The five-try display means that the Irish did all they can to stay in the hunt but must now await the results of France v Argentina (5pm) and South Africa v New Zealand games this evening.

Towering Munster Academy lock Thomas Ahern will make his Ireland U20 debut in today’s final Pool B clash with Italy at the World Rugby U20 Championship in Santa Fe (kick-off 2.30pm Irish time — live on eir Sport 1).

A combination of Ryan Baird's 21st-minute red card and a luckless spate of injuries left the Ireland Under-20s exposed down the final stretch as Australia ruthlessly took advantage to claim a 45-17 bonus point win in Santa Fe.

St Michael’s College produced a remarkable final-quarter fightback at Donnybrook to claim the Leinster Schools Junior Cup title at the expense of previous champions Blackrock College.

The competition for places within the Ireland U20s set-up is set to intensify with the return of Craig Casey and Ryan Baird for Friday night’s Six Nations encounter with Italy in Rieti (kick off 6pm, Irish time).

Marketing consultancy paid ex-CEO €65,000 but he threatened customer disclosure unless paid €135,000

Furious Ali Carter hit out at what he called the worst conditions of his career after crashing out of the World Snooker Championship in the second round today.

Kyle Lafferty struck a stoppage-time equaliser as 10-man Northern Ireland salvaged a point against Hungary to keep their Euro 2016 dreams alive.

Arsenal 4 West Brom 1: There is nothing like an impending FA Cup final to put a bit of zing into an otherwise flat end-of-season match.

West Brom 3 Chelsea 0: This was an extraordinary evening at The Hawthorns in every sense.

Robin van Persie started his first game in 10 weeks as Manchester United looked to return to winning ways against West Brom.

Brendan Rodgers remained tight-lipped over Liverpool’s interest in Memphis Depay but admitted the Reds were set for a summer overhaul.

A fierce storm lashing south-east Australia has destroyed homes, stranded dozens of people in floodwaters and might have led to three deaths, officials said.

West Brom 1 QPR 4: Joey Barton has urged QPR to use their win over West Brom as a springboard for survival.

Scotland 1 Northern Ireland 0: A late header by substitute Christophe Berra gave Scotland a narrow but deserved 1-0 win over Northern Ireland in their Vauxhall International Challenge match at Hampden Park.

USA: A cow in Northeast Texas has apparently defied great odds and given birth to four calves that have been named Eeny, Meeny, Miny, and Moo.

FRANK Lampard concedes the day of reckoning is nigh for Manuel Pellegrini and his under-achieving Manchester City stars, but the veteran former Chelsea midfielder is not prepared to write off his manager just yet.

West Brom 1, Stoke City 0:

Christian Benteke is missing with a hip injury for Aston Villa’s FA Cup quarter-final meeting with West Brom.

Premier League

Sunderland 0 West Brom 0: Lee Cattermole is ready to spark another successful Sunderland survival fight.

Burnley 2 West Brom 2: Saido Berahino lacks the right influences in his life to make the best decisions for his career, according to Tony Pulis.

The release of Al-Jazeera journalist Mohamed Fahmy from a prison in Egypt is "imminent", Canadian foreign minister John Baird said.

West Brom 0 Tottenham 3: Harry Kane has no intention of easing up as he continues to plunder the goals for Tottenham.

Premier League

Dozens of Palestinian protesters have hurled eggs and shoes at the convoy of the visiting Canadian foreign minister.

West Brom 1 Hull City 0: West Brom striker Saido Berahino believes he is being unfairly singled out for criticism and given "a bad name".

West Ham 1 West Brom 1

Stoke 2 West Brom 0

All the team news from around the grounds ahead of the full round of matches on St Stephen’s Day in the Premier League.

Five hostages have fled a siege in a Sydney city centre cafe but more are still being held inside by an armed offender.

A planned state funeral for tragic Australian cricket star Phil Hughes has been called off, New South Wales state premier Mike Baird said today.

Under-fire West Brom boss Alan Irvine believes his side’s gruelling goalless draw at Hull will provide a timely tonic as the Baggies prepare to head into the busy festive fixture programme.

The girlfriend of convicted rapist and star striker Ched Evans has stood by him because she feels “protective” towards him.

Team news for the 3pm games in the Premier League

Southampton 0 West Brom 0

Premier League team news for 3pm kick-offs.

10 teams are starting their Premier League campaigns this afternoon.

Northern Ireland showed England they have little to fear from a Uruguay side lacking Luis Suarez as they battled to an honourable 1-0 defeat in Montevideo.

Adapted from the novel by Irvine Welsh, Filth (18s) opens with the murder of a Japanese student in Edinburgh in the run-up to Christmas.