Ireland have secured the NatWest 6 Nations Grand Slam by beating England at Twickenham.

Fans are really starting to feel the excitement now!

Johnny Sexton will be teeing the ball up at the Aviva Stadium this morning, working away with skills coach Richie Murphy on his day off to keep his kicking routine ticking over as the countdown to Twickenham continues.

Hats off to Six Nations Rugby for having the foresight to schedule a down week in the 2018 Championship. It coincides with one of the most severe weather events in a generation. Simon Lewis used the pause to encapsulate the various whys, wows, wherefores, and what-nexts

It may have escaped many people’s notice that, as word emerged yesterday of Jamie Heaslip’s decision to retire from the game he had graced at the highest level for a decade, the Scarlets were announcing the end of another rugby career.

So, sports fans are outraged that Jermaine Defoe is missing from the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year award shortlist? (According to click king Mr Google Analytics). Wait til they see this evening what the chainsaw gang in Montrose have done to the array of Ireland’s Greatest Sporting Moments in the 2000s, writes Tony Leen.

Life inside the bubble. There’s a lot to be said for it when you’re a national team coach, writes Simon Lewis

Ireland coach Joe Schmidt says he’ll know the pressure’s on to deliver another rugby Grand Slam when Brian O’Driscoll tweets it.

Luke Fitzgerald was still five days short of his 19th birthday when he made his senior debut for Leinster.

There is a rugby match on in Donnybrook this evening, believe it or not – a final at that.

Marcus Horan enjoyed a phenomenal playing career with Munster and Ireland, winning two Heineken Cups and a Grand Slam. But retiring from professional rugby was something the Clare native didn’t find so easy.

Tom Court has never earned a piece of silverware in eight seasons with Ulster, but the prop’s experiences as part of Ireland’s 2009 Grand Slam-winning squad tells him that may be about to change.

Cian Healy could not watch and Mike Ross had his head in his hands as Ireland hung on for the victory that gave them their first medals in Test rugby.

Brian O’Driscoll and Gordon D’Arcy must dominate the generation game to guide Ireland to RBS 6 Nations glory in Paris, according to Joe Schmidt.

Playing for Ireland meant regular Triple Crowns, Six Nations showdowns and even a Grand Slam for players during the Noughties. Silverware and magical days became so regular that supporters became blasé about them.

Ian Madigan is primed for his first RBS 6 Nations appearance of the season in Saturday’s title-decider against France in Paris.

Mike Ross has urged his Ireland team-mates to make the most of a rare opportunity to gain international success by beating France in their Six Nations decider in Paris on Saturday.

When it was all over, when they finally followed a blushing Brian O’Driscoll down the tunnel, Eoin Reddan called the dressing-room to a halt and laid a marker for the week to come.

Ireland must deliver the RBS 6 Nations title to pay due homage to Brian O’Driscoll’s record-breaking career, according to Eoin Reddan.

The ovation that greeted Brian O’Driscoll at the Aviva Stadium yesterday came in jest from teammates, but the iconic rugby star is sure to receive a more heartfelt reception as he steps out on the same turf this afternoon for the last time in an Ireland jersey.

A lot of water has gone under the bridge since Mike Ross left the field injured at Twickenham two years ago and England stormed to victory over a seriously pressurised Irish front row.

Brian O’Driscoll sat out training today suffering the after-effects of a stomach bug.

Fit-again Donnacha Ryan is in line for his first Six Nations action this season after making the cut for Ireland’s training squad to prepare to face England.

England at Twickenham poses a bigger challenge than France in Paris, according to Ireland boss Joe Schmidt.

Ireland 26 Wales 3

Luke Fitzgerald could be in line for his first Ireland start since before the 2011 World Cup when Joe Schmidt names his team today for Sunday’s RBS 6 Nations 2014 opener with Scotland.

Let’s be blunt: do you deserve to win when you fail to score in the entire second half and manage only three points in the last 60 minutes?

From mediocrity to systems failure and, finally, heroism.

INTERNATIONAL TEST:

Joe Schmidt has described the challenge of leading the Ireland rugby team as "intimidating" after agreeing a three-year contract.

Joe Schmidt has been confirmed as the new Ireland head coach, the Irish Rugby Football Union has announced today.

In charge of rugby here since 1998, Philip Browne has overseen a transformation of fortunes on and off the field. But will a change of coach at national level be enough to keep the champagne flowing, asks Kyran Fitzgerald

What goes around, comes around — that appears to be the gist of Ronan O’Gara’s assessment of Declan Kidney’s removal as Ireland head coach.

The IRFU have wasted no time in beginning their search for a new national team head coach, bringing in a headhunter to pinpoint a “world-class” candidate to replace Declan Kidney, with Australian Ewen McKenzie a short-priced favourite with bookmakers.

It will be business as usual for Ireland head coach Declan Kidney as he picks over the wreckage of a disappointing and unprecedented RBS 6 Nations campaign and begins planning for a summer tour to North America.

Brian O’Driscoll has emerged for potentially his final RBS 6 Nations match as Ireland meet Italy at the Stadio Flaminio with his future beyond the summer undecided.

“Sometimes there’s a man — I won’t say a hero because what’s a hero? — but sometimes there’s a man. He’s the man for his time n’ place, He fits right in there.”

The linebreak from Sean O’Brien was all power, the phases that followed stretched Scotland to breaking point and when the home defence finally creaked, Irish patience in the build-up was rewarded by a clinical finish from Craig Gilroy.

Ireland have delayed their team announcement for their RBS 6 Nations clash with England by 48 hours until Friday lunchtime as they assess their walking wounded.

With commentator Jon Champion reprimanded by ESPN today for labelling Luis Suarez a cheat, we thought it was time to list five of our favourite commentary moments.

Ahead of today’s squad announcement for the Autumn Internationals, Alan Good considers the key questions facing Ireland coach Declan Kidney