Wales secured a World Cup quarter-final clash against France next Sunday – but they ended their Pool D campaign with an unconvincing 35-13 victory over Uruguay.

Ireland came from 10-7 down at half-time in the Aviva Stadium to win 19-10 thanks to early second-half tries from Tadhg Furlong and James Ryan

Gareth Thomas had to stop and gather himself more than once today. His voice faltered. It choked with emotion. Who knows how many times his nerves were betrayed by an subconscious impulse to tug at his right ear?

Champions Cup spots were up for grabs today.

Number eight Uzair Cassiem scored two tries as Scarlets grabbed the bonus point victory they needed to keep their Guinness PRO14 play-off hopes alive in a 42-0 thrashing of Zebre.

Munster return to action this Saturday determined to reignite their push for a Guinness PRO14 home semi-final and leave behind a defeat last time out that threatens to cast a shadow over their campaign.

The Ospreys chairman Mike Jones has resigned over the “catastrophic mismanagement” of plans to overhaul Wales' rugby regions.

Johann van Graan’s glass remained half-full as he argued Munster are still very much in Guinness PRO14 title contention despite defeat to the Scarlets in Llanelli.

Munster go in search of their eighth win in a row this evening when they take on Scarlets at Parcy Scarlets on an occasion to be marked by Rory Scannell’s 100th appearance for the province.

Peter Jackson gets over the gain line, behind the headline

World Rugby chief executive Brett Gosper claimed his sport has “never been safer than it is now” as he looked ahead to a groundbreaking World Cup in Japan later this year.

Niyi Adeolokun's late try put the seal on Connacht's rousing 33-20 Guinness PRO14 win over Scarlets at the Sportsground, with Bundee Aki and 18-point fly-half Jack Carty starring for the winners.

Scarlets held on to win an intense, hard-fought Guinness PRO14 clash against champions Leinster at Parc y Scarlets.

Leinster 40 Scarlets 32

IT WAS James Lowe who voiced what everyone at Leinster must have been thinking last weekend when, with Munster beaten, he suggested that the stars might be aligning for a fairytale ending with today’s Guinness PRO14 final.

Once again, the professional model that pertains in Ireland is being hailed as the best in class. That’s what comes with success. Everyone looks at what you’re doing in an attempt to close the gap, writes Donal Lenihan.

Anyone questioning Leinster’s credentials as firm favorites for Champions Cup honours this season must have been won over, even before half time on Saturday such was their complete dominance in all facets of play over the opening 40 minutes.

Leinster have admitted to some surprise at the suggestion from Welsh legend Shane Williams that Isa Nacewa is a weak link who can be exposed defensively by the Scarlets in today’s Champions Cup semi-final.

As far as preparation goes for your biggest game in a decade, a 50-point hammering is not ideal.

The IRFU is set to pocket a very welcome seven-figure sum as a result of Munster’s and Leinster’s Champions Cup quarter-final successes over the weekend with the eventual figure possibly stretching as high as €2m.

Munster are closing in on appointing an American football strength and conditioning coach as head of athletic performance, causing surprise and disappointment within Munster and Irish rugby circles that indigenous candidates have been overlooked again.

Wales secured runners-up spot in this season's NatWest 6 Nations Championship after edging out France at the Principality Stadium.

Wales moved up to second in the NatWest 6 Nations table behind champions Ireland after claiming an expected bonus point victory over Italy.

Joe Schmidt may have thought long and hard about the make-up of Ireland’s second row for tomorrow’s Six Nations clash with Scotland but the inclusion of Johnny Sexton was never in doubt, whatever about the fly-half’s off-day with the boot last time out.

“You do get snow in March but you don’t get it often.”

Taulupe Faletau will captain Wales and Scarlets flanker James Davies makes his Test debut in Sunday's NatWest 6 Nations clash against Italy in Cardiff.

Eight tries in your first seven internationals isn’t the sort of strike rate we’ve seen all that often. Not outside New Zealand, at any rate. Jacob Stockdale, though? He’s known hot streaks like this before.

If there had been any misgivings in the Irish management think tank about Chris Farrell taking the next big step in his Test career, the Munster centre’s first few minutes of his Six Nations debut will have dispelled them.

Simon Lewis shares the highlights of Ireland v Wales

The tiny margins that will shape today’s Six Nations clash at the Aviva Stadium.

Fine margins, this fixture has been determined by them time and time again over the past decade and everything points to a similar scenario when Ireland and Wales lock horns once more in Dublin this afternoon.

Warren Gatland will be wondering what Joe Schmidt can throw at Wales, writes Ronan O’Gara

Ireland half-backs Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton have been warned they’re in Welsh crosshairs for Saturday’s pivotal Six Nations clash at Lansdowne Road.

Jonny May ran in both tries as England kept their Grand Slam aspirations alive by edging Wales 12-6 in a brutally competitive NatWest 6 Nations clash at Twickenham.

Kick-off at Twickenham is at 4.45pm.

Worcester wing Josh Adams will make his Wales debut in Saturday's NatWest 6 Nations opener against Scotland.

Wales are hopeful that wing George North will be in the selection mix for Saturday’s NatWest 6 Nations opener against Scotland.

Scarlets have recorded a 14-11 victory over the Cardiff Blues to maintain their position at the top of Conference B in the Guinness PRO14.

Wales suffered a 30th successive defeat against New Zealand as the world champion All Blacks ended their European tour in winning fashion.

Former Munster and Ireland lock Donnacha O’Callaghan will bring the curtain down on his illustrious career at the end of this season.

It’s part of the gig. Meeting agents. There’s been quite a few in the past two weeks and I’m never sure whether I’m energised or anxious at the amount of money sloshing around in rugby.

The defending Guinness PRO14 champions were again impressive in attack, but their defence left something to be desired.