Paddy Wallace

Ulster won their 13 game in 13 outings this season when they clinched an impressive 25-6 bonus-point triumph over Northampton on Friday to stay on course for the European Cup quarter-finals.

The All Blacks bounced back from a disappointing second Test to punish Ireland 60-0 in a nine-try blitz at Waikato Stadium on Saturday for a clean-sweep of the series.

A week of soul-searching has fired up the All Blacks who expect nothing less than victory against an Ireland side living on hope in the third and final Test at Waikato Stadium on Saturday.

Leinster were crowned European club kings for the third time in four seasons as they proved themselves one of the finest club sides ever at Twickenham on Saturday.

Brian O'Driscoll handed Leinster a major boost after declaring himself fit for the all-Irish European Cup final against Ulster at Twickenham on Saturday.

After the best part of two months holed up in training camps, France will finally lose the tackle bags and begin their World Cup warm-up in earnest when they take on Ireland on Saturday.

Ireland have made nine changes for their Rugby World Cup warm-up international against France in Bordeaux on Saturday following their defeat to Scotland last weekend.

It may only be a so-called friendly on paper, but for Johnnie Beattie the World Cup warm-up clash with Ireland at Murrayfield on Saturday is the biggest match of his career.

Leinster lock Leo Cullen will captain Ireland for the first time after Brian O'Driscoll was ruled out of the team that will play Scotland in their opening World Cup warm-up match in Edinburgh on Saturday.

Veteran fly-half Ronan O'Gara was dropped as Ireland coach Declan Kidney made three changes for this weekend's Six Nations showdown with England.

Wales derailed Ireland's hopes of the Triple Crown with a hard-fought 19-13 Six Nations victory over the visitors at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.

Ireland coach Declan Kidney has called on his players to shed their inhibitions and come out of their shell when they play Scotland in Edinburgh on Sunday in a Six Nations match where a win would lift their wilting confidence.

Ireland have recalled veteran fly-half Ronan O'Gara for this weekend's Six Nations clash with Scotland as they seek to bounce back from the disappointment of defeat to France.

The victory was cruel on the visitors who played the better rugby at times, and failed to impress the 30,995 fans who had hoped for some optimism ahead of next weekend's meeting with Tri-Nations champions New Zealand.

Ireland coach Declan Kidney unveiled on Tuesday a starting side showing 11 changes, including a positional switch, from the one that lost 23-21 to world champions South Africa in the first international match at the rebuilt Lansdowne last weekend.

Keith Earls, Rory Best, Stephen Ferris, Denis Leamy, Sean O'Brien and Donnacha Ryan were all named by coach Declan Kidney in the initial 34-man squad for November's matches.

Ireland on Tuesday dropped record point-scorer Ronan O'Gara to the bench for what could be his 100th Test as they bid to end a 31-year win drought against the Wallabies in Australia.

Scotland lock Alastair Kellock has warned Ireland's Triple Crown-chasing squad to brace themselves for a massive battle in the last Six Nations game at Croke Park.

Six Nations Grand Slam champions Ireland ended their year on a suitably high note here on Saturday with a commendable 15-10 victory over world and Tri-Nations champions South Africa for their third successive home win over the visitors.

Six Nations Grand Slam champions Ireland ended their year on a suitably high note here on Saturday with a commendable 15-10 victory over world and Tri-Nations champions South Africa for their third successive home win over the visitors.