But imagine, in the context of what we saw late last year in Japan, had Ireland gone and won those hosting rights.

When Wayne Pivac sat down with his Wales squad to outline his expectations for the 2020 Six Nations this week, he did so with the Championship’s trophy alongside him.

IRELAND’S implosion at the World Cup sent ripples in all sorts of directions.

Conor O’Shea is done as a rugby coach.

Having saved their best till last, what a shame it was that Ireland’s hugely impressive performance in the 1-1 draw with Denmark just wasn’t quite good enough to qualify us directly for Euro 2020.

Rory Best says he hopes to play in the Barbarians’ next two games after captaining the side on his debut at Twickenham on Saturday.

The four tries were selected by a panel of former players, including former Try of the Year winners Jamie Heaslip and Bryan Habana.

Featuring a battle of the airlines, X Factor, premature rumours of an international demise, and much more.

It was Samoa who provided the opposition for Joe Schmidt’s introduction to Test rugby as Ireland’s head coach, way back when in November 2013.

Scotland have urged World Cup bosses to see sense and push their win-or-bust showdown with Japan out of Typhoon Hagibis’ path of destruction.

Reports have emerged in Scotland that the Scottish Rugby Union is “ready to take legal action” against World Rugby if their clash with Japan on Sunday is cancelled.

Joe Schmidt is hoping Ireland’s long lead-in to their final pool game will help his team put in the performance tomorrow that will take them into the World Cup quarter-finals.

Sergio Parisse has hit out at World Rugby’s “ridiculous” decision to cancel Italy’s World Cup match against New Zealand.

A friend texted me Wednesday night indicating France’s final World Cup Pool C game against England was going to fall victim to the typhoon hammering Japan.

This stalemate against the top seeds maintains an unbeaten start for Stephen Kenny’s side, who stay top of their group heading into Tuesday’s visit to Iceland.

Sergio Parisse has hit out at World Rugby’s “ridiculous” decision to cancel Italy’s World Cup match against New Zealand.

Tonight’s Italian job for Ireland’s U21s will be boosted if Conor Masterson can repeat his shackling of Wolves striker Patrick Cutrone.

Stephen Kenny insists his high-flying Ireland U21s won’t settle for a draw from tomorrow’s Euro qualification test against Italy.

Peter Jackson Time to call a halt as refs fail to implement penalty rules

The prospect of an Ireland versus South Africa World cup quarter-final remains a possibility after the Springboks did their bit by beating Italy 49-3 in Shizuoka on Friday.

Your round-up of the stories behind the headlines from Day 14 of #RWC2019

Conor O'Shea's side ran out easy winners against callow Canadian side.

Ireland came through a worryingly slow start that saw them trail 5-0 after 12 minutes to get back on level terms through the try of the game six minutes later as Joey Carbery was the beneficiary of slick backline play to finish smartly.

Simon Lewis Tadhg Beirne’s role as a potential replacement flanker against Italy at the Aviva Stadium this afternoon underlines how this game is just as important for the bench as it is for Ireland’s starters.

Self-preservation or team cohesion?

Conor O’Shea has ruled himself out of becoming the new Munster CEO, insisting his focus is on getting Italy ready for the World Cup in Japan.

Word was that Jean Kleyn kept his eyes open and his mouth mostly shut during his early days in Joe Schmidt’s World Cup warm-up camp.

Ireland’s latest trip to Copenhagen marked your correspondent’s fifth visit to the engaging Danish capital which, a couple of thunderstorms aside, presented a much sunnier, summery face than I experienced on my first trip there.

Ireland head coach Noel McNamara has made two enforced changes to his starting line-up for today’s crunch World Rugby U20 Championship Pool B clash with Australia in Santa Fe, Argentina (2.30pm Irish time).

Sean Cronin doesn’t feel he was scapegoated for Ireland’s poor Six Nations display in Italy last month.

Spain captain Sergio Ramos scored for the fifth international in succession as his side made a winning start to Euro 2020 qualification against Norway.

Italy's losing sequence in the Guinness Six Nations extended to a record 22 matches but France were pushed all the way before prevailing 25-14 at the Stadio Olimpico.

Ireland’s U20s are not about to shy away from talk of history.

Ireland were offered every incentive in Rome to get their Six Nations title aspirations back on track as they watched Wales beat England from their hotel base on the eve of this game.

Despite being odds-on favourites to extend their winning start to the Six Nations, Ireland U20s scrum coach Ambrose Conboy believes the biggest physical test of the tournament awaits them in Rieti this evening [kick-off 6pm, Irish time].

Conor Murray's form has not been at its usual elevated levels since his return from injury late last year but Ireland assistant coach Richie Murphy believes his teammates need to do more to help the scrum-half return to his best.

Conor O'Shea feels there has been a massive overreaction to Ireland's Six Nations defeat to England.

Rhys Ruddock looks set to miss Ireland's Six Nations match against Italy in Rome on Sunday.

Ireland defence coach Andy Farrell has revealed that Jonathan Sexton will be fit to face Italy in eight days' time.

Andy Farrell is fully prepared for the life-changing demands of being Ireland head coach when he takes over from Joe Schmidt after this year's World Cup in Japan.

Gregor Townsend’s side got their Six Nations tournament off to the perfect start.

Sergio Parisse has nothing much to show for 16 years of international rugby beyond a global admiration for his gallantry in the face of overwhelming odds.

With an average of 13 internationals now scheduled in a single season, it’s clear that some tests rank higher than others, writes Donal Lenihan

With an average of 13 internationals now scheduled in a single season, it’s clear that some tests rank higher than others, writes Donal Lenihan