Gregor Paul: Loss to Ireland has primed All Blacks for Lions onslaught

Gatland’s men may struggle to cope with high expectations All Blacks are used to

Gordon D’Arcy: No steeper rugby incline than a Lions tour

And facing the All Blacks in New Zealand is the ultimate test for any rugby team

Depleted Munster squad face daunting task in Thomond Park

Maori All Blacks are effectively shadow New Zealand squad but still contain big threats

Haka: Tradition must be abused, or at least ignored

‘Why should a side coming to Ireland get the first applause by doing a dance’

‘Front Up, Rise Up’ extract: the Bundellu Aki story

‘Irish Times’ writer Gerry Thornley’s new book examines Connacht’s rise to Pro12 success

Independent pitchside doctors may be introduced in Champions Cup

EPCR director general Vincent Gaillard hoping new measures will be in place for knockout stages

Leinster line up Mike Ford to replace Kurt McQuilkin

Surprise departure of New Zealander means province must find a new defence coach

Leinster lock fears serious injuries as players get bigger and stronger

New Zealander Hayden Triggs says concussion is becoming more of an issue all the time

Ma’a Nonu ready for new adventure with Toulon

‘This is my home now and I will give my all for Toulon’

No one does it better than New Zealand’s Ma’a Nonu

All Black linebreaker knows he will have to be at his best to thwart the Wallabies

Gordon D’Arcy: Burgess is blunder that could bury England

Bath centre lacks the sense of timing required to be effective at international level

RWC #4: France upset the odds and the All Blacks in 1999 epic

Les Bleus score 33 unanswered points to surge from behind at Twickenham

Andy McGeady: Time on Cullen’s side but the time for Leinster might be now

He may be only 37 but the ex-Leinster secondrow has always been a natural leader

Jerry Collins’ tragic death casts very cold light on Fifa grubbiness

All Black lit up forlorn November afternoon when he visited Donegal a decade ago

Iain Henderson ultimately a victim of modern game’s anxieties

Rugby authorities have no problem making example out of a player for the greater good

Bath basing drive for glory on Mike Ford’s reliability

Ireland’s former defensive coach the guiding influence with Champions Cup contenders

Sonny Bill Williams set for New Zealand return

Twenty-nine-year-old could be back in All Blacks squad for tour of the USA and Britain

Experienced Muliaina aiming to lead by example for Connacht

Former All Black excited by the latest fresh challenge in a hugely successful career

All Blacks look to make history in Bledisloe Cup match

New Zealand seek to establish longest winning sequence in history of Test rugby with 18th successive win in Rugby Championship opener against Australia

Two expensively assembled Euro superpowers contest the final Heineken Cup

Only clubs like Toulon and Saracens have the cash and playing depth to go for a European-domestic double

Unimpressive Ireland gazing into the abyss – and the abyss is All Black

If the Irish pack are the same soft proposition in tomorrow’s game, they will be torn apart

Pat Lam looking forward to catching up with old friends

Connacht coach settling in to life in Galway but heart remains in Samoa

Spear tackle leaves Lions captain’s tour in tatters

From the archives: Brian O’Driscoll v New Zealand

Casey Laulala proving his worth to Munster

Laulala admits to lacking confidence in first year with the province

Lions staying on their feet in the PR game

Lessons have been learned from previous tours in not winding up these wounded Walllabies

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