THERE may not be any silverware on offer for Ireland at the Aviva Stadium but there is an awful lot besides resting on the outcome of their RBS 6 Nations finale with England this evening.

IN A tournament devoid of any classic encounter to date, last weekend’s penultimate round of Six Nations Championship provided more incident and controversy than the previous three rounds together.

FORMER Irish hooker Shane Byrne believes Scotland’s Peter Allan effectively ended his career as an international match official after his Millennium Stadium gaffe that could have cost Ireland a Triple Crown.

THE touch judge who mistakenly advised Jonathan Kaplan to award Wales’ try against Ireland on Saturday is likely to be sanctioned by the IRB today.

Declan Kidney refuses to allow his Ireland players to dwell on the injustice of Saturday’s 19-13 defeat by Wales.

FORMER Irish star Ollie Campbell has called for a thorough and transparent inquiry into Wales’ try at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.

LET us just park the illegal lineout controversy by the side of the road for awhile and consider the real reasons why Ireland fell asleep at the wheel in Cardiff on Saturday.

WHAT a shame a pulsating Six Nations game was decided by one moment of controversy.

Keith Earls has added his voice to the chorus of discontent led by Brian O’Driscoll by describing Ireland’s 19-13 RBS 6 Nations defeat by Wales as “sickening”.

Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll labelled the decision to allow Mike Phillips' controversial try to stand as "unforgivable" following his side's 19-13 defeat at the Millennium Stadium.

James Hook shrugged off the controversy over Wales' winning try as they saw off Ireland 19-13 to extend their RBS 6 Nations winning run to three matches.

Wales 19 Ireland 13

MUNSTER strengthened their hand at the top of the Magners League with a bonus point win with an inexperienced side at Musgrave Park on Saturday night.

TONY McGAHAN has insisted rising second-row star Ian Nagle is an integral part of Munster’s future.

CONNACHT were denied their second home victory of the Magners League season when the Ospreys struck for a match-winning try in the 78th minute at the Galway Sportsground last night.

Connacht 15 Ospreys 16

Glasgow 25 Ulster 18

Ulster 22 Newport-Gwent Dragons 22

Ulster 22 Newport Gwent Dragons 22

FROM the fifth minute onward when Ireland chose a scrum rather than a more predictable option after being awarded a free kick and dismantled the Argentine Jaguares at what they are renowned for doing best, there could have been only one outcome to last night’s A international at the splendid new stadium in Tallaght.

Scarlets 18 Newport Gwent Dragons 3

Nathan Hines and Eoin Reddan will make their first starts for the province in Friday's game in Swansea (KO: 7.05pm).

THIS was a whole lot better than Munster had managed a week previously in Glasgow, but they were still far from impressive in defeating Cardiff Blues in front of a half-full Thomond Park last evening.

THE Ospreys maintained their pressure on Munster and Leinster at the top of the Magners League table with comfortable, victory over Connacht at Liberty Stadium yesterday.

LEINSTER have been dealt a severe Heineken Cup blow with the news that international flanker Shane Jennings has been suspended until January 27.

MONTAUBAN captain Marc Renaud has thrown down the gauntlet to Heineken Cup champions Munster ahead of their final round game at Stade de Sapiac next month.

Montauban 16 Sale Sharks 12

Scarlets 16 Munster 18

LEINSTER’S South African prop Ollie le Roux believes Toulouse will destroy Munster’s dreams of a second Heineken Cup title.

English referee Chris White has been forced to withdraw from Saturday’s opening RBS 6 Nations clash between Ireland and Italy.

Leinster 26 Ospreys 15

Newcastle 25 Brive 19

Cardiff Blues 19 Leinster 30

KEITH GLEESON could join a select band tonight by earning his 100th cap for Leinster in their Magners league tie away to the Cardiff Blues — but he will have to come off the bench to do it.

CARDIFF Arms Park has been a graveyard for Leinster’s Magners League ambitions this past two seasons and coach Michael Cheika accepts that they will be up against it again when they return to the Welsh capital this Friday.

ULSTER captain Justin Harrison wants his side to make history in Stradey Park this evening.

Ulster 43 Ospreys 7

MUNSTER-based referee George Clancy has been included in a list of several officials for 29 Test rugby games in the build up to the World Cup.

Newport Gwent Dragons 23 Munster 17

AFTER the emotional turmoil of Paris and the shock of Mike Ruddock’s departure there may be a temptation to gloss over this weekend’s round of Celtic League fixtures.