The Morning Sports Briefing

Boxing

Katie Taylor eased her way into the World Championships semi-finals yesterday, sealing her spot at the Rio Olympics and continuing her pursuit of six World titles in a row.

Mexico’s Victoria Torres showed plenty of aggression but the reigning World and Olympic champion would not be undone and progresses now to face Estelle Mossely from France on Thursday - the woman who beat Yana Alekseevna, the Azeri boxer who handed Taylor her first defeat in five years in Turkey last month.

Soccer

The Irish soccer team held their opening training session at the Aviva yesterday ahead of Friday's Euro 2016 warm-up game against the Netherlands. Blackburn defender Shane Duffy told Emmet Malone afterwards of his desire to put past setbacks behind him this summer.

And with Marc Wilson ruled out by injury he looks likely to fill the void - “I’ve got a lot better on the ball. If you want to step up, you have to be comfortable on it the way the game is going. So I have worked a lot on that. My physique too; I’ve got a lot fitter and got stronger.”

Meanwhile José Mourinho - edging ever closer to being announced as Manchester United manager - is said to be considering a move for the free agent Zlatan Ibrahimovic with his number one transfer target being an A-list centre-forward.

Over in Liverpool German Under-21 goalkeeper Loris Karius has signed from Mainz, taking the number one jersey upon his arrival.

Rugby

The Ulster pair of Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding, neither of whom featured in any of the matches in the Six Nations, are likely to be included in a 32-man Irish squad which Joe Schmidt announces today for the forthcoming three-Test tour of South Africa, with Ian Madigan possibly set to miss out.

Gordon D'Arcy's column this morning focuses on Connacht and their talisman Bundee Aki - "International rugby has to be the draw that keeps Aki in Ireland and especially in Galway. That means making him one of the highest paid players on a national contract as soon as possible."

GAA

While Darragh Ó Sé is asking - to design a great intercounty football team, what would be first on the list?

"If you want a starting point for what has changed the game, fitness is absolutely top of the list. I don't think people really understand the levels of fitness needed now."