Brian O’Driscoll looks set to end his British and Irish Lions career by captaining the tourists in a Test series decider.

Hard to believe I’m here more than a week already with return visits to Sydney and Canberra already fading into the background. Sydney has grown on me over the years and is now one of my favourite cities in the world.

SO, the only two sides in the Six Nations showing a degree of consistency are at opposite ends of the table.

Jim Telfer, the legendary Scottish and Lions forwards coach caused a bit of a furore before the Six Nations when he called the Welsh team lazy and the English arrogant.

Jamie Heaslip admits Ireland's loss to England at Twickenham last year left a deep scar.

FORMER English and Lions prop Graham Rowntree yesterday spoke of the ‘immense’ loss of injured Irish hooker Jerry Flannery to the Lions tour of South Africa.

RORY BEST was last night left disappointed after missing out on a potential Lions lifeline, after Scotland’s Ross Ford was chosen to replace the injured Jerry Flannery on the tour to South Africa.

Paul O'Connell will be confirmed as Lions captain for the summer tour to South Africa at lunchtime today.

Paul O'Connell is set to be unveiled as captain for the Lions tour to South Africa tomorrow.

Chris Paterson has urged Andy Robinson to apply for the Scotland job after the former England boss revealed had not yet decided whether to do so.

GAVIN HASTINGS yesterday urged Lions selectors to retain Brian O’Driscoll as skipper for next summer’s tour to South Africa.

British & Irish Lions legend Gavin Hastings backed Brian O’Driscoll as the man to lead the Lions to tour South Africa in 2009.

WITH just two rounds remaining, this years Six Nations championship has been chronically short on quality but infinitely more competitive than anything in recent years.

Josh Lewsey will play anywhere Clive Woodward asks him if it means he can be a part of history as a member of a Lions squad who beat the All Blacks in New Zealand.

Scotland’s new director of rugby Ian McGeechan maintains he has an “open mind” as the sport prepares for one of its biggest-ever shake-ups.

Scotland defence coach Alan Tait is the latest member of former coach Ian McGeechan’s backroom staff to be released under the new regime at Murrayfield as Jim Telfer bade a final farewell to Scottish rugby.

Ian McGeechan is determined to remove the barriers which saw him end his second stint as Scotland coach seething with frustration.

Outgoing director of rugby Jim Telfer has admitted he is at a loss to explain Scotland’s poor World Cup performances.

Former Scotland international John Jeffrey has lashed out at the Scottish Rugby Union for failing the game north of the border.

Scotland’s build-up for tomorrow’s crucial World Cup clash with Fiji was scarred by a couple of internal punch-ups during training this week – and skipper Bryan Redpath could not be more delighted.

ENGLAND’S below-par performance against Samoa last night has provided prospective semi-final opponents France with some vital information – but it will not be assessed until they eventually reach the last four.

Scotland emerged from their potentially fraught World Cup match against the United States with a convincing win, an improved performance and a winger quickly emerging as one of the stars of the tournament.

Scotland coach Ian McGeechan urged the International Rugby Board to emerge from their meeting on the player availability row with a protocol for the world game that gives Test rugby clear priority.

Scotland 10 Ireland 29

Scotland back-row forward Jon Petrie insists he is more inspired than nervous after eventually being handed a proper chance to stake a claim for a World Cup spot in Australia.

The Scottish Rugby Union has appointed Marty Hulme as full-time fitness coach to the national side. It is hoped he will assist former Leinster boss Matt Williams in transforming the team's fortunes.

Scotland will look to their forwards to lead the charge against South Africa this weekend.

THE Welsh Rug

AS banana skins go, they don’t come a lot more treacherous than this.

SCOTTISH rugby chiefs last night promised a worldwide search in their quest to replace Ian McGeechan as national coach.

Scotland coach Ian McGeechan will step down after the 2003 World Cup and succeed Jim Telfer as the Scottish Rugby Union‘s director of rugby.

Graham Henry needs only one word to describe the task facing his Lions in Australia this summer - immense.

Jim Telfer, director of rugby for the Scottish Rugby Union, led the tributes for Gordon Brown, who lost his battle against cancer yesterday at the age of 53.

Andy Moore hopes that Six Nations history will repeat itself when Wales face a "backs-to-the-wall" mission at Murrayfield tomorrow.