Scotland threw everything at the hosts in the closing stages but some heroic defence saw Ireland hold on.

Donal Lenihan looks at the recipe for opening day success in the 2020 Six Nations.

George Horne crossed for two first-half tries as Glasgow eased to a 31-7 Guinness PRO14 victory over Zebre at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi.

Scotland have claimed all five points on offer with a 34-0 defeat of Samoa in the sweat box that was the Kobe Misaki Stadium on Monday but it took them over 76 minutes to do so.

That underwhelming Six Nations campaign? It was never his target in a World Cup year. The recent Twickenham hammering? When we finally get to hear Donal Lenihan properly he reveals he was talking to one of the players, they’d been in Portugal for nine days beforehand “and it was hell”.

Coach Gregor Townsend says Scotland are keeping a close eye on Ireland as both sides prepare for their opening weekend showdown at the World Cup in Japan next month.

Scotland’s World Cup preparations got off to a nightmare start as they were crushed 32-3 by France in Nice.

This clash saw Limerick progress to the next round of the FAI Cup at the expense of a brave Cobh Wanderers effort.

O’Brien missed what should have been his final game for his home province due to a hip injury but captain Sexton asked the Tullow Tank, who will depart Leinster for London Irish after the World Cup, to take the captain’s role and lift the trophy after a hard-fought victory in Glasgow.

Leinster have won the Guinness PRO14 final after beating Glasgow 18-15 at Celtic Park.

As British parliamentarians are proving with almost daily inefficiency, leaving Europe can be complicated but as far as Stuart Hogg is concerned, the swift and summary elimination of Glasgow Warriors earlier this season has been the best thing that could have happened to his club.

Glasgow will have the benefit of home advantage at Celtic Park after romping past Ulster 50-20 to claim a place in the Guinness PRO14 Grand Final.

PRO 14 Scoreboard here with this one Leo Cullen said Sunday’s Champions Cup semi-final will be a litmus test for him and his coaching team’s player management system.

Glasgow Warriors reclaimed top spot in Conference A of the Guinness PRO14 with a fantastic five-try 39-24 win over fellow table toppers Leinster at the RDS.

Line of Duty has been the best cop show of recent years, and fans are eagerly anticipating the return of AC-12 on Sunday, writes Georgia Humphreys

Gavin Hastings fears Scotland could suffer a Leinster-inspired hammering from Ireland at Lansdowne Road on Saturday.

Glasgow Warriors maintained their unbeaten home record in the Guinness PRO14 with a 37-23 win over Toyota Cheetahs.

Glasgow are not the first team to come to Galway and deal better with the wind and rain than the home team, but new coach Kieran Keane was anxious not to blame the weather for losing their opening game of the season to the same opposition for the second year in a row.

UCC 1 Cobh Wanderers 0: A late Sean McLoughlin goal saw Noel Healy’s UCC claim the Beamish Stout Munster Senior League Premier Division title as they got the better of Cobh Wanderers at The Mardyke last night.

It’s not just China and India in the sights of Netflix, but also European domination with almost 100 original productions in various stages of development, writes John Daly

Some of the stranger stories from around the world

It pioneered online streaming of TV and movies, but now faces backlash and competition. Joe Nocera asks can Netflix compete? 

All editing is over. Speech, projected on new platforms, has become the newly authoritative medium, writes Gerard Howlin.

NOT enough games are set in the ocean, writes Ronan Jennings. (It adds a lot of depth.) 

Ireland 26 Scotland 18: Despite a ragged performance Ireland signed off on their championship campaign with a win over Scotland thanks to a bit of luck and a dominant second-half.

Belvedere College 31 Cistercian College Roscrea 7: Belvedere College produced a stunning performance at the RDS yesterday when they secured their 11th Leinster Schools’ Senior Cup title at the expense of defending champions Cistercian College Roscrea.

Video streaming pioneer Netflix added more subscribers than projected in the US and abroad during the first quarter.

Abbey Theatre

IF ACTRESS Cate Blanchett, model Crystal Renn, and comedian Sarah Millican were to meet for coffee, they would probably have a common gripe.

Often described as one of the few plays from the 18th century to have enduring appeal, Oliver Goldsmith’s Restoration comedy, She Stoops to Conquer opens at Cork’s Everyman on May 20.

Netflix is preparing a sequel unlikely to be a hit with subscribers — the internet video service is about to raise its prices for the first time in three years to help pay for more programming such as its popular political drama House Of Cards.

Netflix is preparing a sequel unlikely to be a hit with subscribers – the internet video service is about to raise its prices for the first time in three years to help pay for more programming such as its popular political drama House Of Cards.

We don’t yet know what Putin’s real agenda is generally with Ukraine and specifically with Crimea. But it echoes the murky events that eventually led to the first global war, writes James G Neuger

Waterford swept to a first All-Ireland MHC triumph for 65 years in a wave of emotion at Croke Park.

John Higgins is today facing an uphill struggle to stay in the Betfair World Championship as the prospect of a major first-round upset loomed.

The Taoiseach’s nephew has been sentenced to seven months in prison for a crime spree that included burglary, car theft and driving while intoxicated.

Des O’Driscoll rounds up the highlights of this coming week on TV

IRISH business chiefs are showing more optimism than their British counterparts, with many believing Ireland will still be in the euro in 10 years.

'X Factor' hopeful Samantha Hallam is the one saying “yes” tonight as she gets a marriage proposal during her audition.

IRISH companies are more optimistic than their British counterparts about the prospects for economic growth over the next 10 years, according to a new study.

US President Barack Obama is directing his administration to ramp up oil production in the face of continued public unhappiness over fuel prices.

THE scene is set for a grandstand climax to the AIB League as high rollers Cork Constitution, St. Mary’s, Shannon, Dolphin as well as Garryowen and Blackrock continue to slug it out over three more weekends.

ALLY McCOIST refused to blame injuries to key players as holders Rangers almost crashed out of the Scottish Cup in the fourth round at Hamilton.

Stephen McManus has returned to the Celtic defence as a replacement for the suspended Gary Caldwell for today's SPL clash with Hamilton at Parkhead.

STEPHEN MCMANUS has revealed the Celtic players and management held a clear-the-air meeting following a fractious beginning to Tony Mowbray’s tenure as Parkhead boss.

Celtic goalkeeper Lukasz Zaluska made his first Clydesdale Bank Premier League start of the season in place of Artur Boruc for the clash with Hamilton at New Douglas Park.

Old Wesley have signed former UCD captain Michael Hastings to give them leadership and penetration through their midfield as they return to Division Two in the All-Ireland League.

The North is bucking the economic trend because of bargain-hunting visitors from the Republic, the Tourist Board said today.