Brian O'Driscoll

Former British and Irish Lions coach Ian McGeechan has urged incumbent Warren Gatland to select players based on form and not reputation.

Ireland great Brian O'Driscoll was given a three-week ban on Wednesday for stamping on Italy's Simone Favaro during their Six Nations clash in Rome.

Brian O'Driscoll will face a citing hearing in London on Wednesday for stamping on Simone Favaro in Ireland's 22-15 Six Nations defeat by Italy, tournament organisers have announced.

Brian O'Driscoll will face a citing hearing in London on Tuesday for stamping on Simone Favaro in Ireland's 22-15 Six Nations defeat by Italy, tournament organisers have announced.

Irish rugby great Brian O'Driscoll was on Monday cited for stamping on Simone Favaro in Ireland's 22-15 Six Nations defeat by Italy, the tournament organisers announced.

Four members of the Six Nations-winning Wales team, Adam Jones, Mike Phillips, Dan Biggar and Leigh Halfpenny, are in the running for the award for the player of the championship.

Italy coach Jacques Brunel insisted his side have plenty to do if they are to become a true force to be reckoned with despite finishing their Six Nations campaign on a high with an historic win over Ireland.

Italy produced a breathtaking display to hand Ireland a 22-15 defeat on what was Andrea Lo Cicero's 103rd and final appearance for the Azzurri and possibly Brian O'Driscoll's last game in an Irish shirt.

History beckons for both Grand Slam chasers England and defending champions Wales when they meet at the Millennium Stadium in the key match of Saturday's final day of the 2013 Six Nations Championship.

Defence coach Anthony Foley paid a warm tribute to Brian O'Driscoll on Friday as speculation continued that the former Ireland captain is about to end his impressive career.

Brian O'Driscoll was named Thursday in the Ireland side to take on Italy in their Six Nations closer in Rome on Saturday in what could be his final match in the tournament.

The top question for Irish rugby fans on Sunday was not so much the future of coach Declan Kidney as much as whether talisman Brian O'Driscoll had played his last game in the green Irish shirt in Dublin.

France came from 13-3 down to grab a 13-13 draw with Ireland here at Lansdowne Road on Saturday but it still leaves them needing to win next weekend to avoid their first wooden spoon in the Five/Six Nations since 1957.

Under-pressure Ireland coach Declan Kidney named Tuesday a team to play France without a starting or reserve fly-half as he waited on the fitness of Paddy Jackson.

Ireland's hopes of having Jonathan Sexton fit in time to France in the Six Nations at Lansdowne Road a week on Saturday were fading following the latest injury bulletin on the outside-half.

Paddy Jackson will look to repay the trust shown him by coach Declan Kidney when he makes his Test debut for an injury-hit Ireland away to Scotland in the Six Nations at Murrayfield on Sunday.

Brad Barritt may not be a fans' favourite but so long as he has the respect of his team-mates England's midfield defensive anchorman is perfectly happy to keep adding to his tackle count.

Ireland's Cian Healy will miss the Six Nations matches against Scotland and France after receiving a three-week ban for stamping on England's Dan Cole during last weekend's defeat in Dublin.

England coach Stuart Lancaster was delighted by the maturity of his youthful side after they emerged from a brutal encounter in Dublin as the only side in this season's Six Nations who can win a Grand Slam.

Owen Farrell held his nerve as England beat Ireland 12-6 at a rain-soaked Lansdowne Road on Sunday and so became the only side in this season's Six Nations capable of winning the Grand Slam.