Ireland are beginning the defence of their RBS 6 Nations crown amid high expectations at Croke Park against wooden spoon favourites Italy.

THE return of Marcus Horan and Rory Best to international competition at the Recreation Ground, Bath, on Sunday (2pm) is a timely boost to Ireland’s hopes of another successful RBS Six Nations Championship.

Ireland bring down the curtain on their autumn internationals with one eye on avenging the Lions’ Test series defeat by South Africa.

AS DRESS rehearsals go, this was up there with the best. Ireland’s display against the inexperienced but gritty Fijians left coach Declan Kidney smiling despite the selection headaches he faces ahead of Saturday’s date with world champions South Africa.

NOT exactly the outcome that would have been expected, certainly not from a Wexford side which contested the All-Ireland semi-final last season and whose continued participation in the GAA football championship may be in even greater doubt as a result of having to face resurgent Roscommon in Hyde Park, possibly in midweek.

WHEN a player of Brian O’Driscoll’s renown and stature admits that “this was one of the more physical Test matches I’ve played in a long, long time,” the point is well made.

Ireland are unchanged for Italy at the Stadio Flaminio as they sought to generate further momentum for their RBS 6 Nations title bid.

Ireland enter their 2009 RBS 6 nations opener against France today in the unusual position of being favourites for the fixture.

FERMANAGH manager Malachy O’Rourke has kept faith with the side that defeated Monaghan for Saturday’s Ulster SFC semi-final against Derry at Healy Park, Omagh (6pm).

ULSTER fell to their first home defeat under coach Matt Williams in an entertaining eight-try clash at Ravenhill on Saturday.

WEXFORD clinched promotion — and a place in the NFL Division Three final — after a facile 2-16 to 0-15 victory over Louth at Wexford Park yesterday.

RONAN O’GARA’S first game as Irish captain was a massive disappointment for a player who had great expectations but discovered his team simply wasn’t up to the mark.

Ireland emerged for their hazardous World Cup clash with Georgia under immense pressure to justify coach Eddie O’Sullivan’s loyalty.

ENGLAND, based on this display, will be handing over the William Webb Ellis trophy early in the autumn.

Wales 9 Ireland 12

Perfect conditions greeted RBS 6 Nations favourites Ireland as they launched they title challenge with a tricky opener at the Millennium Stadium.

IRELAND A coach Michael Bradley has made six changes to the Ireland A team to take on England Saxons in the Churchill Cup Plate final tomorrow at the Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Canada.

MARK McCALL has named his Ulster side to face Cardiff in the Celtic League on Friday night in Ravenhill (9pm) in their penultimate home game of the season.

WITH Limoges a prohibitive 400km south of Paris, there won’t be too many Irish fans at tonight’s ‘A’ international between France and Ireland (6.30pm).

Laois 1-13 Wexford 0-10

MANAGER Pat Roe has given the thumbs up to the starting 15 that shocked Tyrone and brought Wexford to their first National Football League final since 1946 for Sunday’s final showdown with Armagh at Croke Park.

GARY LONGWELL, who reached the landmark 50th Heineken Cup cap earlier this season, will win his 150th Ulster cap in Friday night’s Celtic League clash with Cardiff.

Wexford 1-7 Galway 0-15

Ireland A 15 France A 9

IRISH coach Eddie O’Sullivan longs for the day when the A International Championship resumes.

Wexford 3-15 Limerick 1-11

MUNSTER will unveil latest signing Tom Bowman in tonight’s Celtic League clash with Connacht at Musgrave Park (8pm).

JOHN KELLY and Jason Holland are back in action for Munster against Connacht at Musgrave Park on Saturday night.

THE three substitutes who inspired Cork to victory over Clare have been retained for Saturday’s second All-Ireland SFC qualifier with Fermanagh at Croke Park.

LIMERICK goalkeeper Albert Shanahan has paid a costly price for an unforced error which led to a crucial Cork goal in the recent Guinness Munster SHC semi final between the counties.

Harlequins hero Gavin Duffy has been named by Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan in his Irish squad to tour South Africa next month.

Wexford 3-14 Cork 0-9

PAUL GALVIN is recalled to the Kerry team for Sunday's Allianz National Football League game with Fermanagh in Fitzgerald Stadium. His selection, at right half-forward in place of Liam Hassett, is the only change from the side which defeated Dublin at Parnell Park.

DECLAN Kidney is now considered "a primary target" to replace Dean Richards as director of rugby at Leicester.

THE presumption that Wexford’s performance against Armagh in the opening round was a flash in the pan was dispelled by yesterday’s shock win over Meath in a rousing Allianz NFL tie at Wexford Park.

MUNSTER have suffered another injury blow ahead of the Heineken Cup with star signing, Christian Cullen diagnosed with a serious shoulder injury which could sideline him for up to eight weeks.

Wexford 2-15, Cork1-17

IRELAND will have to find a new captain for their three-match tour next month to Australia, Tonga and Samoa. Keith Wood will travel with the 41-strong party of players but will take no part outside of training, while Brian O’Driscoll has been ruled out with a hamstring injury.

Wexford have failed in their bid to have Colm Morris available for Sunday’s Leinster senior football championship opener with Laois in Croke Park.

Limerick 2-13 Wexford 0-7

NINETEEN years after making his inter-county debut, Mickey Linden is back in the Down senior squad for this year’s Ulster championship.

Leinster 29

THERE were plenty who believed making a weekend round trip to eastern Siberia was a pain in the neck, but Ireland skipper Keith Wood took the sentiment literally.