Andy Robinson has resigned as Scotland head coach.

Anthony Foley will be announced as Munster’s new director of rugby/head coach in the next week or so, Evening Echo writer Conor George has reported today.

These are testing times for Munster.

Stuart Lancaster has been appointed as England’s new permanent head coach on a four-year contract, the Rugby Football Union have confirmed.

Stuart Lancaster will outline his blueprint for how England can win the 2015 Rugby World Cup when he has his interview for the job of head coach this afternoon.

World Cup winning-coach Wayne Smith said Munster is just one of a long list of teams his name seemed to be linked with, but admitted he would be tempted by another overseas job.

After the most public of auditions, Stuart Lancaster will be interviewed by the RFU today for the full-time position of England head coach.

Graham Rowntree yesterday sent a strong and impassioned message to Rugby Football Union’s chief executive Ian Ritchie — Stuart Lancaster must be appointed England’s full-time head coach.

The contrast was obvious but it was lost on Ben Youngs.

England 30 Ireland 9

Forwards coach Graham Rowntree is determined to make life even tougher for England’s new Rugby Football Union chief executive Ian Ritchie as he prepares the Red Rose to face Ireland at Twickenham.

France 22 England 24

Cast aside the disruption caused by the unscheduled absence of Ireland forwards coach Gert Smal and forget the frozen frustration of Paris, however well-placed the annoyance of the postponement and rescheduling debate surrounding the game with France.

Gordon D’Arcy has demanded his Ireland team-mates reward the loyalty shown in them by management and supporters.

Northampton director of rugby Jim Mallinder has joined former New Zealand assistant Wayne Smith in ruling himself out of contention to be the next permanent England head coach.

They may be the new boys in the Six Nations coaching club but for Philippe Saint-André, Jacques Brunel and Stuart Lancaster that is where the similarities end.

Italy coach Jacques Brunel has named four uncapped players in his 30-man squad for the for the first two games of the RBS 6 Nations Championship.

ENGLAND will name a permanent head coach in time for next year’s summer tour to South Africa, with an interim appointment overseeing the RBS 6 Nations.

Jake White, the mastermind of South Africa’s 2007 World Cup triumph, today effectively threw his hat into the ring to become the next England coach.

Stephen Donald is hooked on the Heineken Cup after just two appearances in European club rugby’s blue riband competition.

IAN McGeechan believes the English RFU should take its time in appointing Martin Johnson’s successor as England manager.

Northampton director of rugby Jim Mallinder has reiterated his desire to be England manager – but revealed he has had no contact with the Rugby Football Union.

Northampton 23 Scarlets 28

Former Australia coach Eddie Jones last night expressed an interest in replacing Martin Johnson as the next England team manager, just hours after Nick Mallett had ruled himself out of contention for the job.

I WOKE on Monday morning without a tricolour, an Irish jersey or a Munster top to be seen anywhere.

Donncha O’Callaghan has described the hordes of supporters following Ireland across New Zealand as the “Aviva Stadium on crack”.

I CAN’T be sure if you’re getting the full impact back home but there is something special starting to happen over 12,000 miles away.

ITALY coach Nick Mallett believes Ireland are capable of reaching the World Cup final, asking: “Where is their weakness?”

WELL this is familiar, four games won and Warren Gatland’s Wales to beat to earn a place in the history books.

Italy coach Nick Mallett believes Ireland are capable of reaching the World Cup final, asking: “Where is their weakness?”

Ireland 36 Italy 6

Mike Ross has warned Italy that Ireland’s ever-improving scrum is ready to accept the challenge laid down by Nick Mallett.

PAUL O’CONNELL’S preparations to upset Italy’s lineout tomorrow have gone as far as learning Italian, fellow Ireland lock Donncha O’Callaghan has revealed.

WHATEVER it takes.

Donncha O’Callaghan admits the fear of returning home at this stage of the World Cup fuels his desire to ensure Ireland enter unchartered territory.

Nick Mallett insists Italy’s final assault on the World Cup quarter-finals will be strengthened by the belief they have come of age in Test rugby.

IF the current spin whirling around this Sunday’s World Cup clash is to believed, Italy’s backline will be standing around twiddling their thumbs under the Otago Stadium roof while their pack goes about the business of trying to arm wrestle Ireland into submission.

Les Kiss empathises with the decision of Italy coach Nick Mallett to throw down the gauntlet to Ireland at the scrum.

IRELAND may be preparing for the mother of all confrontations on the rugby pitch on Sunday against Italy but there was a distinct reticence yesterday to engage in the verbal jousting started by Azzurri coach Nick Mallett the previous evening.

IF Italy ran with the ball as much as they do with their fighting talk, we could be in for a very different game this Sunday rather than the arm wrestle they will try and force on Ireland.

Ireland flanker Shane Jennings believes his team’s Stadio Flaminio escape act in February proves victory over Italy in Sunday’s high-stakes World Cup showdown must not be taken for granted.

Ireland’s forwards coach Gert Smal expects Italy to play to their strengths when they face Ireland in Dunedin and take Declan Kidney’s men on up front, specifically targeting the Irish scrum.

After securing a bonus point victory over the USA Eagles, Italian prop Martin Castrogiovanni insists his team are not intimidated by the challenge facing them when they come up against Declan Kidney’s Ireland on October 2.

GERT SMAL and Nick Mallett’s careers have been intertwined for more than 30 years and Ireland’s forwards coach knows enough about the Italy boss to suggest his fellow South African will “do anything” to get his way on the rugby pitch.