If anyone from the Ireland squad deserves a break after a long season, it is Matt Doherty but not until he caps it off with a 50th appearance today.

Ireland touch down in Brisbane today with head coach Joe Schmidt striving to find a balance between the long-term objective of a history-making World Cup campaign and the more immediate desire to extend a record unbeaten run with a series win over Australia.

At least we know that the Aviva crowd will definitely have something to cheer about tonight. With the friendly against the USA doubling as a John O’Shea tribute gig, the feelgood factor is already in place.

There were times during Joey Carbery’s explanation of his decision to leave Leinster when you wondered whether the gifted fly-half had lost his grasp of geography.

The interview at the FAI training centre is almost over and David Meyler is already getting to his feet when someone remembers to mention the war.

Zinedine Zidane’s shock resignation as Real Madrid coach yesterday took almost everyone by surprise — but it also made a huge amount of sense once he had explained a decision that looks a lot more positive for him personally than the club.

To watch LeBron James play basketball is to witness the qualities that distinguish the truly great player in every sport.

Carlow’s Steve Lennon will cap a meteoric rise when he lines out for the Republic of Ireland tomorrow in his first PDC World Cup of Darts.

Wexford Youths striker Rianna Jarrett has put her injury nightmare behind her to earn a recall to the Ireland women’s squad for the first time since she made her senior debut against Italy in the Cyprus Cup in April 2016.

‘No pain, no gain’ would appear to be Martin O’Neill’s mantra as, going into Saturday’s game against the USA, his Ireland side are still looking for a first win since the memorable but now very distant 1-0 victory over Wales in Cardiff last October.

Munster legend Paul O’Connell wants the province to develop a production system to develop talent from grassroots and schools level and not rely on ‘short term fixes’.

Ireland, ever-present in the tournament since it started in Wales in 2008, will face a baptism of fire this evening when they open their World Rugby U20 Championship campaign against France at Stade Aime Giral.

Martin O’Neill needs firepower up top — and quick, writes John Fallon.

Ashley Young admits he cannot predict how he would react to racist abuse at this summer’s World Cup in Russia.

Liverpool have agreed a deal to sign Brazil midfielder Fabinho from Monaco on a “long-term contract” from July 1, the Premier League club have announced.

Alan Hansen doesn’t do live TV anymore. After 22 years, he finished up as BBC’s Match of the Day anchor pundit in 2014. Commanding he was, but not without sin, Manchester United coming back to haunt him following his infamous “kids” remark in 1995.

Ireland return to the familiar surroundings of the Stade de France this evening, caught between feelings of what might have been and what they hope is to come.