Anyone who watched the first 10 minutes of Ireland versus New Zealand would know just how much both sides wanted this one. Steve Hansen set the scene for his All Blacks side, last Sunday, by declaring Ireland would be the best side if they could beat his men. New Zealand’s players responded by bolting out […]

7 years ago

As modest as they come, but don’t doubt his ferocity for a second. Rory Best went into Ireland’s clash against New Zealand with his place in the team being questioned, in some quarters. He ended the night with his second All Blacks scalp, as captain, in two years. The Ulster hooker got his lineout throwing on […]

7 years ago

These are heady days. We used to never beat New Zealand. Now we have done it twice in our last three games and have Steve Hansen handing over the ‘best in the world’ mantle. The All Blacks head coach will fly out of Dublin, to Rome, today aware that the rankings still have his men […]

7 years ago

Mary mother of God, what a moment this was! Ireland and New Zealand separated by a TV camera crew, 15 metres and an absolute melting pot. The All Blacks kicked off their Haka and as they finished their first line – their declaration of war – the Irish team stepped forward as one. The crowd, tingling […]

7 years ago

How was Peter O’Mahony able to carry his spent body off the field, on his own two legs, is beyond me. 56 minutes into Ireland’s all-out slugfest with New Zealand and Peter O’Mahony was getting treatment for the second time. Shoulder first half, hamstring in the second. He had looked in a bad way for […]

7 years ago

IRELAND – 16 NEW ZEALAND – 9 Ireland were forced to wait over a century to beat New Zealand but they have now done it twice in two years after a stunning win at Lansdowne Road. The first half was an all-out war, with Ireland roaring back into it after soaking up early pressure. CJ […]

7 years ago

“It’s mesmeric by Ireland’s genius!” Those were the comments from Sky Sports’ Mark Robson when Brian O’Driscoll left Wasps absolutely stunned, back in 2008. James Haskell was a regular with Wasps at that stage but just a year into his Test career with England. That European Cup encounter with O’Driscoll was his first ever, on […]

7 years ago

“That’s when you know he means business!” James Lowe got off to a flying start, last season, and he has continued to impress during his second season with Leinster. The 26-year-old winger has scored 18 tries in 19 games for his new club, including one in the Guinness PRO14 final against Scarlets. Lowe will not […]

7 years ago

What a shame two of them are not playing on Saturday… Former All Blacks captain Sean Fitzpatrick does the same thing each time he has to provide expert analysis on his country, in the Sky Sports studio. ‘Fitzy’ gets his pen out and picks out a Best XV from both sides, putting a tick beside […]

7 years ago

The four changes we predicted have come to pass. Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt has named a strong starting XV for Saturday’s Guinness Series encounter with the world champion All Blacks. There are four changes from the side that beat Argentina 28-17 last weekend, with Rob Kearney, Dan Leavy, Garry Ringrose and Devin Toner all […]

7 years ago

The return of two Soldier Field heroes and young blood to test the world champions. Ireland are expected to make four changes when Joe Schmidt confirms his starting line-up on Thursday afternoon. Sean O’Brien, Robbie Henshaw and Conor Murray were all ruled out of the Guinness Series, over the space of 48 hours, but Rob […]

7 years ago

“Right, I’ve got a theory on this… “ Everyone has a theory on how the All Blacks can be beaten but putting that theory into practice against some of the most naturally talented rugby players on this spinning globe is insanely tough. The likes of Beauden Barrett, Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick all have win […]

7 years ago

Everyone wanted him

7 years ago

“Brian, this is Baz & Andrew’s House of Rugby. Tell us the truth!” Andrew Trimble was not letting the two rugby legends off lightly. The former Ulster and Ireland winger sat down with Brian O’Driscoll and Tana Umaga for his first ever solo interview, as part of his co-host role with Baz & Andrew’s House of […]

7 years ago

Kilmacud Crokes are into the Leinster club championship semi-final and Paul Mannion was the inspiration. Crokes did for St Jude’s in the Dublin SFC final recently and Mannion scored 1-6 to spur his side on. Against St Pete’s, Dunboyne – the Meath champions – he outdid that scoring return. Mannion was a marked man – […]

7 years ago

Even The Gooch got in on the act. Dr Crokes are cutting a swathe through Kerry and Munster and look well set to be crowned provincial champions. The Kerry champions made short work of Cork’s St Finbarr’s to reach the Munster final, and scored for fun in some horrendous playing conditions. Daithi Casey and Tony […]

7 years ago

“His presence affects us in attack and in defence.“ That is a pretty ambitious call for someone who was a sub in five of his last 10 Test appearances for Ireland. Granted that the first name on Joe Schmidt’s team-sheet is surely Johnny Sexton or, when fit, Conor Murray, the RTE panel made a solid […]

7 years ago

It is all becoming clearer now. Sunday for the Irish players is all about recovery and, for those that picked up knocks, satisfying the medical staff that you are ready to do it all over again. Ireland will head back to Carton House and will have a light hit out at training on Monday before […]

7 years ago

This is the news Irish rugby fans will want to hear, especially after the injuries that befell Sean O’Brien and Robbie Henshaw. Ireland are definitely without Sean O’Brien [broken arm] for the rest of the Guinness Series while there were be some fretting over Robbie Henshaw after he pulled up with a tight hamstring minutes […]

7 years ago

Suited and booted, Dan Leavy strode into the unused dressing room ready to take questions. TV and online got Kieran Marmion and Iain Henderson while Will Addison and Dan Leavy were divided between the print media. It was after 10pm at the Aviva Stadium and the team bus was heading back towards Lansdowne Road to pick […]

7 years ago

The Dundalk manager’s comments drew a resounding, positive reaction. On Saturday night, and for the fifth time in six years, Stephen Kenny won PFAI Manager of the Year award. The Dubliner was rightly recognised for helping Dundalk to the league and cup double. There was more for Dundalk to celebrate as Michael Duffy took home the Player […]

7 years ago

Tries for Kieran Marmion and Luke McGrath but Conor Murray is going to end up in a lot of headlines. Joe Schmidt offered an interesting update on Conor Murray after Ireland’s 28-17 win over Argentina at the Aviva Stadium. Following the game, in which Marmion, McGrath and Bundee Aki all scored tries, Schmidt was asked […]

7 years ago

Argentina did what every right-minded Test side would do. Jordan Larmour was served up bomb after bomb and got a lesson in front of our very eyes. The positive is that Jordan Larmour grew into the match as it progressed and even started to cope with the barrage in the final quarter. The reality is that […]

7 years ago

In recent years, Sean O’Brien has fought back from multiple shoulder, hip and hamstring injuries. He picked up a fresh blow on Saturday night. The Leinster back-row cut a distraught figure as he left the field of play after 38 minutes. O’Brien had been playing solidly enough but broke his right arm in what initially looked […]

7 years ago

IRELAND – 28 ARGENTINA – 17 Ireland survived a tough inspection from Argentina to show dominance in the closing stages and win with 11 points to spare. Injuries to Robbie Henshaw (hamstring) and Sean O’Brien (arm) may yet hamper Ireland in the Guinness Series but the men that remained standing battled well in the second […]

7 years ago

A real shame for the Athlone native. So late that an IRFU official had to make the change in black pen, Robbie Henshaw’s name was struck from the Ireland team to face Argentina with only minutes to go before kick-off. The Leinster centre took part in the pre-match warm-ups but, after discussions with the Ireland […]

7 years ago

“The talent and the options from 4 to 8 are ridiculous.” As they have been saying all week, Ireland are not taking Argentina one bit lightly. Los Pumas are front and centre on the agenda for Joe Schmidt’s men, this Saturday, and they will need to be dialled in to repeat their victory from last […]

7 years ago

The shoulder injury sustained by Rob Kearney against Treviso looks to have cost him dearly. The Leinster fullback shipped a big blow, early in the second half of his side’s Guinness PRO14 victory over the Italians. Hooker Epalahame Faiva heaved in from the side to fell Kearney after he had made his third significant carry of […]

7 years ago

“I mean, come on! Stop this.” Mike Tindall tried his best to temper his critique of Joe Schmidt’s Ireland, during an appearance on JOE UK’s House of Rugby, but he is certainly not convinced they are within touching distance of the All Blacks. The former England international, and World Cup winner, praised Ireland for carrying out Schmidt’s […]

7 years ago

You have to hand it to Rassie Erasmus here. The South Africa head coach did his best to temper his emotions in the wake of his side’s 12-11 defeat to England, at Twickenham. The former director of rugby at Munster would have been livid with his Springboks team blowing a golden opportunity to win at […]

7 years ago

“France has a special place in my heart, in terms of rugby.” Conor Murray is missing out on Ireland’s November Tests but he hopes to be back playing later this month and can still have a big say in Munster’s Champions Cup and Guinness PRO14 campaigns before the year is out. While most of us […]

7 years ago

The return of a rake of Grand Slam winners, and a tank from Tullow. Argentina are coming to the end of another long, hard season but they get an early crack at Ireland in the first of the host’s three Guinness Series matches. Ireland did a number on Los Pumas last November, defeating them 28-19 […]

7 years ago

“I feel really bad when I talk about Ireland because I never give them the credit they probably deserve.” Well, if Mike Tindall felt like that, his debut appearance on JOE UK’s House of Rugby was the perfect opportunity to right that wrong. No. Instead, Tindall took another cut or three at Joe Schmidt’s men and questioned […]

7 years ago

“He brings an extra dimension around the field.” Tough ones to take for the likes of Dan Leavy, Sean O’Brien, James Ryan and Kieran Marmion, to name four. Most Ireland fans could take a good dart at predicting their side’s starting 15 to face New Zealand on November 17. Picking 10 or 11 of the […]

7 years ago

“Those two or three games, where we have won or have had good results, it’s attack them. It’s play rugby.” That is Conor Murray’s take – in an interview on Baz & Andrew’s House of Rugby – on the way to bring it to New Zealand. No better man than Jordan Larmour. Legends like Brian […]

7 years ago

IRELAND – 54 ITALY – 7 As appetisers for the main fare go, Jordan Larmour served up a beauty. Larmour blitzed the Italians at Soldier Field, Chicago to register his first, second and third Test tries. His pace, awareness and footwork were absolutely incredible and his performance alone was worth tuning in for. Ireland were […]

7 years ago

It’s absolutely ruthless

7 years ago

Sounds like a win, win to us. In the coming week’s Ireland welcome Argentina, New Zealand and the USA to the Aviva Stadium as part of the Guinness Series. Following these November internationals, Joe Schmidt will have just the Six Nations title defence and a handful of warm-up games ahead of the 2019 World Cup […]

7 years ago

Fresh bodies, tantalising combinations, one Test debut. On November 2nd 2019, the Rugby World Cup final takes place in Japan. On Saturday, in Chicago, Ireland embark on a 12-month journey they hope will bring them to that final, and one step further. Conor Murray is missing out on the Chicago trip, and the Guinness Series in […]

7 years ago

The Munster centre went off for a Head Injury Assessment after the collision but did not return to the game. Sam Arnold was rightly rewarded for his form over the past 15 months by getting a call-up to the Ireland squad. The former Ulster centre has settled in nicely in Limerick after a bumpy start, […]

7 years ago

As we are gathering our phones and dictaphones off a table, Conor Murray is asked about Alby Mathewson’s quarterback throw to Rory Scannell on his Munster debut. “Pretty cool, wasn’t it?” he replies. “No, hasn’t done it in training. He saves it for game-day.” Murray was out of the country when Mathewson, a former All […]

7 years ago

The Munster faithful will be rightfully revelling in their side’s dramatic, last-minute win over Glasgow Warriors. 14 points down with 14 minutes to play, Glasgow understandably ran out of steam. They had run the ball over just about every blade of Thomond Park’s grass and had Munster on the ropes. Anyone that knows Munster, knows […]

7 years ago

The match stats for Peter O’Mahony read average but those that were at Thomond Park on Saturday night, they know the full story. Munster’s captain made his seasonal debut against Ospreys down in Cork last month and has not been out of the team yet. He senses his team are close to something they have […]

7 years ago

MUNSTER – 25 GLASGOW – 24 Munster were run ragged at Thomond Park but they somehow – some bloody how – found a way to win a cracker. 17-7 behind with 20 minutes to go, Munster dug deep for the umpteenth time in their history to secure a stunning comeback win. A brace of tries […]

7 years ago

These two sides clearly dislike each other. Munster went into their Guinness PRO14 clash with Glasgow well aware that they owed the Scots one. Glasgow Warriors dismantled Johann van Graan’s men in their PRO14 clash at Scotstoun, earlier this season, so the South African went with a strong starting XV to avenge that loss before […]

7 years ago

TREVISO – 3 LEINSTER – 31 Ireland’s squad for the Guinness Series will convene at Carton House on Sunday evening and Rob Kearney is expected to report for duty. The Leinster fullback lasted just five minutes into the second half of his side’s Guinness PRO14 victory over Benetton Treviso. Kearney appeared to take a bad blow […]

7 years ago

Irish fans are dreading the day Joe Schmidt decides to pack up and return home to New Zealand. The Ireland coach may have got his citizenship here, and lived on these shores for eight years, but most of us have the nagging suspicion he will one day return to New Zealand. Schmidt is contracted to […]

7 years ago

69 Ireland Tests, 5 for the British & Irish Lions, league titles with Ulster and Ospreys, a Grand Slam and a slew of memorable tries. All of that achieved in a fantastic career yet Tommy Bowe cherishes an early step in the road as his proudest moment in rugby. In November 2004, Bowe made his […]

7 years ago

Bulging discs, uncertainty over a playing return, dealing with off-the-mark rumours and penning a new contract – it has been a mad couple of months for.Conor Murray. The Munster scrum-half admitted, back in May 2017, that he had legitimate fears over his playing career. Murray picked up what he would refer to as a “stinger” […]

7 years ago

Joe Schmidt has named a big enough squad for the upcoming game against Italy in Chicago and the Guinness Series home stand. The Ireland squad for the four Test matches in November has been announced by the IRFU. It contains three uncapped players – Will Addison (Ulster), Sam Arnold (Munster) and Ross Byrne (Leinster) Rory […]

7 years ago