Manu Tuilagi red card however overshadows England’s Six Nations win over Wales.

If Joe Schmidt could get a mulligan for one moment of what turned out to be a fairly average 2019 for Ireland, you’d guess it would be the first 20 minutes of the Six Nations campaign.

Wales picked out Tadhg Furlong for special criticism.

So much for stormy weather. The clouds may have been gathering around Ireland as they prepared to face Grand Slam champions Wales in Dublin, and not just those being blown in by Storm Ciara. Yet when Johnny Sexton speaks, all becomes calm.

If last week was flat then this was full on.

Ireland have won their Six Nations clash with Wales by 24-14 to record a second successive victory under new head coach Andy Farrell.

When Wayne Pivac sat down with his Wales squad to outline his expectations for the 2020 Six Nations this week, he did so with the Championship’s trophy alongside him.

Seven tries last week, another seven tonight.

Saracens have named an almost totally different side to face Munster at Allianz Park tomorrow, while the Reds make one change from their 10-3 home win.

Seven tries to one. A 27-point differential. This Pool 1 Heineken Champions Cup encounter turned into a rout but Leinster were just three points to the good when Jonathan Sexton went down in the tackle four minutes after half-time.

Northampton has been a happy hunting ground for Leinster in the past and they have the scent of a quarter-final berth in their nostrils yet again after this impressive win.

Sometimes it's the words that don't pass a player's lips that stand out.

Battered and bruised and ultimately beaten, Wales and Warren Gatland’s World Cup dream ended at the hands of a giant South African outfit for the second successive tournament.

On the eve of Wales’ final Pool D clash with Uruguay – a game for which head coach Warren Gatland rested his first choice stars – Alun Wyn Jones was still determined not to let his standards drop.

Zander Fagersoninsists GregorTownsend is still the man to lead Scotland forward.

Peter Jackson Time to call a halt as refs fail to implement penalty rules

Having trailed 10-7 at half-time, Ireland started the second period with intent with two tries before the hour mark

Ireland came from 10-7 down at half-time in the Aviva Stadium to win 19-10 thanks to early second-half tries from Tadhg Furlong and James Ryan

Rhys Patchell admits that he has endured “a challenging year” ahead of his return to the Wales Test team.

If Carlsberg could do Grand Slam-winning opening salvos, they would replicate what Wales delivered in the opening 70 seconds of action in Cardiff last Saturday.

Wales have completed the Grand Slam after beating Ireland 25-7 in their Guinness Six Nations match in Cardiff.

It’s not often you hear a player call an opponent chicken.

It was their 12th successive win, setting an all-time national record, breaking the previous best sequence that had stood for 109 years.

World Rugby chief executive Brett Gosper claimed his sport has “never been safer than it is now” as he looked ahead to a groundbreaking World Cup in Japan later this year.

Joe Schmidt has admitted he relishes Eddie Jones' verbal "grenades" ahead of Ireland launching their Six Nations defence against England.

The Welsh Rugby Union revealed today that the Swansea-based Ospreys will be his destination.

Connacht’s slim Champions Cup qualification hopes were ended in Swansea as Kieran Keane’s side were beaten 39-10 by the Ospreys.

OSPREYS 32 LEINSTER 18: Leinster limped back into Dublin late on Saturday night having fluffed their lines in their dress-rehearsal for the Champions Cup quarter-final with Saracens and licking their wounds after a mauling by the Ospreys.

If Leinster could be forgiven for straining one eye forward to next week’s appointment with Saracens, then their hosts today will bring a one-track mind to proceedings as they seek to rescue their season.

Simon Lewis shares the highlights of Ireland v Wales

The tiny margins that will shape today’s Six Nations clash at the Aviva Stadium.

Fine margins, this fixture has been determined by them time and time again over the past decade and everything points to a similar scenario when Ireland and Wales lock horns once more in Dublin this afternoon.

Warren Gatland will be wondering what Joe Schmidt can throw at Wales, writes Ronan O’Gara

If it’s Ireland-Wales in the Six Nations then chances are Rhys Ruddock will be nudged in front of the media at some point or other in the week leading up to it — the Leinster back row’s current absence through injury didn’t change that yesterday.

Ireland half-backs Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton have been warned they’re in Welsh crosshairs for Saturday’s pivotal Six Nations clash at Lansdowne Road.

Joe Schmidt has backed Ireland’s “great decision makers” to successfully adapt to whatever conditions or opposition gameplan they face when Wales visit Dublin for this Saturday’s crucial NatWest 6 Nations showdown.

Kick-off at Twickenham is at 4.45pm.

Eddie Jones has lodged a complaint with World Rugby over the conduct of Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones towards referee Pascal Gauzere in Cardiff last Saturday.

Maro Itoje and Alun Wyn Jones will shift from friends and former room-mates to rivals when England host Wales on Saturday.

Is it any wonder the structure of the professional game in Ireland is the envy of so many of our international counterparts at present?

Josh Adams admits it is “a surreal feeling” to have realised a rugby dream and be picked for Wales.

Worcester wing Josh Adams will make his Wales debut in Saturday's NatWest 6 Nations opener against Scotland.

Wales are hopeful that wing George North will be in the selection mix for Saturday’s NatWest 6 Nations opener against Scotland.

An irritated Gatland suggested the option of surgery on the problem should have been taken up earlier.

Police raided the headquarters of the French Rugby Federation (FFR) yesterday as part of an investigation into alleged conflict of interest involving the federation’s president Bernard Laporte, a source close to the matter said.

Saracens kept alive their hopes of qualifying for the Champions Cup knock-out phase after demolishing Northampton.

The Ospreys ended their PRO14 drought with victory over the Dragons at Rodney Parade as the last rugby match of 2017 in the UK dribbled to a lacklustre conclusion

Wales suffered a 30th successive defeat against New Zealand as the world champion All Blacks ended their European tour in winning fashion.

Wales huffed and puffed their way to an unconvincing 13-6 victory over Six Nations wannabes Georgia after being pushed to the limit.

Wales are determined to begin a two-year World Cup countdown today by ending their dismal run of defeats against Australia.