Just watching the positive energy Joe Schmidt brings to proceedings is infectious, writes Donal Lenihan.

The battle for supremacy over the Springboks will extend all the way to the pre- and post-match functions at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, writes Donal Lenihan.

Michael Cheika is reluctant to heed fresh calls to shift Israel Folau to the centres as the Wallabies travel to Wellington striving to arrest their worst losing streak in more than a decade.

He may be on the All Blacks’ watchlist but if Joe Schmidt does decide to return to New Zealand when his contract expires 12 months from now, the Ireland head coach will likely do so for more personal reasons.

The IRFU has hit paydirt with the news that the national team is set to face New Zealand in Chicago’s Soldier Field next November.

The rapidly approaching Rugby World Cup is causing media outlets everywhere to break out in supplements and previews — I can only hope you made the effort to collect last Friday’s newspaper, which had the pick of those supplements accompanying it.

Before looking forward to the inaugural Champions Cup final at Twickenham on Saturday, I feel compelled to examine the implications of an announcement last week that attracted minimal attention on this side of the world.

Ulster have broken into their bank vault to sign All Blacks scoring machine Charles Piutau with a reputed £1million-plus two-year deal.

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.

The New Zealand Rugby Union president will travel to Ireland at the weekend to view a new €1,500,000 pitch and clubhouse development a small rugby club has undertaken in partnership with a local GAA team.

Former New Zealand skipper Sean Fitzpatrick has challenged Ireland to turn provincial form into Test match success as Brian O’Driscoll’s side embark on a three-match series against the world champions over the coming month.

A head injury prematurely terminated his playing career and a serious illness ended Jock Hobbs’ weighty off-field contributions to rugby before ultimately claiming his life.

NEW ZEALAND’S World Cup-winning coach Graham Henry yesterday ruled out the possibility of working with England and declared: “It is time to move on.”

ALL Blacks’ winger Zac Guildford admitted punching two men while running naked, drunk and bleeding through a bar on the Cook Islands last week.

DEPARTING All Blacks coach Graham Henry has argued for continuity in New Zealand rugby, nominating his assistant Steve Hansen as the next man for the job.

ULSTER hope to include Ireland’s Rory Best and World Cup winner John Afoa in their starting line-up for Saturday’s RaboDirect Pro12 derby against Connacht at Ravenhill.

World Cup-winning coach Graham Henry has officially stepped down from his role in charge of the All Blacks but looks set to move into a background position with the New Zealand Rugby Union.

NEW ZEALAND captain Richie McCaw hailed his team’s courage and desire after they ended 24 years of hurt by winning the closest final in World Cup history.

THE All Blacks need to dump the throat-slitting gesture at the end of the Kapa O Pango haka as it reminds people the “Maoris (sic) once engaged in unspeakable conduct”, according to an Australian commentator.

THE All Blacks are just 80 minutes away from a €1.75m payday.

INCENDIARY tweets, guerrilla gum shields and mean-spirited old farts – kind of makes you yearn for the innocent pleasures of dwarf throwing and bungee jumping doesn’t it?

AS a New Zealander, it’s been hard these past 24 hours to concentrate on anything but the tournament-ending injury suffered by Dan Carter at training on Saturday. The photos of him lying on the ground in obvious agony had already warned New Zealanders that the news would not be good.

THE All Blacks need to forge ahead with the Rugby World Cup without their superstar out half Dan Carter, former All Blacks captain Todd Blackadder believes.

THE International Rugby Board (IRB) insisted it was committed to addressing the financial concerns over the World Cup that have led to a threat from the All Blacks to boycott the 2015 tournament in England.

He’s gone from being the most reviled man in New Zealand to the most in-demand and back to the most pressurised. At 65, why does Graham Henry still do it, asks Murray Kidd.

NEW ZEALAND rugby fans have been urged to abstain from sex to help the national All Blacks win the World Cup, which kicks off next month in Auckland.

The Rugby Football Union (RFU) insist that World Cup hosts New Zealand are happy for England to wear an all-black ’away’ kit during this autumn’s tournament.

All Blacks fly-half Dan Carter has signed a four-year contract to stay in New Zealand.

IN these parts, the British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand in 2005 is not remembered in the fondest of terms. A ‘blackwash’ by the home side, recriminations in the touring party and ‘that’ spear tackle are the abiding recollections of a miserable Test series on the fields of Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland.

ALL BLACK legend Sean Fitzpatrick has defended the Irish provinces’ right to sign Kiwi talent in the face of stinging criticism from New Zealand rugby’s top official, but has questioned whether such a policy is in the best interests of the game here.

The seven Rugby World Cup matches due to be played in earthquake-hit Christchurch will be moved to other venues in New Zealand, tournament organisers have announced.

NEW ZEALAND rugby chiefs have poured scorn on reports linking Carl Hayman with a return to the All Blacks jersey for this year’s Rugby World Cup.

ALL BLACK Sonny Bill Williams believes competing in a boxing match less than a month before the start of the 2011 Super 15 Rugby season will make him a better player.

Canterbury and New Zealand centre Sonny Bill Williams has been given clearance by the New Zealand Rugby Union to take part a professional boxing bout in January.

NEW ZEALAND’S iconic midfielder Ma’a Nonu has been linked with a move to Munster after World Cup 2011.

ALL BLACKS hierarchy have complained about Irish referees’ lack of fitness for the second time in less than six months with head coach Graham Henry taking a swipe at Irish whistler Alan Lewis.

Former New Zealand rugby league star Sonny Bill Williams will make his All Blacks Test debut against England at Twickenham on Saturday.

TOP scrum coach Mike Cron, who trains the All Blacks’ scrummagers, is spending a week in the Munster area, working with his Munster counterpart Paul McCarthy and the Munster Rugby Academy and sub Academy players.