The Bull was on the farm in Cappamore when the call came.

Shane Horgan believes Brian O’Driscoll may yet continue his love affair with rugby after he hangs up his boots, despite the Ireland centre’s continued assertions he is unlikely to seek a coaching role.

Warren Gatland has called on his Welsh players to show some Irish-style courage for the remainder of the RBS Six Nations Championship.

Australian sport is going through a rough time at present, something an ultra-competitive, sports-mad nation is finding difficult to come to terms with.

Brian O’Driscoll admits he resented Warren Gatland’s decision to drop him from the final British and Irish Lions Test — and that it spoiled the series win for him.

Ronan O’Gara says he would love to link up with Paul O’Connell on a joint coaching ticket at some stage in the future.

Accumulated profits at the main firm owned by one of Ireland’s greatest sportsmen, Brian O’Driscoll, last year increased to €3.19m.

British and Irish Lions team manager Andy Irvine has defended Warren Gatland’s decision to take the tourists to a beach resort ahead of the must-win third and final Test against Australia in Sydney.

With Warburton out, if Deans chooses to recall George Smith to the fray, we could see a sizeable shift in that battle at the breakdown.

The saying goes that a sporting injury is one man’s misfortune but another’s opportunity and the situation in which Brian O’Driscoll now finds himself offers several as he prepares for his final Test as a British & Irish Lion.

If Brian O’Driscoll had a euro for every time his try against Australia in Brisbane 12 years ago has been replayed, discussed or even mentioned in passing, Ireland may have been better placed going to him for a bailout than the Troika.

Shane Williams has been backed to do a job for the British and Irish Lions following his shock call-up today.

BRITISH & IRISH LIONS TOUR:

England centre Manu Tuilagi is relishing the chance to play alongside “legend” Brian O’Driscoll in the Lions midfield tomorrow.

Paul O’Connell inspired Munster to an 18-12 Heineken Cup quarter-final victory over Harlequins and was immediately tipped to make a big impression on the British and Irish Lions tour.

Three key areas of confrontation at the Aviva today

British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland says he will field an entire side of English players in the first test against Australia if it is the best team he has available.

1 THE SECOND ROW

Dan Lydiate has highlighted the threat of Ireland flanker Sean O’Brien to Wales’ World Cup semi-final ambitions.

Declan Kidney has named his strongest possible side for Saturday’s eagerly anticipated test with South Africa at the Aviva Stadium (kick off 5:30pm).

England may be suffering at the hands of the critics yet again, but Donncha O’Callaghan insists Ireland visit Twickenham fearful of their capacity to run riot.

Ireland flanker Stephen Ferris has been passed fit for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash with France in Paris.

Shane Williams insists no panic buttons have been pressed in the Wales camp following a deflating RBS 6 Nations defeat against England.

Wales are hopeful their British and Irish Lions prop Gethin Jenkins will be fit for next Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash against Scotland in Cardiff.

Wales have suffered a second major injury blow ahead of Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations opener against England.

Ireland bring down the curtain on their autumn internationals with one eye on avenging the Lions’ Test series defeat by South Africa.

THE CLASH of the Northern Hemisphere grand slam winners and the Tri-Nations and world champions at Croke Park this afternoon assumes even greater significance now that both sides are able to field as close to full-strength as makes no difference.

BIGGER THAN the Lions, and bigger than the Tri-Nations decider. That’s how the visiting World Cup champion Springboks are looking at tomorrow’s clash with Ireland in Croke Park, according to assistant coach Gary Gold, who said yesterday that he “had not encountered anything as big as the build-up to Saturday . . . the pressure and expectations are bigger than they were before the first Lions Test in Durban or that final Tri-Nations clash in Hamilton.”

DESPITE my absence of just over two months from the journalistic front-line, so much has happened since the conclusion of the Lions test series in July that has brought nothing but shame, ridicule and much negative comment to a sport loved by many all over the world.

THE life of a professional rugby player can be a relentless, hard business with little time to rest on one’s laurels. Last season may only be receding in the rear view mirror but, after a short break, Ronan O’Gara is already relishing his return to the Munster camp next week. A new season with new challenges beckons and one of Ireland’s most talked about figures wouldn’t want it any other way.

SOUTH AFRICA coach Peter de Villiers claims maintaining consistency was a key part of the decision to continue with the same group of players that overcame the British and Irish Lions for their opening Tri-Nations fixture against New Zealand in Bloemfontein on July 25.

British and Irish Lions boss Ian McGeechan claimed his team “didn’t deserve” to be 2-0 down after world champions South Africa took Test series glory at Loftus Versfeld.

Johnson and Dallaglio said the Lions Test series win was the pinnacle of their careers. So Paul O’Connell recognises how much is riding on today’s clash against South Africa in Pretoria. He discussed this and more with Edward Newman

SIMON SHAW is ready for the launch of mission improbable tomorrow after completing a 12-year journey into the Lions Test team.

ON a wing and a prayer, Ugo Monye will complete a remarkable journey tomorrow when he makes his Lions Test debut against South Africa in Durban.

Ian McGeechan admits the British and Irish Lions are about to enter “a different ball game” as they prepare for their Test series showdown with world champions South Africa.

PHIL VICKERY believes the British and Irish Lions have reached “a very dangerous time” of their South Africa tour.

The International Rugby Board has announced the appointment of match officials for the Lions Tour to South Africa.

RONAN O’GARA believes the mix in Ian McGeechan’s Lions squad could make the tour to South Africa the best six weeks of his career.

REFEREES for the Lions Test series against South Africa this summer will come from neutral countries, the International Rugby Board confirmed yesterday.

BATH boss Steve Meehan has thrown down the gauntlet to French giants Toulouse ahead of tomorrow’s s Heineken Cup showdown, declaring: “They should be very concerned.”

Wales 21 Australia 18

DANNY GREWCOCK’S place in England’s World Cup squad was in serious doubt tonight after he received a six-week ban for punching.