IRFU must act quickly on coach issue as Kidney promises thorough post-mortem
CAN Declan Kidney survive Ireland's first loss to Italy in the Six Nations?
CAN Declan Kidney survive Ireland's first loss to Italy in the Six Nations?
In a match that at times bordered on the farcical in Rome, Ireland were beaten by Italy and only the ineptitude of France in Paris saved them from the wooden spoon.
History informs us that when empires fall in Rome, they tend to do so quite spectacularly.
WELSH forward Sam Warburton said he felt like a rock star after his team mates inflicted a record 30-3 defeat on England in Cardiff to retain their Six Nations championship crown on Saturday.
Scotland interim coach Scott Johnson says he will hold talks over turning his caretaker role into a permanent position.
Declan Kidney will consider his future over the coming weeks after Ireland slumped to a first Six Nations defeat to Italy.
It was not even close. Wales retained the championship title for the first time since 1979, a year when they defeated England 27-3 in Cardiff. They went three points better yesterday in recording their biggest victory over the team they enjoy beating most, overpowering them up front, destroying them at the breakdown, where Sam Warburton held sway, and even outclassing them behind.
When Ireland manager Mick Kearney used the Charlie Haughey acronym GUBU – grotesque, unbelievable, bizarre, unprecedented – last week to describe the relationship between Ireland and injury he didn't realise that there was another twist in the tale. How bizarre is it to be reduced to switching a flanker to the wing after 36 minutes because three players were already carted off? And is it fair to describe as grotesque a situation where Ireland could have three yellow cards in the one afternoon?
France finally collected their first win of the Six Nations campaign – but still finished bottom of the table, behind Ireland on points difference – as two quickfire tries proved decisive in Paris.
LET'S finish this campaign as we started. That's the impassioned plea from Ireland captain Jamie Heaslip as his team today try to secure third place in the Six Nations in Rome.
THIS season will go down as the Irish women's team's greatest, no matter what happens in the Milan suburb of Parabiago tomorrow.
Ireland staged a remarkable comeback from 15 points down in the second half to salvage a late draw at L'Aquila.
THIS weekend would appear to be the last days of Rome for Declan Kidney, who takes charge of Ireland for the 52nd and possibly last time at the Stadio Olimpico.
IRELAND coach Declan Kidney insists Brian O'Driscoll will be allowed to determine his playing future in his own time.
IRELAND'S injury jinx struck again yesterday when Jonathan Sexton was ruled out of the team to play Italy.
DECLAN KIDNEY has steadfastly dismissed queries about his future during the Six Nations Championship.
Italy will be without prop Martin Castrogiovanni for their Six Nations clash with Ireland after he failed to recover from a thigh injury.
Owen Farrell will steer England's bid for their first grand slam since 2003 after being recalled at fly-half for tomorrow's Six Nations title decider against Wales in Cardiff (5.0).
FRANCE manager Philippe Saint-Andre has kept faith with out-half Frederic Michalak to spearhead Les Bleus against Scotland tomorrow as they look to avoid the Six Nations wooden spoon.
PROP Gethin Jenkins returns from a calf injury to captain Wales in the absence of Ryan Jones for tomorrow's Six Nations decider against England at the Millennium Stadium (5.0).
SEAN O'BRIEN refuses to blame Ireland's injury crisis on their willingness to stand toe to toe with opponents as their RBS 6 Nations nears a bone-crunching conclusion against Italy.
OWEN Farrell vowed to keep his head in the Millennium Stadium maelstrom after being recalled to the England side for Saturday's Grand Slam showdown with Wales.
FRANCE manager Philippe Saint-Andre has named the following team to face Scotland at the Stade de France in a Six Nations championship game on Saturday night.
THE presence of Warren Gatland at Ireland's training camp yesterday has prompted speculation that the Lions coach was sounding out Brian O'Driscoll about becoming the first Irishman to captain the tourists for a second time.
THE accelerating interest in the upcoming Lions tour is unsurprising, given the presence of Warren Gatland at Ireland's Carton House base yesterday.
EDINBURGH lock Grant Gilchrist will make his Scotland debut in their final RBS 6 Nations clash against France at Paris on Saturday.
FISHING around my handbag before kick off against France last week I found an item that has been in my match-day paraphernalia since the victory against Australia in the Rugby World Cup.
CRAIG GILROY has given Ireland coach Declan Kidney a much needed boost with this return for the trip to Rome.
IRELAND full-back Rob Kearney concedes he has slipped behind Wales' Leigh Halfpenny in their Lions duel after struggling to showcase his attacking skills in the RBS 6 Nations.
IN sporting terms, this is GUBU time. What has happened to Ireland's Six Nations adventure is certainly grotesque, unbelievable, bizarre and unprecedented.
DECLAN FITZPATRICK'S plight in training yesterday summed up the ill-fortune that has enveloped the Ireland squad this season.
Stuart Pearce was today informed by the Football Association he will not be kept on as England Under-21s manager.The former international full-back was appointed to the post in 2007 and led the Young Lions to four successive European Championship finals.
The Lions have lost to a provincial side in Australia for the first time since 1971. Since that loss to Queensland they did lose to Australia A in 2001 but this was a first of the professional era for the tourists.
New Wigan manager Owen Coyle claims he's had nothing but success at previous clubs, but it's what he does at Wigan that he will be judged on.
In June 2003, Ireland hosted the Special Olympics World Summer Games. It was the largest event to be held in the world that year. Credit: SpecialOlympicsIrl
Despite relegation, Wigan owner Dave Whelan insisted there will be no change to the prudent philosophy that has characterised his decade at the helm.
Shane Williams joined up with his new Lions team mates as they trained for their final warm up match against The Brumbies.
Justin Rose became the first Englishman to win the US Open in 43 years.
David Beckham arrives in China for his job as the country's first ever soccer ambassador.
The 70ft MOD70 multihulls departed Lisbon today at 1400 enroute to DunLaoghaire after two days of inshore racing. Irish offshore sailor Damian Foxall onboard Oman-Air Musandam won the first offshore leg from Valencia to Lisbon earlier this week so hopefully luck will be on his side as he approaches homesoil.
Ireland coach Les Kiss and Canada winger James Pritchard speak after the Test match in Toronto.