Luke McGrath insists that Ireland’s World Cup quarter-final sticking point will not taint departing head coach Joe Schmidt’s legacy.

Ireland are about to find out there is something radically different about the All Blacks they will face in today's World Cup quarter-final compared with the team they played last November.

Featuring a battle of the airlines, X Factor, premature rumours of an international demise, and much more.

Joe Schmidt admits Ireland’s maiden two victories over New Zealand have denied his side the element of surprise in Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final.

Joe Schmidt will ask his team of All Blacks slayers to do it all over again this Saturday as Ireland attempt to win a World Cup quarter-final for the first time in their history.

Whether or not Japan, the Brave Blossoms, continue to defy the odds, in this Sunday’s World Cup quarter-final, the success of Jamie Joseph’s side, on home soil, should open doors at world rugby’s top table.

Cian Healy has praised Bundee Aki’s resilience in the face of a tournament-ending suspension after the centre gave his all in Ireland’s first training session for Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final against New Zealand.

The sport's governing body have opted for experienced referees for the four last-eight ties which all take place this weekend.

In a major lift to Eddie Jones’ men, the powerful Saracens number eight is on course to recover from the ankle injury that forced him off at half-time against Argentina 10 days ago.

Hammer the hammer.

Like it or not, last weekend’s typhoon-related cancellations in the final round of World Cup pool games have given us some inequitable quarter-final match-ups in terms of preparation times for the protagonists.

Brian O’Driscoll believes Joe Schmidt’s Ireland team can take inspiration from Shane Lowry’s Open triumph as they seek to emulate the Offaly golfer by climbing higher than ever before on the world stage.

Tommy Bowe expects Ireland to deliver their best display of the year in Cardiff this weekend.

Watching New Zealand and South Africa there was that very rare feeling - it lasted only a few minutes, like viewing the aurora borealis, where you are mouthing quietly to yourself: this is unbelievable, writes Ronan O’Gara.

A heavily-deflected Giselle Ansley goal took some of the wind out of the Irish women’s sails but the upshot of their 1-0 loss to England at Lee Valley has probably provided the perfect scenario for Thursday’s World Cup quarter-final.

Today is the final day of the World Cup quarter-final matches and anticipation is building to the all-important final on July 15.

The politeness is overwhelming. Nothing prepares you for the impeccable good manners of the Japanese. And it’s not some paddywhackery aimed at extracting the last yen from a visitor to the country. You only need to look at how they interact with each to realise this is a society unlike any other.

It should be apparent by now Joe Schmidt takes nothing for granted.

Ireland went for a cruise along the Chicago River yesterday afternoon, wending their way between the towering skyscrapers and enjoying some peaceful moments before the storm brewing in tonight’s clash with New Zealand. 

Munster A 31 Ulster A 38

England edged to the brink of a first RBS 6 Nations title for five years with a 25-21 victory over Wales but were forced to survive a late fightback that evoked memories of the final-quarter collapse against their old rival at last autumn's World Cup.

Argentina piled on World Cup misery on Ireland once again by reaching the last four of the competition with a 43-20 victory in Cardiff this afternoon.

Warren Gatland insists Wales are “not ready to go home” as they seek the fulfilment denied them at the last World Cup. The injury-ravaged Welsh are targeting only their third victory over South Africa when they face Heyneke Meyer’s revived southern hemisphere giants in tomorrow’s opening quarter-final at Twickenham.

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Keith Earls is fine. Let’s just start there.

Belgium coach Marc Wilmots labelled Argentina as “ordinary” and criticised their spoiling tactics after his side went out of the World Cup after a 1-0 defeat in the quarter-final in Brasilia.

Belgium captain Vincent Kompany has shrugged off a groin injury and will be ready to face Argentina in Saturday's World Cup quarter-final, coach Marc Wilmots has said.

The use of sleeping pill and energy drinks ‘cocktails’ may be a problem among rugby players in the southern hemisphere, but Leinster head coach Matt O’Connor says it is not an issue in this part of the world.

They nickname him ‘el pistolero’ — the gunman — in South America. But as Luis Suarez approaches his third year at Liverpool, perhaps ‘el torbellino’ — the whirlwind — is more appropriate.

A broad smile colonises Jonathan Sexton’s chiselled features as his mind rewinds three years to the first time he faced the Springboks.

Having gone 35 days without a game, and almost five months since he pulled on a green jersey, Ireland centre Keith Earls is possibly the last person you will find complaining about four games in as many weeks.

Luis Suarez has spoken of his relief after returning from his eight-game ban after being found guilty of racially abusing Patrice Evra and insisted that his conscience remains clear.

Luke Fitzgerald has an outside chance of being available for the second round of Ireland’s RBS 6 Nations campaign.

AS weekends go, this one must have been especially tough for Connacht.

HE’S a powerful back-row and an explosive runner who has become a cult figure among his supporters and the subject of tribute videos on the internet.

THERE’S pressure, and there’s what Graham Henry is enduring at the moment.

ROOKIE Wales fly-half Rhys Priestland is hoping to buck a trend of losing results against opposite number Ronan O’Gara but has warned that the Ireland veteran will need to be “managed” if his side are to win tomorrow’s World Cup quarter-final.

Toby Flood will start at inside centre alongside fly-half Jonny Wilkinson in England’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final against France.