Ireland insist hooker Sean Cronin has lost no World Cup ground despite being dropped from the squad for Sunday's Guinness Six Nations clash with France in Dublin.

British and Irish Lions flanker Sean O'Brien has been omitted from Ireland's squad for Sunday's Guinness Six Nations clash with France.

Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt has admitted that his side have struggled to cope with the pressure after their stellar 2018.

The half-backs, who will start their 52nd Test together, have struggled thus far, but Best said: 'I think they have shown time and time again how good they are. We have no doubt about that.'

RORY KEANE AT LANSDOWNE ROAD: That’s more like it. This was a return to the capital punishment that Ireland inflicted on the All Blacks last November. . 

Ireland skipper Rory Best looked forward to a monumental clash with Wales in his final Six Nations match after Sunday’s morale-boosting victory over France in Dublin.

Joe Schmidt says Ireland will need more than a 50-minute performance if they are to scupper Welsh Grand Slam plans in Cardiff next Saturday.

Johnny Sexton believes Ireland are the right team to spoil Wales' Guinness Six Nations Grand Slam party. Sexton cited Ireland's previous form for ending opponents' record winning runs.

Sportsmail provide you with full fixtures, kick-off times, TV coverage and how Wales, England or Ireland can win the 2019 Six Nations in the final round.

Sportsmail provide you with everything you need to know for Wales vs Ireland's Six Nations 2019 clash including date, kick-off time and channel plus squads, results, stats and odds.

Liam Williams is fit to start Wales' Grand Slam game against Ireland as Warren Gatland named an unchanged 23 for Saturday's Six Nations decider.

Eddie Jones has heaped pressure on Wales ahead of Saturday's showdown against Ireland by claiming they are tired. Victory for the Irish would give England a shot at snatching the title.

Get ready for the final round of the 2019 Six Nations with everything on the line for England, Wales and Ireland as they look to win the title. Sportsmail will provide details of dates, KO times and channels.

The Principality Stadium roof will be left open for Wales' Six Nations Grand Slam game in Cardiff against Ireland, despite yellow wind warnings set for Saturday.

If Ireland do not rain on Wales's parade, it is certain now that Storm Hannah will. With Gareth blowing through earlier in the week, it's Hannah's turn to wreak havoc.

Rory Best has tipped rookie lineout caller James Ryan to come of age for Ireland against the 'world's best lock' Alun Wyn Jones in Cardiff for their Six Nations clash.

Wales produced a dominant performance to comprehensively outclass Ireland in Cardiff and complete a memorable Six Nations Grand Slam. Relive all the action as it happened with Sportsmail.

WILL KELLEHER AT THE PRINCIPALITY STADIUM: Before the cascade of champagne to mark Wales' glorious Six Nations Grand Slam came the flood as they dominated Ireland.

England coach Eddie Jones emphatically ruled out coaching the British & Irish Lions in 2021, while taking a swipe at Wales counterpart Warren Gatland.

Leavy lasted only 11 minutes of Saturday's Champions Cup quarter-final victory over Ulster before he was carried from the pitch on a stretcher having replaced Sean O'Brien in the second-half.

Best suffered the damage to his left foot in Ulster's Champions Cup quarter-final defeat by Leinster on Saturday and following a scan on Monday it was confirmed he will be fit to lead Ireland in Japan

The fly-half has not appeared for Leinster since the turn of the year, and was ruled out of last Saturday’s Champions Cup quarter-final victory over Ulster with a quad issue.

Ireland and Ulster captain Rory Best has announced he will retire from professional rugby after the World Cup in Japan. Hooker Best has been capped 116 times by his country.

The outgoing Wales coach was named head coach for the 2021 tour of South Africa on Friday, having already led the Lions to victory in Australia and a drawn series in New Zealand last time out.

Joe Schmidt has suffered a World Cup injury blow with veteran flanker Seán O'Brien ruled out of the tournament in Japan with a hip injury. His set for six months on the sidelines.

Munster duo Mike Haley and Jean Kleyn are the only uncapped players included in Ireland's 44-man training squad for their pre-World Cup training camps.

Catt is expected to join Ireland as attack coach after the autumn's Rugby World Cup. The former England coach has agreed a deal to trade Italy for Ireland's set-up, it is understand.

Premier playmaker Johnny Sexton is expected to be fit shortly, but Ireland can ill afford to lose either of their main backline pivots. They open their World Cup by taking on Scotland on September 22.

England want all three available to take on Ireland to offset any need to pitch Billy Vunipola into a third Test in as many weeks. All three trained on Wednesday at England's Pennyhill Park camp.

Johnny Sexton has missed out on Ireland's World Cup warm-up clash with England at Twickenham on Saturday. The fly-half sat out of training at the start of the week in Portugal.

England have reverted to the 10-12 alliance of George Ford and captain Owen Farrell for Saturday's clash against Ireland at Twickenham, in a line-up featuring nine changes.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: It is exactly the team I would have picked for a must-win game at the tournament. This is the first time he has put his full strength side out in these warm-up games.

CHRIS FOY AT TWICKENHAM: The match tickets proclaimed 'this is no warm-up' and on a scorching, record-breaking day here, Manu Tuilagi and England proved too hot to handle.

Ireland and Wales will smash into each other in the final World Cup warm-up of the summer, despite the lingering risk of cruel last-minute injuries. Both sides are almost at full strength for Dublin Test.

Warren Gatland insisted that Rhys Patchell would travel to the World Cup on Wednesday despite suffering a worrying concussion in Wales' defeat to Ireland.

RORY KEANE: This Ireland squad were primed to reach a first-ever World Cup semi-final, and possibly more. But they have been seemingly in free-fall since the events of February 2 at the Aviva.

World Rugby bosses have hit back at claims 31-man World Cup squads threaten player welfare by insisting top coaches left their objections too late to have any effect for the 2019 tournament in Japan.

Over a long and distinguished career, Brian O'Driscoll became adept at dealing with everything and anything thrown his way.

Our first home nation clash of the Rugby World Cup  and hopefully not last will see Ireland take on Scotland in their pool A clash. Follow live score, substitutions, sin bins and more right here.

Ireland delivered on their promise to hit form when it mattered most by stunning Scotland 27-3 with a bonus-point blitz to launch their Japanese World Cup quest in style.

Gregor Townsend confessed it 'doesn't look good' for Hamish Watson after admitting the Scotland flanker's World Cup might be over already. The Dark Blues suffered a 27-3 mauling from Ireland.

RORY KEANE IN YOKOHAMA: Iain Henderson hailed the performance of Rory Best after Ireland trounced Scotland, claiming the captain had 'silenced a lot of his critics'.

Scotland's World Cup hopes have suffered a third major blow in as many days after scrum-half Ali Price was ruled out for the remainder of the tournament.

One week and 12 matches in the Rugby World Cup and we have our first rest day, which seems a natural time to take stock ahead of a jam-packed weekend. Here is our team of the week...

RORY KEANE IN SHIZUOKA: Carty starts only his second Test in place of conductor-in-chief Johnny Sexton, who is out with a groin injury. Schmidt reckons Carty has the right stuff.

Japan claimed one of the greatest upsets in rugby history, four years after their historic win over South Africa. 

Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt admitted Japan had raised their game to 'furious' levels after stunning them 19-12 in Shizuoka.

Brian O'Driscoll praised Japan and poured scorn on Ireland's performance after the Brave Blossoms produced a stunning World Cup upset. 

RORY KEANE IN SHIZUOKA: Japan shocked the globe for the second time in four years by stunning Ireland 19-12 to light a bomb under Pool A and a fire under their home World Cup.

RORY KEANE IN SHIZUOKA: Johnny Sexton has challenged Ireland to channel the hurt of the loss to Japan into their final pool games with Russia and Samoa.