Leinster’s South African star Zane Kirchner says Ruan Pienaar has been left “heartbroken” by the IRFU decision to block Ulster’s plans to re-sign the star.

Donal Lenihan's recipe for Irish success in the first Six Nations game against Wales.

Ireland will heap the pressure on Wales’ rookie loosehead Rob Evans, to see if his scrummaging discipline “turns the other way” on Sunday, according to Greg Feek.

Johnny Sexton had suffered a few knockouts in his time but never one like this — sitting on a chair in a Paris suburb just off the peripherique.

Things could certainly be better for Leinster.

Mike Ross makes no bones about it: He feared his Ireland career was over.

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.

Friends say Robin Williams began to lose the gifts that made him a star when he began drinking again in 2003.

They pride themselves up north in getting straight to the point and saying what they think, so let’s not beat about the bush — Jerome Garces got it right.

Ulster 15 Saracens 17

Controversy is still raging over the red card administered to Ulster’s Jared Payne by French referee Jerome Garces four minutes into a rip-roaring Heineken Cup quarter-final tie at Ravenhill on Saturday.

Wales 51 Scotland 3

If anything, Ireland were the far more tentative and suspect-looking outfit in the opening period

Munster fans can heave a sigh of relief as the pernickety French referee from Saturday’s win over Saracens will not take charge of this weekend’s return game in Vicarage Road.

Italy 15 England 19

I NCONSISTENCY surrounding the issuing of yellow cards is fast becoming an issue in the Heineken Cup and impacting on the performance and results of teams across the board.

HAD Leinster somehow contrived to lose this one then they need blame nobody but themselves.

Harlequins 25 Connacht 17

A plane carrying 47 people crashed shortly after takeoff in Venezuela today.

THE winter freeze finally caught up with rugby in Dublin last night when the scheduled international between an Irish A team and the English Saxons fell foul of the weather.