Stuart Lancaster has backed his Leinster double winners to lay down a big marker for Ireland’s World Cup hopes next year when they take on Australia over three Tests this summer.

The target on Leinster’s back has just got bigger. That’s the way it has always been for champions. First up, it’s Munster gunning for a win over the newly crowned European champions that would propel them into a third Guinness Pro 12/14 final in four seasons.

Stuart Lancaster has played down the growing hype surrounding the potential St Patrick’s Day Grand Slam showdown between England and Ireland.

The past weekend was a golden one for the Irish provinces against their English counterparts, but Leinster senior coach Stuart Lancaster isn’t getting carried away with talk of a power shift in the Champions Cup.

A major international leak of more than 13 million files - known as the Paradise Papers - reveal how the super-rich invest vast amounts of money in offshore tax havens.

A top beauty vlogger tells Katie Wright how she overcame a crisis of confidence and become an online star.

Stuart Lancaster’s name has inevitably been tossed into the rumour mill as a possible successor to Pat Lam at Connacht next season but the Leinster senior coach has hinted he is keen to remain in Dublin beyond the reach of his current one-season deal.

Happy to serve. The uncertain boundaries marking Stuart Lancaster’s new job description with Leinster were still not completely clear after his introductory press conference yesterday, but the former England head coach did at least insist Leo Cullen is the boss.

Such was the reaction of the Scottish crowd at the final whistle in Murrayfield on Sunday you would have thought they had won the Six Nations championship.

Welcome back England, we missed you, writes Brendan O’Brien

England’s decision to axe assistant coach Andy Farrell was sparked by heavy criticism from senior players in the post-World Cup review.

IT HAS been some week for rugby. In a period overshadowed by the terrorist attacks that has put all in France and beyond on high alert, the postponement of Munster’s Champions Cup game in Paris was absolutely necessary.

Wales head coach Warren Gatland has dismissed reports claiming he might consider an approach to become Stuart Lancaster’s potential England successor.

England’s Rugby Football Union chief executive Ian Ritchie says England will not rush a new appointment as they seek a coach of “proven international experience” to replace Stuart Lancaster.

England concluded their World Cup with a meaningless 60-3 rout of Uruguay in Manchester and will now begin their inquest into the calamitous group exit that is likely to end the reign of Stuart Lancaster.

Ronan O’Gara analyses all the big issues at the Rugby World Cup.

England will enter their decisive showdown with Australia inspired by a call-to-arms from Stuart Lancaster urging them to look inwards in pursuit of rescuing their World Cup from disaster.

Stuart Lancaster has accepted his entire England tenure could rest on tomorrow night’s decisive World Cup clash with Australia.

Major sporting events can do strange things to people. Days blur into weeks and weeks into months and before you know it you are cocooned in a bubble outside of which almost everything else takes on a strangely abstract meaning

 

Ronan O’Gara analyses all the big issues at the Rugby World Cup.

From shortly before 8pm tonight the streets from Camden to Carmarthen will be deserted.

Strategically speaking, Ireland were as impressive as any nation in the first round of games, writes Ronan O’Gara

For all the trials and tribulations Joe Schmidt experienced in narrowing his World Cup squad down to the requisite 31, at least we have a good idea who will be in his starting XV.

Ireland squad manager Mick Kearney insists Cian Healy’s recovery from neck surgery is “coming on fine”.

A fourth successive RBS 6 Nations runners-up spot for England is unacceptable, Rugby Football Union chief executive Ian Ritchie said today.

Stuart Lancaster has urged Twickenham to will England to victory tomorrow evening as he prepares to order his RBS 6 Nations title hopefuls to carry the game to France.

England have recalled lock Courtney Lawes and full-back Mike Brown for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash with Scotland.

"Non," said Philippe Saint-Andre two weeks ago.

Ireland v England

England will use ‘template’ of Wales game to curb Aviva fervour.

Stuart Lancaster has done a remarkable job reviving English fortunes but can he outfox wily Joe Schmidt? 

Ireland may have lost four times in a row to their next RBS 6 Nations opponents, but assistant coach Les Kiss refuses to believe England have the upper hand going into their March 1 showdown at the Aviva Stadium.

Mike Brown is still suffering concussion symptoms and faces a race against time to prove his fitness for England’s pivotal RBS 6 Nations clash against Ireland in Dublin.

Mike Brown is still suffering concussion symptoms and faces a race against time to prove his fitness for the pivotal RBS 6 Nations clash between Ireland and England in Dublin.

Ireland begin a short training camp in Galway today, with England firmly in their sights and vengeance in their minds 12 days out from an RBS 6 Nations clash in Dublin that head coach Joe Schmidt is already billing as monumental.

RBS Six Nations: England 47 Italy 17: England full-back Mike Brown receives medical attention for a head injury.