New Ireland rugby head coach Joe Schmidt has enjoyed getting settled into his new role and is relishing his first set of test games this autumn.

As a three-time Lion, Lawrence Dallaglio knows a thing or two about the opening game on tour but even for a man of his great experience, playing Saturday’s opener against the Barbarians in Hong Kong makes for a unique occasion.

Joe Schmidt’s elevation to the post of Ireland head coach was lost a little in the inevitable hype that surrounds the announcement of a Lions squad last week.

Amlin Challenge Cup semi-final

JOE SCHMIDT savoured a major success in his first season as a head coach and hailed Heineken Cup final man of the match Jonny Sexton as one of the reasons he joined Leinster last summer.

THE New Zealand Maori squad has been named for next month’s Centenary series — which includes a clash with Ireland — with former All Blacks Corey Flynn, Hosea Gear, Tanerau Latimer, Luke McAlister, Liam Messam and Isaac Ross all named.

WALES captain Ryan Jones has urged his team to “play smart” against the renowned physical threat of Samoa tonight.

GUINNESS Premiership star Seilala Mapusua believes Samoa face a tougher challenge against Wales tomorrow night than if they were tackling Martin Johnson’s England.

WELLINGTON prop Jacob Ellison looks set for a long spell on the sidelines after dislocating his elbow during Friday’s 64-7 win against Counties-Manukau.

Injury-plagued New Zealand prop Greg Somerville is back in hospital.

MUNSTER are closing on New Zealand Maori captain Rua Tipoki — despite the inside centre’s disciplinary problems.

Struggling Newcastle have raided New Zealand to bolster their squad with Joe McDonnell, Mark Sorenson and Loki Crichton arriving at Kingston Park.

MUNSTER could be about to sign two big New Zealand names for next season’s Heineken Cup campaign.

Over a decade ago, Ireland almost pulled off a remarkable victory over the mighty All Blacks. Barry Coughlan recalls the day Ronny Carey almost became a national hero.

New Zealand Maori coach Donny Stevenson has made wholesale changes for Saturday’s Churchill Cup match against Ireland A in Santa Clara.

John Lewis

BRITISH and Irish Lions flanker Lawrence Dallaglio claims he would have “sorted out” New Zealand duo Tana Umaga and Keven Mealamu after their apparent spear tackle on Lions skipper Brian O’Driscoll.

Simon Lewis

Southland 16 Lions 26

Gavin Henson finds himself in a familiar position as the centre of attention today, but for all the wrong reasons.

LIONS coach Clive Woodward has challenged his midweek players to rise above the disappointment of being excluded from the squad for this weekend’s first Test in Christchurch.

Letter from New Zealand

WELLINGTON scrum half Piri Weepu will face the British and Irish Lions for the second time in five days believing the Maori’s victory can help his provincial side.

Clive Woodward launched his first media campaign of the tour just a day before the Lions face their biggest challenge yet by calling for touch-judges to stop interfering in the referee’s business.

GARETH THOMAS fell asleep watching the Lions play Taranaki on Wednesday night but he insisted it was no reflection on the quality of rugby being beamed into his Auckland hotel room.

NOW we’re getting serious. British and Irish Lions head coach Clive Woodward underlined the view that tomorrow’s meeting in Hamilton with New Zealand Maori is the unofficial fourth test of this 2005 series by naming his strongest side to date yesterday.

WITH the opening phase of this eagerly-awaited tour now successfully negotiated, the next 10 days will prove pivotal to the success of the upcoming test series.

Gordon D’Arcy has been given the chance to nail down a Lions Test place alongside his Ireland and Leinster team-mate Brian O’Driscoll in Saturday’s heavyweight showdown against the New Zealand Maori.

British and Irish Lions boss Clive Woodward has gone for size and power – but still no Jonny Wilkinson – in Saturday’s unofficial “fourth Test” against the New Zealand Maori.

AND then there were three ...

Taranaki 14 Lions 36

Ian McGeechan hailed the performance of his all-Irish back three in the Lions’ 36-14 victory over Taranaki today.

Denis Hickie knows he has got to strike the right balance against Taranaki tomorrow if he wants to impress his Test match credentials upon Lions head coach Clive Woodward.

NEVER mind the congratulations for his call-up to the Lions squad in New Zealand, the first thing Simon Easterby received from his Ireland colleagues was a 2,000 yen fine for leaving the Japan-bound squad early.

THE sight of a giant second row with a mop of ginger hair marauding all over the lineout and stealing opposition ball is something the British & Irish Lions are counting on as a major weapon in their armoury during this tour.

GEORDAN Murphy and Denis Hickie have played down the significance of their inclusion in an all-Irish back three for the Lions’ game against Taranaki in New Plymouth on Wednesday.

LIONS’ coaches, players and even a former All Black have reacted strongly in support of Ronan O’Gara following some poisonous criticism of the out-half’s performance against Bay Of Plenty.

Munster flanker Alan Quinlan has been called up for Ireland’s tour of Japan following Simon Easterby’s summons by the British and Irish Lions.

The British and Irish Lions made an unconvincing start to their tour of New Zealand and may have paid a heavy price for today’s victory.

The Lions saw an early 17-point lead wiped out by Bay of Plenty at Rotorua’s International Stadium – and had number eight Lawrence Dallaglio carried off – as their New Zealand tour opener produced a gruesome reality check.

EDDIE O’SULLIVAN has described the premature end to Malcolm O’Kelly’s British & Irish Lions tour as “gut-wrenching.”

Ronan O'Gara is determined to prove to Lions head coach Sir Clive Woodward that Jonny Wilkinson is not the only fly-half option available for the Test series against New Zealand.