IRELAND’S implosion at the World Cup sent ripples in all sorts of directions.

The match point total will tell you all you need to know about the result. 4-0 Saracens. 5-4 across the head-to-head.

Love them or loathe them, Saracens have played a big part in Munster’s celebrated European journey.

Johan van Graan has challenged Munster’s batch of young and inexperienced scrum-halves to step into the void left by the departing Alby Mathewson and apply the pressure on Conor Murray for the province’s No.9 jersey.

Move over Dean Richards, Harlequins, and ‘Bloodgate’, there is an even bigger bad news story to overtake you in the annals of English club rugby history, writes Rob Cole.

This is a contest fit for the final itself with the winner fancied to go all the way.

Donal Lenihan speaks to former Wales and British and Irish Lions forward Martyn Williams.

Tadhg Furlong has warned that to switch off even for a second against New Zealand will cost Ireland the chance of a maiden World Cup semi-final.

Presumption has already made fools of many of us at this World Cup.

Forty-five minutes before kick-off, Joe Schmidt and Gregor Townsend shot the breeze on the side of the pitch while their respective squads warmed up in intense humidity behind them.

Peter O'Mahony cherishes memories of his first trip to Japan.

Former Irish international rugby star Shane Byrne is encouraging men to talk about their mental health as part of World Suicide Prevention Day.

Cardiff City Stadium will host the 2020 Guinness PRO14 final.

Rugby players in an Irish Open Pro-Am are not an unusual sight. Along with GAA stars and jockeys, they are a staple of the pre-tournament entertainment at this annual stop on the European Tour.

It was a bit like the Steve Redgrave moment at the 1996 Olympics Games. Just after the great British oarsman had bagged his fourth gold medal in Athens he told the world they had his permission to “shoot him” if he ever went near a boat again.

Leinster have won the Guinness PRO14 final after beating Glasgow 18-15 at Celtic Park.

Gareth Thomas had to stop and gather himself more than once today. His voice faltered. It choked with emotion. Who knows how many times his nerves were betrayed by an subconscious impulse to tug at his right ear?

An absorbing Heineken Cup final that lived up to its billing in every way. The Leinster players must have woken up yesterday wondering what hit them.

Stuart Lancaster has no doubt but that Leinster will shed their recent inconsistencies and producing a monster performance against Saracens in a heavyweight European decider this Saturday.

Brendan O’Brien Rory Best will meet Ulster bosses in the next week in a bid to decide whether he will play for his native province after next season’s World Cup.

No Jonathan Sexton, Rob Kearney on the bench and Jack McGrath given the weekend off.

The Principality Stadium roof will be open, Storm Hannah’s wet and windy weather won’t make for a classic, but Wales will nonetheless be backed by an entire nation in Cardiff this afternoon.

Robin McBryde believes Wales will face “arguably the best side in world rugby” when they go for Six Nations title and Grand Slam glory on Saturday.

"Can we start with a geography lesson and a sovereignty lesson as well, please?," said the former Ireland international.

Is the dam on the brink of bursting? Is international rugby ready to sell its soul? The haste with which a proposed new 12-team World League is being introduced smacks of panic. There is even talk of the tournament running in 2020. Surely not?

When Ireland last fielded their front line troops at the Aviva Stadium, against New Zealand in November, the rapturous response from players and fans alike at the final whistle could not have been more exuberant. Unbridled joy. Kings of the world.

Eddie Jones has batted away suggestions that his England side targeted Robbie Henshaw in Saturday's Six Nations opener in Dublin which ended with the visitors romping to a comprehensive bonus-point 32-20 victory.

Schmidt insisted he intends to take at least a 12-month break after stepping down from his role as Ireland head coach after the autumn's World Cup.

Joe Schmidt has admitted he relishes Eddie Jones' verbal "grenades" ahead of Ireland launching their Six Nations defence against England.

So, no Jonathan Sexton to set the tone and dictate the tune.

With an average of 13 internationals now scheduled in a single season, it’s clear that some tests rank higher than others, writes Donal Lenihan

With an average of 13 internationals now scheduled in a single season, it’s clear that some tests rank higher than others, writes Donal Lenihan

The challenge for Leo Cullen and Stuart Lancaster is to keep players firmly focused on the task at hand in the face of the inevitable plaudits that will accompany last weekend’s incredible performance, says Donal Lenihan.

At first glance, it is easy and understandable to underestimate the rugby talent of Ulster full-back Michael Lowry.

Munster have been delivered another blow to their scrum-half stocks after Johann van Graan revealed Neil Cronin faces several weeks out injured with a shoulder injury following last Friday’s defeat at Glasgow Warriors.

Scarlets held on to win an intense, hard-fought Guinness PRO14 clash against champions Leinster at Parc y Scarlets.

Conor Murray believes it is easy to ignore all the positive noise swirling around a buoyant Ireland squad as they begin their bid to win a first Test in Australia since 1979.

In a season that keeps on giving for Irish rugby, a series win against a major southern hemisphere superpower for the first time since 1979 would offer the perfect ending.

Leinster will match Toulouse’s record of four European Cup titles if they can account for Racing 92 in Bilbao tomorrow. Brendan O’Brien examines why, six years after the third of their Heineken Cup titles, the province is again on the verge of something big

Stuart Lancaster has labeled Jonathan Sexton as the “complete” player and suggested the out-half could even emulate Tom Brady by excelling at the elite level beyond his 40th birthday.

Jonathan Sexton and Leo Cullen were deep into the third quarter of yesterday’s pre-match press conference when the conversation spooled back 12 months to Leinster’s Guinness PRO12 semi-final loss to Scarlets.

After achieving something only three Ireland teams have managed in history by winning the Grand Slam, Brian O’Driscoll believes Joe Schmidt’s side will now be looking to accomplish the unprecedented at the Rugby World Cup next year.

Joe Schmidt has tipped Rob Kearney to keep extending his Test career after storming back into vintage form as Ireland swept to the Grand Slam.