Brian O’Driscoll collects his 100th cap for Ireland admitting his career has been invigorated by last season’s Grand Slam triumph.

About 1,000 people in a small Australian town evacuated their homes today as floodwaters hit the area after 10 days of heavy rain.

South Africa prop Os du Randt was happy to call time on his distinguished career just moments after joining a select band of players to have won two World Cups.

Australia coach John Connolly has tipped Matt Giteau to be a future Wallabies captain.

Brian O’Driscoll insists Ireland are entering an exciting new era with the emergence of back row prospects Jamie Heaslip and Stephen Ferris.

THE youngest of Ireland’s three new rugby caps, Luke Fitzgerald, received a ringing endorsement from his captain Brian O’Driscoll yesterday.

BRIAN O’DRISCOLL will be free to play against Munster in the Heineken Cup semi-final on Sunday week.

AUSTRALIA unveiled its team of the decade yesterday which included nine of the starting 15 from the Wallabies’ first series win over the British and Irish Lions in 2001.

Scotland will face a new-look Australia side in Sunday’s first Test after Wallabies coach Eddie Jones awarded Clyde Rathbone and Radike Samo their international debuts.

Australia will try to target England’s lack of experience at fly-half when the two sides meet in June’s World Cup final rematch at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.

Nathan Grey has elbowed his way back into the Australia team as an emergency fly-half for Saturday’s Cook Cup face-off with England in Melbourne, and recent history suggests the physical Sydneysider won’t be shy in making his presence felt.

England star Jonny Wilkinson has been named players’ player of the year at a glittering awards ceremony in London.

Saracens 57 Leeds 21

Double European champions Leicester could miss out on Heineken Cup qualification next season – and Dean Richards today admitted the Tigers are up against it.

Harlequins boss Mark Evans sends his team into a crunch Zurich Premiership clash against fellow strugglers London Irish tomorrow, admitting: “Every game and every result is important”.

Elvis Seveali’i went straight in at the top of Bath’s hit parade, sealing the victory which took the strugglers off the bottom of the Zurich Premiership table with his first touch of the ball in English rugby.

Ireland 18 Australia 9

Harlequins manager Mike Scott has urged the London aristocrats to ignore the weekend’s action and concentrate on ‘controlling the controllable’.

Matt Williams today set his sights on renewed success with Leinster - and left Zurich Premiership strugglers Saracens still searching for a new head coach.

Saracens hope to unveil their coaching successor to Francois Pienaar later this week.

English clubs continued their all-out assault on this season’s Parker Pen European Shield as Saracens and Gloucester joined Sale in the last eight following victories on French soil.

Saracens moved three places up the Zurich Premiership table to sixth after a 39-25 victory over west London rivals Harlequins.

London Irish winger Justin Bishop is aiming to push himself into the Six Nations frame over the Festive season.

John Eales will lead his world champion Wallabies on a salvage mission against the Lions tomorrow, admitting: ‘‘It’s a do-or-die situation.’’

Scotland coach Ian McGeechan may be tempted to cast an envious eye towards Bob Dwyer in tonight’s game against the Barbarians at Murrayfield.

Scotland vice-captain Gordon Bulloch has warned his team-mates not to be drawn into the Barbarians' 'web' ahead of the game at Murrayfield.

Brian O’Driscoll was dubbed the best centre in the world by French coach Bernard Laporte after ending his side’s title dream for the second successive season.