Milton Haig has spent three years preaching the rugby gospel in Georgia in his role as the national team’s head coach, but the Kiwi will find it hard to top the influence he has had on the Irish game’s improving fortunes.

For some, the sight of Jared Payne, Richardt Strauss and Rodney Ah You in an Irish shirt will never sit right, but all three will stand for the anthems tomorrow before Joe Schmidt’s side gets to grips with South Africa at Lansdowne Road.

Saturday September 24, 1988 at Palmerston North – the first and last time Joe Schmidt bumped into Warren Gatland in New Zealand’s National Provincial Championship.

He has admitted to being tempted into the Ireland role, in part, by the carrot of a less hectic pace of life, so it was ironic yesterday to hear Joe Schmidt talk about being whisked through the suburban traffic of Paris on a motorbike at 140kph.

Joe Schmidt has been tipped to be a success if he becomes Ireland coach — by the man who brought him to the northern hemisphere.

SITTING in the grandstand at Eden Park watching New Zealand win the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987, I never imagined it would take 24 years for the All Blacks to repeat the feat.

Bad weather is hampering efforts to salvage the container ship stranded off New Zealand.

A salvage crew has returned to the stricken container ship which is stuck on a reef off the northern coast of New Zealand.

Small amounts of oil from a container ship stuck on a reef has started washing up at a popular New Zealand beach today, while work to extract oil from the vessel was called off because of weather concerns.

SALVAGE crews were scrambling to off-load oil from a stranded container ship in New Zealand’s pristine Bay of Plenty yesterday, as Prime Minister John Key demanded to know why the vessel hit a reef in calm waters.

An operation to extract oil from a container ship that is stranded on a reef near New Zealand is set to begin.

Ireland’s World Cup Pool C clash with Russia at Rotorua International Stadium in the Bay of Plenty this Sunday is set to a be a 26,000 sell-out following the thrilling 15-6 victory over Australia in Auckland last Saturday.

Police in New Zealand are inquiring into reports that a boisterous teenage dolphin with a reputation for stealing surfboards and balls from swimmers has been attacked with a paddle after annoying a canoeist.

LEINSTER last night confirmed that Josef Schmidt, assistant coach at Clermont Auvergne, will become the province’s head coach next season after signing a three-year deal.

New Zealand hooker Keven Mealamu is to undergo surgery on a ruptured chest muscle and will be out of rugby for at least four months.

THE first sheep shearer from the northern hemisphere to set an individual world record, Ivan Scott, of Letterkenny, will be one of the star attractions at this year’s Clik Pour-on All-Ireland and International championships.

FOUR years have whizzed by since Jono Gibbes enjoyed his moment of glory against the British and Irish Lions. The Leinster forwards coach was captain of the New Zealand Maori for the third game of that ill-fated tour and, with nine All Blacks in the first XV and three more on the bench, it was billed as an unofficial fourth test.

LAWRENCE Dallaglio’s body, all 18 stone of it, was tense and coiled, like a baited bear on the brink of rebellion but, in the end, all he could do was thrust his head into his hands, with the frustration almost steaming from his ears.

NEW ZEALAND Maori captain Rua Tipoki teams up with Munster today, and is all set to get medical and work-permit clearance.

Crusaders centre Rua Tipoki will lead the New Zealand Maori in their Churchill Cup defence this month.

All Black newcomer Kevin Senio is set to decide his future this week, with Canterbury favoured to take the half-back from Bay of Plenty.

Ronan O’Gara faces a 24-hour waiting game to see if he has done enough for Lions Test recognition.

ALL BLACKS coach Graham Henry insists he is taking little notice of the Lions’ low-key start to their New Zealand tour.

LIONS captain Brian O’Driscoll is relishing the chance to quickly atone for his side’s defeat to the New Zealand Maori against Wellington on Wednesday.

WALES forward Ryan Jones has been summoned to join the British and Irish Lions in New Zealand amid growing concerns over Simon Taylor’s fitness.

British and Irish Lions boss Clive Woodward has gone for size and power – but still no Jonny Wilkinson – in Saturday’s unofficial “fourth Test” against the New Zealand Maori.

DEFENSIVE coach Mike Ford gave a hint of it and Shane Horgan confirmed the point: Lions training sessions are intense.

CARLOS SPENCER will make his farewell appearance in New Zealand from the bench after being named in the New Zealand Maori reserves for their match against the British and Irish Lions on Saturday.

THE INJURY to British & Irish Lions pack leader Lawrence Dallaglio has not just had an impact on Clive Woodward’s touring party - it has become a source of friction among the London press pack.

Denis Hickie knows he has got to strike the right balance against Taranaki tomorrow if he wants to impress his Test match credentials upon Lions head coach Clive Woodward.

Lawrence Dallaglio tonight backed the Lions to beat the All Blacks and claim an historic series win in his absence.

Geordan Murphy could have been forgiven for kissing goodbye to any hopes of wearing the Lions fullback jersey in the Test series against New Zealand after watching Josh Lewsey produced a stunning man-of-the-match display in the Lions’ victory over the Bay of Plenty.

Former Lions captain Martin Johnson admits he was “slightly surprised” after Simon Easterby was called up to replace injured Lawrence Dallaglio for the rest of the tour to New Zealand.

LAWRENCE Dallaglio faces up to six months on the sidelines following surgery in Auckland yesterday on a broken ankle.

LEST anyone was in any doubt, Saturday’s game in Rotorua provided the perfect preparation for what the British and Irish Lions can expect over the next five weeks.

Lawrence Dallaglio was in philosophical mood today after undergoing ankle surgery to stabilise the fracture he suffered in the Lions' opening tour victory over Bay of Plenty.

Lawrence Dallaglio faces up to six months out of action after undergoing surgery on his fractured ankle.

Scotland international Jason White has voiced his disappointment at not being called into the Lions squad after Lawrence Dallaglio was ruled out for the rest of the tour.

Lawrence Dallaglio’s British and Irish Lions tour today ended in injury agony.

The British and Irish Lions made an unconvincing start to their tour of New Zealand and may have paid a heavy price for today’s victory.

Ronan O'Gara is determined to prove to Lions head coach Sir Clive Woodward that Jonny Wilkinson is not the only fly-half option available for the Test series against New Zealand.

THEY say paper never refused ink. That said, the amount of column inches that have been dedicated to the Lions tour even before a ball has been kicked on New Zealand soil is incredible.