WARREN Gatland put the Wellington boot into Ireland’s World Cup dreams here today as green dreams of the Webb Ellis Trophy went up in smoke.

THEY’VE been labelled the “Irish foreign legion”, “the Celtic Convoy” and the “Green Army”, amongst other things, but one thing is certain — the Irish arrived on Kiwi shores to support Ireland in their droves.

Argentina 43 Romania 8

Scotland today entered the thick of the World Cup action after arriving in Wellington, where they will bid to qualify for the knockout stages with victory over Argentina.

Scotland 15 Georgia 6

ARGENTINA coach Santiago Phelan has been forced to juggle his back division for the World Cup clash with Romania in Invercargill on Saturday.

Scotland 34 Romania 24

Choosing the right location for a team base is fraught with difficulties. Declan Kidney’s choice for his charges has appeared to have been an inspired choice.

Scotland head coach Andy Robinson has urged his side to hit the ground running in the World Cup Pool B opener with Romania in Invercargill on Saturday.

Scotland centre Nick De Luca has warned that the World Cup opener against Romania should not be approached as an opportunity to rack up tries.

ROMANIA winger Catalin Fercu has revealed he pulled out of the 2011 Rugby World Cup squad at the last minute due to a fear of flying.

Scotland head coach Andy Robinson has told his 30-man Rugby World Cup squad to now seize a place in his starting XV.

Scotland head coach Andy Robinson today confirmed a 30-man Rugby World Cup squad featuring few surprises and Alastair Kellock as captain.

Scotland 23 Italy 12

THE year he first played with Mayo was the same year he won his first All Star and probably when he should have won his first All-Ireland too but when it comes to explaining why he and Mayo didn’t seal the deal, his take on it is different from nearly everyone else’s.

Ross Rennie is focusing on performing well in his first Scotland start this weekend, rather than the prize of a place in the Rugby World Cup squad.

GRAEME MORRISON will return to the Scotland team for Saturday’s EMC Test with Ireland, with Rugby World Cup heartache the driving force for him to perform and secure a place in the squad for this year’s tournament in New Zealand.

WE have the land and the people, let’s do it – encouraging words for farmers from ex-IFA president Tom Clinton ahead of government plans to grow milk production 50% by 2020.

NEW ZEALAND and Australia temporarily issued tsunami warnings yesterday after an earthquake struck the south of New Zealand, causing minor damage but no injuries.

A tsunami caused by a 7.8-magnitude earthquake off New Zealand today is small and poses no threat, experts said.

NEW Zealand Rugby Union chief executive Steve Tew has fired back at Irish billionaire Denis O’Brien’s claims that the All Blacks “bully” Samoan rugby.

TOMÁS O’LEARY’s meteoric rise from Munster’s bench to a first international start against the All Blacks is certainly uplifting but it pales into comparison against the story of the man wearing the other number nine shirt tomorrow.

Jerome Kaino will face a New Zealand Rugby Union misconduct hearing after pleading guilty to drink driving.

Jimmy Cowan’s future in the New Zealand team hangs in the balance, after the scrum-half was arrested and charged with disorderly behaviour.

AT ONE stage, he enjoyed the good life to such an extent that his weight soared to more than 23 stone.

Bad jokes and paper hats are standard in the average Christmas cracker, but one New Zealand woman found a revolting extra in hers – a dead mouse.

IT was at the Stade Chaban Delmas — then the Stade Lescure — that John Hayes scored a memorable try for Munster in their famous defeat of Toulouse in the 2000 Heineken European Cup quarter-final.

IT’S a long haul this Lions tour to New Zealand and when you’ve flown so far from the nest for no apparent reason, it can even affect your mental stability.

GEORDAN MURPHY will believe he has a part to play in the Lions squad for the second test this weekend right up until head coach Clive Woodward names his 22 in Wellington tomorrow.

CLIVE WOODWARD has delayed naming his team for tomorrow’s match against Manawatu in Palmerston North (8.10am).

CHRISTCHURCH is a town said to be more English than England itself. Much like the Lions’ Test team really, and with just as many Irish theme pubs.

YOU could never compare a hooker’s tale to a Cinderella story, but Shane Byrne’s journey from Leinster journeyman to a Lions Test cap comes pretty close.

AFTER spending Monday being kept out of the limelight by anxious Lions press handlers, Gavin Henson was once more the centre of media attention in Invercargill last night.

GAVIN HENSON has spoken of his Lions Test team heartache and admitted: “I am absolutely devastated.”

IN many ways, this morning’s date with Southland was the game no British and Irish Lion wanted to be a part of.

THEY have a sense of humour in Invercargill and, let’s face it, you would need one to live here.

Michael Owen has challenged his Lions midweek team-mates to “keep the pressure on” and shrug off their Test disappointment.

LIONS coach Clive Woodward has challenged his midweek players to rise above the disappointment of being excluded from the squad for this weekend’s first Test in Christchurch.

Lions star Gavin Henson put a brave face on his shock omission from Clive Woodward’s first Test plans against the All Blacks.

IF MENDING fences was Clive Woodward's plan, he used the wrong hammer.

Ireland hooker Shane Byrne is relishing every minute of his first Lions tour, openly admitting: “It doesn’t get any better than this."

FOUR days on and the sour taste of defeat at the hands of the New Zealand Maori still lingers in the mouths of the British & Irish Lions.

THE Barmy Army fans of the Lions have secured bases in seven other cities.