ABSOLUTELY sensational — and that was just the opening ceremony.

ITALY coach Nick Mallett isn’t holding out much hope for victory against Australia tomorrow.

FIRST, something we expected — a New Zealand win.

WALES coach Warren Gatland has tipped history-maker Sam Warburton to leave a lasting impression on the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

ARGENTINA hooker Mario Ledesma believes England are under-estimating the Pumas ahead of today’s Rugby World Cup clash in Dunedin.

USA coach Eddie O’Sullivan appears to have hammered home the message that emotions must not ground his Eagles when they take on Ireland on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

KEITH EARLS is up and running, and for a player with his pace that’s a frightening prospect for opposition defences.

THERE will be no greater inspiration for the United States Eagles against Ireland in New Plymouth tomorrow than a couple of fellow players who never made it home on September 11, 2001.

HELEN CLANCY was the proudest mum in Ireland yesterday when her son togged out in white and blue strip to referee the opening World Cup clash.

The Sixth Man

Anyone who has ever watched Soccer Saturday will be familiar with the banter-loving, satirical, humorous and outrageously witty Jeff Stelling who anchors the show, but the Hartlepool native also has a serious side. But not too serious!

JONATHAN SEXTON has called on the younger members of the Irish team to take the lead at the World Cup.

DECLAN KIDNEY has entrusted Conor Murray with steering Ireland to an opening World Cup win after giving the Munster scrum-half his first international start in Sunday’s Pool C clash with the United States.

MENTION, as a by the way, that Nicola FitzGibbon is, perhaps, the new pin-up of Irish show jumping, and the head of fair hair is thrown back as she laughs in surprise, if not slight embarrassment.

NEW ZEALAND might be far away in many senses for Darren Cave and Eoin O’Malley right now, but Ireland’s potential future centre partnership have more pressing issues back home.

IRELAND scrum coach Greg Feek was set to turn full circle today when the Ireland squad pitches up at New Plymouth Boys’ High School for their final training session before Sunday’s World Cup opener against the USA.

IRELAND will join their American opponents on Sunday to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks before both sides aim to get their Rugby World Cup campaigns off to a winning start at Stadium Taranaki.

THE eyes of the rugby world will be firmly focused on New Zealand — the country as much as its famed All Blacks — over the course of the next seven weeks as only the seventh World Cup ever played will bescrutinised in minute detail.

RTE’s Head of Sport Ryle Nugent on his experiences as a match commentator, the challenges imposed by an event in the wee small hours and some of the broader issues affecting the national broadcaster.

Choosing the right location for a team base is fraught with difficulties. Declan Kidney’s choice for his charges has appeared to have been an inspired choice.