Bid to bring Gibson to Bristol

Bristol are negotiating an ambitious deal aimed at bringing All Black centre Daryl Gibson to the Memorial Ground next season.

Malcolm Pearce, the club's millionaire owner who went within a whisker of landing Jonah Lomu at £500,000-a-year after the last World Cup in November 1999, has claimed to have reached agreement with a 'phenomenal' player. Gibson is that player.

Bristol want the New Zealander to replace the departed Jason Little, who has been released from his £200,000-a-year contract to return to Australia.

Eric Peters was back on Scotland duty in the United States yesterday, ready to resume his Test career after a three-year fight against injury and illness. A transatlantic trip to play some fun rugby with an invitational side could end with the 33-year-old former Bath player being recalled for the serious business of ensuring the Scots avoid any more trouble after their 26-23 beating in Canada.

France, in Australia preparing for Saturday's opening Test against the Wallabies in Melbourne, have been given a blast by one of their leading players over the defeat in Argentina which ended a run of eight wins.

Olivier Magne said: 'This will be the moment of truth for the French team. We will have to see if we have the guts to bounce back.'

The Grand Slam winners are considering dropping half backs Gerald Merceron and Pierre Mignoni for Jan Michalak and Francois Gelez. The Wallabies expect fly half Stephen Larkham to recover in time from elbow damage.