Coach Steve Hansen said his world champion All Blacks would bounce back from their off-night after losing the Rugby Championship decider to the Wallabies 27-19 in Sydney on Saturday.

Munster coach Rob Penney believes the Heineken Cup will survive and thrive.

Robbie Deans has been sacked as Australia head coach following the Wallabies’ Test series defeat to the British and Irish Lions, according to reports in the Australian press.

Australia have named Tri-Nations winning captain James Horwill as their skipper for the British and Irish Lions Tour.

Ireland will have to deliver something they have not managed in more than 12 months to avoid being consigned to world rugby’s margins for the next three years.

The story goes that Juan Martin Hernandez could have been a professional soccer player had he twisted his neck and glanced down a different road.

Ask a Kiwi, Aussie or Springbok to talk about Ireland and the response is guaranteed to mention Brian O’Driscoll and/or that hoary old nod to passion. Beyond that, the well of platitudes tends to dry up.

Wingers Drew Mitchell and Lachie Turner have been included in Australia’s training squad as they prepare for the Rugby Championship.

Outgoing Munster director of coaching Tony McGahan will not be coaching Super XV outfit Western Force next season when he returns to his native Australia, the Queenslander has confirmed.

A home game against a winless side trying to avoid a wooden spoon really should not have this much importance placed on it for Ireland.

News emerging from the Leinster camp suggests it is only a matter of time before All Black legend Brad Thorn arrives at the province.

MUNSTER coach Tony McGahan yesterday moved to separate the fact from the fiction in terms of the province’s reasons for not splashing the cash on a pre-World Cup Hollywood signing.

THE mother of surprise All Blacks hero Stephen Donald clamed her son had proven his critics wrong with a Rugby World Cup-winning performance.

Kenmare-born Australian expatriate Frank O’Shea reflects on a recent visit to Cobh aboard the cruise ship, the Dawn Princess.

WALLABIES Pat McCabe and Sekope Peku could be forgiven for blanching at the prospect of facing the All Blacks in the World Cup semi-finals having just nursed themselves back to health after a bruising encounter with the Springboks last weekend.

Australia are sweating over the fitness of star full-back Kurtley Beale ahead of Sunday’s Rugby World Cup semi-final against trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand.

Stephen Ferris is convinced Wales can win the Rugby World Cup after their 22-10 victory over Ireland in the quarter-finals.

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 9 Australia 11

GARY GOLD believes an eagerly-awaited breakdown battle could prove the “defining factor” in tomorrow’s quarter-final.

THERE has been plenty of talk this week about needing the flip of a coin to decide tomorrow morning’s World Cup quarter-final between Wales and Ireland (6am Irish time).

THE International Rugby Board (IRB) insisted it was committed to addressing the financial concerns over the World Cup that have led to a threat from the All Blacks to boycott the 2015 tournament in England.

GERT SMAL and Nick Mallett’s careers have been intertwined for more than 30 years and Ireland’s forwards coach knows enough about the Italy boss to suggest his fellow South African will “do anything” to get his way on the rugby pitch.

DAMIEN VARLEY may have been sitting at his kitchen table in Limerick less than a fortnight ago but having been called up to the Ireland World Cup squad as an emergency replacement he is not content to just be along for the journey.

Keith Earls insists Ireland have accepted their perilous route into the World Cup quarter-finals.

THE tremendous victory of the Irish rugby team over Tri-Nations champions Australia, which united the nation (north and south), gives us all hope that this group of players (including the veteran O’Driscoll) can now push on to fulfil their destiny by lifting the William Webb Ellis Cup.

As a rather distasteful war of words continues between former Australian international Tim Horan and the Irish management in the wake of Ireland’s 15-6 triumph over the Wallabies, his fellow countryman Matt Burke has been more magnanimous in defeat.

Ronan O’Gara today sought to end doubt over his Ireland future post-World Cup, yet succeeded only in fueling further speculation.

AUSTRALIA have played down concerns about their scrum wobbles after their forwards were trounced in the 15-6 defeat to Ireland on Saturday.

WHAT A wonderful weekend for sport. First, Ireland trounced the Tri-Nations champions in rugby.

Shane Jennings has told his Ireland team-mates to back up their stunning victory over Australia by challenging for silverware at this World Cup.

A REST by the shores of Lake Taupo after Saturday’s victory over Australia may have been well earned but while the squad took a day off, there was a determination not to waste the terrific opportunity that now stands before Declan Kidney’s side at this Rugby World Cup.

IT was the result of their lives but the feeling in the Ireland World Cup squad as it decamped to the shores of Lake Taupo yesterday was that beating Australia was just the beginning of the journey.

Captain Brian O’Driscoll insists the determination of Ireland’s old guard to make an impact at the World Cup is mirrored by their younger players.

Quade Cooper believes Ireland’s 15-6 victory over Australia has sounded their arrival as a major force at the World Cup.

Cian Healy was delighted Ireland’s decision to target Australia’s scrum proved so decisive in their magnificent 15-6 World Cup victory at Eden Park.

The 2011 World Cup final looks set to be a battle of the hemispheres following Ireland’s 15-6 upset of Australia at Eden Park.

Paul O’Connell has demanded Ireland summon the ferocity needed to defy the odds and stun Australia in Saturday’s critical World Cup showdown at Eden Park.

THERE have been few more intimidating rabbits in the headlights than Radike Samo but Australia’s back-row giant greets his late-blooming success in a Wallabies jersey with something approaching wide-eyed incredulity.

DECLAN KIDNEY has welcomed back his big guns from injury for Ireland’s pivotal World Cup Pool C clash with Australia this Saturday, and also reunited Leinster out-halves Eoin Reddan and Jonny Sexton.

ROCKY ELSOM may wear Australia’s colours at Eden Park on Saturday but Denis Leamy credits him for having a profound impact on Ireland’s back row.

IRELAND backs coach Alan Gaffney is confident his backline can cut out the mistakes that blighted the performance against the USA and come out battling in the Pool C showdown with Australia on Saturday.

Rocky Elsom may wear Australia’s colours at Eden Park on Saturday but Denis Leamy credits him for having a profound impact on Ireland’s back row.

IRELAND’S preparations for Saturday’s showdown with Pool C favourites Australia have been boosted by the return to fitness of prop Cian Healy.