Ireland face a stern Six Nations opener in Paris Thursday night, with injuries testing scrums, lineouts, and backline resilience against Fabien Galthie's France. Here are the key areas

Injuries, emerging talent and selection risk collide as Ireland, France and England shape a defining Six Nations championship.

To succeed in professional sport requires leadership and a clear vision from the top, something that’s lacking in Munster right now.

Frankly, Clayton McMillan’s men were guilty of playing too much rugby. 

O’Gara is encountering a difficult time at present. It comes with the job.

Unless something is done to reduce the bench from eight to six players, which is not on the agenda any time soon, the blueprint for success has already been set.

Head coach McMillan will likely be frustrated with many aspects of Munster's display against Gloucester, not least a continuation of the unforced handling errors

How is it safe for an out half or centre, with 70 minutes of game time behind him, to have to tackle a fresh rampaging behemoth stationed in midfield off a line out, ready to explode down his channel?

Ireland's biggest problem against South Africa was a failure to get to grips with the destructive power of their scrum. And this was Springbok scrum with Ox Nche. 

South Africa arrive in Dublin armed with power, insight and motivation, leaving Ireland’s leaders and playmakers under intense pressure to respond