In the face of criticism from Springboks coach Allister Coetzee that Ireland “weren’t interested in playing rugby”, Andrew Trimble has proclaimed pride in his team’s streetwise victory against the odds.

Munster 26 Stade Francais 13: The smiles have returned to the faces of the Thomond Park faithful after a miserable winter of discontent but Anthony Foley knows there is still a way to go before the sun will shine once more on this Munster side.

Munster restored some much-needed Champions Cup pride as they rebounded from Parisian humiliation with a bonus-point victory over Stade Francais in Limerick today.

Munster crashed out of Europe for the second season in succession as they went down to 14-man Stade Francais in the French capital tonight.

Who are the Stade Francais players Munster need to look out for?

Leicester Tigers 33 Stade Francais 20: Leicester Tigers got their European Rugby Champions Cup campaign off to a flying start with a four-try demolition of French champions Stade Francais.

Ronan O’Gara gives his expert opinion on the five pools for the European Champions Cup.

The Top 14 champions have had a dismal start to their domestic campaign, and with Leicester and Munster in their opening Champions Cup fixtures, the pressure’s on for coach Gonzalo Quesada.

Despite many claiming that the World Rugby statement about Craig Joubert’s decision at the weekend is unprecedented, it is not the case.

If the London Olympics of four years ago is the yardstick by which the Rugby World Cup is to be judged then the tournament organisers have set themselves an incredibly high standard.

Ronan O’Gara suggests it is not so much the no 10 who is pivotal to Rugby World Cup success, but the goal-kicker. 

Ronan played with Paul O’Connell for 15 years, but he will always remember a gesture when he was at a personal low.

In the lead-up to facing Ireland anyone wearing a Springbok tracksuit proclaimed that the Autumn tour to Ireland, Britain and Italy was the beginning of their World Cup preparation and not an isolated sequence of games.

A genuine treat awaits. Notwithstanding the fact New Zealand will be giving Dublin a skip this month, some of rugby’s standout performers are coming to town in November, writes Donal Lenihan.

Temperatures in Johannesburg are expected to reach 26 degrees this week.

New Zealand 14 South Africa 10

Rugby Championship: Rob Horne scored a late try, converted by Bernard Foley, to give Australia a 24-23 win over South Africa in their Rugby Championship game in Perth.

Australia 24 South Africa 23

South Africa got their Rugby Championship campaign up and running with victory over Argentina, although it was far from easy for the Springboks in testing conditions at a rain-drenched Loftus Versfeld.

Dylan Hartley admits New Zealand have landed a telling psychological blow in the build-up to the 2015 World Cup by completing a 3-0 series whitewash over England.

If the French president Francois Hollande has been sweating under the pressure of public scrutiny over the last couple of weeks, it is nothing to that felt by Phillipe Saint-Andre.

Wales’ long wait to claim the major southern hemisphere scalp they crave continues – but only after an heroic display in a ferocious Test match of brutal intensity at the Millennium Stadium.

South Africa 27 New Zealand 38

Argentina 17 South Africa 22

Tommy Bowe wants the British and Irish Lions to batter Australia into submission at ANZ Stadium, drawing on the pain of past failures to triumph in tomorrow’s series decider.

Ireland fly-half Johnny Sexton is set to become the best paid rugby player in France after finalising his move to Paris-based Racing Metro.

Leinster are scouring the world for a replacement for departing out-half Jonny Sexton, according to their skills and kicking coach Richie Murphy.

The three key battles that will decide the Guinness Series opener

It is not just the Irish taking a step into the unknown tomorrow night at the Aviva Stadium.

Ireland’s preparations for Saturday’s Test against South Africa have been dealt another serious blow after Paul O’Connell was ruled out of the Guinness Series opener due to a back injury.

South Africa head coach Heyneke Meyer has entrusted 22-year-old Pat Lambie with flyhalf responsibilities for Saturday’s meeting with Ireland in the Aviva Stadium (5.30pm).

South Africa 16 New Zealand 32

New Zealand 21 South Africa 11

Argentina 16 South Africa 16

South Africa 27 Argentina 6

South Africa 14 England 14

South Africa 36 England 27

England head coach Stuart Lancaster claims his players already have their minds set on revenge after their narrow first Test loss to South Africa.

South Africa 22 England 17

James O’Connor: Taking on difficult kicks lowered his kicking success statistics.

AUSTRALIA crept into the World Cup semi-finals after James O’Connor landed a late penalty to send champions South Africa crashing out.

South Africa 9 Australia 11