After the sobering sight of four World Cup semi-finalists coming from the southern hemisphere, last weekend offered a glimmer of hope for European rugby. The question now is, was it an aberration or a line in the sand?

Worcester Warriors 20 Leicester Tigers 29: There was a nice moment about an hour before kick-off at Sixways Stadium on Saturday when Donncha O’Callaghan and Geordan Murphy found themselves in the same part of the pitch as the sides limbered up for this Premiership clash.

Sport is often littered with ham-fisted hyperbole — but Richie McCaw bucks the trend as a rugby superstar who deserves every ounce of praise lavished upon him.

Remind Leo Cullen he played in the last European final won by an English team, when the then London Wasps saw off Leicester Tigers in 2007, and he will be quick to point out he wasn’t part of the squad that won it.

It’s been said that most Rugby World Cup finals have been dour, boring affairs, and there’s good reason for that, but I think we could be looking at the exception to the rule this weekend, writes Ronan O’Gara

Munster are hoping for Thomond Park’s biggest crowd of the season in Friday’s Guinness Pro 12 clash with Ulster (6pm) Just over 5,000 turned up for a repeat of last year’s final with Glasgow and the atmosphere was well short of what one expects when top teams meet at the iconic venue.

Australia number eight David Pocock has invited “legend” David Attenborough to Saturday’s World Cup final against New Zealand at Twickenham.

A compilation of some the latest gossip and news from inside RWC2015.

The Rugby World Cup has not yet reached the midway point of the pool stage but squads are already being stretched by injuries. Simon Lewis

The great and the good had been queuing up all week to predict an England win at Twickenham on Saturday night, among them three captains from World Cups long gone, writes Peter Jackson.

Coach Steve Hansen said his world champion All Blacks would bounce back from their off-night after losing the Rugby Championship decider to the Wallabies 27-19 in Sydney on Saturday.

Munster’s great tradition in European competition has always been something to cling to in tough times, writes Ronan O’Gara.

Munster coach Anthony Foley last night insisted his hands have not been tied in pursuit of big money signings.

Stunned Munster supporters watching their side forfeit a 13 point lead and eventually lose 24-16 to the hosts departed the Galway Sportsground on Thursday night wondering how Connacht were able to draft in such influential players as All Black legend Mils Muliaina and another Kiwi, Bundee Aki, while their own side have to settle for virtual unknowns from the Southern Hemisphere.

I know it’s not the type of thing Munster or generally Irish Rugby fans will want to be reading amidst a European disaster, but I feel it’s now time we start getting real.

WHILE professionalism is now well entrenched in rugby, John Kelly’s role for Munster Rugby has progressed from a decade as a paid player until the Ireland wing’s retirement in 2007 to that of a volunteer, albeit one a chair of a PGC responsible for the recruitment and retention of players as well as the hiring of the coaching staff.

South Africa captain and former Munster player Jean de Villiers faces a race to be fit for next year’s World Cup.

Wales finally cracked the code of success against major southern hemisphere opposition as full-back Leigh Halfpenny’s relentless goalkicking saw off Millennium Stadium visitors South Africa.

New Munster loanee Pat Howard will be a man on a mission when he makes his home debut against Ulster on Friday night, looking to impress his coaches on two continents.

Dimestore wisdom says it’s better to be talked about than not, but the dwindling levels of chatter about Robbie Henshaw this last few weeks is testament to the seamless manner in which the youngster has slotted in to Joe Schmidt’s midfield.

Ireland may be going into the final game of the November series with two wins under their belts, but head coach Joe Schmidt warned that Australia would provide a tough final test.

The Scots went to some trouble to make Richie McCaw feel at home at Murrayfield, unearthing evidence placing his ancestors from the same county as Robbie Burns, Bill Shankly and Robert the Bruce.

Ireland 49 Georgia 7

Western Province director of rugby Gert Smal has revealed South Africa captain and former Munster star Jean de Villiers set up the deal that will bring centre Pat Howard to Ireland on a three-month loan deal.

Looks can be deceiving, which is just as well given the picture Robbie Henshaw’s face painted as the Connacht youngster stood listening to the anthems before the biggest examination in his burgeoning career.

Victor Matfield has challenged South Africa to heed their World Cup “wake-up call” after a 29-15 defeat in Ireland.

Simon Zebo said he is delighted with the performances of Jared Payne and Robbie Henshaw against the Springboks yesterday after all the hype surrounding them in the build-up to the match.

Connacht and Ireland centre Robbie Henshaw has said he loved the physical aspect of Ireland's game against South Africa today.

Jared Payne could miss Ireland’s autumn Test against Georgia next weekend after suffering a suspected foot sprain in the 29-15 victory over South Africa.

Paul O’Connell has revealed Joe Schmidt has challenged Ireland to bulk up for next year’s World Cup, admitting “we could be bigger and more physical”

When South Africa captain Jean de Villiers lines up against Ireland today, he will have almost 100 caps and 12 years of experience on his direct opponents.

Ireland captain Paul O’Connell has fond memories of South Africa counterpart Jean de Villiers’ one-season stint at Munster in 2009-10.

Joe Schmidt admitted he was taking a step into the unknown by sending rookie Test centres Jared Payne and Robbie Henshaw up against South Africa tomorrow.

Still only 21, Serfontein has already established a reputation as something of a dump truck.

Joe Schmidt has gone with the young centre partnership of Jared Payne and Robbie Henshaw for Ireland’s game against the Springboks on Saturday.

Though an injury-weakened Ireland face a South Africa side unchanged from the one that beat New Zealand last month, Cian Healy believes his colleagues have nothing to fear.

Coach Heyneke Meyer has announced the South African team that will play Ireland in Dublin on Saturday in the first of Ireland’s Autumn rugby internationals.

South African veteran Victor Matfield has his World Cup winners’ medal from 2007 but insists winning another next October at Twickenham is still top of his priority list as the Springboks head into their northern hemisphere tour opener against Ireland this Saturday.

New Zealand 14 South Africa 10

Are the days of signing top, top names now more difficult for Munster because of finances?

Bryan Habana insists defending champions Toulon cannot afford to be complacent going into Sunday’s Heineken Cup semi-final against Munster in Marseille, despite their home advantage and red-hot favouritism.