WITH so many talking points from the opening weekend of World Cup action - the vast majority of which were positive - I’m not sure where to start, writes Donal Lenihan.

ANALYSIS of Ireland’s encouraging start to World Cup 2015 has to be put on temporary hold as a consequence of what Japan achieved in defeating the most experienced South African side ever fielded when the sides met at Brighton Community Stadium on Saturday.

Georgia claimed only the third win in their World Cup history as captain Mamuka Gorgodze inspired them to victory over Pool C rivals Tonga at Kingsholm.

Ireland centre Gordon D’Arcy has been given a handful of games to prove he is worth being given a World Cup swansong after announcing he will retire at the end of this autumn’s tournament in England.

Another week, another trophy lifting exercise for Paul O’Connell who was yesterday awarded the RBS Player of the Six Nations Championship.

Joe Schmidt is "one of the best coaches in the Test arena" and could lead the Lions in 2017, according to Will Greenwood — who has backed Ireland to win the World Cup.

Victor Matfield has challenged South Africa to heed their World Cup “wake-up call” after a 29-15 defeat in Ireland.

Patrick Lambie’s late long-range penalty consigned New Zealand to just their second defeat in 38 Test matches as South Africa edged to a 27-25 Rugby Championship victory at Ellis Park.

Wales boss Warren Gatland pulled no punches after dropping scrum-half star Mike Phillips for tomorrow night’s crunch RBS 6 Nations clash against France in Cardiff.

Warren Gatland has been hailed as “a fantastic coach” as he prepares to re-enter the RBS 6 Nations arena in pursuit of an unprecedented title hat-trick.

France coach Philippe Saint-Andre has called up Toulouse wing Maxime Medard and Perpignan lock Sebastien Vahaamahina to his squad ahead of the RBS 6 Nations clash with Ireland.

As the head coaches and captains did the rounds in the post-World Cup pool draw interview session on Monday there were many opportunities for handshakes, jokes and snatched conversations between their various media obligations.

Ireland head coach Declan Kidney believes the men in green will come up against some stern opposition in the pool stages of the 2015 Rugby World Cup despite avoiding the top three teams in the world in yesterday’s pool allocation draw.

It may be three years away but the objective for Ireland was clear the minute the World Cup 2015 draw was made yesterday on London’s South Bank: beat France and avoid New Zealand in the quarter-finals.

Ireland 46 Argentina 24

Samoa’s victory over Wales last night has actually benefited Ireland, temporarily at least, in terms of the IRB world rankings.

Ireland centre Gordon D’Arcy has conceded this evening’s clash with South Africa is a must-win game in the wake of four Test defeats in a row.

Wales 16 France 9

Brian O’Driscoll has not ruled out the possibility of playing at the next World Cup in 2015, aged 36.

A World Cup restricted to ten teams is not a World Cup at all. “It’s just not cricket,” moaned new Sports Minister Leo Varadkar. However, is a good story getting in the way of the facts? Our writers debate the ICC decision to limit the next World Cup to Test playing nations.