If you’re an All Black waiting to hear if you’ve made the World Cup squad, the one name you don’t want to see on your mobile phone is Steve Hansen’s.

Leinster have opted against registering either Cian Healy or Sean O’Brien for Europe ahead of Saturday’s round six visit to Coventry, where they meet Wasps to decide who finishes top of Pool 2 in the Champions Cup.

The survivors of the ‘battle of Christchurch’ gathered in Dublin on Saturday night to swap old war stories.

The survivors of the ‘battle of Christchurch’ gathered in Dublin on Saturday night to swap old war stories.

Joe Schmidt has chosen New Zealander John Plumtree as the man to take charge of Ireland’s forwards and the 48-year-old will join the Irish coaching set-up next month.

Michael Bent knew his place in the Ireland squad was a bone of contention before he even touched down in the country of his ancestors.

Ireland and Leinster tighthead prop Mike Ross has backed the decision to draft unknown front rower Michael Bent into the Irish squad for Saturday’s meeting with South Africa.

WILL milk price hold up, with supply expanding internationally, and the world in the grip of recession?

Ireland skipper Brian O’Driscoll believes Conor Murray will be able to make the step up on his first international start against the US Eagles at Yarrow Stadium in Taranaki on Sunday.

Samoa have included nine European-based players in their starting line-up for Saturday’s clash with Ireland.

THE HM Yachts Autumn series continued at RCYC. In a brisk north westerly breeze Race Officer Roy Hanan (Plumbat) and his team opted for course 74.

THE IRFU have moved to ease tensions over a negative Irish newspaper report about New Plymouth which hosted Ireland’s clash with the All Blacks on June 12th.

CARDIFF BLUES are set to pay as much as €100,000 compensation to Ulster after Xavier Rush completed his transfer U-turn. The former All Black signed a two-year contract with the Irish province back in February but has now opted to stay at Cardiff.

THE stunning snow-capped peak of Mount Taranaki looms over New Plymouth almost as forebodingly as history will loom over Ireland here tomorrow night.

THE All Blacks have vowed to repay fans with an entertaining style of rugby against Ireland after they were mobbed for a second straight day in Taranaki.

FOR a banged-up, beaten-down bunch supposed to be staring down a third defeat on the bounce, the mood in the Ireland camp yesterday was, like the winter sun that shone through Auckland: surprising.

WELLINGTON prop Jacob Ellison looks set for a long spell on the sidelines after dislocating his elbow during Friday’s 64-7 win against Counties-Manukau.

On the brink of sealing a memorable season for the Red Army, Munster stars, new and more familiar, line out to compete for a prestigious award, four players have been short-listed for the prestigious Munster Player of the Year Award to take place in May, writes Edward Newman.

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

Munster 41 Bourgoin 23

Munster will go with 13 of the starters from the Heineken Cup final for their daunting trip to Leicester Tigers on Sunday.

Graham Mourie believes it is hard to compare New Zealand’s Grand Slam success this year with his side’s achievements back in 1978.

LEADING New Zealand referee Steve Walsh has been red-carded by the IRB after a verbal sideline row with Shane Horgan during the Lions tour.

FEW members of the British & Irish Lions squad returned from New Zealand with their reputations enhanced after the 3-0 whitewashing at the hands of the All Blacks.

Ireland prop John Hayes insists the Lions are out to finish their miserable New Zealand tour in winning fashion.

Matt Dawson tonight admitted the Lions have “a very difficult week” ahead of them as they prepare to complete their miserable tour with an Eden Park double-header.

NEW ZEALAND's record try-scorer has warned his compatriots the British and Irish Lions have yet to realise their potential, but it's doubtful if his countrymen heard him - after all, his comments were made in Cork.

THE new champion looked at the trophy, tapped it, squeezed it and hugged it, as if he was trying to discover if this was for real or not.

Letter from New Zealand

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

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.

NOW we’re getting serious. British and Irish Lions head coach Clive Woodward underlined the view that tomorrow’s meeting in Hamilton with New Zealand Maori is the unofficial fourth test of this 2005 series by naming his strongest side to date yesterday.

Gordon D’Arcy has been given the chance to nail down a Lions Test place alongside his Ireland and Leinster team-mate Brian O’Driscoll in Saturday’s heavyweight showdown against the New Zealand Maori.

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.

British and Irish Lions 3 Taranaki 0

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.

The British & Irish Lions today sent out a strong message of intent by naming a powerful side to take on Bay of Plenty in their opening tour match on June 4.

British & Irish Lions coach Eddie O’Sullivan is convinced a fierce collision against Bay of Plenty next Saturday will lay the ideal foundations for a Test series win over New Zealand – and he is relishing the prospect.

Eleven current or former All Blacks including Carlos Spencer have been named in the New Zealand Maori squad for matches against Fiji and the British and Irish Lions next month.

ENGLAND World Cup hero Neil Back could find himself walking a disciplinary tightrope when he reports for Lions duty tomorrow.

THE Gleneagle Hotel, Killarney, and River Apartments will be available on limited offer for the attractive price of €99 per person sharing for two nights bed and breakfast deals throughout this year.