Johnny Sexton’s thumb sprain is not expected to stop the Ireland star facing Italy in Ireland’s opening World Cup warm-up game next month.

Conor Murray may be frustrated he missed Ireland’s historic victory over the All Blacks last month but he has no regrets he took the time to properly rehab his neck injury.

Peter O’Mahony’s pain as he rose from the bench to celebrate Ireland’s victory was as excruciating as the preceding minutes had been for those in the Aviva Stadium to watch on Saturday night.

With the much anticipated New Zealand test looming large in the background, the opening international of the November Guinness Series always had a bit of a matinee feel to it, the prelude to the main event.

You would imagine Chicago will hold a special place in Tadhg Beirne’s heart for quite some time after his double try-scoring first start for Ireland at the weekend.

Simon Lewis picks out three players who put their hands up...

When you play as well as Jordan Larmour did in his first start for Ireland on Saturday night, it is difficult not to reach for the sky.

The door has been opened for Ireland’s World Cup hopefuls and Joe Schmidt will be hoping the likes of Joey Carbery, Niall Scannell, and Tadhg Beirne can grasp the opportunity presented to them and take a confident step towards Japan this weekend.

Ireland are hopeful that Rob Kearney will overcome the shoulder injury he suffered at the weekend in time for November’s Guinness Series of Test matches.

Keith Earls has spoken of his relief at getting a new contract finalised ahead of schedule in an exciting year for both Munster and Ireland.

Conor Murray is targeting the November internationals for his return to action as he celebrates inking a new three-year IRFU deal which will make him the highest paid player in Irish rugby history.

Even watching from the family sofa, Jacob Stockdale could see that Six Nations rugby was at a different level to anything else in the game.

Dan Leavy may be part of Ireland’s bright future, but in the build-up to his first Six Nations start in Dublin today, the 23-year-old’s pre-game thoughts will be sound-tracked by the soothing sounds of 70s disco.

Jack McGrath is back in a good place, enjoying his rugby once more and grateful for another opportunity to prove his worth to the Ireland cause.

Racing 92-bound Simon Zebo is not giving up hope of being called up by Joe Schmidt for next month's Six Nations Championship.

Racing 92-bound Simon Zebo is not giving up hope of being called up by Joe Schmidt for next month’s Six Nations Championship.

Peter O’Mahony has urged Munster supporters to forget last year’s 38-0 European drubbing of Leicester at Thomond Park and brace for impact when the Tigers return to Limerick on Saturday.

Continuity may be the watchword for Munster after their change of management halfway through the season but new boss Johann van Graan has told his players they are starting with a clean slate as far as he is concerned.

Joe Schmidt was under no illusions as he surveyed the fast-approaching 2018 Six Nations Championship.

Ireland 28 Argentina 19: Another Guinness Series in the books, a handful of new Ireland caps and three satisfying if not perfect victories for Joe Schmidt to ponder before he gets his players back to build for the 2018 Six Nations.

Jacob Stockdale's first try on 20 minutes put Ireland on the road to victory against their old foes.

Joe Schmidt insists this evening’s match with Argentina has nothing to do with revenge, but he does not deny that the 2015 World Cup quarter-final defeat has informed the Ireland boss’s approach to this Guinness Series finale.

Devin Toner may reach for the sky but horizontal seems to be the default mode.

Joe Schmidt knows the risks he is taking by selecting such an inexperienced side to face Fiji this evening but if it means Ireland are better prepared at the 2019 World Cup then the end will have justified the means.

Ireland take one more step along the road in Dublin this evening when their credentials as one of the world’s top four teams are tested by old rivals South Africa.

Iain Henderson knows better than most how bad it can get if Eben Etzebeth and his Springboks start to impose themselves on a game.

Ireland’s back row for Saturday’s Guinness Series opener against South Africa appears to be cut and dried after forwards coach Simon Easterby revealed Tommy O’Donnell, Dan Leavy, and Jack Conan had all missed some training this week.

Simon Lewis looks at what Ireland boss Joe Schmidt will be looking to gain from three games in November

The key moment, key man and talking point from tonight's game in Galway.

The Six Nations is not supposed to be the time for experimentation but that has not prevented Ireland boss Joe Schmidt from continuing to his mission to develop strength in depth ahead of the 2019 World Cup.

Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt is today set to name an extended squad for the first two games of the RBS 6 nations campaign with Ronan O’Gara revealing fly-half Johnny Sexton had given him every reason to believe he would be fit to face to Scotland in 12 days.

Simon Lewis takes a look at the impressive sporting performance of Jack O’Donoghue on the Munster Rugby team.

Modesty and an acute awareness of the fickle nature of sport prevents Conor Murray from strutting around Munster’s High Performance Centre like a prize peacock.

Leo Cullen has played down fears of Johnny Sexton being forced to take an extended break from rugby, with the Leinster head coach suggesting the 31-year-old will be out of action for around three to four weeks.

Leinster received a timely boost yesterday with the news experienced lock Devin Toner has signed a contract with the IRFU to keep him at the province until at least June 2020.

Ireland 27 Australia 24: You would forgive Ireland rugby manager, Joe Schmidt, if he sank into a fireside armchair, put his feet up, and stayed there for a few weeks to reflect on a job well done during an incredible month of Test rugby.

Ireland may be on the rise but Jamie Heaslip has warned his side face another massive challenge when Australia come to the Aviva Stadium this Saturday.

The IRFU is to provide clubs with up to €400 in grant aid to encourage them travel to the Aviva Stadium for the World Cup warm-ups with Scotland and Wales in August.

Three months on and this column is still wiping egg from its face, writes Brendan O’Brien

Joe Schmidt has rolled the dice for tomorrow’s RBS 6 Nations opener in Italy as his Ireland squad begins its title defence at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico.

Jonathan Sexton leaves the field with a head injury in December’s game against Australia. He will miss the start of the Six Nations campaign.