Josh van der Flier excited to pit himself against the All Blacks
Ireland player pays tribute to captain and teammate Johnny Sexton after special day
Johnny Sexton: ‘The most special messages I got were from the guys who got the 100 caps’
Sexton, Andy Farrell and Jamie Joseph reflect on Ireland’s dominant win at the Aviva
Ireland v Japan: Landmark day in store for Sexton and co
Ireland will have to stay organised to counter Japan’s improved attack and set-piece
Andy Farrell front loads Ireland side in expectation of dangerous Japanese threat
‘This is a proper Test match, you guys know that. I’m not sure everybody else does’
Japan coach Jamie Joseph expects Ireland to raise their game to mark Sexton milestone
‘We know it’s going to create a lot of emotion with the Irish boys’
Johnny Sexton to wait until after Six Nations before making decision on World Cup
‘My body is good, my mind is good and, in an ideal world, I would love to keep going’
Japan player watch: How Timothy Lafaele enables his side’s dynamic back play
Ireland have found the Samoan-born centre a tough opponent in recent meetings
James Ryan and Joey Carbery in Ireland side to face Japan
Andy Farrell selects strongest side at his disposal for match in Dublin
Plenty of motivation for Irish and Scottish players as Lions face Japan
Murray one of seven-strong Irish contingent with painful memories of World Cup
Lions to play Japan on home soil before tour to South Africa
Warren Gatland’s side will play Brave Blossoms at Murrayfield on June 26th 2021
Sporting upsets: Japan light the blue touch paper as Ireland slowly wilt
Brave Blossoms’ win sparks beginning of the end for Schmidt’s side and inspires a nation
Rugby in a pandemic: Welcome to the season from the edge of oblivion
The return of supporters is seen as vital to the future of the professional game
Bernard Jackman helping world’s top coaches pick each other’s brains
Zoom gathering started with just seven coaches has mushroomed during lockdown
Liam Toland: Astute kicking game helps England establish a stranglehold
For the third time in a row Ireland were unable to cope with England’s tactics
Ian Foster gets the nod as new All Blacks coach
He served eight years as Hansen’s assistant and beat Scott Robertson to the position
Pieter-Steph Du Toit named World Rugby Player of the Year
Rassie Erasmus named coach of the year with Jamie Heaslip receiving merit award
It’ll be all black for a while but New Zealand will rise again
Steve Hansen fronts up and offers no excuses after crushing semi-final defeat to England
The Offload: Ireland’s Joe Schmidt rattled rugby’s true elite
Outgoing coach has left a blueprint behind, Jamie Joseph will have plenty of options
Power prevails as Springboks crush Japan’s World Cup dreams
Brave Blossoms wilt against South Africa as they set up a semi-final meeting with Wales
Japan’s thrilling odyssey snuffed out by harsh South African reality
Rugby World Cup: Brave Blossoms have brought game to new levels in host country
Jamie Joseph makes one change to Japan XV for Springboks clash
Ryohei Yamanaka replaces William Tupou at fullback for South Africa quarter-final
Gerry Thornley: Japan v Scotland was a magnificent irrelevance
Decision to go ahead despite typhoon vindicated by uplifting performance from hosts
Rassie Erasmus: ‘Japan are the enemy for one week’
South Africa coach impressed with hosts’ improvement through Rugby World Cup
Exhilarating Japan arrive on the big stage in the land of the rising water
Hosts send an intoxicating air through rugby’s old order as they dump out Scotland
Rugby World Cup: Japan enthral a nation and beyond as they storm into quarter-finals
Ireland will now play world champions New Zealand in the last eight next Saturday
Japan hoping to maintain momentum with win over Samoa
The Japanese public has taken to devouring rugby stories as it gets to know its heroes
Niall Scannell dismisses criticism of sub-par Irish performance
Ireland accentuate the positive after 35-0 victory over Russia on a rainy night in Kobe
Rugby World Cup - Ireland v Russia: Irish kick-off time, TV channels and more
Joe Schmidt’s side look to get their tournament back on track against Bears in Kobe
Rugby World Cup: Preparation drives Japan’s perfect coup
Unlike four years ago, favourable schedule in the pool will now suit the Brave Blossoms
Rugby World Cup: Japan’s old guard to the fore on glorious night for host nation
Luke Thompson. Michael Leitch and Shota Horie all put in huge performances in Shizuoka
Rugby World Cup: Japan pitch perfect as Ireland strike bum note
Host nation take full advantage as Ireland let standards drop in Shizuoka
Johnny Sexton ready to ride to Ireland’s rescue once again
Ireland outhalf takes the positives from Japan defeat ahead of return against Russia
Sexton the story that matters as Carty fades in the face of Brave Blossoms
Tale of three outhalves quickly becoming Schmidt’s downward spiralling swansong
Rugby World Cup - Thompson: ‘Everyone had written us off . . . It’s a very special moment’
Jamie Joseph: ‘We’ve been preparing for this game for a hell of a lot longer than what the Irish have’
‘Sensational’ Japan light the blue touch paper with Ireland win: the world press react
Famous victory for the Brave Blossoms was a shock but it was also thoroughly deserved
Beautiful chaos as Japan find their rugby voice against Ireland
Misery in the heat for tourists as the Brave Blossoms run the ball and take a famous bow
Rugby World Cup: Ireland must be wary against a Japan side under very little pressure
Hosts can swing from the hip with opportunities to come against Samoa and Scotland
Rugby World Cup: Jamie Joseph knows Japan must pile pressure on Jack Carty
‘There’s a lot less experience without him. Johnny Sexton is a key player’
Japan bench captain Michael Leitch for Ireland clash
Jamie Joseph: ‘if we’re going to win it’s going to come down to the last five or 10 minutes’
Joe Schmidt confident Johnny Sexton will be fit to face Russia
Sexton has been unable to train this week, after being hurt against Scotland on Sunday
Yamanaka and Japan eager to grasp once in a lifetime opportunity
Fullback hoping to win a starting role for crucial clash against Ireland on Saturday
Rugby World Cup: Ireland enjoy splendid isolation as they prepare for Japan test
Remote hotel an ideal location for Schmidt and his squad to hone their game plan
Rugby World Cup: Nothing lost in translation as Japan’s players prepare for Ireland clash
Host nation well aware of strengths and opportunities ahead of Saturday’s game
Rugby World Cup: Nervous Japan come through in the end after finding their feet
Brave Blossoms thrill Tokyo crowd as they run out 30-10 winners over Russia
Kotaro Matsushima’s electric hat-trick sees Japan past game Russia
Hosts slow out of the blocks in Tokyo but pull away to start home tournament with a bang
Liam Toland: Evolving player base and gameplan key to Ireland’s success
Rugby World Cup timetable puts Ireland in strong position for quarter-final showdown
RWC moments: Culhane scores a world record 45 points
New Zealand beat Japan by 128 points in 1995 Rugby World Cup with the outhalf starring
Japan need early World Cup scalps to get populace behind them
Letter from Japan: Home side love their rules but several illogical demands will need to be broken
Japan’s Luke Thompson aiming to bow out on a high
Kiwi has proved a remarkable servant for Brave Blossoms and is looking forward to fourth RWC
RWC moments: Gary Halpin’s try-scoring salute
Prop enjoyed moment of glory in Ireland’s 43-19 defeat to New Zealand
Greg Feek and company ponder prop posers as World Cup looms
Versatility could help press the case of the likes of Ryan, Porter and Bealham
Pool A: Brave Blossoms ready to do Japan proud
Tournament hosts will be hoping for a repeat of their famous win over Springboks in 2015
Tokyo-based Sunwolves cut from Super Rugby after 2020
Super Rugby will revert to a purely southern hemisphere affair in blow to Japanese rugby
The Offload: There is no place to hide for an out-of-form nine
Mutual respect is obvious as Martin Johnson and Paul O’Connell means good TV
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