 Paddy Wallace, 11 Andrew Trimble, 10 Paddy Jackson, 9 Paul Marshall, 8 Stephen Ferris, 7 Chris Henry, 6 Iain Henderson, 5 Dan Tuohy, 4 Johann Muller (c), 3 John Afoa, 2 Rory Best, 1 Tom Court. 

Replacements: 16, Rob Herring, 17 Callum Black, 18 Adam Macklin, 19 Lewis Stevenson, 20 Mike McCornish, 21 Ruan Pienaar, 22 Luke Marshall, 23 Craig Gilroy.

Castres: 15 Romain Teulet, 14 Marcel Garvey, 13 Daniel Kirkpatrick, 12 Seremaia Bai, 11 Marc Andreu, 10 Pierre Bernard, 9 Thierry Lacrampe, 8 Pedrie Wannenburg, 7 Yannick Caballero, 6 Piula Faasalele, 5 Rodrigo Capo Ortega, 4 Matthias Rolland, 3 Michael Coetzee, 2 Mathieu Bonello, 1 Yannick Forestier. 

Replacements: 16 Marc-Antoine Rallier, 17 Gregory Marmoiton, 18 Mihaita Lazar, 19 Iosefa Tekori, 20 Rory Kockott, 21 Antonie Claassen, 22 Paul Bonnefond, 23 Thomas Sanchou.

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Munster Unchanged for Castres Visit

Munster have named an unchanged side for Saturday's crucial Heineken Cup clash against Castres at Thomond Park.

Donncha O'Callaghan remains on an unchanged bench despite making a superb contribution as a replacement against Treviso last weekend.

Paul O'Connell's training has been curtailed this week because of a knee gash but he is named in the team.

Victory for unbeaten Munster could earn them a last-eight spot with a round of matches to spare.

If Munster win and Scarlets lose against Northampton or if Scarlets win without a bonus point, then Tony McGahan's side will be through to the quarter-finals.

Munster will face Northampton in the final Pool game in Milton Keynes next weekend.

Castres have won only one of their opening four pool games and are already out of contention for a place in the knockout stages.

Munster: D Hurley; J Murphy, K Earls, L Mafi, S Zebo; R O'Gara, C Murray; W du Preez, D Varley, BJ Botha; D Ryan, P O'Connell capt; P O'Mahony, N Ronan, J Coughlan.

Replacements: D Fogarty, M Horan, S Archer, Donncha O'Callaghan, B Holland, T O'Leary, I Keatley, D Barnes.

Castres: R Martial; V Inigo, P Bonnefond, PM Garcia, PG Lakafia; P Bernard,T Lacrampe; S Taumoepeau, MA Rallier, A Peikrishvili; M Rolland, R Capo Ortega; Y Caballero, S Malonga, J Bornman.

Replacements: M Bonello, M Coetzee, K Wihongi, S Murray, I Diarra, R Kockott, S Bai, M Nicolas.