EVERY WEEKDAY MORNING,TheScore.ie brings you the stories you need to know before 9am.

1. #EUROPA LEAGUE Manchester United survived a late scare at home to Ajax to book their place in the last 16 of the Europa League. United took the lead through Javier Hernandez and, although goals from Ozbiliz and Alderweireld cut their advantage, held on to win 3-2 on aggregate.

United play Athletic Club Bilbao in the next round after they beat Lokomotiv Moscow on away goals. Tony Pulis’s Stoke lost 1-0 away to Valencia, 2-0 on aggregate.

2. #SIX NATIONS Ireland and Italy will both have captain’s runs today ahead of their Six Nations meeting in the Aviva Stadium tomorrow.

Yesterday, England’s interim coach Stuart Lancaster made four changes to his side ahead of his first game on home soil. Manu Tuilagi, Lee Dickson, Geoff Parling and Ben Morgan all start tomorrow’s game at Twickenham.

3. #GAA Donagh Maher and Adrian Ryan will both make their hurling league debuts for Tipperary in Sunday’s All-Ireland final rematch against Kilkenny in Nowlan Park.

Meanwhile, Galway boss Anthony Cunningham has named eight of the team which he managed to an All-Ireland U21 title last season in his side to face Dublin in Pearse Stadium.

4. #WORLD MATCH PLAY Rory McIlroy’s dream of becoming world number one this weekend is still alive. McIlroy is through to the third round of the Accenture World Match Play championships after he beat Denmark’s Anders Hansen yesterday. Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez awaits in the next round.

Tiger Woods is out. He was beaten by fellow American Nick Watney, who now plays Lee Westwood.

5. #HOWZAT Ireland’s cricketers are in action again today when they take on Kenya in their third and final Twenty20 test.

Yesterday, Paul Stirling was the star with both bat and ball, chipping in two wickets and 65 runs in an eight-wicket win.