Joe Schmidt has said his Ireland side were "tested on a number of levels" today against Scotland.

The trimming has begun.

Saracens travel to Racing Metro for their Champions Cup quarter-final tie tomorrow (Stade Yves-Du-Manoir, 12.45pm) full of confidence on the back of five straight wins.

It is almost exactly 40 years since the legend that is Willie John McBride played his last game for Ireland at Cardiff Arms Park in March 1975. 

Scotland have endured a bruising campaign in this year’s RBS 6 Nations — but Jim Hamilton insists one win against Ireland will sooth their wounds.

Pascal Pape will be formally charged today over an incident which threatens to bring his Six Nations’ campaign to an abrupt end.

Saracens took a giant stride towards the European Champions Cup quarter-finals by flooring Irish heavyweights Munster at Allianz Park.

Now comes the hard part.

-Difficulties ongoing since 2010

Manu Tuilagi has been warned to expect an aerial bombardment as New Zealand seek to expose the England wing’s inexperience in his new position.

Scotland lock Tim Swinson insists his side will have no problem living off scraps against Ireland in the Aviva Stadium on Sunday.

Scotland 0 South Africa 28

The backlash. Gloucester are braced for it, the Thomond Park faithful are expecting it and, now, Munster must deliver it.

Munster’s double-header with Perpignan in December looks like being the key to qualification from the pool stages of the 2013/14 Heineken Cup following the release of the official fixture list yesterday.

The wedding plans of a bride and groom due to exchange vows today have been saved by a High Court judge.

The group that has been appointed as a provisional liquidator to a Co Tipperary hotel with 75 weddings on the books, including one tomorrow, has said it is "business as usual" at the hotel.

A provisional liquidator has been appointed to a Co Tipperary hotel with 75 weddings on the books - including one scheduled for tomorrow.

Having being omitted from Warren Gatland’s Lions squad, Perpignan fly-half James Hook could line out against the British and Irish outfit, having been named in the provisional Barbarians squad.

France 23 Scotland 16

For a player expected by many to succeed Brian O’Driscoll as captain of Ireland, Rory Best could have been less forthcoming in his support of the man who got the nod ahead of him.

DECLAN Kidney rolled the dice in Murrayfield on Sunday and he won’t have been happy with the result.

Nama is to receive over $200,000 (€148,000) after the 8.38-carat diamond solitaire ring belonging to a property developer’s wife sold at a US auction.

Nama has set its sights on diamonds — rings, bracelets and necklaces.

One of Ireland’s best-known meat processing plants has closed with the loss of 160 jobs.

One hundred and sixty jobs have been lost after a meat product company was put into receivership.

With a Grand Slam and two Heineken Cup successes on his resumé, Paul O’Connell is pretty much in the “been there, done that”, category of rugby players.

Italy 13 Scotland 6

Centre Nick De Luca has been restored to the starting line-up in Scotland's only change for Saturday's RBS 6 Nations wooden spoon decider with Italy.

Donnacha Ryan had another reason to celebrate last night after signing a new IRFU contract to stay with Munster for two more seasons.

1 THE SECOND ROW

By Ian Cusack

RESISTING the urge to embrace squad rotation midway through Ireland’s arduous RBS 6 Nations schedule, head coach Declan Kidney has charged new captain Rory Best and his team to take their chance and show their leadership in Saturday’s clash with Scotland.

Scotland wing Rory Lamont is facing three to four months of rehabilitation after undergoing surgery on his broken leg.

Scotland have made two enforced changes for Sunday’s RBS 6 Nations clash with Wales in Cardiff, with Greig Laidlaw set to make his first Test start.

Andy Robinson has told his Scotland players to do their talking on the pitch in Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations opener with champions England at Murrayfield.

THE legal action by developer David Daly and his family over the takeover of their €457 million loans by the National Assets Management Agency has settled, the Commercial Court was told yesterday.

Scotland head coach Andy Robinson has made six changes and one positional switch for Saturday’s must-win World Cup Pool B clash with England.

Scotland head coach Andy Robinson has made five changes for Sunday’s World Cup Pool B clash with Argentina – and resisted a recall for tournament captain Alastair Kellock.

Scotland today entered the thick of the World Cup action after arriving in Wellington, where they will bid to qualify for the knockout stages with victory over Argentina.

DEVELOPER David Daly and his children have been given leave by the High Court to challenge NAMA’s demand that they repay €457 million they owe Allied Irish Bank.

Developer David Daly and his children have been granted leave by the High Court to challenge the demand by the National Assets Management Agency (Nama) for them to repay €457m they owe Allied Irish Bank.

Scotland head coach Andy Robinson has told his 30-man Rugby World Cup squad to now seize a place in his starting XV.

Scotland head coach Andy Robinson today confirmed a 30-man Rugby World Cup squad featuring few surprises and Alastair Kellock as captain.

Ross Rennie is focusing on performing well in his first Scotland start this weekend, rather than the prize of a place in the Rugby World Cup squad.