No team has rattled the All Blacks’ cage throughout the years quite like the Springboks

The notion that a player’s birthplace should influence World Cup selection is plain daft

Ireland management are hopeful full-back will be back running later this week

Ireland’s resources stretched for Scotland tie with question marks over Earls’ fitness also

Secondrow adapting to Ireland system after turning down chance to represent Wales

Ireland fullback understood to have picked up calf injury in training

Ireland and Leinster prop ready to operate on both sides of the scrum in Japan

Ireland’s midfield rock ignores naysayers and is in prime nick for World Cup

Joe Schmidt is taking nothing for granted ahead of Pool A game against Scotland

Head coach says his side has been ‘less consistent this year’ but its major targets are yet to come

Saturday’s win provided most compelling proof yet that Ireland are on course to peak in two weeks

Ireland coach focused on ‘getting the very best out of those 31 men’ at Rugby World Cup

Applause for Rory Best and Joe Schmidt’s last home game felt even sweeter with a win

Ireland mark Joe Schmidt’s final game in Dublin with nine-point win

Today marks the end of an era with the Kiwi's last home game in charge of Ireland

Johnny Sexton returns on landmark day for captain Rory Best and manager Joe Schmidt

Incoming head coach expects final World Cup warm-up to be a ‘proper Test match’

Winger grateful Schmidt gave him chance to ‘put a few wrongs right’ against Wales

Both Ireland and Wales expected to unveil full-strength sides for last Test match

‘I think he has a number of big opinions, but they’re not ones that are relevant for us’

Coach stresses the need for versatility given the challenging conditions in Japan

Scrumhalf believes heavy warm-up defeat to England was just a blip

Selection process marked by tough calls and difficult conundrums, says Ireland coach

Leaving out Leinster lock something of a gamble given Ireland’s recent lineout struggles

Ireland coach has finalised his 31-man Rugby World Cup squad

IRFU confirm Joe Schmidt has omitted lock with Addison, Murphy and Marmion also cut

Solid performance in Cardiff has restored Ireland’s feel-good factor – almost

Head coach dreading prospect of informing players not selected for the World Cup outfit

Player ‘delighted’ to be named Man of the Match on his 27th birthday

Secondrow facing a nervous wait after clash with Rob Evans near end of Cardiff victory

Ireland coach has to cut his Rugby World Cup squad from 41 to 31 on Monday

Joe Schmidt’s side withstand late rally to defeat Wales in Cardiff warm-up

Selection for Wales clash suggests a few places in Ireland’s squad remain up for grabs

It’s Wales’s last home game before Japan, and Ireland’s shot at some redemption

Cardiff offers final chance to make an impression before 31--man World Cup squad is finalised

Will Addison and Jack Carty set for starts in Cardiff in a much-changed side

Ex-captain confident Schmidt and his former team-mates can arrest alarming slide

Twickenham debacle a serious wake-up call for coaching team and players alike

New Australian coach says he is looking forward to the challenge of new environment

Outhalf is recuperating from an operation on the ankle he injured in win over Italy

World Cup winning outhalf says move to Northern Hemisphere has broadened horizons

Iain Henderson insists Ireland can bounce back from heavy defeat to England

Captain Best and others under real pressure following Twickenham horror show

Much for Schmidt to ponder after a humiliating and potentially damaging outing

Irish coach says his side were underdone as they fell to a record defeat at Twickenham

Joe Schmidt’s side fall to record defeat as hosts emphasise their RWC credentials

It may be only a warm-up, but it’s still England v Ireland, and that’s a red-hot prospect

Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton not at heights of 2018 but are primed for World Cup tilt

‘There’s always things that concern, and injury is one and suspension is the other’

Outhalves vying for a place in squad for Japan while Kleyn gets another chance to impress

Flanker praises Ireland outhalf’s ‘steady head’ and ability to control the game

Joe Schmidt’s team take on England in their second Rugby World Cup warm-up match

Munster man and his Ireland team-mates braced for a big and bruising England

Gerry Thornley’s probable team: Schmidt is expected to make a number of changes

‘In some ways it’s come out of Joey’s control in relation to staking a claim for his place in the squad’

‘It’s a massive game that could get away from you if you’re not up for it physically’

Ulster winger’s second Test cap came against Japan on a boiling hot day in Tokyo

Johnny Sexton’s anticipated return to action delayed after he sits out training session

All Blacks were on a highway to hell, but their World Cup outlook is now a whole lotta rosy

Squad training in similar temperatures but replicating Japan’s humidity is impossible

Ireland and Munster outhalf facing race against time to be fit for Japan

Losing to Australia will give All Blacks a jolt, but will it be enough to keep them on top?

Ireland are due to travel to Portugal for Rugby World Cup training camp on Wednesday

More players to be pruned from 43-man squad prior to training camp in Portugal

Outhalf was the star turn for 49 minutes, but concern now is his wellbeing for World Cup

Outhalf a concern for World Cup after suffering injury at the Aviva Stadium

Michael Kiernan recalls Ireland’s preparation for the inaugural 1987 competition, an event the IRFU didn't want to enter

Task of narrowing down squad will be ‘really difficult’, says incoming Ireland head coach

Warm-up clash against Italy a chance to press their case for a place in 31-man squad

Joe Schmidt wins Tom Rooney award while Ciara Griffin named Women’s Player of Year

Injury-prone player grateful to be given chance to impress in World Cup warm-ups

Versatility could help press the case of the likes of Ryan, Porter and Bealham

Ireland manager has left training camp as squad prepare for first warm-up match

If Ireland can swerve injuries, pre-tournament fixtures will have served a purpose

In what seems like death by a thousand cuts, Dillane and Scannell are the first to go

Six Nations left Ireland with plenty to ponder as they prepare for their warm-up games

Former Ireland winger sees Joey Carbery as the perfect second playmaker in Japan

Former Ireland outhalf looks back on the mistakes made in 2011 and 2003

Former Ireland outhalf is now La Rochelle head coach after spell with Crusaders

Joe Schmidt and Trevor Brennan will be on hand at 50th anniversary gala dinner

Rugby correspondent runs the rule over the season for Ireland and the four provinces

The inclusion of uncapped Munster duo Kleyn and Haley the most eye-catching

Ireland have been dealt a significant blow in losing Tullow Tank in addition to Dan Leavy

Full back was looking for two-year contract during negotiations

Framework allows less leeway for referees to make judgment calls

Champions use all their finals experience in a far from perfect display in Glasgow

Another hip operation set to bring down the curtain on the flanker’s international career

Loss to Saracens in Champions Cup threatened to derail remainder of season

‘He’s one of the best players I’ve ever played with. As a forward, I’d say he’s the best’

Leo Cullen’s side take sixth title in front of record final attendance at Celtic Park

Ex-Waikato Chiefs head coach has overseen a marked improvement in Scottish club

Scene is set at Celtic Park for historic final between high-calibre attacking sides

John Hayes and Mike Ross were as durable as tree trunks, and Furlong is showing same signs

Leinster coach had suggested Glasgow Warriors had Rangers fans in their ranks

IRFU performance director says outgoing coach Schmidt very focused on final task

Basic salary of €18,000 ‘equivalent of a development contract’ says IRFU

The deeper a team goes in a tournament, the more acute the disappointment of defeat

Leinster boss said Celtic fans should turn out to support province in Glasgow Pro 14 final

As Leinster face Glasgow, manager shrugs off criticism of his player selection decisions

Groundhog day for Van Graan’s men as Leinster show their ability to go up a gear