Declan Kidney fears inside knowledge could be Ireland’s undoing in their quest for the RBS 6 Nations Grand Slam.

RONAN O’GARA’S form has been put under the microscope in this Six Nations championship but Alan Gaffney believes the Munster out-half has a “big” performance in him as Ireland prepare to face Scotland in Murrayfield on Saturday.

IF knowing your enemy is the key to sporting success, then Scotland hold a major advantage ahead of Saturday’s Six Nations clash with unbeaten Ireland.

Ireland backs coach Alan Gaffney expects his RBS 6 Nations title-chasers will have more space to manoeuvre against Scotland than in their defence-dominated win over England.

FRANK HADDEN has lauded the impact former Ireland defence coach Graham Steadman has made on Scottish fortunes, saying the former rugby league star’s work will pay “rich dividends” in this year’s Six Nations.

Mike Brewer and Graham Steadman have joined Scotland boss Frank Hadden's coaching staff.

Ireland see no reason why the introduction of Paddy Wallace to the starting line-up should drastically alter their game plan for Saturday’s Test against New Zealand.

Ireland centre Luke Fitzgerald has been ruled out of Saturday’s Test against New Zealand in Wellington with an ankle injury.

The IRFU have confirmed the interim management of the Ireland team that will play the Barbarians and tour to the Southern Hemisphere this summer.

SINCE the Rugby World Cup began a month or so ago, Ireland have been plagued with one piece of misfortune or ill luck after another almost on a daily basis.

NIALL O’Donovan predicts Ireland have the potential to produce one big World Cup performance - and he’s confident tomorrow is the day.

Ireland defence coach Graham Steadman is confident the Stade de France will witness a major upset tomorrow night when his side go head to head with the tournament hosts.

Ireland’s defensive mastermind Graham Steadman believes shackling human wrecking ball Sebastien Chabal is the key to silencing French fans.

SUGGESTIONS Georgia may make sweeping changes for tomorrow’s World Cup clash with Ireland and the continued preference for Rory Best over Jerry Flannery at hooker were the major issues at yesterday’s press conference involving the Irish coaching staff — minus Eddie O’Sullivan.

IRELAND look certain to play as selected in tomorrow’s World Cup warm-up clash with Scotland at Murrayfield, despite a couple of slight injuries sustained in training yesterday.

AT 11am on Sunday at the team hotel in Dublin, Eddie O’Sullivan will name his 30-man World Cup squad and bring the guessing game as to its composition to a close.

IF the aim of this two Test tour of Argentina was to examine a player’s credentials and temperament for the Rugby World Cup in France, then Connacht’s Gavin Duffy has been one of the success stories in Latin America.

ASKING a coach to compare players can be like asking a father to choose his favourite child.

Eddie O’Sullivan claimed France’s heart-stopping 20-17 victory over Ireland will have shaken their self-belief ahead of September’s World Cup showdown in Paris.

YOU COULDN’T help but notice a look of disappointment in Jim Williams’ demeanour when asked would he have liked to have been on the Millennium Stadium pitch, winning a Heineken Cup medal with Munster on Saturday.

JERRY FLANNERY and Alan Quinlan have followed Paul O’Connell by agreeing terms that will keep them with Munster, respectively, for three and two years.

Munster have appointed Australian Tony McGahan as their defence coach.

IT was inevitable after running up such an impressive scoreline against Wales in Sunday’s RBS Six Nations encounter that there should be an air of quiet satisfaction in the Irish camp.

The spell of Thomond Park spell lives on. Last week’s victory over Sale was no miracle - merely the fusion of a fanatical support and a group of players desperate not to disappoint them. Our writers spoke this week to those involved.

IT may be quite hard for Irish people to understand, but for top rugby league stars in the UK, their lives are every bit as much of public interest as their soccer counterparts - more so in many ways.

Ireland 43 Romania 12

CHRISTMAS is coming early for Irish rugby fans as another Southern hemisphere giant rolls into Lansdowne Road tomorrow.

MICK O’DRISCOLL returned to Ireland from a two-year stint with Perpignan rougher, tougher and wiser, attributes that have proved invaluable for Munster in the last 10 weeks.

THE IRFU have appointed three new members to the management of the national team.

Munster 37 Ospreys 10

MUNSTER coach Declan Kidney has delayed team selection for the Celtic League clash with champions Neath/Swansea Ospreys.

For Declan Kidney it is a case of ‘back to the future’ with Munster this year as he returns to his spiritual rugby home, but he tells Barry Coughlan that a lot of things have changed since he was there last.

THE ATMOSPHERE was much lighter than it would have been if Saturday’s Celtic Cup final against Llanelli Scarlets was, for instance, a Heineken Cup game.

ANTHONY FOLEY powered himself into contention for a Lions tour trip to New Zealand following an amazing performance in Munster’s Heineken Cup victory over Ospreys at on Saturday.

The deconstruction and reconstruction of professional rugby through technology is now a critical part of a coach’s armoury. Munster’s Alan Gaffney is no different. Declan Colley reports on the anatomy of a Heineken Cup defeat to today’s opponents Castres.

Declan Colley talks to coach Graham Steadman, who is confident of smart play by Munster tonight.

WITH due respects to the Celtic League, the real rugby season starts this weekend.

Munster have enlisted Great Britain’s rugby league assistant coach, Graham Steadman, as their defensive coach.

Yorkshire rivals Leeds and Castleford continued their contrasting build-up to the Challenge Cup semi-finals in a thoroughly entertaining Super League derby at the Jungle.