In my early weeks in Christchurch I picked up some helpful pointers from the Crusaders’ head coach Scott Robertson, writes Ronan O’Gara.

This morning's headlines:

Maybe the most remarkable thing about Rob Kearney’s new IRFU contract, confirmed yesterday along with extensions for Irish team-mates Rory Best and Iain Henderson, is the lack of discussion that has shadowed its signing.

Two weeks ago Munster and Irish rugby had a harsh commercial reality underlined. 

In his weekly column, Ronan O’Gara throws some light on Simon Zebo's much talked about move to France and reflects on an emotional clash with Munster.

The IRFU has tabled a "very attractive offer" to Simon Zebo to fend off interest from a number of Top 14 clubs in France, Ronan O'Gara has revealed.

It’s part of the gig. Meeting agents. There’s been quite a few in the past two weeks and I’m never sure whether I’m energised or anxious at the amount of money sloshing around in rugby.

Reports linking Munster and Ireland wing Simon Zebo with a move to France next summer offer a timely reminder that the annual contracts circus for players is already in full swing.

For Ronan O’Gara, the small details left the biggest impression.

Rugby star Simon Zebo is swapping drop goals for dropping rhymes by giving his backing to a rap track aimed at raising awareness around mental health.

Munster 22 Racing 10: It has been a long and often painful wait, but Munster supporters again have the prospect, not just of a home European quarter-final to savour, but also the personnel with the right mindset to fulfil their potential in the cause of their province.

Munster insist they know nothing about a proposed move by Simon Zebo to Toulouse but assistant coach Brian Walsh said it is inevitable players coming out of contract will be linked to clubs in France and England.

However one-sided this World Cup match-up between Ireland and Canada appears there will be plenty to occupy Joe Schmidt’s thoughts during today’s Pool D opening encounter.

Joe Schmidt has said his Ireland side were "tested on a number of levels" today against Scotland.

Ronan O’Gara says Ireland could have kicked a lot more against England, and chose not to.

“If someone gets a little bit of limelight then we know someone else did a dirty job to make sure he did."

A call from Examiner Towers on Tuesday. What are you rabbiting on about this week? Presume you’re looking back at Saturday?

Ireland 49 Georgia 7

Treviso 10 Munster 21

Simon Zebo says there’s no time for Munster to feel sorry for themselves ahead of a testing trip to Treviso this weekend with the prospect of a second defeat in as many weeks not an option as far as the Ireland wing is concerned.

Argentina 17 Ireland 23

As honeymoons go, Joe Schmidt’s has been bliss.

Ospreys 11 Munster 25

Simon Zebo’s try-scoring form since his return from a foot injury this last two weeks hasn’t been enough to force his way into Joe Schmidt’s extended panel for Saturday’s Six Nations tie against England.

Rob Heffernan’s World Championship gold in the 50km walk was the greatest Irish sporting achievement of 2013.

Simon Zebo is set to return to action in less than three weeks, with Munster boss Rob Penney targeting the province’s trip to Ulster on January 3 as the Ireland wing’s comeback date.

Munster head coach Rob Penney believes his players will be embarrassed into a rebound against Gloucester next Saturday following their shock Heineken Cup reversal at Edinburgh.

Melbourne Rebels are to appeal wing Lachlan Mitchell’s one-match ban imposed for foul play during last week’s game against the British and Irish Lions, the Australian Rugby Union has announced.

It’s close now.

It’s close now. Once the Test 15s were announced, the Lions 23 retreats into its own bubble and prepares for a searching gut check, one of the most forensic of their rugby lives.

With ten Irish players gone for the summer to Australia with the British and Irish Lions, the season isn’t over for everyone else.

Here we go again.

If anything, Ireland were the far more tentative and suspect-looking outfit in the opening period

Unless you were asleep over the weekend, you will have already seen Simon Zebo's outstanding piece of skill in Ireland's second try against Wales on Saturday.

By Ian Cusack

Munster 29 Racing Metro 6

Munster welcome back Simon Zebo for tomorrow’s Heineken Cup clash in Edinburgh with chief executive Garrett Fitzgerald backing the Ireland wing to meet the challenge of becoming an even better player over the course of his newly-signed three-year contract.

Munster winger Simon Zebo put pen to paper on a three-year contract yesterday and was told he has at least a decade of top-flight rugby ahead of him with the province.

Saracens 19 Munster 13

Whether it be over the course of a season, a tournament, or a single match, consistency has not been one of Ireland’s strong points since their Grand Slam season of 2009.

Given it has been 103 days since he last threw a pass in anger, Simon Zebo could be forgiven for feeling just a little frustrated that he still has two more days to go before he finally rejoins the party for Munster at Thomond Park.

By Rory Keane, Auckland