Kyle Sinckler admitted “sport is cruel” after he was knocked out in the opening moments of England’s 32-12 World Cup final defeat by South Africa.

Eddie Jones says that England are going to be “kicking stones for four years” following their comprehensive World Cup final defeat against South Africa.

With the cream having risen to the top and the four best sides left standing in the tournament providing two contrasting semi-final shootouts, we are left, with a potentially explosive final with rugby north and south of the equator set for a fascinating head to head.

This is a contest fit for the final itself with the winner fancied to go all the way.

It was their 12th successive win, setting an all-time national record, breaking the previous best sequence that had stood for 109 years.

When Ireland last fielded their front line troops at the Aviva Stadium, against New Zealand in November, the rapturous response from players and fans alike at the final whistle could not have been more exuberant. Unbridled joy. Kings of the world.

Eddie Jones will enter his meeting with Rugby Football Union (RFU) chief executive Steve Brown this week armed with the conviction England can still win the World Cup.

Our history-makers!!

From Eddie Jones’ crass comments to World Rugby’s removal of assistant referee Marius van der Westhuizen, there has not been a dull moment in the build-up to Ireland’s bid for Grand Slam glory at Twickenham.

In total there are five changes to the side defeated by Scotland at Murrayfield.

Is it any wonder the structure of the professional game in Ireland is the envy of so many of our international counterparts at present?

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend says Chris Harris has earned his place in the starting line-up of their NatWest 6 Nations opener in Cardiff.

England have now seen 16 players ruled out of the start of their title defence, a number that will climb to 18 if Robshaw and Brown fail to recover.

Police raided the headquarters of the French Rugby Federation (FFR) yesterday as part of an investigation into alleged conflict of interest involving the federation’s president Bernard Laporte, a source close to the matter said.

Harlequins’ hopes of progression in the Champions Cup were virtually extinguished as they crashed to a third-consecutive defeat in Europe, a 17-5 loss at home to Ulster.

Sam Warburton reflected on a successful British and Irish Lions tour upon the squad's return home, but still acclaimed New Zealand as the world's finest team.

From day one of his tenure as the head coach of the 2017 British and Irish Lions, Warren Gatland has preached the importance of a power-packed set of replacements to come into the game and either close out a victory or reel in a deficit.

The British & Irish Lions will have to smarten up at scrum time and focus on painting better pictures for referees following the frustrations in defeat to the Highlanders.

GOOD DAY

Warren Gatland insisted there were plenty of positives for the tourists to take forward in tougher games after struggling to a narrow opening-game victory against the Provincial Barbarians today.

Lions rookie Kyle Sinckler feels like he is in rugby heaven on the eve of his debut in the famous red jersey. Yet his thirst for knowledge may be hell for his teammates.

Warren Gatland has thrown down a challenge to his Lions to get the tourists off to a winning start this Saturday after last night naming a strong team to face the New Zealand Provincial Barbarians.

Jonathan Joseph was included in the Lions squad for New Zealand after Warren Gatland decided a player who has caused Wales so much torment on his watch could not be overlooked.

Here is the possible make-up of a squad charged with targeting a first Test series triumph against the All Blacks since 1971.

Ireland’s hopes of reaching the IRB Junior World Championship semi-finals will rest on the team that broke their hearts in South Africa last night.

England U-20 20 Ireland U-20 15