The visit of the All Blacks is just five days away. On Saturday, the world's two best rugby sides will go toe-to-toe at the Aviva Stadium in a fixture which will stop the nation. And Ireland coach Joe Schmidt has plenty to mull over before he names his XV for the visit of the world champions, following his side's 28-17 win over Argentina on Saturday. One player who definitely won't be involved is Seán O'Brien after he broke his arm during the first half of the win over Los Pumas - however Schmidt has refused to rule out the possibility of Conor Murray making a surprise return against New Zealand. He said: "It's not the injury, it's really just how ready Conor is. How fully fit he is because the injury itself has gone really well, but it is tough to come back into a game of that magnitude though. It is highly unlikely he will be involved, but as I said, I will talk to him."
One of Ireland's standout performers against Argentina was the mighty Bundee Aki, who gave his usual showing of silk and steel in midfield. Auckland-born Aki could be in line to face his compatriots for the first time next weekend, and this morning Gregor Paul - the New Zealand Herald on Sunday's rugby correspondent - has looked at the difficult relationship the All Blacks and their supporters have with the 'Celtic Kiwis.' He writes: "They can brush it off if the All Blacks continue to win. An Ireland side that loses to the All Blacks can be considered an Irish team. An Irish team that wins suddenly starts to look like an Irish-fusion team, with the Kiwi element within it no longer viewed as happy-go-lucky opportunists, but men who have stabbed their homeland in the back."
Elsewhere Manchester United were unable to repeat their heroics of Turin yesterday evening as they were beaten 3-1 by cross-town rivals City, following a dismal display at the Etihad. José Mourinho's side went 2-0 down early in the second half and flirted with another famous comeback after Anthony Martial's 58th minute penalty. However, they were comprehensively outplayed and ultimately left to rue a lack of quality in midfield, with Paul Pogba's absence through injury keenly felt. City are now two points clear at the top of the Premier League table after Chelsea were held to a goalless draw at Stamford Bridge by Everton, while Arsenal also dropped points as they drew 1-1 with Wolves at the Emirates. In the day's early kick-off Liverpool tried to keep up the pace with a 2-0 win over Fulham - the Cottagers sixth consecutive league loss - while in Scotland Celtic leapfrogged Hearts at the top of the SPL table despite their stalemate away to Livingston.
Paul Mannion scored 2-6 as Kilmacud Crokes routed St Peter's Dunboyne (Meath) 2-17 to 0-7 in the Leinster club SFC quarter-finals yesterday. The Dublin side will face Portlaoise in the semis after they edged Kildare's Moorefield 1-14 to 1-11 - Malachy Clerkin was there to witness a mini winter classic. In Munster Dr Crokes are into another final after beating St Finbarr's 5-20 to 1-11, while Corofin crushed Clann na nGael 4-22 to 0-7 in the Connacht semi-finals.
And Apple's Jade made a fine return to action yesterday as she thrashed the field to retain the Lismullen Hurdle at Navan. However, it was a day of mixed emotions for Gigginstown with Identity Thief having to be put down following the same race.
