Christchurch feels very safe and secure. And the Ireland in me had forgotten how much you savour those things. The contrast from Paris is huge. There is no anger in this world. On the RER in Paris, every nationality in the world is around you.

There’s not much riding on Eden Park tomorrow only immortality for a group of lads from Britain and Ireland, writes Ronan O’Gara.

French giants Stade Francais and Racing 92 will merge next season, forming an “absolute monster” Top 14 Paris super club.

So much for the French unpredictability. The world and its mother knew Racing 92 would take a scalpel to the side that earned a losing bonus point away to Toulon in last week’s domestic fixture and the reigning Top 14 champions duly performed significant surgery.

He’s not an All Black anymore but Dan Carter’s still got it.

Simon Lewis compares the sides ahead of Sunday’s Champions Cup opener.

Rassie Erasmus will have no issue if his Munster side faces the Racing 92 trio currently facing doping allegations when the Champions Cup rivals clash in Paris on Sunday.

Good afternoon. Here’s all the news you need to know this lunchtime.

Racing 29 Toulon 21: An incredible 14-man defensive stand added to some ice-cool kicking allowed Racing 92 and former Ireland icon Ronan O’Gara to secure their first Top 14 title in 26 years.

Wales lock Luke Charteris has been hailed as one of Racing 92’s “most valuable assets” this season.

Johnny Sexton fully expects Ronan O’Gara to become a Munster coach in the future now that the former Ireland out-half is making an impact at Racing 92.

Five-try Racing extended their advantage at the summit of the Top 14 with a bonus-point 39-35 triumph, as late tries from Xavier Chauveau and Joe Rokocoko broke Grenoble’s stubborn resistance.

Ronan O’Gara believes assumptions Ireland will “take” France at Rugby World Cup is dangerous talk, and warns the French players have never been fitter during the Pierre Saint-Andre reign.

Nearly seven years on, Joe Rokocoko returns to Limerick, hoping the Thomond Park faithful will have forgiven if not forgotten.

The retiring Shane Jennings is set to go out on a high when captaining the Barbarians against Ireland at Thomond Park tomorrow night.

Thomond Park is set to be graced by two more world-renowned stars when the Barbarians face an Ireland XV in Limerick later this month after Wales and Lions duo Adam Jones and Alex Cuthbert were added to Robbie Deans’s invitational squad.

All Blacks legend Joe Rokocoko is set to make his first return to Thomond Park since scoring the winning try against Munster seven years ago after being confirmed for the Barbarians squad to face an Ireland XV in Limerick on May 28.

Not only did he rob Ireland of a famous victory, but Ryan Crotty has a surname whose origins can be traced back to Co Clare and whose lineage makes him a direct descendant of … wait for it … Brian Boru.

Italy’s Sergio Parisse will captain the Barbarians against the British and Irish Lions in Hong Kong this Saturday.

Having being omitted from Warren Gatland’s Lions squad, Perpignan fly-half James Hook could line out against the British and Irish outfit, having been named in the provisional Barbarians squad.

Munster winger Simon Zebo put pen to paper on a three-year contract yesterday and was told he has at least a decade of top-flight rugby ahead of him with the province.

If yesterday’s press briefing was anything to go by then the Kiwi public have already lost interest in the Irish challenge on what is fast becoming a tour from hell.

As Tony McGahan prepares to take charge of Munster for possibly the final time at home before departing to a new job in his native Australia, Simon Lewis looks back at the top five Thomond Park moments of his tenure.

Adrian Russell roots out 2010’s weirdest and wackiest sports videos from the world wide web

New Zealand winger Hosea Gear is not taking a place in the All Blacks World Cup squad for granted, despite scoring five tries in four games on their Grand Slam tour of the Home Unions.

All Blacks winger Joe Rokocoko insists New Zealand’s immaculate record against the Home Unions under coach Graham Henry does not diminish the achievement of completing a successful Grand Slam tour.

IMPRESSIVE as the New Zealand starting 15 for today’s Test against Ireland undoubtedly is, the true barometer of the All Blacks’ current strength will lie on the Aviva Stadium benches as well as on armchairs dotted around the North and South Islands.

WHEN James Coughlan won a place on the Munster team to play New Zealand at the official opening of Thomond Park a couple of years ago it was arguably the highlight of his career.

ONLY one team scored a try against the All Blacks on their Grand Slam tour of the Northern Hemisphere in 2008 – and it wasn’t Scotland, Ireland, England or Wales.

New Zealand wing Sitiveni Sivivatu has been ruled out of the All Blacks’ tour of Britain and Ireland after suffering a knee injury.

Fly-half Dan Carter returns to the New Zealand side for Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup clash with Australia but there is no place in Graham Henry’s 22-man squad for Sonny Bill Williams.

WITH a year to go to Rugby World Cup 2011, tournament organisers in New Zealand says preparations are well on track, despite last week’s earthquake near Christchurch.

Adam Ashley-Cooper admits ending Australia’s losing streak against New Zealand is a major motivation ahead of Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup clash at ANZ Stadium.

GRAHAM HENRY expects his New Zealand side to face a much-changed South Africa one when the two countries meet in the Tri-Nations on Saturday.

New Zealand 20 Australia 10

Australia 28 New Zealand 49

New Zealand have banned the photographer who took a shot of a sheet of team tactics being held by coach Graham Henry at training from their remaining sessions.

AUSTRALIA coach Robbie Deans has backed the new-look midfield combination of Berrick Barnes and Matt Giteau to thrive ahead of Saturday’s blockbuster clash against New Zealand in Melbourne.

New Zealand have made two changes ahead of Saturday's Bledisloe Cup clash against Australia in Melbourne, with Jimmy Cowan and Joe Rokocoko both promoted to the starting line-up.