Taulupe Faletau will captain Wales and Scarlets flanker James Davies makes his Test debut in Sunday's NatWest 6 Nations clash against Italy in Cardiff.

James Haskell was sent off for a dangerous tackle as Wasps collapsed to a dramatic 33-28 defeat by Harlequins that all but ends their European Champions Cup quest.

Swapping high summer in Sydney for the winter cold of the English East Midlands might not seem a palatable prospect, never mind for a job that on face value appears something of a hiding to nothing.

Munster boss Johann van Graan is relying on his players to have moved on from their St Stephen’s Day defeat at home to Leinster when they travel to face Ulster on New Year’s Day.

Former Munster and Ireland lock Donnacha O’Callaghan will bring the curtain down on his illustrious career at the end of this season.

I reckon our constitution is only built to take so much grief and sadness, writes Ronan O'Gara.

Chances are that as you watch Munster play Stade Francais in Paris today, the television director will cut to a camera trained on the coaches’ box at Stade Jean Bouin.

Former Ireland and Lions manager Donal Lenihan believes home-grown coaches like Anthony Foley and Leo Cullen should be exposed to international best practice early in their coaching careers.

I think a relationship between the player and employer of mutual respect will not only benefit our players but benefit the game. The proof is in the pudding.

Munster may have added motivation against Leinster, given their respective representations in Ireland’s Six Nations squad, but the desire to prove people wrong will work both ways at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

Saying ‘yes’ was the easy part, but having fulfilled his ambition to be Munster head coach Anthony Foley will lean on the coaches he faithfully served as he prepares to take charge of his beloved province next season.

Edinburgh coach Alan Solomons praised Munster for the way they demolished his side at Thomond Park yesterday.

The things Ireland need to prove in this autumn series

It was not just the Wallabies downed in Australia at the weekend by men who had travelled halfway across the globe.

It is a match-up even Warren Gatland would pay to watch but as far as the Australians are concerned, taking George North out of the equation would not dampen the excitement generating around Wallabies Test debutant Israel Folau.

BRITISH & IRISH LIONS TOUR:

Ireland head coach Declan Kidney today unveils his initial squad for this year’s RBS 6 Nations Championship and is expected to confirm Anthony Foley as acting defence coach.

Ireland coach Declan Kidney insisted yesterday he doesn’t feel under increased pressure given the national side’s recent failures.

Munster's new era starts in earnest next week when Rob Penney and his backs coach Simon Mannix oversee their first training sessions, writes Conor George of the Evening Echo.

He’s arguably the most influential member of Declan Kidney’s coaching set-up, and Les Kiss is determined to leave New Zealand with an elusive victory over the All Blacks.

Les Kiss is relishing the prospect of facing the All Blacks on their home turf over the coming weeks.

ALL eyes may be on Thomond Park and the Aviva Stadium this weekend, but the more discerning Munster and Leinster supporters will also be keeping tabs on proceedings at the RDS this evening.

Munster Rugby chief executive Garrett Fitzgerald insists the race to succeed Tony McGahan as the province’s director of coaching will not be a “personality competition”.

It is less than four months since Ireland and Les Kiss were being hailed as innovators-in-chief at the Rugby World Cup for their ‘choke’ tackle tactics.

The news Tony McGahan is to return to his native Australia to become defence coach with the Wallabies is superb for him on a personal level but not so good for Munster.

MUNSTER rugby chiefs will today accept defeat in their bid to retain the services of head coach Tony McGahan beyond the end of the season.

1 Can Declan Kidney turn the tactical tide on Warren Gatland?

GORDON D’ARCY admitted yesterday that Brian O’Driscoll will be “irreplaceable” come the Six Nations but challenged suitors to the number 13 jersey to grasp the opportunity to replace the injured talisman with both hands.

IRELAND are hoping to have a new team manager in place before the start of the RBS 6 Nations Championship next month but are still assessing the candidates to succeed Paul McNaughton.

THE last thing the IRFU court is controversy.

BEFORE we even start talking, Donncha O’Callaghan is radiating purpose like a healthy glow; he could be one of those Ready Brek kids from the old TV ads.

LAST Wednesday’s announcement that Martin Johnson had stepped down as England head coach/manager was not surprising and closed a horrible few months for English rugby after the fallout from their World Cup campaign.

I WOKE on Monday morning without a tricolour, an Irish jersey or a Munster top to be seen anywhere.

IT is unlikely many Irish fans are looking to the future with the World Cup heartache so fresh in their minds.

ANGER over Wales’s controversial try in last season’s Six Nations will not be a motivating factor for Ireland ahead of their World Cup quarter-final on Saturday, backs coach Alan Gaffney has insisted.

RORY BEST’S participation in the remainder of Ireland’s World Cup campaign remains in the balance after he was deemed a “serious doubt” by team manager Paul McNaughton for Saturday’s quarter-final against Wales.

Paul O’Connell has come through Ireland’s final team session this morning and has been declared fit for Sunday’s crucial World Cup Pool C match against Italy in Dunedin.

Tim Horan is adamant that the source behind his claim of Irish subterfuge at Eden Park last Saturday is Ireland backs coach Alan Gaffney.

Ireland coach Declan Kidney has dismissed claims that his team used negative tactics and faked injuries to achieve their 15-6 World Cup win over Australia at Eden Park last weekend.

RONAN O’GARA’S shock announcement that he would retire from international rugby at the end of the World Cup caught the Ireland team management on the hop but there is a hope in the camp that the emotion of a famous victory had got the better of the veteran fly-half.

FAILING to reach the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals having achieved the biggest win in Ireland’s history would be “criminal”, according to the country’s assistant coach Alan Gaffney.

Despite Ireland’s convincing 15-6 victory over an in-form Australia side at Eden Park on Saturday, backs coach Alan Gaffney maintains the best is still to come from this Irish team.