My memory of a lot of things from my career wouldn’t be perfect, but Ireland v England at Croke Park in 2007 is as clear as it gets.

Munster second row Paul O’Connell has experienced a smooth transition into the Ireland captaincy – thanks to the help of the squad’s senior members.

HE has beaten cancer and made light of All Black rejection, so why should French centre Tony Marsh have any fears as he prepares for Sunday’s World Cup showdown with Ireland at Melbourne’s Telstra Dome?

IRISH centres Kevin Maggs and Brian O’Driscoll swapped roles yesterday, with the no-nonsense Bath man buried under a sea of eulogies from his captain.