1. SET PIECE ASSAULT

IRELAND or Australia.

WHEN the late Warren Zevon wrote “Poor, Poor Pitiful Me”, I’m thinking he wasn’t referring specifically to the Ireland rugby team of 2011.

UNITED STATES captain Todd Clever admitted he was a nervous man after his side held off a late Russian rally to win their Pool C encounter 13-6 in New Plymouth.

BRITISH royal Zara Phillips has described as “quite sad” coverage of alleged groping of a woman by her husband, England rugby captain Mike Tindall, at a team outing during the World Cup in New Zealand.

WITH the Derby now history for another year, the focus down south will now swing to the Pat Hennerty Sales Irish Laurels which will kick off at Curraheen Park on Friday night of next week.

WILLIAM O’DONNELL kept Fermoy at the top of the bowling world for a second week in succession with a great win over Kevin Riordan (North America) in the All-Ireland Junior C final at Westport on Sunday.

ALEX FERGUSON praised goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard’s performance in the 1-1 Champions League draw with Benfica as United came from behind to salvage a point.

IRELAND captain Brian O’Driscoll has urged his players to recapture the intensity that helped end England’s Grand Slam dream earlier this year for their World Cup Pool C showdown against Australia on Saturday.

HOURS after expressing disappointment at missing out on Rugby World Cup selection, Damian Varley was preparing to join up with the Irish squad following another injury blow to Jerry Flannery.

FROM dealing with American speedster Takudzwa Ngwenya to lining up against Australia’s all star backline, Keith Earls is certainly getting his hands dirty in his debut World Cup.

ENGLAND prop Andrew Sheridan and French fly-half David Skrela hobbled home from the World Cup just as Samoa entered the fray with a resounding win and New Zealanders fretted about the back of prized asset Dan Carter.

FORMER Wallabies skipper Nick Farr-Jones has labelled Quade Cooper a “boofhead” for his baiting of All Blacks captain Richie McCaw.

TOMMY BOWE packed a lot into his summer. It kicked off with a three-week trek down America’s West Coast, a 15-hour promotional blitz across Ireland and countless rounds of golf and games of table tennis in Carton House.

THERE have been few more intimidating rabbits in the headlights than Radike Samo but Australia’s back-row giant greets his late-blooming success in a Wallabies jersey with something approaching wide-eyed incredulity.

THEY may have just beaten the All Blacks to claim the Tri-Nations championship but Australia’s all-star backline were treating their Irish counterparts with the utmost respect when they faced the media at their team hotel in Auckland city centre yesterday.

DECLAN KIDNEY has welcomed back his big guns from injury for Ireland’s pivotal World Cup Pool C clash with Australia this Saturday, and also reunited Leinster out-halves Eoin Reddan and Jonny Sexton.

THERE are so many talking points since the commencement of the World Cup that it is difficult to know where to begin.

ROCKY ELSOM may wear Australia’s colours at Eden Park on Saturday but Denis Leamy credits him for having a profound impact on Ireland’s back row.

ALUN-WYN JONES believes Wales have established World Cup momentum despite losing their opening game against South Africa.