Just two days to go now until the big kick-off in Japan and things are heating up. In around an hour's time or so we will have the latest news from the Ireland camp in Chiba, including a probable team for Sunday's opening clash with Scotland. Before that, there's plenty for you to read including our 32-page Rugby World Cup magazine which comes with today's newspaper, complete with wallchart so make sure to pick up a copy. Meanwhile, Gordon D'Arcy writes this morning that Ireland, New Zealand and Argentina are best primed to thrill in Japan. "Flying under the radar is the only way to go. The Irish fans, while a joy to behold, will be all-consuming from now on. And then there's the Scots, who must throw all they are worth at Sunday's game," he writes.
Moving on and the big news from yesterday was that Welsh coach Rob Howley has been sent home from their World Cup base to face a betting investigation for allegedly breaching World Rugby regulations. If found guilty, Howley could be banned for life from the game and Paul Rees writes that the former scrum-half, for all his success and personal charm, was never really a hit with fans. Meanwhile, former referee Owen Doyle will be writing for The Irish Times throughout the tournament and he pens his first column today, saying that as we enter the tournament we're at high risk mode of serious injury. Don't forget you can follow all of the build-up to Japan with columns, analysis, news, interviews, stats, fixtures and much more on our dedicated 2019 Rugby World Cup site.
In GAA, Darragh Ó Sé reflects this morning on an All-Ireland final loss for Kerry and a long winter ahead but he does feel that Dublin goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton fully deserves a long overdue Player of the Year Award. "One minute you're shaking hands with Michael D, the next you're in the corner of a pub in the middle of the day, no closer to an All-Ireland than every other player in the country. Getting your head around all that is no picnic," he writes. Seán Moran is looking at it in a different way in his column as he writes that, population and not funding is the main reason behind Dublin's unprecedented success. "The sheer population of the capital has always carried with it the apprehension that if properly exploited, it could capsize the GAA," he writes.
On to football and the Champions League got underway last night with losses for both of the English sides in action. Jürgen Klopp's Liverpool went down 2-0 to Napoli at the Stadio San Paolo, their second consecutive loss at the venue after Napoli also beat them in last year's group stages. Meanwhile, Frank Lampard's youthful Chelsea side were left to rue a missed Ross Barkley penalty as Valencia struck late on to steal all three points at Stamford Bridge.
Finally to golf and the BMW PGA Championship gets underway at Wentworth tomorrow with Shane Lowry teeing it up on this side of the Atlantic for the first time since that memorable week in Portrush when he lifted the claret jug. Lowry will be grouped with Rory McIlroy and Francesco Molinari for the first two rounds and, speaking yesterday, he said that only a Masters victory could even come close to matching that week on the north Antrim coast.
