We'll Leave It There So: Ireland on the rise, internationals return and all of today's sport

Here’s what Thursday had to offer, sports fans.

Paul O'Connell was awarded his Honorary Doctorate from University Limerick this afternoon. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

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Ireland have climbed 12 places in the latest Fifa rankings on the back of their 1-0 victory over world champions Germany. The Boys in Green sit in 42nd position.
The 2015 Allstar hurling team has been revealed with All-Ireland champions Kilkenny dominating.
Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has made 15 changes to his side for Friday’s Pro12 fixture against Scarlets.
Robbie Henshaw returns to Connacht duty tomorrow with AJ McGinty set to make his debut against Treviso.
Derry City have appointed Kenny Sheil as their new manager.

Away

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema was charged in an extortion case involving a sex tape featuring fellow French international Mathieu Valbuena.
Warren Gatland has revealed he will remain the Wales head coach until the 2019 World Cup.
Sam Burgess will abandon his rugby union career by signing for league side South Sydney Rabbitohs, according to reports.
Roy Keane has aimed fire at Ashley Young after the Man United winger was guilty of diving during the Champions League win over CSKA Moscow.
The All Blacks brought the Webb Ellis trophy to the final resting place of their former team-mate Jerry Collins.

The best thing we shared

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Dimitri Payet has taken the Premier League by storm and he’s now even showing his team-mates up in training.

On the record

“Big revenge, I want to kill him!”

Claudio Ranieri was in fine form today at his pre-match press conference.

Where we were today

Ryan Bailey was at the RDS where he spoke to Rio Ferdinand at the Web Summit.

Roundtable interview with Rio Ferdinand for Setanta Sports at WebSummit 2015 David Maher / SPORTSFILE David Maher / SPORTSFILE / SPORTSFILE

The fixture list

The second-leg of the SSE Airtricity Premier Division promotion/relegation between Finn Harps and Limerick takes place on Friday.
The Guinness Pro12 continues with Leinster and Connacht in action on Friday evening.

Showbiz, baby!

Andy Murray was in fine form this morning, breezing past David Goffin at the Paris Masters but he wasn’t impressed when a tennis ball came out of nowhere to strike him in a rather sensitive part of his body.

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