Ireland squad manager Mick Kearney insists Cian Healy’s recovery from neck surgery is “coming on fine”.

Stuart Lancaster insists Owen Farrell must excel during the World Cup warm-up matches if he is displace George Ford as England’s fly-half.

England will go into a World Cup campaign on home soil without star centre Manu Tuilagi after he pleaded guilty to two counts of assaulting a police officer.

Ireland begin a short training camp in Galway today, with England firmly in their sights and vengeance in their minds 12 days out from an RBS 6 Nations clash in Dublin that head coach Joe Schmidt is already billing as monumental.

England 47 Italy 17

England have named Danny Cipriani and Nick Easter on the bench for Friday night’s RBS 6 Nations opener against Wales in Cardiff.

England held their nerve in the face of a second-half fightback by Australia to end a frustrating autumn with a vital 26-17 victory at Twickenham.

England head coach Stuart Lancaster has backed Owen Farrell to make an impact from the bench against Australia at Twickenham tomorrow after dropping him from his starting XV for the first time since June 2012.

Gloucester 45 Munster 8

New Munster head coach Anthony Foley could be forgiven for enduring a few shivers of apprehension after seeing the Gloucester team chosen by his old mate Laurie Fisher for this afternoon’s pre-season friendly at Kingsholm.

England fly-half Owen Farrell has been ruled out of Saturday’s final Test against New Zealand due to a knee injury.

New Zealand 28 England 27

New Zealand 28 England 27

Manu Tuilagi has been warned to expect an aerial bombardment as New Zealand seek to expose the England wing’s inexperience in his new position.

Leinster captain Jamie Heaslip knows they can use their big-game Heineken Cup experience to underpin a demanding quarter-final mission against reigning European champions Toulon on Sunday.

The last 20 minutes of England’s defence of their Twickenham fortress on Saturday was fascinating.

Croke Park, February 28, 2009: A headless English half-back charges an Irish prop between the shoulder blades.

Scotland 0 England 20

France 26 England 24

England wing Jack Nowell may have been refused entrance to an 18 certificate film on Wednesday night, but Stuart Lancaster insists he is part of an untested trio that is ready for the Stade de France.

Gloucester 7 Munster 20

England emerged comfortable 31-12 winners against Argentina at a subdued Twickenham, but another patchy performance in the QBE Internationals posed as many questions as answers.

Gloucester coach Nigel Davies has warned Munster they face a perilous visit to the West Country for round five of the Heineken Cup.

ON THE face of it, an outstanding weekend for the Irish in Europe. However, while Ulster in particular, Leinster and Connacht have every reason to reflect with satisfaction on their performances, one feels that despite Munster’s 16 point win over Gloucester, nobody within the camp will be getting too carried away with this latest showing.

The backlash. Gloucester are braced for it, the Thomond Park faithful are expecting it and, now, Munster must deliver it.

Gloucester director of rugby Nigel Davies looks set to abandon the principle of ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ and rotate his winning squad for tomorrow’s Heineken Cup showdown with Munster at Thomond Park (6pm).

Wing Jonny May’s late try gave Gloucester a dramatic Heineken Cup victory as Perpignan had their former Munster centre Lifeimi Mafi sent off.

It is now more than a decade since the famous Miracle Match of 2003, but memories of that never-to-be-forgotten occasion will be revived when three survivors participate in today’s Seat Series clash of Munster and Gloucester at Thomond Park (kick-off 5pm).

Brumbies 14 British & Irish Lions 12

Jake White has seen his Australian Super Rugby rivals try to unsettle the British & Irish Lions on this tour and earn plaudits for doing so, yet the Brumbies coach knows the bottom line is that all of them have failed.

More than a few questions asked by the Waratahs on Saturday here in Sydney, the majority answered emphatically by the tourists — but at what cost?

Shane Williams has been backed to do a job for the British and Irish Lions following his shock call-up today.

Christian Wade has been called up by the British and Irish Lions and withdrawn from the England side to play Argentina in Buenos Aires today.

Brian O’Driscoll’s is not in danger of missing the British and Irish Lions’ first Test against Australia next weekend, head coach Warren Gatland insisting the veteran centre’s fitness is merely being carefully managed.

Warren Gatland today put an emphasis on rest and recovery for players like Brian O’Driscoll and George North ahead of next week’s first Test against Australia.

Billy Twelvetrees has been called up by the British and Irish Lions from England’s tour of Argentina to provide back line cover.

France will take several positives from their 23-13 defeat by New Zealand on Saturday.

Wales are expected to provide more than a third of this summer's British and Irish Lions tour squad when the 38-man group is unveiled today.

Ireland 6 England 12

Last Saturday’s victory in Cardiff was a moment and a spectacle to savour for Irish rugby but the stakes will be even higher in the Aviva on Sunday, a win and Ireland will not only be favourites for the championship but can dream of another Grand Slam.

Gordon D’Arcy (dead leg) and Peter O’Mahony (concussion) have recovered from the injuries sustained in last weekend’s win over Wales allowing Declan Kidney to name an unchanged starting XV for Sunday’s crucial meeting with England at the Aviva Stadium (3pm).

England coach Stuart Lancaster will this morning confirm his starting line-up for Sunday’s RBS 6 Nations game against Ireland in Dublin – and he is expected to keep changes to a minimum.

Gordon D’Arcy has warned England that his record-breaking centre partnership with Brian O’Driscoll excels in defence because “we each have a chip on our shoulder”.

England hooker Dylan Hartley would relish the chance to lock horns with Ireland opposite number Rory Best again in a bid to lay down a marker for British and Irish Lions Test selection this summer.