ALL BLACKS captain Richie McCaw has delivered an emphatic message to the critics who question his style of play.

A WARM Australian smile and handshake greets you when you inform Luke Burgess you’re Irish because the new Wallaby scrumhalf isn’t shy to talk about his Irish roots — and it’s quite a lineage.

WELL, at least the beer on offer in the Stade de France is no longer under scrutiny.

Ireland enter the World Cup burdened by unprecedented levels of expectation, but for skipper Brian O’Driscoll the fans' hopes are well justified.

THERE are rare occasions in sport when even the result is dwarfed by the occasion. Croke Park yesterday was one of those special days.

ALL’S well that ends well. Twickenham was a great place to be last Saturday. For the countless thousands of Irish people working across the water, Saturday’s game was all the sweeter. To win a Triple Crown at any stage is a welcome achievement. To do so with the last play of the game at the home of the reigning world champions made it more noteworthy.

Newspaper reports suggest England coach Andy Robinson could be asked to restructure his backroom staff in the wake of this year’s Six Nations campaign.

Paul Gascoigne was arrested for an alleged assault after photographers scrambled to take his picture, a witness said today.

AUSTRALIA’S top players may be given a role in choosing who replaces Eddie Jones as Wallabies coach but a decision is not expected until next year.

ULSTER forwards Matt McCullough and Roger Wilson look set to make their international debuts when Ireland take on Japan in Osaka on Sunday (6am Irish time).

BRIAN O’DRISCOLL has revealed that a chat with Ireland football captain Roy Keane was the perfect send-off for the Lions tour to New Zealand.

GRAHAM HENRY looked forward to next year’s British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand with understandable confidence after seeing his second-string side complete the All Blacks’ European tour with a convincing 47-19 win against the Barbarians at Twickenham.

WHEN JONNY Wilkinson kicked his third drop goal in less than an hour during the World Cup semi-final win over France, English fans began dancing in the rain.

Ireland were pipped by one solitary point as Australia moved into the World Cup quarter-finals as Pool A winners, condemning gallant Ireland to a last-eight showdown with in-form France.

GIVEN our penchant for horse racing, coach Eddie O’Sullivan’s warning yesterday that Ireland has four major hurdles to jump if they still want to be in Australia for Melbourne Cup week was a fitting analogy to begin a World Cup adventure.

IN losing captain Lisandro Arbizu to injury Argentina will be without their most symbolic player for the Rugby World Cup.

FRANCE last night beat England’s bid for the right to stage the 2007 Rugby World Cup and, as a result of the decision, Ireland will now host three first round games in the competition.

RONAN O’GARA’S name should be pencilled in on the Irish team to meet Italy in Rome on Saturday, despite David Humphreys’ brilliant performance against Scotland last Sunday.

SCOTTISH rugby chiefs last night promised a worldwide search in their quest to replace Ian McGeechan as national coach.

Scotland legend Gavin Hastings paid tribute to his British Lions predecessor Gordon Brown and admitted some of the laughter had gone out of the game with his passing.

Former Leicester and Bristol boss Bob Dwyer insists he will not apply for Rod Macqueen’s job when the Wallabies coach stands down after the Tri-Nations series finishing in September.