Still a week to go before Ireland take on England for the Triple Crown but preparations are ramping up in Cork. This morning Gerry Thornley writes that Ireland's midfield options are looking slimmer with Garry Ringrose not expected to recover in time while Will Addison is still battling a troublesome calf. The meeting between the sides will pit Andy Farrell against his son Owen for the first time with Farrell senior as head coach. The Ireland coach says that the dynamic is a bit strange but it's strictly professional with both men used to it at this stage. Don't forget that you can keep up to date with all of the Six Nations action including previews, reports, analysis, interviews, features, news and more on our dedicated 2020 Six Nations website.
Staying with rugby but moving to the schools side of things and former IRFU referee director Owen Doyle writes this morning about his recent experience at schools rugby and how there is a toxic atmosphere building up around it. "It is an intimidating place, the language is foul and the verbal abuse of match officials and of opposing players is appalling," he writes. "The throwing-in hooker, who is but a couple of metres away, gets a particularly torrid time. I also heard some comments that could only be described as on the cusp of racial abuse. The use of flares is both frightening and dangerous."
On to soccer and the Airtricity League 2020 season gets underway this evening with Dundalk chasing a sixth title in seven years. However, Vinny Perth's side were beaten in the FAI Cup final by Shamrock Rovers last November and know that they will have stiff competition once again from the Tallaght outfit this season, as Emmet Malone writes in his preview. You can also find a club-by-club guide to the new season, as well as predictions, here. Meanwhile, amid a flurry of loan deals being completed late on before the season starts, Reading first-team coach John O'Shea told Emmet Malone that he is only too happy to send a few players across the water to his native city of Waterford for some experience. In the latest of our Greener Pastures columns, Aonghus Ó Maicín catches up with Antrim man Johnny McKinstry who is still on the managerial trail through Africa with his latest job pitching him up in Uganda.
Finally to golf where Matt Kuchar leads after round one of the Genesis Open at Riviera but new world number one Rory McIlroy is lurking after a 68. Kuchar's 64 catapulted him into a three-shot lead at seven under while McIlroy sits at three with Tiger Woods a further shot behind after he started fast and got to four under through nine before faltering on the way in. At the Australian Open on the LPGA Tour, Stephanie Meadow sits six off the lead at four under after the first two rounds while Leona Maguire followed an opening 74 with a second round 75 to miss the cut.
