Sir Stirling Moss knew the first of his several brilliant lifetimes was ending when he could no longer keep 'one eye on the track, another on the gauges and still be able to spot a pretty girl in the crowd'.

Virgin Australia's board made a last-minute plea for $100 million from the Federal Government to pay its bills for the next fortnight but the request was refused and it has gone into administration.

The Clermont back-rower still cannot quite fathom how Ireland shut down Les Bleus in last season's fraught 15-13 victory that was snatched with Johnny Sexton's last-gasp monster drop-goal.

Ireland insist hooker Sean Cronin has lost no World Cup ground despite being dropped from the squad for Sunday's Guinness Six Nations clash with France in Dublin.

British and Irish Lions flanker Sean O'Brien has been omitted from Ireland's squad for Sunday's Guinness Six Nations clash with France.

EXCLUSIVE BY CHRIS FOY: World Rugby's grand vision for an annual Nations League is in danger of collapsing even before Thursday’s meeting of leading officials takes place.

Eddie Jones has heaped pressure on Wales ahead of Saturday's showdown against Ireland by claiming they are tired. Victory for the Irish would give England a shot at snatching the title.

The Principality Stadium roof will be left open for Wales' Six Nations Grand Slam game in Cardiff against Ireland, despite yellow wind warnings set for Saturday.

WILL KELLEHER'S SCRUM'S THE WORD: This week we have tales of Beards, beers, and Beirnes ahead of the biggest game of the weekend: Wales v Ireland, and plenty more besides.

If Ireland do not rain on Wales's parade, it is certain now that Storm Hannah will. With Gareth blowing through earlier in the week, it's Hannah's turn to wreak havoc.

Rory Best has tipped rookie lineout caller James Ryan to come of age for Ireland against the 'world's best lock' Alun Wyn Jones in Cardiff for their Six Nations clash.

The British and Irish Lions are in talks about staging a bumper international match against a top Test-playing nation at Twickenham ahead of the 2021 tour of South Africa.

EXCLUSIVE BY CHRIS FOY: The RFU have informed rival unions in the southern hemisphere that they will not sign up for the proposed Nations League - meaning World Rugby's proposal is doomed.

Leavy lasted only 11 minutes of Saturday's Champions Cup quarter-final victory over Ulster before he was carried from the pitch on a stretcher having replaced Sean O'Brien in the second-half.

McGrath, who is contracted to the Irish Rugby Football Union, has won 57 caps but has slipped behind provincial colleague Cian Healy in the loosehead pecking order.

Best suffered the damage to his left foot in Ulster's Champions Cup quarter-final defeat by Leinster on Saturday and following a scan on Monday it was confirmed he will be fit to lead Ireland in Japan

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.

The outgoing Wales coach was named head coach for the 2021 tour of South Africa on Friday, having already led the Lions to victory in Australia and a drawn series in New Zealand last time out.

Joe Schmidt has suffered a World Cup injury blow with veteran flanker Seán O'Brien ruled out of the tournament in Japan with a hip injury. His set for six months on the sidelines.

Munster duo Mike Haley and Jean Kleyn are the only uncapped players included in Ireland's 44-man training squad for their pre-World Cup training camps.

England have reverted to the 10-12 alliance of George Ford and captain Owen Farrell for Saturday's clash against Ireland at Twickenham, in a line-up featuring nine changes.

Warren Gatland insisted that Rhys Patchell would travel to the World Cup on Wednesday despite suffering a worrying concussion in Wales' defeat to Ireland.

Fly-half Rhys Patchell will be assessed ahead of Wales' World Cup departure on Wednesday after he was concussed during their final warm-up game.

Get your Rugby World Cup 2019 sweepstake kit here. Simply print out the sheet, then cut the names into individual pieces of paper, fold them and put them into a hat ahead of the tournament on 20 Sept.

RORY KEANE: This Ireland squad were primed to reach a first-ever World Cup semi-final, and possibly more. But they have been seemingly in free-fall since the events of February 2 at the Aviva.

Rugby World Cup tournament is two weeks away with Japan currently being hit by typhoon Faxai. Find out the rules in place should games be disrupted by weather meaning they have to be cancelled.

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

With the World Cup set to begin on Friday, nobody can predict which side will lift the Webb Ellis trophy on November 2. Sir Clive Woodwood has run the rule on every side in Japan.

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 YOKOHAMA: Iain Henderson hailed the performance of Rory Best after Ireland trounced Scotland, claiming the captain had 'silenced a lot of his critics'.

One week and 12 matches in the Rugby World Cup and we have our first rest day, which seems a natural time to take stock ahead of a jam-packed weekend. Here is our team of the week...

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

Brian O'Driscoll praised Japan and poured scorn on Ireland's performance after the Brave Blossoms produced a stunning World Cup upset. 

Ireland coach Joe Schmidt has revealed World Rugby admitted there were three incorrect offside calls given against his side during their shock 19-12 World Cup Pool A defeat by Japan.

Sexton captained Ireland for the first time on Thursday, but he was replaced by Jack Carty for the second-half of his side's five-try win over the Bears.

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.

RORY KEANE IN FUKUOKA: Fourteen-man Ireland sealed their place in the World Cup quarter finals with a seven-try victory over Samoa here in Fukuoka, but Bundee Aki's red card will be a worry.

Tadhg Furlong has warned that to switch off even for a second against New Zealand will cost Ireland the chance of a maiden World Cup semi-final.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: This game will be massive. So far in Anglo-Australian encounters at World Cups we have one victory apiece in the final, two England quarter-final wins and two Aussie pool wins.

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.

All Blacks boss Steve Hansen lit the fuse on a potentially explosive week on Monday by vowing to lay false traps for Ireland's master tactician and head coach Joe Schmidt.

'Sean aggravated a pre-existing neck muscle complaint and has been ruled out of the remainder of RWC19,' read an Irish Rugby Football Union statement.

Johnny Sexton has predicted that New Zealand will be cleaner in their Rugby World Cup quarter-final against Ireland following a bruising encounter in Dublin three years ago.

RORY KEANE IN TOKYO: Ireland have a shot at history here on Saturday, with the All Blacks standing in the way of a place in the World Cup semi-finals.

All Blacks take on Ireland in their Rugby World Cup quarter-final clash in Japan as they look to progress to the semi-final to take on either England or Australia. Follow LIVE ACTION RIGHT HERE.

RORY KEANE AT TOKYO STADIUM: Dear, oh dear. Ireland's abysmal record in World Cup quarter finals continued in Tokyo as a rampant All Blacks outfit romped to a seven-try victory.

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'.

RORY KEANE AT THE AVIVA STADIUM: Johnny Sexton says Ireland are trying to draw a line under the hellish events of last year and Saturday was a good start as Andy Farrell's side won.

Ireland are desperate to show green shoots of recovery after a harrowing World Cup under Joe Schmidt. Sportsmail analyses their threats, and what has changed under new coach Andy Farrell.