The most concerning aspect takeaway from Friday night’s humbling of the All Blacks was the simultaneous introduction of seven fresh Springbok forwards.

You can have no regrets when you save your best performance of the season, and in this case their best performance in years, for the URC Grand Final

Munster find themselves on the brink of achieving something special. The big question now is, can they deliver?

Is this ever-evolving La Rochelle team, with only three regular starters in the French team, better than their national side? 

After what transpired in their last two outings against La Rochelle, it’s imperative Leinster start well and carry the fight to the visitors from the outset

Over the next two weeks, the provinces can make it an incredible season for the game here.

If he had his time over again, perhaps Leo Cullen might have gambled by including a few more of his frontliners in props Andrew Porter and Tadhg Furlong, Jamison Gibson-Park and Hugo Keenan on the bench. Easy to be wise after the event

O’Gara has taken the best attributes of Dillane’s game in terms of maximising his ball winning ability out of touch, matching that with his insatiable appetite for work in the loose while diluting his responsibilities as a ball player.

Dublin's Aviva Stadium is braced for another cracker.

Despite its many problems, the sheer beauty, fabulous climate and warmth of the people always make a visit to South Africa a journey to savour. Observations from my latest expedition