Rugby Statistics: It’s time for change as Farrell puts his own shape on things

There is an average 5.4 selection changes between the final game of an Irish coach and the opener of his successor

Ireland pull it out of the fire to avoid leaving Rome in ruins

Joe Schmidt’s side limp home with bonus point after poor performance at the Stadio Olimpico

Terenure win battle of former powerhouses against St Mary’s

Patsakorn Kidd’s stunning first-half try the highlight at Donnybrook

Anatomy of a try: Hickie’s wonder score kick-started the Leinster era

Victory over defending champions Toulouse away proved a seminal moment in team’s development

Gordon D’Arcy: For Leinster, these days are precious and few

It’s fleeting but being together in a trophy-winning dressing room will be cherished forever

Gordon D’Arcy: Racing will not live with Leinster for 80 minutes

Parallels with 2009 abound and leaders from that campaign should give side the edge

Scarlets flourishing but Welsh sides still trailing the provinces

Leinster and Munster have thrived as regions struggled in the continental wilderness

No quarter given: Jamie Heaslip recalls Leinster's last-eight battles

Former number eight played in all of Leinster’s quarter-finals up until last year

Tadhg Furlong’s pass deserves its own special word of celebration

Fascinating thing was that the tighthead prop was the player chosen by Schmidt for key pass

Jacob Stockdale: the fearless rookie producing All Black numbers

21-year-old’s superb pace and try-scoring ability makes up for his defensive weaknesses

Grand Slam winners 2009 - where are they now?

Nine years from Ireland’s second Grand Slam, Gavin Cummiskey looks at the class of 2009

Any talk of Grand Slam forbidden in Ireland camp

But Brian O’Driscoll says players will be ‘100 per cent’ focused on the ultimate goal

Keith Earls in a good place ahead of defining Six Nations endgame

Maturing winger believes communication is key to keeping Scotland at bay on Saturday

Liam Toland: To hell with precedent, Ireland need Zebo

There’s not a player in Irish rugby akin to Zebo and his case should stand on its own merits

Ross O’Carroll-Kelly: ‘The anaesthetist is a total knockout – no pun intended’

Ross is going under the knife, but counting backwards from 20 is causing problems

Joe Schmidt knew Gatland would call up Welsh and Scottish players

‘For our guys, if they have missed an opportunity because of the logistics, it is tough’

Tommy Tiernan, Abandoman and Spencer Jones shine at Kilkenny Cat Laughs

The festival gets a new set of directors for 2017

Gordon D’Arcy: Clermont loss can be springboard for Leinster

Battling defeat in Lyon can do for current side what Toulouse victory did for 2006 crop

Eddie O’Sullivan’s untouchables offer inspiration to coming men

Veterans of 2007 retain influence as Ireland’s first fully professional generation emerges

Gordon D’Arcy: The importance of winning the mental battle

Leinster and Munster must both go to The Well on Saturday and not give an inch away

Gerry Thornley: Ireland right to be wary of wounded Wales

Joe Schmidt’s men know their first Six Nations Friday night match will be a tough battle

Vincent Clerc: France will relish the role of the underdog

Ireland’s tormentor-in-chief believes old boss Guy Noves can deliver success for Les Bleus

Natural finisher Keith Earls has unfinished business

‘If I never scored another try and we won every game I played in, I’d still be happy’

Gordon D’Arcy: Adam Byrne’s blue lines will see his time come

Winger epitomises so much of what is good about Leinster’s attack right now

Simon Zebo on the brink of making Munster history

Province’s all-time leading try scorer is one touchdown short of reaching half century

Gordon D’Arcy: Downplaying pain is part of the game

Hindsight tells you it is foolish, but you do anything – injured or not – to get out there

Gordon D’Arcy: Sexton helped build winning culture at Racing

Ireland outhalf laid the runway for Dan Carter’s smooth landing in Paris

Six Nations report card: A case of what might have been for Ireland

Paying the price for not converting chances; case for the defence; new laws please; England joy

Gordon D’Arcy: Six Nations a step too far for young guns

We will all be trying to read Joe Schmidt’s mind and all of us will probably get it wrong

Gerry Thornley: My Ireland squad to battle for World Cup

Rugby World Cup is around the corner and players will be twitchy this weekend

Schools make for grounds of a great celebration

Irish Schools Athletics Championships an inspiration for many in all walks of life

Remembering Six Nations 2007, the one that got away

How Ireland learnt that preventing the concession of a seven-pointer is as important as scoring one

Stadium roof not an open-and-shut case

Ireland have fared well in Cardiff in recent years playing with the roof open

Leinster’s Luke Fitzgerald considered retirement

Series of serious injuries nearly brought a premature end to winger’s career after high-flying start

Lacklustre Leinster in need of another string to their bow

Pressure on the former champions for a quick riposte against Harlequins

Even Munster can’t take their supporters for granted

Gerry Thornley: As European success has become more elusive, some attendance fall off was on cards

Brian O’Driscoll tells of New York arrest in new book

Extracts from ‘The Test - My Autobiography’ appeared in today’s Sunday Times

Denis Hickie has high hopes for World Cup

Former Ireland international winger believes Joe Schmidt is right man to lead country on to success

Always at the centre as Leinster became more fluent in their French lessons

Brian O’Driscoll has been a major player in his province’s evolution on French soil

All hail the chief: a marvel as captain and leader by example

Brian O’Driscoll’s final home game in the green shirt will be an emotional occasion

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