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USA supporters enjoy yesterday's Solheim Cup opening ceremony. ©INPHO/Cathal Noonan
Early Doors

The Morning Score: Friday

TGIF – here’s all the sports news you need to know as we head into the weekend.

1. #RWC2011 Declan Kidney has made nine changes for Sunday’s penultimate pool game against Russia, handing Leinster lock Leo Cullen the captain’s armband on his World Cup debut.

Fergus McFadden and Donnacha Ryan will also make their tournament bows in Rotorua while Isaac Boss, Ronan O’Gara, Paddy Wallace and Andrew Trimble all start in the backs.

2. #RWC2011 There’s just one game in New Zealand this morning with Ireland’s Pool C rivals Australia and USA going head-to-head in Wellington.

We’ll have minute-by-minute coverage of the game when it kicks off at 9.30am.

3. #SOLHEIM CUP If you’ve been living under a rock for the past few months, you might have missed out on the fact that the Solheim Cup gets underway in Killeen Castle this morning.

All four of the morning’s foursomes have teed off, with Maria Hjorth and Anna Nordqvist taking on the American duo of Michelle Wie and Cristie Kerr in the opener.

4. #FIX? The International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) has promised an immediate investigation after BBC Newsnight claimed to have uncovered evidence of a deal to fix next year’s Olympic boxing.

Last night’s programme alleged that an Azeri national handed over $9m in order to guarantee his country two gold medals at London 2012, a claim which the AIBA denies.

5. #DUBS Mickey Whelan is set to walk away from his post as Dublin selector just days after the capital’s All-Ireland triumph, according to reports in the Star this morning.

Yesterday, manager Pat Gilroy indicated that he would not make any decision on his own future until next month.

6. #TRAP Giovanni Trapattoni and the FAI are set to open contract negotiations today, with the Irish Independent reporting that the Italian could take a pay-cut of up to 50% in order to secure a two-year extension to his current deal.

Leo takes the armband as Kidney rings changes for Russia clash

Choice cuts: do you agree with our Rugby World Cup team of the week?