Mere weeks into the new season and rugby is already in crisis mode.

World Rugby has voted to increase the required residency period to be eligible for international rugby from three to five years.

Luke Fitzgerald has taken a vocal stance against the IRFU’s policy of recruiting ‘special project’ players to the detriment of native Irish players’ international chances.

Good afternoon. Here’s all the news you need to know this lunchtime.

Good morning. Here’s everything you need to know before you start your day.

It’s over two months since Brian O’Driscoll laced up his boots for the last time, but the former Leinster and Ireland centre is still rated as one of the game’s principal movers and shakers.

New Zealand have dominated the International Rugby Board awards with Kieran Read being crowned player of the year.

Set-piece dominance

Wales 12 Argentina 26

Will Greenwood has backed England’s under-pressure centres to answer their critics at the Rugby World Cup.

I AM astounded that Brian O’Driscoll has been sensationally passed over for the International Rugby Board player of the year award for 2009 in favour of New Zealand’s Richie McCaw.

ARGENTINA’S rugby union boss Porfirio Carreras has described the invitation to join an expanded Tri-Nations competition from 2012 as a “momentous time” for the sport in the country.

Felipe Contepomi is delighted at being named the new Argentina captain following Agustin Pichot’s international retirement.

It is difficult to disagree with outgoing International Rugby Board chairman Dr Syd Millar that France 2007 was “the best ever World Cup”.

Argentina captain Agustin Pichot hailed his side’s “heart and soul” after the Pumas completed a record 34-10 victory over France to finish third at the World Cup.

France 10 Argentina 34

France 10 Argentina 34

FRANCE captain Raphael Ibanez insists the stakes remain high going into his side’s World Cup bronze-medal match against Argentina today.

Argentina captain Agustin Pichot predicted the “end for rugby” if tournament organisers followed through with plans to reduce the number of teams competing in the 2011 World Cup.

ARGENTINA fly-half Juan Martin Hernandez has shaken off injury concerns and is named in an unchanged Pumas side for tomorrow’s World Cup semi-final against South Africa.

Argentina's star fly-half Juan Martin Hernandez has shaken off injury concerns to be named in an unchanged Pumas side for Sunday's World Cup semi-final against South Africa.

Brian O'Driscoll has given coach Eddie O'Sullivan a vote of confidence by blaming the players for Ireland's World Cup shambles.

IT LOOKED at times that the fleet-footed and skilful Argentine fly-half Juan Martin Hernandez could have walked on water at the Parc des Princes yesterday such was his sublime brilliance in all facets of out half play.

IT SEEMED fitting in a French-based tournament that the guillotine should finally fall on Ireland’s World Cup aspirations in the Parc Des Princes, a venue that has wreaked so much pain and havoc on a succession of Irish teams throughout the 1970s, 80s and 90s.

Gordon D’Arcy is ready to spearhead Ireland’s last-ditch effort to reach the World Cup quarter-finals by rediscovering the dazzling skills that have deserted him.

ARGENTINA said they had achieved the perfect result in the 63-3 defeat of Namibia ahead of Sunday’s crucial clash with Ireland which will decide both side’s World Cup fate.

ARGENTINA fly-half Felipe Contepomi believes securing a crucial bonus point against Namibia today is no foregone conclusion.

ARGENTINA captain Agustin Pichot returns for tomorrow’s World Cup clash with Namibia. Pichot was struggling with a hamstring injury, but will lead the Pumas in the Pool D match at Stade Velodrome in Marseille.

ARGENTINA fly-half Juan Martin Hernandez expects to be fit for the potential Pool D decider against Ireland a week on Sunday.

Argentina fly-half Juan Martin Hernandez expects to be fit for the potential Pool D decider against Ireland a week on Sunday.

Argentina trio Juan Martin Hernandez, Marcos Ayerza and Federico Todeschini have been ruled out of Saturday’s World Cup Group D game against Namibia.

A SECOND World Cup victory for Argentina was inevitable, and securing a bonus point by scoring four tries was an immensely satisfying return from a most difficult night at the Stade Gerland in Lyon last night.

Argentina will go into their World Cup Pool D clash with Georgia in Lyon having risen to fourth in the latest International Rugby Board world rankings – their highest position.

WELL, at least the beer on offer in the Stade de France is no longer under scrutiny.

EARLY DAYS and all that but if first impressions count for anything, then New Zealand have set an awesome standard. I was fortunate to be in the Velodrome in Marseille on Saturday where the men in black delivered as clinical a performance as one could expect against respected Six Nations opposition.

France 12 Argentina 17

France launched the 2007 Rugby World Cup tonight amid huge expectancy levels in coach Bernard Laporte’s final assignment before he takes up a French ministerial post.

IMAGINE for one moment that Ireland were drawn to open their Pool D campaign against France at Stade de France this evening.

ARGENTINA prepares to risk the wrath of millions of French rugby supporters by making a sensational start to the 2007 World Cup at Stade De France tomorrow night.

Juan Martin Hernandez has been selected at fly-half for Argentina for their World Cup opener against hosts France in Paris on Friday.