Come Sunday the veins under Cedric Abellon’s war paint will be throbbing.

Brian O’Driscoll’s entry in the Guinness World Records 2014 may be impressive — but can it compete with the creator of the world’s largest yo-yo or the achievement of owning the longest human tongue?

Brian O’Driscoll is to set a new all-time Test appearances record of 140 caps in his penultimate international bow today, easing past former Australia scrum-half George Gregan’s tally.

Brian O’Driscoll’s “emotional” final international appearance in Dublin will not hinder Ireland’s RBS 6 Nations title quest, according to Jamie Heaslip.

Brian O'Driscoll says he isn't going to let emotion surrounding his last home game in an Ireland shirt affect his preparation for it.

Johnny Sexton has beaten his thumb ligament problem in time to face Italy in the RBS 6 Nations in Dublin on Saturday.

Iconic centre Brian O’Driscoll is fully fit and ready to surpass George Gregan’s world record 139 Test cap haul in Ireland’s RBS 6 Nations clash with Italy on Saturday.

Brian O’Driscoll’s long Ireland farewell will not knock Joe Schmidt’s men off their RBS 6 Nations stride, according to flanker Peter O’Mahony.

All eyes may be straining forward towards Paris next month and a possible shot at the RBS Six Nations title, but there will be more than just the one box to tick when Italy come to Dublin seven days earlier.

Graham Rowntree insists England’s youngsters will not be overawed at the thought of facing Ireland’s legends when they run out for their first international at Twickenham today.

It’s seven years ago now but people just won’t let Paul O’Connell leave it behind.

Winning a Triple Crown at Twickenham tomorrow will give Ireland’s players a massive confidence boost after five years without any silverware, says Joe Schmidt, but the head coach has warned they will have to roll their sleeves up to beat England.

Joe Schmidt admits he has no idea how Brian O’Driscoll has dredged up the staying power to equal George Gregan’s all-time Test appearance record.

Brian O’Driscoll sat out training today suffering the after-effects of a stomach bug.

The transfer of Ireland out-half Johnny Sexton to Racing Metro has acquainted Irish fans of the oval ball with a fact of life: A new breed of owner now holds sway in French rugby and they will allow little to get in their way.

FOR anyone unsure about the importance of captaincy in rugby, the build-up to this year’s RBS 6 Nations will have disabused them of the notion that the role is an irrelevance in the modern game.

ALEX FERGUSON, who has enjoyed a bit of success over the years, would call this “squeaky bum time.”

THE worst kept secret in Munster rugby is officially out; forwards coach Laurie Fisher is returning to his native Australia.

DOUBTING the quality of the players lining out for Toulon in this afternoon’s Heineken Cup game against Munster at Thomond Park would serve no useful purpose.

Former US Open champion Michael Campbell, who has not made a halfway cut for six months, does not rule out quitting the game for the same length of time after another week to forget at The Masters.

IT didn’t take Chris Whitaker long to recognise that playing for Leinster against Munster was more special than any other game, and nothing has changed since moving on to manage the Heineken Cup champions.

Wales 31 Scotland 24

Former Wales captain Rob Howley has paid tribute to Scotland star Chris Paterson on the eve of him joining international rugby’s 100-cap club.

Chris Paterson today revealed he was targeting far more than 100 caps as he prepared to make yet another bit of history in a Scotland jersey.

PATIENCE must be one of the biggest virtues in professional rugby; just ask Australian forwards coach Jim Williams.

NEW ZEALAND coach Graham Henry has defended his side’s “attack from anywhere” plan following their 31-19 loss to South Africa in Saturday’s Tri-Nations match at Durban’s Absa Stadium.

SOUTH AFRICA captain John Smit has put his personal milestone aside and vowed to concentrate only on beating New Zealand today as the world champions aim to continue their winning start to the Tri-Nations.

South Africa captain John Smit will become the most capped captain in Test rugby when he leads his side out against New Zealand in Durban.

CAPTAIN John Smit has told South Africa to fulfil their potential against New Zealand in Bloemfontein today in the second match of the Tri-Nations series.

JUST one more interminable day to go now before the mother of all Irish derbies, but the highlight of Chris Whitaker’s season, of his entire stay here in Ireland, has already come and gone. His wife Alison gave birth to their third child a few weeks back and the Whitakers now have three delicate, precious buds to nurture in the shapes of Lilly Rose, Jasmine Blossom and, the latest arrival, Poppy Petal.

AUSTRALIA ended their six-match tour with a hard-fought 18-11 win over the Barbarians in the Olympic Centenary match at Wembley last night.

NEW ZEALAND captain Richie McCaw will end an exhausting and emotional year by making his debut for the Barbarians in tonight’s Olympic centenary clash with Australia at Wembley.

South Africa captain John Smit will lead a star-studded Barbarians side against Australia in Wednesday’s Olympic centenary clash at Wembley.

Australian George Gregan, the world's most capped international player, will be on Barbarians duty in December – against the Wallabies.

WHAT A tumultuous 12 months for Irish rugby: the provinces excelling and the national team winning just seven matches from 14.

A WARM Australian smile and handshake greets you when you inform Luke Burgess you’re Irish because the new Wallaby scrumhalf isn’t shy to talk about his Irish roots — and it’s quite a lineage.

TOULON believe they have reached an agreement that will see Daniel Carter play six months for the Mediterranean club if they gain promotion.

WORLD Cup-winning captain Nick Farr-Jones has backed Robbie Deans to succeed as coach of Australia — even though he finds it strange to see a New Zealander in charge of the Wallabies.

World Cup-winning second row Bakkies Botha must join French second division club Toulon by April 1 or face the prospect of legal action.

PETER STRINGER hopes to put a personally disappointing World Cup behind him by playing for Munster against the Ospreys on Sunday.

A war of words has erupted in Australia as the recriminations over their World Cup exit begin in earnest.

AUSTRALIAN rugby union faces a complete overhaul after the nation’s shock World Cup quarter-final defeat to England. The overwhelming favourites lost 12-10 in Marseille as Brian Ashton’s side booked a meeting with France.

England 12 Australia 10

WALLABY fly-half Berrick Barnes was a wide-eyed schoolboy when Jonny Wilkinson broke Wallaby hearts with the extra-time drop goal to win England the 2003 World Cup.