After the weeks of verbal jousting started by All Blacks coach Steve Hansen and latterly engaged in by Lions boss Warren Gatland, the pair of New Zealanders have finally found some common ground.

Rory Best is set to captain the British & Irish Lions against the Chiefs on Tuesday after Warren Gatland named a matchday squad missing tour skipper Sam Warburton in the final game before Saturday’s first Test with the All Blacks.

Warren Gatland saw his British & Irish Lions lay down a marker ahead of the Test series with the All Blacks and described rival head coach Steve Hansen was sledging his team because he was worried.

From the English City, via the Edinburgh of the South, to the spiritual home of the Maori people, the last seven days of this 2017 British and Irish Lions tour have been a study in the shifting timeframes, cultures, and traditions of New Zealand.

IT was four years ago in Australia that Johnny Sexton guided the British and Irish Lions to their series victory over the Wallabies. Tomorrow the Ireland fly-half will be asked to keep the show on the road ahead of next week’s opening Test against New Zealand.

This weekend will be a day of celebration for Cork clubs, Constitution and Dolphin, as three of their number are rewarded for endeavour with high profile selection for the British and Irish Lions and Ireland.

Wales fly-half Dan Biggar will replace Farrell on the Lions' bench for Saturday's Maori clash in Rotorua.

Warren Gatland has backed Peter O'Mahony to bring an unquantifiable Munster spirit and character when the Ireland back rower leads the British & Irish Lions out against the Maori in Rotorua on Saturday.

Peter O'Mahony has been named captain of the British & Irish Lions for Saturday's showdown with the Maori All Blacks at Rotorua International Stadium.

The British & Irish Lions will have to smarten up at scrum time and focus on painting better pictures for referees following the frustrations in defeat to the Highlanders.

The British and Irish Lions slipped up for the second time in four matches in New Zealand, with the Highlanders stealing a 23-22 win in Dunedin.

Warren Gatland believes his British and Irish Lions shot themselves in the foot as they lost 23-22 to the Highlanders under the roof at the Forsyth Barr Stadium today.

The key moment, talking point and key man from the Lions fourth game in New Zealand.

Johnny Sexton has one game to prove he is a starting British & Irish Lion Test fly-half on this tour to New Zealand and that opportunity comes tomorrow in Whangarei.

Warren Gatland has given his players four games to prove they are worthy of a British & Irish Lions Test place against the All Blacks.

Both Munster and Ireland will have confidence soaring after success against All Black sides, writes Donal Lenihan. 

What happened in the tunnel?

Sitting in the stand in Semple Stadium as Cork and Tipperary contested a wondrous draw in an electric atmosphere back in 1987, I couldn’t help but imagine what it would be like if rugby was the number one sport in Ireland, writes Donal Lenihan.

As a three-time Lion, Lawrence Dallaglio knows a thing or two about the opening game on tour but even for a man of his great experience, playing Saturday’s opener against the Barbarians in Hong Kong makes for a unique occasion.

A magnitude-5.5 earthquake has been widely felt on New Zealand’s North Island, though no major damage or injuries were reported.

Andrew Trimble knew when Declan Kidney hadn’t pulled him aside for a quiet word on Tuesday he stood a better-than-evens chance of being named on the wing to face Wales.

A NEW ZEALAND petrol station owner suspected of withdrawing millions of dollars and going on the run after a bank error has appeared in court after being extradited from Hong Kong.

YOU could picture the counting of months on the fingers of rugby fans throughout Ireland as the news broke that Brian O’Driscoll was to undergo shoulder surgery.

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.

IF the current spin whirling around this Sunday’s World Cup clash is to believed, Italy’s backline will be standing around twiddling their thumbs under the Otago Stadium roof while their pack goes about the business of trying to arm wrestle Ireland into submission.

MUNSTER half-backs Ronan O’Gara and Conor Murray have been charged with steering Ireland into the World Cup quarter-finals, but Declan Kidney was waiting on the fitness of Paul O’Connell and Tommy Bowe before finalising his team to start against Italy on Sunday.

THOUGH much is being made about Italy’s scrum in the build-up to Sunday’s winner takes all Pool C finale against Ireland, there is another big weapon in the Italian armoury according to Shane Jennings.

ROTORUA was great while it lasted but the smell from the sulphuric geezers is something I am glad to have left behind.

After an impressive outing against Russia in Rotorua which saw him claim one of Ireland’s nine tries, Andrew Trimble admitted he has been frustrated with his lack of action so far in the World Cup.

PAUL O’CONNELL, Tommy Bowe and Gordon D’Arcy’s injuries were under scrutiny this morning as Ireland began their preparations for Sunday’s Pool C finale against Italy.

Ireland team manager Paul McNaughton is optimistic about the shape of the squad heading into their crucial show down against Nick Mallett’s Italy on October 2.

JAMIE HEASLIP looked ahead to next weekend’s World Cup showdown with Italy and said Ireland must ignore the slide rule and go all out to win.

FOR some it’s a match to get out of the way, for others it could be the entirety of their World Cup campaign.

DO NOT tell Sean Cronin this weekend’s World Cup pool game against Russia doesn’t matter.

THERE was a nasty undertone to Ireland’s victory over the Wallabies last Saturday, if reports in the Antipodean media are to be believed.

Russia have made eight changes for Sunday’s World Cup Pool C clash with Ireland in Rotorua following their 53-17 thumping by Italy.

Ireland coach Declan Kidney has dismissed claims that his team used negative tactics and faked injuries to achieve their 15-6 World Cup win over Australia at Eden Park last weekend.