Opening weekend talking points: A lot of water has flowed under the bridge since Johnny Sexton was forced off the field in Ireland’s Grand Slam decider

I think we would have done a marvelous job in hosting the event, showcasing the best aspects the country has to offer on a world stage

It says something about the bizarre nature of this World Cup draw that four key pool games take place on the opening weekend

The fairy godmother has appeared and offered Andy Farrell one wish: his pick of France or New Zealand in the World Cup quarter-final at the Stade de France. Who does he pick?

With the increasing incidence of red cards around the tackle and clear out - and subsequent suspensions becoming a real threat to player availability - the dynamics around every squad can change overnight

Andy Farrell is a coach you’d not only love to play for but would do everything to seek his respect and approval.

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?