Scott Fardy has clearly had it with close shaves.

Joe Schmidt was under no illusions as he surveyed the fast-approaching 2018 Six Nations Championship.

Brian O’Driscoll believes Munster’s possible appointment of South African Johann van Graan as its new director of rugby is a leap of faith in the judgement of outgoing boss Rassie Erasmus.

Michael Cheika believes Eddie Jones has tarnished his legacy with Australia, claiming his compatriot unloaded “vitriol” on the Wallabies in June’s Test series with England.

You can picture the scene at half-time. Organised chaos.

One last push. The bodies may ache more than usual after that punishing Test against the All Blacks but Ireland have a chance to finish the year on a high against Australia this Saturday and Andrew Trimble believes the players will not lack for motivation.

Eddie Jones believes England’s stunning series win in Australia could ignite the imaginations of children to become the next Owen Farrell rather than Harry Kane.

More than rugby pride is at stake when Australia and New Zealand clash in this afternoon’s World Cup final Remember when your little brother or sister beat you for the first time?

Previous World Cups, in soccer and in rugby, have demonstrated the dangers of bigging up teams during the pool stages, but Michael Cheika and the Wallabies have certainly earned the praise.

London rush hour, Monday morning. As London bustles, the Wallabies step softly into their working week which, for Bernard Foley and a handful of his mates, started with an early, low-key chat with the press at their Westminster team base.

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw has declared there can be no excuses for his side in this morning’s Rugby Championship decider against Australia and warns they’re in for a tough game if they don’t improve.

Tony McGahan says Paul O’Connell is always striving to improve his own game and his team-mates.

Michael Cheika has challenged Australia to "harden up" against England at Twickenham on Saturday to dispel any notion the Wallabies are a soft touch.

Ireland 26 Australia 23

One coach ended up in hospital and the other was left with a serious World Cup headache: Ireland’s win against Australia told vastly different stories for two teams trying to prove themselves.

Added expectation? Paul O’Connell has been playing under the burden of it for years and the Ireland captain sees no reason why his side cannot deal with it when they play Australia in Dublin this afternoon.

AUTUMN INTERNATIONAL:

Kurtley Beale will join the Australia squad on Sunday ahead of next week’s Test match against Ireland.

Wales’ excruciating agony against the southern hemisphere heavyweights continued in Cardiff as they suffered a 10th successive loss to 2015 World Cup pool opponents Australia.

Michael Cheika has been appointed as the new Australia head coach.

Ewen McKenzie has resigned as Australia head coach.

Australia 28 New Zealand 29

Wallabies hooker Nathan Charles has "defied science and logic" to be selected to make his Test debut for Australia against France this weekend.

Munster Under-19s 13 Australian Schools 16

Ireland manager Joe Schmidt has admitted that Jonathan Sexton’s hamstring injury will leave him a big doubt for Ireland’s final Guinness Series autumn international against New Zealand.

Australia captain James Horwill has been included in Ewen McKenzie’s 28-man squad for the Wallabies’ final two matches of the Rugby Championship in South Africa and Argentina.

Ewen McKenzie is targeting Bledisloe Cup success after being installed as the new Australia coach yesterday.

Ewen McKenzie has been confirmed as Australia’s new head coach following Robbie Deans’ resignation.

Australian rugby chiefs are to fire national coach Robbie Deans and replace him with Queensland’s Ewen McKenzie following the Wallabies’ series loss to the British and Irish Lions.

Robbie Deans has been sacked as Australia head coach following the Wallabies’ Test series defeat to the British and Irish Lions, according to reports in the Australian press.

It was just one of those nights for the Wallabies.

Three key areas

Twelve years ago George Smith was gearing up for the Wallabies’ crunch third Test with Graham Henry’s Lions outfit in Sydney’s magnificent Olympic Stadium.

Simon Lewis says Yes

Rob Howley today laid bare the levels of bravery and desire that will be required when the British and Irish Lions go for Test series glory against Australia.

LIONS TOUR - SECOND TEST: Australia v Lions

As the British & Irish Lions prepare to fill a Paul O’Connell-shaped hole in their pack for Saturday’s second Test at the Etihad Stadium, Australia prop Ben Alexander is focusing on another likely change, to the tourists’ front row.

James O’Connor wants to continue at fly-half when Australia attempt to haul themselves back into their series against the British and Irish Lions at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

Paul O’Connell was undoubtedly a significant contributor to the Lions victory in the first Test in Brisbane, but perhaps the more crucial factor was the Munster-like weather that afflicted the so-called Sunshine State the day before the match.

Where the key battles will be fought.