Like Leicester the other leading opponents notably Wasps and Harlequins have still to visit and

Like Leicester, the other leading opponents, notably Wasps and Harlequins, have still to visit and with seven games to go it remains Bath rather than Leicester who would attract the smartest money.And yet. It was precisely at this stage of last season, with the Five Nations' Championship upon them, that they faltered as they had not since Leicester won the inaugural league title and Bath finished an ignominious (for them) fourth in 1987-88.As Phil de Glanville, the Bath captain, had forcibly reminded his players beforehand and Tony Russ, Leicester's rugby director, repeated afterwards, Bath dropped eight of the 14 points available to them in last season's seven-match run-in. The Tigers prevailed on yet another dank day at the Rec because they were comfortably the more efficient at playing rugby in keeping with the rain and mud of midwinter. How singular that a single result - Leicester's 15-14 win at Bath - could make such a difference, because until last season we would all have told ourselves confidently that Bath would use temporary adversity as the most powerful stimulus Now we do not quite know. Driving rain and a partially waterlogged pitch made Ireland's ambition of playing positive rugby impossible as the home side scored two tries to the visitors' one, from Richard Wallace. Neil Francis, who dominated the line-outs and Paul Burke, who came on in the second half for the injured Eric Elwood were Ireland's major successes.. Ireland had their work cut out to beat the United States 25-18 in filthy conditions in Atlanta on Saturday. Replacement: G Weir (Melrose) for Reid, 66.Italy: M Ravazollo (Calvisano); P Vaccari (Calvisano), T Visentin), I Francescato (Treviso), F Roselli (Roma); D Dominguez (Milan), A Troncon (Treviso); M Dal Sie (San Dona), C Orlandi , F Properzi, P Pedroni (Milan), M Giacheri (Treviso), A Sgorlon (San Dona), O Arancio (Catania), J Gardner (Treviso).Referee: G Simmonds (Wales).

Scotland A: Try Redpath; Penalties Shepherd 3, Townsend.Scotland A: R Shepherd; C Joiner (Melrose), S Hastings (Watsonians), I Jardine, K Logan (Stirling Co); G Townsend (Northampton), B Redpath (Melrose); D Hilton (Bath), K McKenzie (Stirling Co), P Wright (Boroughmuir), S Murray (Edinburgh Ac), S Campbell (Dundee High), R Wainwright (West Hartlepool, capt), E Peters (Bath), S Reid (Boroughmuir). "Referees are not allowing us to ruck - we can't put the foot on the ball But Italy were sharper than us at the back. We seemed to have the game controlled but didn't kick goals to put us 10-15 points ahead which we deserved to be.At one point, Telfer referred to "Ireland" when he meant Italy - a clear indication of where his thoughts turned as soon as the final whistle sounded on a result which again boosts Italy's claim to a place in an expanded Five Nations' Championship.Italy: Tries Arancio, Gardner, Vaccari, Visentin; Conversions Dominguez 3; Penalty: Dominguez. Craig Chalmers is likely to be reinstated at stand- off with responsibility for kicking, allowing Gregor Townsend to return to centre probably alongside Scott Hastings. Townsend's eagerness to run was commendable but a more balanced approach will be necessary Up front the 19-year-old second row Scott Murray impressed.

Murray has been compared to the All Black Ian Jones by the Scots boss Jim Telfer, who said he hopes referees will allow more scope for rucking in Dublin on Saturday week."If we had got quicker ball from rucks we might have done better," Telfer said. JAMES HEART reports from Rieti Italy 29 Scotland A 17Scotland's selectors meet tonight to finalise a side for the opening Five Nations game in Ireland and priority will be attached to finding a reliable goal-kicker. Rowen Shepherd missed seven out of 10 shots at goal as a virtual full-strength Scotland passed up the chance to build a winning platform and eventually crashed to embarrassing defeat.It was asking an enormous amount of Shepherd who has not kicked for his club this season and the Scottish team, who "punished" themselves with an early morning run before leaving the medieval town of Rieti, were hugely supportive of him. Toulouse: Tries Castaignede, Cazalbou; Conversion Deylaud; Penalties Deylaud 2; Drop goal Castaignede.Cardiff: M Rayer; S Ford (N Walker, 97), M Hall, M Ring (J Davies, h- t), S Hill; A Davies, A Moore; A Lewis, J Humphreys, L Mustoe, J Wakeford, D Jones, E Lewis, H Taylor (capt), O Williams.Toulouse: S Ougier; E Ntamack (capt), P Carbonneau (E Artiguste, 93), T Castaignede, D Berty (U Mola, 69); C Deylaud, J Cazalbou; C Califano, P Soula (C Guiter, 20-25), C Portolan, H Miorin, F Belot, D Lacroix (R Castel, 58), S Dispagne, H Manent.Referee: D McHugh (Douglas, Co Cork)..