Andy Farrell’s ever-improving side now have back-to-back Grand Slams in their sights.

This win broke at least two points records for Ireland against a side that for so many years was their nemesis.

Andy Farrell's men begin their campaign with a massive test in Marseille.

Jack Crowley kept finding space, enough for Ireland to make France ship a record number of points, a hefty price for their indiscipline.

Arteta is not Klopp but whoever takes over at Liverpool won’t have Klopp’s gifts either.

Next week Beggan will fly to America with Down’s Charlie Smyth, Wicklow’s Mark Jackson and former rugby player Darragh Leader to eventually take part in the Indianapolis combine.

Conor Niland's side take on Austria in Limerick. 

A style of play that wasn't the prettiest on the eye brought them to a semi-final and within a point of eventual champions South Africa back in the Autumn. 

Crusaders head coach Rob Penney makes an emotional return to Cork Saturday regretting still he never got to finish what he started with Munster over a decade ago.  'I loved the place, I loved the boys, the potential. But for those reasons, I had to step aside, to give Axel his crack'

Cahill’s teams have always been a reflection of their manager and coach (Bevans) in how they play with an edge, and a relentless hard-running/hard-working/attacking style. 

No prizes for guessing the first quote comes from famously risk-averse Nicky Henderson, responding to the suggestion that his peerless hurdler Constitution Hill might travel to this weekend’s Dublin Racing Festival, [DRF].

A clearer picture over Smith’s fitness will emerge next week.

The January transfer window has delivered precious few headlines as even the biggest and richest clubs kept their money in their pockets.

Wales head coach Warren Gatland called the decision “disappointing”, saying it would impact upon the atmosphere and noise in the 74,500-capacity stadium.

Our columnist works hard-in-glove with the quiet, steely La Rochelle number eight who plans to take down Ireland in his first game as Les Bleus skipper

Peter O’Mahony is very much his own man and Ireland boss Andy Farrell earlier this week said the Corkman had remained true to himself since he named him captain.

As the clock ticked towards 11pm, spending in the entire January window had not yet reached €100m – in stark contrast to the €915m spent last January, headed by Chelsea’s €125m capture of Argentina’s World Cup hero Enzo Fernandez.

Play Rugby USA’s high school graduation rate is 100% and although the aim is to make college a possibility for those who want it, a rugby scholarship is an extra avenue that would have seemed unthinkable a decade ago.

'Himself and Craig (Casey), I don’t know what they’d be doing but they’d be at the HPC for hours on end, be it recovering, on laptops, doing extras in the gym. They’re just unbelievable professionals,' O'Mahony said.

The Toulouse number 15 becomes the second member of Scotland’s first-choice back three to be ruled out of the match.