With Leinster the sole province flying the Irish flag in this weekend’s Champions Cup quarter-finals, it’s natural the thoughts of supporters of other teams are already turning to next season.

1. The Power of the Mind

Today will be a test of Simon Zebo’s strength of character. As a travelling member of the Irish party heading to Scotland, he must accept the fact his weekend will be spent in a suit, writes Ronan O’Gara.

Paul O’Connell and I are in different places now. He’ll get to where I’m at soon, where most things are in a rearview mirror and frustrations are examined from a wide-angled perspective. 

It’s no secret that my Ireland career didn’t end the way I would have liked, and if this week is the end for Gordon D’Arcy, it’s certainly not how he would have wanted to finish up either.

Ronan O’Gara says Ireland could have kicked a lot more against England, and chose not to.

My memory of a lot of things from my career wouldn’t be perfect, but Ireland v England at Croke Park in 2007 is as clear as it gets.

All of Ireland will be praying that Jonathan Sexton makes it through club action this weekend uninjured, writes Ronan O’Gara.

After France’s rather unimpressive, tryless win over Scotland, Philippe Saint-Andre was at pains to claim there is still flair in the team — but that concept is dead and buried, writes Ronan O’Gara.

The players have now moved onto a level where they want to do something on the world stage. It’ll be fascinating watching them try, writes Ronan O’Gara.