Ireland’s fears over Rob Kearney’s fitness have eased but the full-back remains a doubt for Sunday’s World Cup Pool clash with Italy.

Here’s a briefing on some of the stories and issues highlighted on irishexaminer.com today.

Good afternoon. Here’s all the news you need to know this lunchtime.

Good morning. Here’s everything you need to know before you start your day.

Cian O’Connor had good reason to describe Good Luck as one of the “most talented” horses in the world after he and the gelding delivered one of only seven clear rounds in the €1.5m Furusiyya Nations Cup Final on Saturday.

 

Champions League Group G

Aided by plenty of positive reinforcement, Tommy Bowe made amends for his pre-season Twickenham nightmare with a couple of World Cup tries at Wembley on Sunday.

Five days. It may be enough to flush the lactic acid from their legs, but Canada will find it harder to rinse the pain of that defeat to Italy last Saturday from their minds as they back up against France in Milton Keynes on Thursday.

Seeing may be believing, but the eyes tell lies, too.

Very few Irish players have the happiest memories of the Rugby World Cup and Munster coach Anthony Foley is no exception.

Leinster coach Leo Cullen yesterday admitted the forced retirement of Kevin McLaughlin “was tough news to try to process.” The 31-year-old flanker was forced to quit the game last week due to medical concerns about his increasing susceptibility to concussion.

Referees get a lot of stick in sport.

Here’s a briefing on some of the stories and issues highlighted on irishexaminer.com today.

Ronan O’Gara analyses all the big issues at the Rugby World Cup.

Good morning. Here’s everything you need to know before you start your day.

Florin Surugiu first got the idea when World Rugby released the dates for the tournament.

THE famed twin towers may no longer be standing but Wembley remains an intoxicating sports arena for players and fans alike, writes Donal Lenihan. Why else would a world record attendance for a Rugby World Cup game be broken two Sundays in succession? 

The opening act of Ireland’s World Cup Pool D campaign was brought to a neat conclusion in north London last night - now is the time to move into the meat of the drama.

Joe Schmidt has given Keith Earls and Simon Zebo a massive vote of confidence by saying the Munster duo had justified their selection in the Ireland World Cup squad’s most competitive unit.