How quickly things change. Back-to-back Six Nations champions Ireland appeared in rude health heading into this World Cup when they dispatched Wales with consummate ease only four weeks ago.

Momentum. Simon Zebo referenced it four times inside three minutes as he dissected Ireland’s defeat of South Africa over the weekend and it is a word that must resonate with many of his colleagues inside the Irish dressing-room, writes Brendan O'Brien.

Quade Cooper’s appearance in Queensland’s elimination final hinges on the outcome of today’s SANZAR judicial hearing after he was put on report for a high tackle during the Reds’ victory over the Waratahs.

Any of us watching rugby over recent months will have noticed the scrum has become such a negative influence on the game.

Australia’s five-point win over New Zealand in the Tri Nations decider has left Robbie Deans with a number of selection dilemmas to sort through before the World Cup.

WORLD referees boss Paddy O’Brien is confident there’ll be no video howlers at the Rugby World Cup after firing off a memo instructing match officials to stay within IRB guidelines when calling on the man upstairs for a ruling.

THE 12th season of the RBS 6 Nations championship will not linger long in the memory, with even winners England left feeling flat after leaving Dublin with the championship trophy on board but their reputations bruised.

Peter de Villiers will remain as South Africa coach until at least the end of the next year’s World Cup, after a meeting with his employers in Johannesburg.

A split looks to be quickly brewing in southern hemisphere rugby after South Africa conceded it was exploring the possibility of breaking away from SANZAR.

Peter de Villiers will have to wait to hear what charges, if any, he may have to face after SANZAR reserved judgement in the misconduct case against him until Monday.

IRELAND will play a three-Test series against New Zealand for the first time in 2012, as the shape of International Rugby Board-approved tours changed following a new global schedule agreed in the last week.

The International Rugby Board’s Executive Committee have ratified a financial package that moves Argentina a step closer to joining an expended Tri Nations competition from 2012.

BILLIONAIRE businessman Denis O’Brien is strongly believed to be the Irish backer of a possible Super 15 franchise on Australia’s Gold Coast.

JAPAN have confirmed they will rival England, South Africa and Italy for the right to host the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

Japan have confirmed they will rival England, South Africa and Italy for the right to host the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

THE South African Rugby Union (SARU) has moved to reiterate its commitment to the Super 14 tournament in the wake of reports linking it to a shift to the northern hemisphere.

South African Rugby has moved quickly to quash rumours the country is considering ending its involvement in the Super 14 to join the European-based Magners League.

NEW ZEALAND captain Richie McCaw will end an exhausting and emotional year by making his debut for the Barbarians in tonight’s Olympic centenary clash with Australia at Wembley.

THE IRFU yesterday insisted they’ve priced their corporate seats right at the new Lansdowne Road — even though their co-tenants, the FAI is seeking twice as much from potential buyers for their own premium packages.

AUSTRALIA head coach Robbie Deans believes the Experimental Law Variations were “adopted for good reason” and described the consequences of the controversial ‘sanctions regulation’ as minimal.

South Africa are attempting to bring southern hemisphere rugby into line with the rest of the global game by taking a stand against Australia and New Zealand over Experimental Law Variations (ELVs).

South Africa 63 Argentina 9

THERE IS sufficient evidence to suggest that the international game as we know it in the southern hemisphere is under serious threat.

AUSTRALIA and New Zealand believe Argentina deserve a place in the Tri-Nations but have warned that the South Americans must “get their house in order” first.

AFTER one of the most amazing weekends in the history of the World Cup we are left with semi-final pairings that few would have predicted.

THE British & Irish Lions must get a slice of television revenue from future tours to New Zealand, South Africa and Australia if it is to receive the continued backing of the home rugby unions, Lions chief executive John Feehan has said.

The Rugby Football Union has begged the southern hemisphere nations to give them a fair deal over Home Unions’ contribution to Lions tours.

The International Rugby Board (IRB) is to place a moratorium on any moves to increase the number of international matches to protect leading players from burn out.