Samoa 5 Japan 26: Japan coach Eddie Jones believes his players have put the pride back in Japanese rugby regardless of whether they qualify for the World Cup quarter-finals.

The Irish jersey hasn’t been a good place to be in 2013.

Injury-hit Samoa will be without five frontline stars for Saturday’s opening autumn international clash with Ireland at the Aviva Stadium.

Even for a coach as experienced as Joe Schmidt, international rugby represents a whole new canvass for the affable New Zealander.

It appears now that when professional cyclists ‘relieve’ themselves during a stage, they are a threat to mankind.