Ireland make 11 changes for Russia; United and Arsenal find their level

Ireland have retained just four players from the starting team defeated by Japan for Thursday's encounter with Russia, and among the 11 changes is a fit again Johnny Sexton. Bundee Aki and Andrew Conway, a try-scorer against Scotland, also return to the backline, with Luke McGrath renewing his Leinster halfback partnership with Sexton. The biggest load of any player in the entire 31-man squad has been placed on Garry Ringrose who again starts in the centre. Russia's assistant coach, Irishman Mark McDermott, says his team's taxing schedule is taking a heavy toll: "These are not meant to be ironman competitions, but they're turning into that."

In his column this morning (Subscriber Only), Gerry Thornley explains why Japan are now a serious factor at their own Rugby World Cup: "the scheduling has clearly been designed to favour Japan at every turn in this pool. They had an eight-day turnaround to Ireland's six, it will be seven days as against Samoa's five next Saturday, and another eight as against four for the pool finale against Scotland." For the second time in the tournament so far, today is a rest day with no matches.

Manchester United and Arsenal found their level in a humdrum 1-1 draw at Old Trafford last night. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's 58th minute goal, given after VAR review, cancelled out Scott McTominay's well-struck opener on the stroke of halftime but it was a game which highlighted the weaknesses of the two teams. Tonight attention turns to the Champions League, where Tottenham host Bayern Munich in the big game of the night. Jan Vertonghen is hoping that both he, and last year's beaten finalists can rediscover their best form.

Meanwhile, in this week's Pay for Play pages, Ruaidhrí Croke asks has golf in Ireland become too cheap? "With over 400 golf courses in Ireland for a population of 4.5 million, in comparison to around 1,800 in England for a population of 55.5 million, there's a strong case to be made that there are simply too many golf courses in Ireland."