I predicted last week that the opening six hours of rugby action that would launch this season’s Six Nations championship would prove very revealing and that’s exactly what transpired, writes Donal Lenihan.

Montpellier 14 - Leinster 23: To think, just a few months back, this was the Pool of Death to kill all other Pools of death.

For the first time in 15 years Leinster have won all six pool games in the European Champions Cup.

The cash-rich Top 14 outfit Montpellier, has tabled an astonishing €840,000 a year offer to CJ Stander in a bid to turn his head and dissuade him from signing a new contract with Munster and the IRFU.

Montpellier kept themselves in the hunt for the European Champions Cup quarter-finals by making it back-to-back victories over Glasgow with a bonus-point 36-26 win in France.

Leinster weathered the huge hits and the heavy bruising from Montpellier’s giants on Saturday – but the five points are what will leave the biggest mark after a winning start to their Champions Cup challenge.

Leinster are the side with three stars on their shirt, as triple winners of the European Cup, but Leo Cullen believes Montpellier boss Vern Cotter is under greater pressure to win this season’s title than he is.

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.

Devin Toner says Leinster are bubbling to the boil at just the right time as they prepare to host moneybags Montpellier in the RDS this Saturday.

Exeter Chiefs may be the reigning Aviva Premiership champions but when it comes to Europe they are still looking to make their mark.

Leo Cullen may have enjoyed Leinster’s victory over old foes Munster but when it comes to Europe he knows his province cannot compete on the same terms as their English and French rivals.

There’s not much riding on Eden Park tomorrow only immortality for a group of lads from Britain and Ireland, writes Ronan O’Gara.

Jordie Barrett will make his first New Zealand start in Saturday’s Test series decider against the British and Irish Lions.

The All Blacks will prepare for a greater confrontation at the breakdown, as a desperate British and Irish Lions look to level their test series, in the second match in Wellington, coach Steve Hansen has said.

The opening test of a Lions series is a journey into the unknown. Everything the Lions coaching staff have done in the last five weeks, since the earliest arrivals introduced themselves for those pre-tour camps at the Vale of Glamorgan and Carton House, has been geared towards this moment.

Former Ulster scrum-half Ruan Pienaar has joined French Top 14 side Montpellier on a three-year deal. 

Three years on and Aaron Cruden is returning to the scene of the crime.

Italy 10, New Zealand 68: Conor O’Shea’s mantra since day one of his Italian job has been “Rome was not built in day”. The 10-try drubbing on Saturday seemed like a reminder it only took the Goths three days to destroy it.

New Zealand put Italy to the sword as they ran in 10 tries at Rome's Stadio Olympico in a 68-10 victory.

Former All Blacks head coach Graham Henry believes the lessons learned by Joe Schmidt in defeat three years ago proved crucial in Ireland’s victory over the All Blacks on Saturday night.

This New Zealand team don’t want to be that team that loses the first one to Ireland, writes Simon Lewis. 

Ireland went for a cruise along the Chicago River yesterday afternoon, wending their way between the towering skyscrapers and enjoying some peaceful moments before the storm brewing in tonight’s clash with New Zealand. 

How does New Zealand remain at such an imperious level from season to season, asks Ronan O'Gara.

He’s not an All Black anymore but Dan Carter’s still got it.

Soldier Field, Chicago. The All Blacks. Rarely has one game and one venue captured the imagination in the manner of Ireland’s upcoming meeting with New Zealand in the Windy City. 

It was such an uplifting, outlandish tale, one which saw a figure who had once been derided and abused become nothing less than an instant national treasure, that Stephen Donald was told by his one of his teammates after they’d won the World Cup: “Beaver, mate, there’s gotta be a film in your story.”

Leinster ace claims Ireland were ‘lucky’ to win back-to-back Six Nations on points difference

A word to the wise: The final say on sport in 2014

New Zealand coach Steve Hansen believes that captain marvel Richie McCaw is “probably our greatest rugby player ever”.

England coach Stuart Lancaster has reacted to allegations that referee Nigel Owens was the subject of homophobic abuse at Twickenham by warning fans that such behaviour has no place in the game.

An 11-hour flight getting to Hong Kong gives you plenty of reasons to burn the weekend’s tests onto a CD, and plenty of time to dissect them, writes Ronan O'Gara.

England 21 New Zealand 24

England missed the chance to deal New Zealand a psychological blow less than a year out from the World Cup as Stuart Lancaster’s side were beaten 24-21 at Twickenham.

Sonny Bill Williams scored twice on his All Blacks return as New Zealand thrashed the United States 74-6 at Soldier Field, Chicago.

New Zealand fly-half Aaron Cruden has issued a statement apologising after he missed a flight due to a drinking session and was subsequently dropped by management.

New Zealand 14 South Africa 10

Australia foiled New Zealand’s bid to win an historic 18th consecutive Test as the Bledisloe Cup rivals played out a 12-12 stalemate at the ANZ Stadium.

England imploded at the Waikato Stadium to conclude their series against New Zealand with an error-ridden 36-13 defeat as the All Blacks amassed a record-equalling 17th successive victory.

New Zealand 28 England 27