The British and Irish Lions are sweating on the fitness of one of their potential Test stars only 11 days before tackling world champions South Africa.

IAN McGEECHAN has underlined a commitment to select “what we see in front of us” for the British and Irish Lions’ Test series showdown against world champions South Africa.

Ireland Grand slam winner Paddy Wallace will not play a part in Ireland's tour of Canada and the United States.

WE’VE become almost inured to it at this stage, the banner headlines, the universal praise. “Another towering display from Paul O’Connell,” leads off one report; “A virtuoso performance from O’Connell” echoes another, with such regularity and to such an extent that you begin to wonder if the man is human at all, if perhaps the bone and sinew,the flesh and blood has been replaced with some sort of bionic mass.

THE Ospreys are considered the glamour boys of Welsh rugby but assistant coach Jonathan Humphreys admits he will take an ‘ugly’ win against Munster in the Heineken Cup on Sunday.

It should have been the perfect day. Croke Park, brimful with expectation, had opened its doors to rugby for the first time but, on a historic day of outward celebration for Irish sport, all was silenced by a piece of late Gallic magic.