IF THERE are deep divisions and rumblings of rebellion running through the French camp at the Rugby World Cup, it is news to the squad’s defence guru, Dave Ellis.

AUSTRALIA coach Robbie Deans admits the Wallabies’ injury crisis has forced him to be “creative” in his team selection for tomorrow’s World Cup clash with Russia (3.30am Irish time).

MARTIN JOHNSON has demanded England treat tomorrow’s showdown with Scotland as a winner-takes-all battle for Rugby World Cup survival.

MUNSTER half-backs Ronan O’Gara and Conor Murray have been charged with steering Ireland into the World Cup quarter-finals, but Declan Kidney was waiting on the fitness of Paul O’Connell and Tommy Bowe before finalising his team to start against Italy on Sunday.

IRELAND may be preparing for the mother of all confrontations on the rugby pitch on Sunday against Italy but there was a distinct reticence yesterday to engage in the verbal jousting started by Azzurri coach Nick Mallett the previous evening.

IF Italy ran with the ball as much as they do with their fighting talk, we could be in for a very different game this Sunday rather than the arm wrestle they will try and force on Ireland.

THE International Rugby Board (IRB) insisted it was committed to addressing the financial concerns over the World Cup that have led to a threat from the All Blacks to boycott the 2015 tournament in England.

OPEN champion Darren Clarke admits he would put aside his personal opinion and play at Gleneagles next year if he needed to qualify for the Ryder Cup.

Singer Richie Egan tells Eoghan O’Sullivan he is aiming for a slower, less in-your-face style with the band’s fourth album

DAMIEN VARLEY may have been sitting at his kitchen table in Limerick less than a fortnight ago but having been called up to the Ireland World Cup squad as an emergency replacement he is not content to just be along for the journey.

NO more play-offs, smaller groups and a two-phase qualifying competition are among the major changes to the 2016 European Championship being proposed by Michel Platini.

WHEN you have captained the British & Irish Lions, you know a leader when you see one. And in this Wales side, Paul O’Connell sees them in places most of us would not expect to look.

MARTIN JOHNSON believes any one of seven teams can win the Rugby World Cup — and he places England right at the heart of the pack.

ROOKIE Wales fly-half Rhys Priestland is hoping to buck a trend of losing results against opposite number Ronan O’Gara but has warned that the Ireland veteran will need to be “managed” if his side are to win tomorrow’s World Cup quarter-final.

JONATHAN HUMPHREYS hopes to strike the second of two huge blows to Irish rugby in the RaboDirect Pro12 top of the table clash at Thomond Park tomorrow night (7.30 pm).

PAUL CUTLER crashed out of the first stage of the European Tour Qualifying dream last night after a thoroughly disappointing few days at Frilford Heath in Oxfordshire.

KEITH EARLS has sensed that Ireland are in the process of building something special at the World Cup that will culminate in reaching the final.

WE love a good flanker down here.

THERE has been plenty of talk this week about needing the flip of a coin to decide tomorrow morning’s World Cup quarter-final between Wales and Ireland (6am Irish time).

DONNCHA O’Callaghan is predicting an epic duel between opensides Sean O’Brien and Sam Warburton at Wellington Regional Stadium tomorrow.