EDDIE JONES claims Jonny Wilkinson is not the player he was in 2003 – but the former Australia coach knows the England star is still capable of again booting his country to World Cup glory.

While stating he thinks it’s “logical” to hold off on negotiations with Martin O’Neill until the road to Russia has run its course, John Delaney has declined to specify whether a new contract offer for the manager is actually dependent on Ireland qualifying for the 2018 World Cup Finals.

Could Joe Schmidt have asked for a better start to the new rugby season than the firm indications his on-field general, Johnny Sexton, will be back on home ground in time for the 2015 World Cup?

Switzerland coach Kobi Kuhn has already created a wave of World Cup euphoria in the Alpine nation by qualifying them for the last 16 of the World Cup but is confident the team can keep their run going by beating Ukraine in Cologne tomorrow.

Wales lock Ian Evans feared his World Cup hopes were over after he dislocated his shoulder in December – but he refused to believe it.

Clive Woodward has ruled out any chance of complacency affecting England’s World Cup squad this week.

David Seaman has admitted that England are already preparing themselves for beyond the group stages of the World Cup by religiously practising penalties in case they are involved in a shoot-out.

CHRISTIAN VIERI played down Italy’s chances of lifting the World Cup despite a promising victory over Ecuador in their opening match. Vieri scored both goals in the first half as the Azzurri proved why they are regarded as one of the tournament favourites.

Aifric Keogh and Emily Hegarty have also secured their place in a world final.

Swede Henrik Stenson and Argentina's Andres Romero took just 15 minutes this morning to clinch places in the quarter-finals of the HSBC World Match Play Championship at Wentworth.

Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland will both be unseeded for next week’s World Cup play-off draw, when they will learn if they will face either Switzerland, Italy, Croatia or Denmark.

Wales will play Australia later this year in a fixture to mark 100 years of Test rugby between the countries.

Not many teams in world football boast an even moderately successful record against five-time World Cup winners, Brazil, but, in recent years, Mexico have proved that they have what it takes.

Defending champion Tiger Woods has confirmed his participation in next week’s World Golf Championships – American Express Championship at Mount Juliet Conrad in County Kilkenny.

Hot favourite Roses In May ran out an impressive winner of the world’s richest race, the Dubai World Cup, at Nad Al Sheba today.

ZINEDINE ZIDANE could miss all of France’s first round matches in their defence of the World Cup and has been put under intensive treatment, the team doctor said yesterday.