Premier League leaders Liverpool drew their second game in a row last night, with their lead over Manchester City now down to three points. Despite taking the lead via a contentious Sadio Mane goal in the first half, Michail Antonio soon equalised for West Ham who were deserving of their share of the spoils at the London Stadium.

In his column (Subscriber Only) this morning Gerry Thornley writes, it might pay for Ireland to stick rather than twist after Saturday's Six Nations defeat to England. These players deserve our faith he stresses: "Perhaps with, say, a World Cup quarter-final against South Africa or New Zealand in mind, it may also prove to be beneficial to have been beaten, and a little beaten up, by an imposingly physical side such as England." Yesterday Ireland's number eight CJ Stander was ruled out for four weeks with a facial injury sustained in that defeat, while Keith Earls, Devin Toner and Garry Ringrose may all miss out against Scotland as the Irish injury count rises.

Yesterday evening the Cork county board postponed any further league fixtures at Páirc Uí Chaoimh until the pitch surface is at an acceptable standard and no longer presents an injury risk to players. The pitch was already badly torn up in advance of the second of two games held on Sunday, leading to heavy criticism. Ian O'Riordan explains: "This latest setback – certain to add to the estimated €100 million cost, including some €15 million of an overrun – will require a complete pitch replacement later this year, using more durable methods similar to the pitch surface at Croke Park."

Meanwhile top trainer Henry de Bromhead has called for penetrometer devices that help ascertain more accurate ground conditions to be trialled at Irish racecourses. There were 22 horses taken out of Sunday's action at Leopardstown due to ground conditions that were good to firm in places on the steeplechase track.