CONOR MURRAY believes Ireland will be able to take plenty of positives from the 2011 World Cup campaign, once the pain of their quarter-final exit has faded.

SOUTH AFRICA head coach Peter de Villiers believes his side are ready for the World Cup knockout phase after advancing from Pool D with a 100% record following a bruising win over Samoa at North Harbour Stadium.

DONNCHA O’CALLAGHAN will go to the well again tomorrow against Italy having revealed his fear of a repeat of Ireland’s last World Cup campaign is a major motivating factor.

Paddy Wallace may have been forced to wait until his third World Cup for his tournament debut for Ireland, but the centre never allowed his head to drop.

THERE was a nasty undertone to Ireland’s victory over the Wallabies last Saturday, if reports in the Antipodean media are to be believed.

Ireland coach Declan Kidney has rested some senior players for Sunday’s Pool C clash against Russia.

IRELAND coach Declan Kidney last night made nine changes to the team which started the famous World Cup victory against Australia for this Sunday’s Pool C clash with minnows Russia.

James O'Connor has been recalled by Australia for Saturday's clash with Ireland at Eden Park.

Russia technical director Kingsley Jones believes the Bears can emerge victorious from their first ever World Cup finals match – if they can secure set-piece possession against the United States in New Plymouth.

Rory Best has warned Ireland they must contain the USA’s early onslaught in their World Cup opener on Sunday.

‘I’ve never enjoyed the media spotlight,’ former Irish coach Eddie O’Sullivan insists. The US rugby coach spoke to John Riordan in New York.

EDDIE O’SULLIVAN’S USA will face Ireland in the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.

The United States booked a place at Rugby World Cup 2011 with a 27-6 second-leg victory over Uruguay in Florida.

Italy 16 Portugal 5

Scotland 42 Romania 0

Richie McCaw revealed New Zealand have been working on their scrum ahead of Sunday’s Pool C clash with Scotland.

World Cup favourites New Zealand will parade their big guns in Saturday’s Pool C opener against Italy.

All Blacks superstar Dan Carter admits that expectation comes with the territory for World Cup favourites New Zealand.

Wasps lock Simon Shaw will fly to Australia tonight as a possible World Cup replacement for Danny Grewcock.

Josh Lewsey led an England try-fest as the Six Nations champions concluded the Pool C campaign with their record victory in the World Cup over tournament minnows Uruguay at Suncorp Stadium.

Extra security arrangements were in place for England’s Pool C finale against Uruguay at Suncorp Stadium today.

England have been asked to submit a report into how they ended up with 16 players on the field for a short period during yesterday’s victory Samoa in Melbourne.

World Cup organisers tonight confirmed that they are investigating why England briefly had 16 players on the pitch during today’s Pool C clash against Samoa.

Crowd figures for the Rugby World Cup in Australia have already exceeded expectations.

TANA UMAGA’S World Cup future will become clearer tomorrow when the New Zealand management make a “more definite decision” on his badly injured left knee.

Samoa coach John Boe believes Uruguay are targeting a shock World Cup victory over his South Sea Islanders in tomorrow night’s Pool C clash at Subiaco Oval.

Will Greenwood believes that England are much better prepared for an assault on World Cup glory than they were four years ago.

ENGLAND supremo Clive Woodward last night refused to write off the struggling Springboks as inferior opposition for his all-conquering team, and insisted: ‘‘We have got massive respect for them.’’