It’s been all but lost amid the tidal wave of more significant events since, but it’s worth remembering that Jonathan Sexton’s first appearance on a rugby field after he picked up the gong for world player of the year in Monte Carlo at the back end of November ended with him limping to the sidelines with a grimace.

Gordon D’Arcy feels the controversy swirling around Billy Vunipola will be an exacting test of the culture that exists in the Saracens dressing room — and that Saturday’s European clash with Munster will deliver the results.

Taking and giving a five or 10-metre pass is a fundamental part of the game yet the skills required to deliver under pressure are often overlooked, writes Donal Lenihan.

Every position in the back line has been filled by Leinster’s Isa Nacewa, including scrum-half where he excelled in one game last season when Luke McGrath was sinbinned. The veteran New Zealander even scored a try while holding that fort, writes Brendan O’Brien

Ciarán Ó Raghallaigh picks an Irish XV comprising of the 2009 Grand Slam team and the team that will chase that title on Saturday. 

Jerry Flannery was a member of the Irish team which completed the Six Nations Grand Slam in 2009. An outstanding hooker who helped Munster to win the Heineken Cup in 2006 and 2008, he represented Ireland on 41 occasions. Ahead of Ireland’s bid for more Grand Slam glory on Saturday he spoke to Charlie Mulqueen

It’s less than a decade since Declan Kidney’s Irish team secured that famous Grand Slam but it may as well be a page ripped out of an ancient history textbook as Joe Schmidt’s current generation of players go about writing their own chapters.

Manchán Magan is in the midst of a new radio series that taps into the weird and wonderful aspects of Ireland’s natural heritage, writes Jonathan deBurca Butler.

According to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Scotland’s capercaillies are in trouble; their numbers are falling relentlessly and, if effective measures aren’t taken, extinction looms, writes Richard Collins

Leinster 32 Wasps 17

Like so many of those who knew Anthony Foley, James Downey could not believe the news last October that his former boss had passed away so suddenly.

Former Ireland great Gordon D’Arcy has backed Ireland’s bid for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

Garry Ringrose won’t need the benefit of any DVD to remember just how punishing Saturday’s bruiser was.

It might not have been a barnburner but for Leinster head coach Leo Cullen a valuable victory over Munster more than proved there is life still in this age-old rivalry.

Seven years on from that Leinster-Munster ding dong in front of a world record crowd at Croke Park and the prospects of seeing anything like it again at the business end of a European campaign appear slim.

KNOTWEED is flowering, those beautiful, lacy flowers that first won the hearts of the ladies and gents of Victorian England. 

Ireland’s four provinces are facing an almost impossible task in their respective bids to push beyond the pool stages of the Champions Cup, never mind win it.

He’s been forced to call time on his rugby career at 28, but Leinster back Luke Fitzgerald is glad of one thing - to be retiring as a “one-club man”.

Ireland may have a deficit of points in the Six Nations but there’s no shortage of leaders, according to CJ Stander.

Jared Payne has become the latest key Ireland player to sign a renewed deal with the IRFU. The Ulster centre/full-back agreeing a two-year contract extension that will keep him at Kingspan Stadium through to the summer of 2018.

The world of rugby and beyond yesterday has paid tribute to All Black legend Jonah Lomu, who passed away suddenly at the age of 40.

So they’re supposed to give up now. Just like any sensible group of Irish sportspeople should. They failed so they’re failures and would be better of failing to even try again, the nation’s sages in their self-appointed wisdom chortling Cleese that haven’t you forgotten, it’s the hope, not the despair, that kills you, old boy.

All the latest sports book news, including a profile of Patrick McCarry’s book The New Breed – Irish Rugby’s Professional Era

It can’t have been an easy few weeks for Robbie Henshaw.

Gordon D’Arcy insists he has no bitterness towards Joe Schmidt for ending his international career and has backed the Ireland head coach to make the difference in the country’s bid for a first Rugby World Cup.

Leinster are unsure if Cian Healy could be made available to them for Saturday’s Guinness Pro12 clash against Cardiff Blues.

Joe Schmidt has never been one to shirk the difficult decisions. If anything, he has a reputation for being direct and letting players know exactly where they stand and what is expected of them.