Kane Douglas back in Dublin with a point to prove

Secondrow failed to impress in short time at Leinster but wants to shine for Australia

Multiphase approach may be trick to crossing All Blacks try line

All Blacks have won 30 Test matches since drawing 12-12 with Australia in August 2014

Rugby: European Champions Cup previews

Pool fixtures and team line-outs

Ulster will need Paddy Jackson in top form in Bordeaux

Ian Madigan knows he is in shop window for Ireland place as Champions Cup kicks off

Ian Madigan puts himself back in the shop window

Bordeaux outhalf may be enjoying his new life in France but he still harbours Irish ambitions

Gerry Thornley: It’s baby steps to begin with for Irish provinces

Champions Cup likely to be Anglo-French carve-up again with odds against Pro12 sides

Ulster need to hold the centre for Bordeaux

Piutau, Marshall, Olding and Trimble in mix as Ulster seek positive Champions Cup start

Champions Cup lowdown: Irish pools broken down, players to watch and betting guide

Leinster and Ulster both face two French sides in pool stages

Gordon D’Arcy: Ireland must get England’s Ford to reverse into Twickenham traffic

George Ford and Owen Farrell must be turned and met by bloody-minded tackling

Ian Humphreys in stronger position after playing abroad

Ulster outhalf thinks Ireland side can be improved by players moving elsewhere

Ian Madigan exit will put IRFU policy under microscope

Ireland outhalf’s move to Bordeaux-Bègles guided by desire to be world class

Sublime All Blacks deliver the perfect final flourish

Richie McCaw’s men leave very best for last in retaining Webb Ellis trophy

New Zealand retain World Cup title as they hold off brave Australia fightback

Wallabies got back to within four points before All Blacks pulled clear at Twickenham

Michael Cheika formula has mended a broken team

The Australia coach sat down with Gerry Thornley to discuss his motivational tactics

Both New Zealand and Australia can claim to be number one

Once more into the fray for indisputably the best teams at this Rugby World Cup

RWC Final 2015: The key head-to-heads

Gerry Thornley examines the key areas Australia and New Zealand will do battle

Matt Giteau’s presence galvanises Wallabies as glory beckons

Australia’s policy on overseas players highlights England’s strategic failure

‘We don’t want to be proud just to make the final’

Michael Cheika laughed off claims he has deliberately avoided saying the ‘All Blacks’

D’Arcy: Wallabies have chance if they make All Blacks doubt

World Cup final one-off game and anything can happen – but Australia must attack

Stephen Larkham looking for chinks in All Black armour

Wallabies must breach a defence that has conceded only four tries in tournament

Ashley-Cooper bags hat-trick as Australia subdue runaway Pumas

David Pocock-inspired Wallabies march on to final meeting against New Zealand

Michael Cheika: ‘One of the big things we want to bring is honesty’

Battered Wallabies count injury cost of battle with Pumas ahead of final

Wallabies’ woes might just give Pumas the edge

Cheika puts hopes in Pocock and Folau, but Argentina are not planning to sit back

Bernard Foley sinks Scotland the brave with last minute penalty

Vern Cotter’s side moments from famous win but the Wallabies edge quarter-final

Michael Cheika announces 31-man Australia World Cup squad

Stephen Moore captains the Wallabies with Toulon’s Matt Giteau securing a place

Quade Cooper unfairly takes the blame as All Blacks bounce back

‘Cooper Blooper’ headlines dominate as Aussie media call for outhalf’s head

Australia sink New Zealand to secure Rugby Championship

Michael Cheika’s side make big statement in Sydney ahead of the Rugby World Cup

Tevita Kuridrani gives Wallabies last gasp win over South Africa

Australia pip Springboks at the death to get off to winning start in Rugby Championship

Toulon confirm signing of Quade Cooper

Joining fellow Australian’s like Will Genia and Adam Ashley-Cooper playing abroad

Australia change selection policy facilitating overseas players

Toulon’s Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell now become available for World Cup selection

Saracens lead calls to scrap Premiership salary cap

World’s best players expected to base themselves in Europe on lucrative deals after World Cup

Dan Carter to be rugby’s highest paid player in Racing Metro deal

All Black will join after 2015 World Cup bringing an end to his international career

England urged to impose willpower on Australia

Traditional Anglo-Australian rivalry swiftly be rekindled once the crowd’s valedictory applause for Phillip Hughes has concluded

Ireland to rise to the top in old pals’ act against Australia

Home side further along the path with Joe Schmidt than Australia are with Michael Cheika

France end miserable year on a high with win over Australia

Philippe Saint-Andre’s team make up for whitewash in June

Australia beaten at the death by New Zealand

Malakai Fekitoa crashed over with three seconds left and Colin Slade added the extras after the siren

South Africa and Australia playing for second place

All Blacks likely to claim Rugby Championship with away win over Argentina

All Blacks look to make history in Bledisloe Cup match

New Zealand seek to establish longest winning sequence in history of Test rugby with 18th successive win in Rugby Championship opener against Australia

Michael Cheika completes unique coaching double

“They’re both great but the thing that’s extra here is that I had all my family and friends and it’s my home state”

France mown down by Australia in Brisbane

Hosts were 41 points up at one stage prior to a late rally from the tourists

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE...

The Irish Times ePaper

Stardust

Inquests into the nightclub fire that led to the deaths of 48 people

Common Ground

How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands