Previous Day
Cardiff haka to be France's finale
RUGBY: Away from the madding crowds and buzz of
France, there hasn't been much hint of a World Cup going on this
past week in Cardiff save for the media postmortems on the Welsh
exit and the possible identity of their new coach. The bars were
all in readiness but empty until the 20,000-strong New Zealand
invasion began arriving in the last day or two. A nations expects
and all that, but New Zealand appear to be wearing it well. p
Big clubs set on opposing Blatter's limit plan
SOCCER: Fifa will face a flood of court cases similar to the landmark "Bosman ruling" if they pursue president Sepp Blatter's proposal to limit the number of foreigners playing for clubs, EU officials said yesterday. p
Bohemians pile further agony on old rivals
SOCCER/St Patrick's Athletic 0 Bohemians 1: The rivalry here may not be on the scale of that between the visitors and Shamrock Rovers, but the home support's obvious dissatisfaction last night at this latest failure to beat Bohemians this season was nevertheless another reason for managerial discomfort around Richmond Park. p
Rugby 
We can't afford not to change
The price of failure: Gerry Thornley on how the value of Irish rugby, Team Ireland and the players has plummeted in the wake of our disastrous showing in France pVOX POP Ireland's Fall
Some experts give their opinion on Ireland's performance in the World Cup pFrench hopes hinge on territorial battle
New Zealand against France makes for a classic quarter-final but it also means the tournament will suffer. A gloss is taken off the World Cup whether it's the host nation or favourites who are knocked out. I suppose Argentina are again to blame. pCometh the hour cometh le petit Manole
New Zealand v France/Profile of Raphael Ibanez: Gerry Thornley on the extraordinary pedigree and fascinating career of the man on whose shoulders so many French hopes are carried tonight pScots enjoying view from dizzy heights
Argentina v Scotland: Scotland's home this week in the Vaugirard arrondissement of southwest Paris is an area off the tourist path. It is a corner of high-rise concrete buildings by the busy Périphérique, of whistling traffic cops and clunking trams. But Frank Hadden's squad, housed in a skyscraper hotel above all the bustle, looked relaxed yesterday. And by 10.40pm tomorrow, Paris time, they could be looking down on the rest of the Northern Hemisphere from a lofty perch. pMore hangdog than bulldog
Quarter-finals: It is almost four years since the greatest day in English rugby history and, if Australia play their cards right, payback time has finally arrived. There are 13 survivors from the victorious 2003 squad in Brian Ashton's match-day 22 but English supporters anticipating a similarly sweet red-rose triumph should have been at yesterday's eve-of-game press conference. pTough afternoon in store for plucky Fijians
South Africa v Fiji: All that Fiji seem to have in their favour as they count down to the biggest game in their history is the fine weather here, and even that is on the turn, with thundery showers forecast to rumble in off the Mediterranean this weekend. pBarnes raring to go
If Berrick Barnes were English rather than Australian, the chances are that instead of lining up in a World Cup quarter-final this afternoon he would be preparing for a match in the Guinness Premiership. The 21-year-old outhalf was regarded as a wildcard selection in the Wallaby squad, having played only 22 matches for the Queensland Reds since switching codes two years ago, but such was the assurance he showed in his first Test start, against Wales last month, that he gave the impression of being a seasoned international. pError-prone Leinster get what they deserve
Celtic League/Leinster 23 Llanelli Scarlets 52: This isn't supposed to happen at home. Just what Irish rugby dreaded: another night of misery. pConnacht pipped at close
Glasgow 16 Connacht 15: Connacht's miserable record against the Glasgow Warriors continued at Firhill Arena last night. pUlster wield axe
Dragons v Ulster: In the wake of Wales's World Cup exit, Dragons bring international panellists Kevin Morgan and outhalf Ceri Sweeney straight into their team this evening. Michael Owen is named on the bench but Colin Charvis is ruled out with a minor injury. pMunster fail to settle
Munster 17 Cardiff Blues 19: Munster suffered their first loss of the season, to Cardiff Blues, in a match that was as bizarre as it was entertaining. In an astonishing first half it was all Cardiff as their intensity and poise had Munster rattled from early on. Slow to recycle the ball, Munster were on the back foot from the seventh minute as Cardiff outhalf Nick Robinson landed a penalty. p
Keane wears his soul on his sleeve
A year on The Wear: Week by week, month by month, Wearside is gradually coming to terms with Roy Keane - who he is, what he is, the believer, the sceptic, the fierce manager, the convivial football man. pGrant keen to get Ten Cate
English Premier League: Avram Grant insisted yesterday that Chelsea's move for Henk ten Cate came with his blessing and the arrival of the Ajax coach would provide him with a "top-of-the-line" assistant. Since his elevation to manager in the wake of Jose Mourinho's departure a little over two weeks ago, Grant has been working to assemble a new backroom staff. pGavin strike sees United race 11 clear
Drogheda United 1 Sligo Rovers 0: Just when it appeared this one was heading for a draw league leaders Drogheda United struck for the most dramatic of late winning goals three minutes into stoppage time. pBehan's goal gives Cork full points
Cork City 1 Shamrock Rovers 0: Cork City took inspiration from a superb performance from Colin Healy to overcome Shamrock Rovers at Turner's Cross where Denis Behan was once again the home team's goal-scoring hero. pSammon pounces to make a point
UCD 1 Bray Wanderers 1: Although Pete Mahon would still like another victory to guarantee top flight status, his UCD team are all but assured of their safety having come from behind to force a point. pGalway survive relegation dogfight
Galway Utd 2 Longford Town 1: With two teams threatened by relegation the stakes were high and ultimately Galway United survived against Longford Town, who remain bottom of the table. pWaterford rally to keep hopes alive
Waterford United 2 Derry City 1: Waterford United's tenacious grip on Premier Division status tightened last night when they came from behind to defeat Derry City at the RSC last night. pBusby, backhanders, brio and barbs
Interview/Eamon Dunphy: Michael Walker talks to Eamon Dunphy, and finds him, well, not as he - and, perhaps, you - expected p
Thriving not just surviving
Kerry hurling: Ian O'Riordan on the passion at play in tomorrow's Lixnaw versus Kilmoyley county final pMorgan's 24-week ban is confirmed
Cork football manager Billy Morgan has been suspended for six months by the GAA. The suspension was confirmed by the Central Hearings Committee on Thursday night after a personal appearance by Morgan to contest the 24-week ban, as proposed by the Central Competitions Control Committee. pClub football and hurling previews
This weekend's previews p
Tips from an old head put Clarke on course
Tournament round-up: The body of opinion that insists Darren Clarke is too good a player to be languishing at 195th in the world rankings - in other words, virtually everyone involved in professional golf - was reinforced yesterday when the Irishman went round the Old Course in 66 shots, six under par, to move into contention after two rounds of the Dunhill Links Championship. pSmyth right in the hunt
US CHAMPIONS TOUR : Des Smyth shot a four-under-par 66 in the second round to jump into contention in the Seniors Players Championship over the East Course at Baltimore Country Club in Maryland. p
Zambezi set to keep prize at home
Longchamp Preview: Kieren Fallon and John Murtagh both know the emotional highs and lows of winning and losing the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe but if the Irish jockeys lose out to Zambezi Sun in tomorrow's renewal of Europe's most valuable all-aged race at Longchamp then it might just sting that extra little bit. pAstronomer primed for action
Aidan O'Brien's team will be in Group One action on both sides of the Atlantic today, culminating in Astronomer Royal's attempt on the $600,000 Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland. pDark Angel leads field home in Middle Park
Newmarket Report: Dark Angel led the field at around the halfway point and kept up the gallop to gamely hold off all-comers in the Shadwell Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket yesterday. p
Marion in haste to repent at legerdemain
Sideline Cut: As the Beijing Olympics loom on the horizon, much of the fireworks and goodwill and wonder that characterised the Sydney Games seven years ago has been reduced to the sober duty list of a New York City courthouse. pTrack and field day for sceptics in Jones shame
On Athletics: So all the truth about Marion Jones adds up to one big lie. Just when it seemed Haile Gebrselassie had put some dignity and romance back into athletics, there she goes and blows it all. Typical. No wonder no one can break a world record anymore without arousing suspicion. Not even the great Ethiopian. pHamilton cleared of any wrongdoing at Fuji
MOTOR SPORT/Chinese Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton's bid to become the first rookie driver to win the Formula One world championship was firmly back on track yesterday after he was cleared of any wrongdoing in the accident involving Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel at the Japanese Grand Prix. p
