Conor Murray is a maker of moments.

When the Ireland management invited Marvin Hagler to give their players a fighting talk, The Marvellous One voiced fears for their collective safety.

France are playing catch-up on Europe’s best sides, according to second row Yoann Maestri.

So many questions, so many imponderables. Rarely has the outcome of a Six Nations championship been so difficult to predict. 

More than rugby pride is at stake when Australia and New Zealand clash in this afternoon’s World Cup final Remember when your little brother or sister beat you for the first time?

Dr Liam Hennessy, the IRFU’s former fitness director, has pointed to the issue of match scheduling as a huge challenge for northern hemisphere teams seeking to succeed at the Rugby World Cup.

Rugby World Cup Pool A

David Pocock believes Australian rugby looks past size when it comes to back-row forwards thanks to pioneers Phil Waugh and George Smith.

World Cup chiefs have moved to clarify the role of television match officials following the controversial use of replays during the tournament’s opening weekend.

New Zealand’s players insist they are not upset by former England scrum-half Matt Dawson’s ’Hakarena’ video, poking fun at traditional war dance the Haka.

Ireland’s favourite Australian was in Cork this weekend and Ray Meagher is as much a darn good bloke as Alf himself.

Anthony Foley believes Paul O’Connell’s selfless nature will be the key factor in the Ireland captain’s decision on his rugby-playing future.

THE DONAL LENIHAN INTERVIEW

Keith Wood believes Ireland are a better team than England, but fears that edge may not be apparent as soon as this Sunday.

Joe Schmidt is "one of the best coaches in the Test arena" and could lead the Lions in 2017, according to Will Greenwood — who has backed Ireland to win the World Cup.

Ireland fly-half Jonathan Sexton has been nominated for the 2014 International Rugby Board World Player of the Year award.

When South Africa captain Jean de Villiers lines up against Ireland today, he will have almost 100 caps and 12 years of experience on his direct opponents.

Meyer couldn’t help but laugh when asked if he is viewed as a risk-taker back home. His response was that the perception is actually very different.

The domestic season may be over but rugby fans across Europe will be challenged to keep up with the volume of test matches over the next three weeks as end-of-term tours come sharply into focus.

Jonny Wilkinson will play his final game on British shores this weekend lauded as a "once-in-a-generation" talent.

Just as Brian O’Driscoll wanted to leave the international stage with a Six Nations medal around his neck, so Jonny Wilkinson has his eyes firmly focussed on a gilt-edged finale to a glittering rugby career.

Differing contests in so many ways yet equally compelling.

After the game, Cork Constitution made a presentation to Alain Rolland, and then it was over.

Lote Tuqiri is unlikely to feature for Leinster against Glasgow Warriors this weekend despite being officially signed on a short-term contract by the province yesterday on foot of his clearance for a work permit.

During the week I wrote a blog for the paper on the fate of Kevin Ware, the American basketball player who suffered a horrific injury last weekend.

Paul O’Connell may be a welcome sight in a Munster jersey after almost five months out through injury but for his team-mates that also means listening to another plain-speaking voice in the dressing room.

Toulon’s former England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson has refused to answer questions regarding his future.

It says much about the continuing allure of the Munster vs Leinster rivalry that 46,280 people turned up at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday night to assess how Rob Penney’s more expansive game plan would match up to the more established wide threat posed by the European champions.

Australia coach Robbie Deans stressed that last night’s 23-19 Rugby Championship win over Argentina was a performance that should not be ’underestimated’.

Australia 23 Argentina 19

Jonny Wilkinson could earn a place in the British and Irish Lions squad for next summer’s tour despite having retired from international rugby with England, coach Warren Gatland has said.

Rory McIlroy charged to the top of the leaderboard and Tiger Woods tumbled right off it before play had to be suspended in the USPGA Championship third round at Kiawah Island today.

Two months after Lee Westwood lost a ball in branches when in contention for the US Open, Rory McIlroy had tree trouble when one off the lead at the USPGA Championship today.

After struggling to break 80 in the second round it was a totally different story for Justin Rose on his return to the USPGA Championship.

Your first ever radio station?

Munster’s list of prospective backs coaches was reduced by one yesterday after Canterbury confirmed Rob Penney’s assistant Tabai Matson had been appointed as his replacement at the New Zealand province.

Eoin Reddan believes Ulster have not been afforded the respect they deserve this season and warned the Heineken Cup final in Twickenham will not be the procession many predict for Leinster.

A head injury prematurely terminated his playing career and a serious illness ended Jock Hobbs’ weighty off-field contributions to rugby before ultimately claiming his life.

England World Cup winner and former captain Lewis Moody has retired from rugby with immediate effect.

JONNY WILKINSON — the fly-half superstar and perfectionist who kicked England to World Cup glory — last night quit Test rugby with the revelation: “I will never truly be satisfied.”

England’s World Cup winning fly-half Jonny Wilkinson has retired from international rugby.