The Rugby World Cup drew to a close on Saturday, when England were beaten by South Africa in the final.

And that includes World Rugby, the sport’s governing body, which has been stunned by the huge numbers being racked up in terms of television viewers and social media engagements as well as the good old-fashioned barometer of jersey sales.

Robbie Henshaw will belatedly begin his 2019 Rugby World Cup campaign against Samoa on Saturday after Ireland named a team close to full strength in their bid to qualify for the quarter-finals.

Around the same time that Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe was breaking down the facts and figures of his Budget, the South Africans were crunching numbers and opponents of their own when hammering Canada 66-7 in Kobe.

The underlying narrative behind the decision to stage the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan is that it is an opportunity to give a huge impetus to the game in a country where it is — relatively speaking — a marginal presence.

Joe Schmidt is expecting an upturn in refereeing standards and consistency following the officials’ very public dressing down by World Rugby this week.

One more Test and another phenomenal performance from James Ryan as the Ireland lock moved ever closer to taking on the talismanic role Paul O’Connell once performed in the green jersey.

The 2019 Rugby World Cup is finally underway and before too long, it will be Ireland’s turn to get their campaign up and running. It will hardly be the gentlest of introductions to this global gathering of the sport’s greatest exponents, though, and the fact that Joe Schmidt’s men have to face Six Nations rivals Scotland first up tomorrow has shaped everything that has gone before this summer.

Today’s meeting between New Zealand and South Africa will be their 99th.

"Alexa, sing an Irish rugby song".

Follow live updates below or across social media, with expert analysis and insight from our panel of Irish Examiner columnists Ronan O'Gara and Donal Lenihan, who are joined on stage by Munster Rugby's Johann van Graan and Stephen Larkham.

The 2019 Rugby World Cup is nearly upon us and the Irish Examiner is giving rugby fans a unique opportunity to hear the thoughts of our expert panel including Irish Examiner columnists Ronan O'Gara and Donal Lenihan and Munster Rugby's Johann van Graan and Stephen Larkham ahead of this highly anticipated Rugby World Cup.

It was just one week before South Africa played Ireland in Aviva Stadium in November 2017 that Rassie Erasmus bid an emotional farewell to Munster.

Joe Schmidt has signalled a much-changed starting line-up for Ireland’s trip to face England at Twickenham in two weeks, but is hoping that injured fly-half Joey Carbery will be back in the mix by then.

The IRFU have revealed their strip for the upcoming Rugby World Cup in Japan.

The first game of the 2019 Rugby World Cup is still 85 days away and yet Ireland are back in camp almost two weeks already. It’s no wonder that Toner opined yesterday that these summer breaks never feel long enough.

A legal dispute that threatened to have "serious implications" on the Pacific Island nation of Tonga's preparations for this year's Rugby World Cup has been withdrawn.

Ronan O'Gara has said he believes that Joe Schmidt will return to coaching in New Zealand at some stage in the future.

Joe Schmidt's departure as Ireland head coach after the 2019 Rugby World Cup has also made big news in New Zealand.

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TG4 retain some rights, although eir will have exclusive rights to the Leinster-Munster derby matches.

Rugby Europe is to analyse the performance of the Romanian referee in charge of Belgium's controversial upset of Spain this weekend in a meeting on Friday.

New Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has admitted he faces a "huge task" reviving fallen giants South Africa.

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Playing for Ireland in the 2019 Rugby World Cup and winning trophies with Munster were the chief reasons why CJ Stander inked a new deal with the IRFU and turned down lucrative offers to continue his career abroad.

New Zealand’s Canterbury Crusaders are targeting Ronan O’Gara for a sensational move to Super Rugby next season.

New Zealand’s Canterbury Crusaders are targeting Ronan O’Gara for a sensational move to Super Rugby next season.

Is there any particular autumn international I’d buy a ticket for?

Catch up on this morning's headlines...

Conor Murray has opened up about his "best mate" Simon Zebo moving to France and the winger's omission from the Ireland squad.

Fiji have secured their spot at the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.

Paddy Jackson is thrilled with the way he is kicking at the moment but admitted he was unaware he is on a streak which has seen him land 33 out of 34 kicks for Ireland since last November.

You’d imagine the Irish management will be hoping for a tougher test from Japan in the concluding test in Tokyo next Saturday as there will be little to be gained from another landslide win.

The politeness is overwhelming. Nothing prepares you for the impeccable good manners of the Japanese. And it’s not some paddywhackery aimed at extracting the last yen from a visitor to the country. You only need to look at how they interact with each to realise this is a society unlike any other.

Ireland have been drawn in Pool A.

Here's your lunchtime news bulletin.

The sight of the battleship England hoving into view, all guns blazing and with plenty of ammunition still left to unleash, might remind Irish supporters of when the All Blacks landed in Chicago last November.

The All Blacks’ ability to seal the Rugby Championship with two rounds remaining highlighted the burgeoning gap between the world champions and the rest of the sides, though the team were not prepared to let their final games become footnotes.

IRFU chief executive Philip Browne accepted yesterday that the future of Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt remains very much up in the air.

GAA president Aogán Ó Fearghaíl says a decision will be taken in the autumn as to whether the GAA will continue its deal with Sky Sports for the 2017 season and beyond.

The new sports channel Eir Sport has acquired the exclusive Irish rights to the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

Ireland’s new generation of Test players have been put on notice that this month’s Test series against the Springboks could determine their pathway to the 2019 World Cup.