The sport's governing body have opted for experienced referees for the four last-eight ties which all take place this weekend.

Tadhg Beirne isn’t about to start fretting over Typhoon Hagibis and its progress through the Pacific.

Ireland managed to end up on the wrong side of the penalty count in both the win over Scotland (7-6) and loss to Japan (9-6). That is atypical for a team that takes great stock in its accuracy and discipline.

Joe Schmidt is expecting an upturn in refereeing standards and consistency following the officials’ very public dressing down by World Rugby this week.

Simon Lewis reports from Yokohama.

Scotland have promised to “smash” Johnny Sexton in today's Rugby World Cup pool showdown but have also put referee Wayne Barnes on notice of possible Irish illegality at ruck time.

Mark McCall made a record-breaking start to his first crack at the European Cup as head coach of Ulster. He responded by resigning.

French referees will take charge of the Irish provinces' Champions and Challenge Cup quarter-finals.

Give a team of Leinster’s quality the kind of start they enjoyed in last year’s corresponding fixture at Thomond Park and the game is as good as over.

Round four of Heineken Champions Cup action, coming as it does before the Christmas break, is crucial in so many ways, writes Donal Lenihan.

Brian O'Driscoll has appealed to World Rugby to address the "blight on the game" of slide tackles.

"We're always talking about the great values of rugby, there were no great values there on Saturday I can tell you."

Just when Munster were offered a bit of breathing space with Exeter Chiefs recording an excellent away win over Gloucester at Kingsholm on Friday night, Johann van Graan’s side were unable to take advantage, conspiring to lose an eminently winnable game against Castres, writes Donal Lenihan

Games as eagerly anticipated as Saturday’s clash of Ireland and New Zealand rarely deliver on the expectation, but this was special, another one of those I was there days, writes Donal Lenihan.

Ireland have beaten the All Blacks for the second time in three years.

Chicago, November 2016 will forever be seared into the minds of Irish rugby supporters, for obvious reasons. The place and time of a first victory over New Zealand in 111 years has that effect and it was a moment to be savoured.

Toulouse have held on to secure a one point one against reigning Champions Cup holders Leinster.

The one they left after them? Presumably the Racing 92 players and management recognise it was a Champions Cup final they should have won.

The fact that Leinster were made fight much harder than had been anticipated to prevail in a pulsating Champions Cup final that went right down to the last kick off the game will, you feel, stand to their exciting young squad in the years to come.

Every once in a while whenever the notion takes them, the gods decide to even up the score and divert the course of history.

Stuart Lancaster has labeled Jonathan Sexton as the “complete” player and suggested the out-half could even emulate Tom Brady by excelling at the elite level beyond his 40th birthday.

It is a good job Josh van der Flier is a glass-half-full type of character. Only someone of a positive and optimistic disposition could view sitting in the stands in Bilbao this weekend as a sign of progress.

Johann van Graan wasn’t concealing his own personal disappointment and the deep frustration in the Munster camp as players and management reflected on the error-ridden first half hour in Bordeaux on Sunday that condemned the province to yet another semi-final defeat in the European Champions Cup.

It is fascinating from a collisions point of view watching Ma’a Nonu, pictured, and Mathieu Bastareaud. How will Munster check them, asks Ronan O’Gara

Donal Lenihan looks at three challenges that will decide Ireland’s day of destiny.

Joe Schmidt may have thought long and hard about the make-up of Ireland’s second row for tomorrow’s Six Nations clash with Scotland but the inclusion of Johnny Sexton was never in doubt, whatever about the fly-half’s off-day with the boot last time out.

Iain Henderson says Ulster players have to “fix” the problems of “being a bit lazy and not working hard enough” if they are to beat La Rochelle in Belfast this afternoon in the Champions Cup.

Leinster will have to do without in-form Ireland prop Cian Healy for the Christmas and new year interprovincial derbies after he was suspended for three weeks last night.

Peter Jackson gives his progress report on the best and worst teams, players and moments of the Autumn Internationals.

Wales suffered a 30th successive defeat against New Zealand as the world champion All Blacks ended their European tour in winning fashion.

Sam Whitelock does not want to emulate family history when he captains New Zealand against Wales today.

Tommy Bowe says he had no option but to smile as he was wheeled off the Principality Stadium pitch last month — having broken his leg 45 seconds after he entered play.

Centre Jonathan Davies has claimed “it just didn’t seem right” after Wales’ RBS 6 Nations campaign ended in controversial and crushing fashion against France.

The never-ending saga of France-Wales in Paris generated scenes of such absurdity that it really needed Inspector Clouseau with his white mac and magnifying glass to complete the farce to complete the farce.

Wales are waiting to hear if any action will be taken after claiming there was "evidence to suggest" wing George North had been bitten during Saturday's Six Nations clash against France.

Joe Schmidt must have given serious consideration to putting Peter O’Mahony in the starting line-up, writes Donal Lenihan.

Alyn Wyn Jones is many people’s favourite to lead the Lions in New Zealand this summer and he led Wales superbly last night to probably do enough to clinch that coveted role. He had taken the brunt of the criticism fired at his Welsh team after the defeat by Scotland but they certainly came up trumps last night.

Connacht were denied a quarter-final spot in the Champions Cup despite a strong second half showing as Toulouse claimed a 19-10 victory.

Rory Best insists Dylan Hartley still has plenty of time to state a compelling case for the British and Irish Lions’ captaincy.