‘The Shock of Shizuoka’, as it became known around the world, was alluded to by a number of Japanese media outlets in the build up to last Saturday.

Joey Carbery was only turning 12 when Stephen Larkham brought one of the great Australian careers to an end in 2007.

A second win over the All Blacks in the last three meetings is a significant enough achievement for Ireland but what is even more satisfying is the team which got the job done this time around.

Donal Lenihan on what Ireland must do to beat Argentina.

Watching those re-runs on RTÉ of Reeling in the Years serves as a graphic reminder of just how much things have changed in modern Ireland — in the majority of cases — for the better.

Lions captain Sam Warburton has retired from rugby union at the age of 29.

There will be no sentiment when Australia fly-half Bernard Foley locks horns once again with Ireland on Saturday bidding for a first victory over the old country at the third attempt.

Will Genia has learned to his cost the dangers of underestimating Ireland and the Australia scrum-half believes the next generation of Wallabies are at no risk of making the same mistake as he did at the 2011 World Cup.

"I am very grateful to Cricket Ireland for giving me the opportunity to get involved in the coaching set-up."

The target on Leinster’s back has just got bigger. That’s the way it has always been for champions. First up, it’s Munster gunning for a win over the newly crowned European champions that would propel them into a third Guinness Pro 12/14 final in four seasons.

Conor Murray’s reputation as the leading scrum-half in the Northern Hemisphere, if not the world, will mean the Munster star can expect a lot of attention from Racing 92’s forwards in Bordeaux tomorrow but Johann van Graan says his number nine will not be fazed.

Ciarán Ó Raghallaigh picks an Irish XV comprising of the 2009 Grand Slam team and the team that will chase that title on Saturday. 

While Ulster’s players and management insist that the focus is entirely on Saturday’s lunchtime clash with Pool 1 leaders La Rochelle, it’s become clearer who will be replacing Christian Leali’ifano when the Wallaby’s short-term contract ends this month.

Ireland and Lions winger Tommy Bowe faces up to eight weeks out of the game after suffering a shoulder injury when he came on as a replacement in Ulster’s thumping 38-7 defeat by Leinster at the RDS on Saturday evening.

The battle for supremacy over the Springboks will extend all the way to the pre- and post-match functions at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, writes Donal Lenihan.

The British and Irish Lions must win Saturday's third Test in Auckland to claim a first series victory over world champions New Zealand since 1971.

Some 1,500 people made the journey from Ireland to Lord’s for yesterday’s one-day international against England, and most of them would have come with alternative plans in case of an early finish.

In all those years of success following that incredible 2007 World Cup win over Pakistan, there was a sense that the Irish sporting public couldn’t quite get their head around the fact they had a cricket team that was taking on and beating the best teams in the world.

Warren Gatland has put Conor Murray on notice that he will need to play before the end of the season if he wants to take his seat on the British & Irish Lions plane leaving for New Zealand in less than five weeks.

Australia coach Michael Cheika has rested most of his top names for tomorrow’s clash with France as the test is the only one on the tour that is not part of the Wallabies’ grand slam bid.

Joe Schmidt isn’t the only one looking forward to seeing his charges face the best side in the world twice over the next few weeks.

Rory Best has been hailed as one of Ireland’s toughest ever Test competitors as the captain closes in on 100 caps.

Rory Best has been hailed as one of Ireland's toughest ever Test competitors as the captain closes in on 100 caps.

Happy to serve. The uncertain boundaries marking Stuart Lancaster’s new job description with Leinster were still not completely clear after his introductory press conference yesterday, but the former England head coach did at least insist Leo Cullen is the boss.

There’s a huge onus on Ireland’s new boys to hold the defensive line, writes Donal Lenihan.

Warren Gatland has targeted “another step up” from his players on Friday night when they chase a victory over France that would send them top of the RBS 6 Nations Championship.

Out-half Dan Biggar remains on the road to recovery ahead of Wales’ RBS 6 Nations clash against Scotland this weekend.

Simon Lewis takes a look at how the two sides match up.

When news broke of Andy Farrell’s appointment as Ireland’s new defence coach, there were two initial reactions.