Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has named Billy Burns at number 10 in his team to face Georgia this Sunday at the Aviva stadium. It's one of nine changes from the England defeat, with Munster's uncapped Shane Daly named among the replacements. On his team selection, Farrell says: "We're glad to grow the pool and find out about people. Then, when it comes to the Six Nations after Christmas hopefully that pool is grown and you've got a few more headaches along the way." Click here for Patrick Madden's all you need to know guide ahead of the latest Autumn Nations Cup fixture. Leinster will not be in action this weekend after their Pro14 clash with the Scarlets was cancelled on Thursday following the positive tests of three players from the Welsh side for Covid-19.
Defensive errors proved costly yet again as Rapid Vienna took the gifts on offer to beat Dundalk 3-1 at the Aviva Stadium. The Irish side are yet to register a point after four Europa League group games and Emmet Malone explains that any chance of picking up some against Molde away would require them to, "for a start, sort out their defending". Elsewhere in the competition last night Celtic's worrying form continued with a 4-1 defeat to Sparta Prague. Tottenham and Arsenal enjoyed comfortable wins, with Leicester joining the latter in securing their passage to the knockout stages with a 3-3 draw against Braga. The British government has announced its new tiering measures for England with 10 Premier League clubs placed in the strictest category, Tier 3, while the other half will welcome back 2,000 fans next week. Huge crowds gathered to say goodbye to Diego Maradona in Buenos Aires and Napoli on Thursday. The Argentine government extended the public wake after trouble had flared up between police and fans.
Brian Cody just doesn't lose semi-finals. In his column this morning Jackie Tyrrell explains why Waterford have a free pass in this weekend's hurling All-Ireland semi-final, but still won't beat Cody's Kilkenny: "The best way I can describe it is that semi-finals are like asking your girlfriend's Dad for his daughter's hand in marriage. They're awkward as anything, you just want them to be over quickly so you can start planning for the big day. But you have to put the work in first before you get there."
Meanwhile, JP McManus's RSA Chase hero Champ is among 23 entries for the Savills Chase at Leopardstown's Christmas Festival on December 28th. He faces a tough test on his first venture out of novice company with his potential rivals including the last two winners of the race – Gordon Elliott's Delta Work and the Willie Mullins-trained Kemboy. Cormac Sharvin carded a level-par 72 but fellow Northern Ireland golfer Jonathan Caldwell had a day to forget at the first round of the Alfred Dunhill Championship on Thursday.
