Clive Woodward reveals to Simon Collings how England got the edge over their rivals in team preparation.

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce accused Sunderland midfielder Adam Johnson of diving for a penalty after the two teams played out a frustrating 1-1 draw at the Stadium of Light.

Goodbyes can be painful, as we all know, but when Brian O’Driscoll’s romance with Test rugby finally came to an end in Paris, parting proved such sweet sorrow.

Croke Park, February 28, 2009: A headless English half-back charges an Irish prop between the shoulder blades.

Martin Daly is regarded as Clare’s greatest ever forward; some would say their greatest ever footballer. But among a list of achievements the Lissycasey man clocked up for the Banner County, one stands out above the others

RBS SIX NATIONS:

It’s been quite a year in the life of Barry Solan, one which has brought him all around the world and occasionally the top of it too.

Jack Savage doesn’t have the air of someone who is scared.

FORMER England manager Martin Johnson surprised members of the Irish media at an Irish Olympic Council briefing in London yesterday.

MARTIN JOHNSON has described the damning fallout from England’s World Cup campaign as “one of the worst things I have experienced in the game”.

LAST Wednesday’s announcement that Martin Johnson had stepped down as England head coach/manager was not surprising and closed a horrible few months for English rugby after the fallout from their World Cup campaign.

EIGHT years ago today, Peter Canavan sat in the lounge of a Dublin hotel to catch the end of the rugby World Cup final.

WORLD CUP: Former England captain Lewis Moody insists Martin Johnson is the right man to leadEngland to the 2015 World Cup.

YOU KNOW you’re in trouble when an interview starts with a list of questions that are off-limits.

Flanker Tom Croft has labelled speculation over Martin Johnson’s future as England manager “disgusting”.

Ryan Moore’s representatives have played down speculation that he is set to be appointed as stable jockey to Aidan O’Brien.

MARTIN JOHNSON has been backed to continue in his job by the acting chief executive of the Rugby Football Union — before an official review into England’s World Cup failure has even begun.

ANGRY Martin Johnson blasted England for being “sloppy” and warned they will be dumped out of the Rugby World Cup early unless there is an immediate improvement.

LEWIS MOODY will be on trial at Twickenham today (2.30pm) after England manager Martin Johnson insisted the Rugby World Cup captaincy is still up for grabs.

Stand-in captain Nick Easter warned England will have to produce their best ever performance if they are to win the Grand Slam against Ireland tomorrow.

JAMES HASKELL believes Saturday’s clash with Ireland is the biggest game that any of the England side will have played in and is wary of a backlash from their hosts after their controversial defeat in Wales.

WITH the GAA’s heavy-hitters so worked up these days with tackling the issue of under-the-counter payments to managers, it’s only right so that we tackle some of the myths that they themselves have been perpetuating in the process.

TOMMY DUNNE has described the criticism that Tipperary received in the aftermath of last May’s Munster championship defeat to Cork as “over the top” and believes their impressive performance against Waterford in the All-Ireland semi-final has provided a timely injection of confidence as they bid to topple Kilkenny in Sunday’s decider.

LEWIS MOODY is convinced he has the credentials to captain England into the 2011 Rugby World Cup — but he is still in the dark over his future in the job.

Lewis Moody is convinced he has the credentials to captain England into the 2011 Rugby World Cup – but he is still in the dark over his future in the job.

BRENDAN MAHER isn’t just a young hurler mature beyond his years; Maher is a young man mature beyond his years, period.

MAYO forward Conor Mortimer has admitted that Ireland’s economic crisis has left him stunned after returning home from a stint abroad.

THEY came closer than anyone to derailing Kilkenny’s four-in-a-row attempt last season, but Tipperary boss Liam Sheedy disputes the notion it’s a fait accompli that his squad will go one better this year in their pursuit of the Liam MacCarthy Cup.

Dylan Hartley insists Northampton will step into the unknown without any fear at Perpignan tomorrow night, after their momentous victory over two-time European champions Munster.

Danny Cipriani confirmed last night he will be available for England and the Lions this summer after delaying his ankle operation.

Riki Flutey has challenged England to put together the complete performance when Scotland travel to London this weekend after their devastating first-half show against France.

TOM CROFT admitted England’s stunning RBS Six Nations victory over France was motivated partly by the desire to avoid the thunder of manager Martin Johnson.

Mike Tindall insisted England must keep on the right side of the law against France tomorrow - because they dare not risk the wrath of an angry Martin Johnson once again.

ANYONE who ever watched Martin Johnson play rugby will hardly be surprised that the team he now manages has something of a disciplinary problem. After all, ‘Johnno’ was no stranger to the yellow peril himself.

CELEBRATIONS, celebrations; the 125th anniversary of the foundation of the GAA, a clash of two of hurling’s most ancient and celebrated rivals, new floodlights being switched on in what many see as the true home of hurling, Semple Stadium.

Danny Cipriani has warned Andy Goode he wants the England number 10 jersey back as early as next week’s RBS 6 Nations clash with Wales.

IT WAS one of the good days in the Gaelic Grounds yesterday, a day to enjoy.

Former England star Jason Robinson has claimed that Brian Ashton’s recent ousting as head coach of the national team was “harsh”.

Martin Johnson has been backed to help lift England’s flagging spirits after he was linked with the role of national team manager.

FORMER England prop Jeff Probyn has called for Dean Richards to succeed Andy Robinson – but in the capacity of manager.

Former England prop Jeff Probyn has called for Dean Richards to succeed Andy Robinson, but in the capacity of team manager.

Leicester’s Austin Healey wants former team-mate Martin Johnson to replace Andy Robinson as England coach. Healey, who won the last of his 51 caps two years ago, has vowed not to play for England under Robinson.

Leicester coach John Wells today paid tribute to Tigers legends Martin Johnson and Neil Back as they prepare for their domestic rugby farewell.