The fly-half has not appeared for Leinster since the turn of the year, and was ruled out of last Saturday’s Champions Cup quarter-final victory over Ulster with a quad issue.

Leinster flanker Sean O'Brien is preparing for an emotional farewell after next week's Champions Cup final - having revealed that he would have stayed in Dublin for a quarter of the money.

England want all three available to take on Ireland to offset any need to pitch Billy Vunipola into a third Test in as many weeks. All three trained on Wednesday at England's Pennyhill Park camp.

Over a long and distinguished career, Brian O'Driscoll became adept at dealing with everything and anything thrown his way.

Gregor Townsend confessed it 'doesn't look good' for Hamish Watson after admitting the Scotland flanker's World Cup might be over already. The Dark Blues suffered a 27-3 mauling from Ireland.

RORY KEANE IN SHIZUOKA: Carty starts only his second Test in place of conductor-in-chief Johnny Sexton, who is out with a groin injury. Schmidt reckons Carty has the right stuff.

Japan claimed one of the greatest upsets in rugby history, four years after their historic win over South Africa. 

Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt admitted Japan had raised their game to 'furious' levels after stunning them 19-12 in Shizuoka.

RORY KEANE AT THE MISAKI PARK STADIUM: Job done. Ireland got their World Cup campaign back on a track with a bonus-point win over Russia in Kobe, but this was another worrying performance.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY RORY KEANE IN FUKUOKA: The 48-year-old is now head coach of Samoa, the final obstacle in Ireland's quest to qualify for the knockout stages at the Rugby World Cup.

Johnny Sexton has questioned the 'strange' negativity around Ireland's World Cup campaign, insisting Joe Schmidt's men are ready to peak for the All Blacks.

Caelan Doris has been backed to make a huge impact for Ireland on his Six Nations debut against Scotland on Saturday, with assistant coach Simon Easterby saying the No 8 is 'made for this level'.

The Irish travel to Twickenham seeking to clinch a second Triple Crown in three years after beginning this year's tournament with successive home wins over Scotland and Wales.

WILL KELLEHER IN DUBLIN: The 59-year-old Bono dropped into the Irish camp to give a rallying speech to Andy Farrell's team ahead of their Six Nations clash with England.

MIKE BROWN: You always know when it's an Ireland Test week because the coaches put a life-sized cardboard cut-out of Johnny Sexton in the team dining room.

Sportsmail runs the rule over every player from the two sides after a brutal Six Nations encounter at Twickenham that gives England a chance of glory thanks to their 24-12 victory.

The deadly epidemic has swept through northern parts of Italy and there have been calls to prevent the disease reaching the shores of Ireland with the game set to take place on March 7.

The British Horseracing Authority have closed their offices at High Holborn in London until further notice because some members of staff are self-isolating as the coronavirus outbreak continues to spread.

Some of Britain's biggest Flat meetings, headed by the June jewels of Royal Ascot and the Epsom Derby, are shrouded in uncertainty after racing was shut down until the end of April.

Racing leaders said on Wednesday that they are putting together a financial submission for Government aid to try to avert a desperate financial crisis.

Marquand dictated the pace aboard Addeybb, who was last seen finishing second to Magical in the Champion Stakes last October and is a seven times winner in Britain.

The British Horseracing Authority have stood down 80 per cent of its staff in an emergency financial plan to cut a third of its normal monthly budget. Over 200 out of 260 staff will be furloughed from work.

William Haggas' runner struck Group One gold under Tom Marquand in the Ranvet Stakes last month and he added another top-level success as he saw off Verry Elleegant in some style.

The son of Giant's Causeway was yesterday sadly euthanised at Kildangan Stud as a result of health issues, and brought an illustrious career at stud to an end.

SAM TURNER (Robin Goodfellow) runs the rule over half a dozen of the more interesting British-trained fillies which may possibly take their chance in the 1,000 Guineas.

EXCLUSIVE BY MARCUS TOWNEND: A one-off new format to decide the 2020 champion Flat jockey is set to be drafted to take account of the pandemic disruption to the season.

Racing has produced a provisional list of big races it hopes to stage over the last two weekends of May in the hope that the sport has been given the go-ahead by the Government to return.

Darmian - predominantly a right-back - has fallen down the pecking order at Old Trafford following the arrival of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, while Luke Shaw has nailed down the spot on the left flank.

Roberto Mancini has left Everton's new signing Moise Kean out of his latest Italy squad as a punishment for turning up late to a team meeting, according to Football Italia. 

The midfielder, now playing for Boca Juniors, retired from international football back in November 2017 after Italy's shock defeat to Sweden, which denied them a place at the 2018 World Cup.

Sean Dyche has quashed talk of Jay Rodriguez making a shock move to Inter Milan, branding it one of the strangest he has heard. Rodriguez only joined Burnley for £10million in the summer.

EXCLUSIVE BY SAMI MOKBEL: Rodwell will arrive in Rome with a view to completing a short-term deal until the end of the season.

With a win meaning they would reclaim top spot Inter travelled to Brescia and comfortably beat the 18th-placed side, despite a late own goal from defender Milan Skriniar.

Italy are meant to have lucrative a trip to Qatar in March that will include two friendly games as part of their preparations for the upcoming Euro 2020. But Roberto Mancini does not see this as tough enough.

Darts sensation Fallon Sherrock is set to face former Italian striker Luca Toni in a celebrity darts tournament this month. Toni is one of six celebrities taking part in the event.

JUVENTUS 4-0 UDINESE: Juventus, missing Cristiano Ronaldo with sinusitis, went ahead with a delightful goal after 16 minutes that had all the hallmarks of their coach Maurizio Sarri.

The Serie A club confirmed their centre back Rugani has been infected by Covid-19 on Wednesday night and will undergo a period of isolation.

Juventus defender Daniele Rugani was the first Serie A player to test positive for Covid-19, just days after he was in the matchday squad for the club's win over Inter behind closed doors.

Linney walked the red carpet in front of the traditional floral backdrop, which this year dons a rainbow-flag themed arrangement. It's a fitting tribute to 50 years since the Stonewall riots.

Vanessa Hudgens showed of her petite curves in a paisley-patterned mini dress at the 73rd Annual Tony Awards in New York City Sunday night.

Selena Gomez was again feeling nostalgic as she took to Instagram to post another throwback photo of herself at about 2 years old. The singer, 27, poses with her hands placed at the side of her face.

Selena Gomez rocked a $29 T-shirt of Aaliyah on Saturday evening while spotted picking up some takeaway food and heading to a pottery painting class in Los Angeles with a friend.

Taylor Swift is never shy about celebrating her friends. And after Selena Gomez released a heart wrenching ballad on Tuesday, the Lover singer was sure to shout her out.

The pair's love rivalry was brought back to the forefront this week after Selena released a new track about Justin Bieber, triggering an avalanche of drama.

Selena Gomez courted controversy with her Justin Bieber-inspired single Lose You To Love Me. After releasing a second single, she posted behind-the-scenes shots from her videos to Instagram.

She had to lose him to love herself. While on the Zach Sang Show, Selena Gomez spoke on her status as a single woman, and described the kind of love she hopes to find in the future.

Speaking to Zane Lowe on Apple Music's Beats 1, Selena, 27, told how she feels she was previously a 'people pleaser' until she had a 'huge moment' where she 'stopped caring'.

Selena Gomez posted a sweet Instagram photo praising her friend Taylor Swift. The post came shortly after she deleted a plug for Kim Kardashian's SKIMS in a possible show of allegiance to Taylor.

The singer, 27, turned heads in four stunning ensembles as she arrived at Z100 Radio station in New York on Monday to promote her new film The Dead Don't Die.

Selena Gomez is a single lady and she is making sure everyone knows. The 27-year-old singer took to Instagram on Wednesday to clarify her relationship status.