The coach and his team are proven big-game performers and Ireland have it all to do

Rugby stats: Schmidt looking for indication of players that will form World Cup squad

O'Driscoll and O'Gara on why you would not swap Ireland's halfback pairing for any in world rugby

Argentina clash will be a good barometer of coach's attempt to grow Ireland's depth

Ireland could take a leaf from All Blacks book and ensure all replacements get game time

If Johnny Sexton captains side during Australia tour he will be looking to break a mould

World-class Ireland and Lions scrumhalf is simply pivotal to what Munster are about

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

Mullen and World War veteran ‘Ernie’ Crawford out in front for win-rate while leading Ireland

Eight ex-Leinster men will be on Ulster’s payroll when Murphy and Moore arrive

In essence, gifted South African has been treated as a mere commodity by the IRFU

Young scrumhalf excited by the chance to pit his wits against Clermont’s Morgan Parra

The two main Lions scrumhalf hopes face off at the Millennium Stadium on Friday night

Prospect of another World Cup continues to inspire long-serving Ireland and Leinster No 8

Sexton’s blemish-free placekicking proved the crucial difference last time sides met

Surfaces such as Scotstoun can make slobbering around in the muck a thing of the past

Munster man felt it was important to take step back after playing days ended

The ins and outs, forecasted end of season position and betting odds for each team

Surprise departure of New Zealander means province must find a new defence coach

Champions Cup draw puts focus on provinces’ failure to attract top overseas players

Leinster and Ulster both face two French sides in pool stages

But veteran scrumhalf will take many memories with him from a great career

Joe Schmidt’s side superior but fail to take full advantage in Port Elizabeth

Long-term future of Ireland coach remains in doubt due to his family circumstances

Ireland secondrow believes South Africa tour a real stepping stone for young side

Scrumhalf played in three World Cups and won two Six Nations titles with Ireland

Keith Earls also spoke of how the squad is chanelling the spirit of their football counterparts

Ireland fullback will miss series decider in Port Elizabeth with a calf injury

‘I’ve been privileged to be part of so many successful teams over course of my career’

‘It’s never as simple as just putting players on and saying , oh, he’ll freshen things up’

Coach prepared to experiment for second and pivotal Test against South Africa

Stuart Olding, Tadgh Furlong, Rhys Ruddock and Craig Gilroy all come in for second test

Pat Lam’s men took their chances but what really counted was how they made them

Leinster’s big strength going into Pro12 showpiece is that they know how to win

Versatility of Stuart Olding and Luke Marshall will provide cover in South Africa

‘That’s the shortest, best squad update of the year,’ said Connacht boss Pat Lam

After struggling for much of the season Leinster blitzed the team that had impressed

Leinster boss Leo Cullen and Les Kiss name otherwise unchanged sides for RDS clash

He will join Leinster from the Hurricanes in time for pre-season training on July 1st

Connacht and Leinster both chasing crucial home advantage for prized semi-final berths