MUNSTER STARTED OFF brilliantly to take a 6 – 0 lead over Clermont, but when you poke the bear you have to be willing to deal with the consequences. This superb individual try from Noa Nakaitaci exploited a Munster defence that had put in a commendable shift in the first half, but just was not able …
Read more “Clermont scored two absolutely brilliant tries in the first half against Munster”
OUR MATCH REPORT on Leinster’s 21-11 victory at the RDS can be found here. No festive fireworks Jack Carty attempts to brush off the tackle of Jamie Heaslip. Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO LEINSTER WERE BUSINESS-like in getting the four points this evening, going over for their first-half maul try in relentless fashion, allowing Jimmy Gopperth to …
Read more “4 talking points after Leinster see off Connacht at the RDS”
Munster 28Leinster 13 MUNSTER WERE DOMINANT in victory over Leinster at Thomond Park, scoring three tries in an intelligent display against Matt O’Connor’s out-of-sorts team. The home side employed a kicking game that worked ideally on a cold, windy evening in Limerick, as Leinster struggled badly under the high ball. Munster’s effectiveness in narrow channels …
Read more “Dominant Munster power three tries past Leinster in Limerick”
THE SPORTSGROUND IS renowned for it’s unpredictable conditions, but Munster’s ex-Connacht out-half Ian Keatley has spent enough time kicking balls around the Sportsground to know when he can use it to his advantage. The below conversion was his effort after Peter O’Mahony scored the first try of the game off the back of a rolling …
WITH CONNACHT HAVING entertained Edinburgh at a wet, windy Sportsground last night, the other three Irish provinces are in action over the course of today and tomorrow. Here are a few elements of those games we’re looking forward to watching. Ben Te’o gets another run in Leinster’s 13 shirt Te’o partners Noel Reid in Leinster’s …
Read more “5 reasons to watch Leinster, Munster and Ulster in Pro12 action”
SONNY BILL WILLIAMS is one of a number of All Blacks set to be targeted to run out for New Zealand in the 2016 Olympic Games’ rugby Sevens. The Rio de Janeiro Games will be the first to include rugby, with world champions New Zealand likely to be installed as one of the favourites for gold. …
Read more “New Zealand want Sonny Bill’s star power to boost 7s side at Rio 2016”
HISTORY TELLS US that European quarter-finals are heavily favoured towards the home team, but Leinster will face a demanding and fascinating task when they host Bath in April. Attention for the wider rugby public turns towards the Six Nations now, while Matt O’Connor’s non-international players will enjoy a week off before tuning back into their …
Read more “‘In Dublin, we’re good enough to beat anyone’ – Leinster confident in home draw”
WE’RE NOW JUST days away from the beginning of the 2015 Six Nations. Ireland are champions, traditional big-hitting rivals France and England have to come to Dublin and it’s a World Cup year: little wonder that the anticipation and nerves are swelling by the day. The sooner the tournament gets started the better, then we’ll …
Read more “5 big questions facing Ireland before the Six Nations kick-off”
INTERNATIONAL FLANKER RHYS Ruddock will make his first appearance of 2015 when Leinster travel to face the Ospreys tomorrow (19.35). The 24-year-old starts at blindside having recovered from an arm injury in a potent-looking Leinster line-up. Matt O’Conner has also been able to call upon Isaac Boss who will captain his team in the fourth …
Read more “Ruddock returns for Leinster as Humphreys becomes Ulster centurion”
Ireland scrum-half Conor Murray was promoting MaxiNutrition today in Portmarnock. Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO HomeIreland suffered their first defeat of the Cricket World Cup against a dominant and ruthless South Africa.Paul Galvin has made a dramatic comeback to the Kerry senior football squad.There were big schools rugby wins for Belvedere College and Ardscoil Rís.Ulster’s Andrew Trimble signed a …
Read more “We’ll Leave It There So: World Cup woe, Galvin’s return and the rest of today’s sport”