Italy head coach Conor O’Shea has called for “consistency” from World Rugby after Scotland have called for assurances that their crunch Pool A tie with Japan will go ahead.

Reports have emerged in Scotland that the Scottish Rugby Union is “ready to take legal action” against World Rugby if their clash with Japan on Sunday is cancelled.

Joe Schmidt is hoping Ireland’s long lead-in to their final pool game will help his team put in the performance tomorrow that will take them into the World Cup quarter-finals.

The prospect of an Ireland versus South Africa World cup quarter-final remains a possibility after the Springboks did their bit by beating Italy 49-3 in Shizuoka on Friday.

Munster head coach Johann van Graan knows all there is to know about South Africa’s major domestic competition, the Currie Cup. Given that the Cheetahs — one of his side’s two Guinness PRO14 opponents over the next fortnight — were recently crowned champions of the 130-year-old tournament, he is aware of the challenge awaiting his team.

Conor O'Shea's side ran out easy winners against callow Canadian side.

Self-preservation or team cohesion?

Conor O’Shea has ruled himself out of becoming the new Munster CEO, insisting his focus is on getting Italy ready for the World Cup in Japan.

Ian McKinley said that heading to Japan with Italy next month, 10 years after featuring there for Ireland in the Junior World Cup, would circle a remarkable rugby journey.

Ultan Dillane and Rory Scannell became the first players to be jettisoned from Ireland’s World Cup planning as Joe Schmidt’s training squad was trimmed ahead of Saturday’s opening summer Test against Italy.

In the sporting realm, it’s obvious, but often under-appreciated in business is the maxim that you can’t get anything done without a team.

Mayo manager James Horan has cut six players from his panel ahead of their Connacht championship opener in New York on May 5.

As key stakeholders in rugby convene in Dublin tomorrow about a ‘world’ league that seems more concerned with concentrating and increasing the wealth for its bluebloods than spreading the word to the unconverted and the cash to the marginalised, it has probably escaped rather than focused their minds that the deciding game in Europe’s biggest international competition is once again between one nation with a population of just 6.6 million and another with just 3.1 million.

Simon Lewis Ireland may have collected five points following a 26-16 bonus-point victory over Italy, but the post-match dressing room described by Dave Kilcoyne spoke of a disappointment akin to defeat.

As we wait expectantly on the cusp of the 2019 Guinness Six Nations, the final round of the self-styled Rugby’s Greatest Championship seems an awfully long way down the track.

It mightn’t be the Six Nations but in a World Cup year, the autumn series of Tests is what GAA fans feel at the start of the national leagues every spring, writes Ronan O'Gara

The victory was emphatic as Ireland routed Italy by eight tries to one at Soldier Field on Saturday. Yet while the performance was far from perfect that was exactly what Joe Schmidt expected when he selected a young side for this mission.

To his team-mates, Ian McKinley is an inspiration, but as the Irishman turned Italian prepares to face his old friends at Soldier Field, this Saturday’s Test is not about him but the Azzurri doing themselves proud against Six Nations rivals.

Holders Castlebar Mitchels were held to a draw by rivals Ballintubber in Saturday night’s thrilling Mayo SFC semi-final at MacHale Park, Castlebar.

Former Munster and Ireland scrum-half Michael Bradley is being touted as a contender to take charge of Ulster.

We look back at a fascinating 2018 tournament. 

Joe Schmidt spoke yesterday about how some of his players might have been spooked during Ireland’s World Cup quarter-final defeat to Argentina in 2015, but Dan Leavy doesn’t fit the bill as the type to take fright on the field.

The problem with playing against Italy, especially at home, is that everyone is expecting a cakewalk and even when you deliver a comprehensive win, as Ireland did Saturday, invariably it comes with caveats, writes Donal Lenihan.

A game Jordan Larmour will treasure. Tradition dictates that those making their debuts keep that first, prized jersey and one from the opposite ranks and Larmour suspects his parents already have claims on one or both of those from Saturday.

Garry Ringrose’s potential return to action after six months on the sidelines may be music to the ears of the Ireland team management but in the wake of Robbie Henshaw’s shoulder injury, the Six Nations leaders have a serious experience deficit to make up before Wales visit in Dublin.

Michael Bradley, the former Ireland scrum-half and now head coach of Italian side Zebre, was last night casting an envious eye at the strength of the squad announced by his Munster counterpart Johann van Graan ahead of tonight’s Guinness PRO14 tie at Thomond Park.

Ireland return to the Aviva Stadium today, buoyed by their great escape in Paris and armed by both history and form to overcome Italy and make it two wins from two in the 2018 NatWest 6 Nations Championship.

England’s quest for an unprecedented hat-trick of Six Nations titles was launched by a 46-15 victory over Italy that produced a late flurry of tries.

Ben Te’o has been instructed to go “fox-hunting” when England launch their NatWest 6 Nations title defence on Sunday.

Joe Schmidt was true to his word that the Six Nations is no place for experimentation as he named an experienced squad for next month’s opening games of the championship, although there was one notable and welcome exception.

Peter Jackson gives his progress report on the best and worst teams, players and moments of the Autumn Internationals.

A €35m IT system designed to improve care for mothers and babies and cut down on paperwork has created more work for staff and more room for error because of a failure to link it up with GP IT systems.

A €35m IT system designed to improve care for mothers and babies and cut down on paperwork has created more work for staff and more room for error because of a failure to link it up with GP IT systems.

A €35m ‘landmark’ IT system to record maternal and newborn care has struggled to live up to its billing, writes Catherine Shanahan Health Correspondent    

Michael Bradley admits it: His Italian isn’t up to much.

Mayo will be taking on “the form team in the country” when they cross swords with Kerry in the All-Ireland SFC semi-final at Croke Park on Sunday week next.

While hurling qualifiers easily swerve into a labyrinth, that place of uncertainty and hesitations, Monday’s draw produced straight and narrow terrain, writes PM O’Sullivan.

KERINS O'Rahillys booked their place in the last eight of the Kerry SFC with a merited victory over their Dingle hosts at Pairc an Ághasaigh (2-13 to 3-9).

The compelling story of this season’s National League took another dramatic twist in Castlebar yesterday when the Cavan footballers ended a 13-year wait for a win in the top division.