Scotland head coach Andy Robinson has made five changes for Sunday’s World Cup Pool B clash with Argentina – and resisted a recall for tournament captain Alastair Kellock.

France coach Marc Lievremont has conceded after the “shame” of yesterday’s shock defeat to Tonga that his squad are not united in pursuit of a first Rugby World Cup title.

The FAI's plea to be allowed to play in the World Cup finals will be discussed by FIFA tomorrow – but looks doomed to failure.

Steve Finnan admits he ended his international retirement because he could not resist the lure of another World Cup finals tournament.

Look past the feelgood, fuzzy factor from the news of Ireland’s success in winning the rights to host the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup, and one point stands out above all others: it increases the host team’s chances of success.

Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas feels the experience of reaching the Champions League final has equipped him to deal with the pressure of Spain’s World Cup bid.

TURKEY can match Brazil for skill and defeat them on teamwork, Turkish midfielder Yildiray Basturk believes.

Sebastian Coe insists England’s bid for the 2018 World Cup still has “solid foundations” despite chairman Lord Triesman being forced to quit.

Ireland and England will tomorrow learn their 2011 World Cup fates after being left on a probable collision course with one of the Tri-Nations heavyweights.

The FAI are looking to Germany again for a women’s international manager, with Maren Meinert emerging as a leading candidate for the job.

LAWRENCE DALLAGLIO tonight identified England’s fitness as a key ingredient of their momentous World Cup campaign.

VETERAN defender Lilian Thuram has urged France to maintain the new-found humility he says is the key to their resurgence and their hopes of booking a ticket to the World Cup final.

PERHAPS the biggest surprise about France’s toothless defeat to Mexico, which leaves their World Cup fate out of their hands, is that it came as no surprise at all.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter fired the starting gun for the race to host the 2018 World Cup on Monday - with England regarded as one of the front-runners.

“That is definitely my biggest regret of retiring - is this Joe Schmidt team, being part of it for a World Cup. I do think that they are capable of great things.”

The wife of English referee Howard Webb said she had “every confidence” in her husband after he set a new World Cup final record by handing out 14 yellow cards and one red as Spain clinched their first victory in the global showpiece.

Referees committee chairman Pierluigi Collina has confirmed Fifa cracked down on holding by defenders at set-pieces after a series of early incidents at the World Cup in Russia.

DIEGO MARADONA will tell Lionel Messi to go out and destroy Germany – just like he himself did in the 1986 World Cup final.

English Football Association chairman Greg Dyke believes significant doubt remains over whether Qatar will actually host the 2022 World Cup, five years on from what he calls “the worst moment in Fifa’s history”.