Contrary to the opinion of so many, it was not the tee shot on 17 that caused him the most anxiety. 53 weeks after his last win, Rory McIlroy claimed The Players Championship – the ‘fifth major’ – at Sawgrass, on Sunday. The Northern Irishman edged out veteran Jim Furyk after shooting a final round […]

7 years ago

Simple as that

7 years ago

On punditry duty for the BBC, Peter Stringer spoke of Irish injuries but the 2018 champions were hardly in the midst of an injury crisis. The Ireland team that started against Wales on Saturday was not far off full strength. Dan Leavy and Robbie Henshaw have been missed but neither would be considered a lock […]

7 years ago

“Obviously we haven’t played to our potential. That’s all the problem is, probably.” As the Welsh post-match press conference was being conducted, and with most of the journalists up with Warren Gatland and Alun Wyn Jones, an Irish quarter emerged to the ‘mixed zone’. Anticipating that Ireland may want to get out the gap as […]

7 years ago

Up on a pedestal as the reigning World Rugby Player of the Year, some rivals are delighting in bringing Ireland’s No.10 back to earth. Johnny Sexton lasted 73 minutes at the Principality Stadium, on Saturday, as Ireland were well beaten by Wales. The outhalf’s head looked to have gone a long, long time before that. […]

7 years ago

It is every Ireland fan’s worst nightmare. Even during the good times, Ireland supporters fretted over Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton. When the Springboks were beaten in Johannesburg, the All Blacks were bested in Chicago, the Grand Slam attained or the All Blacks (again) defeated on Irish soil. We were good, but what about Sexton […]

7 years ago

Dave Kilcoyne fronted up for a post-match interview and stated that Ireland should go back to what they do best. There is a genuine concern that Ireland’s best has now been figured out and they need a fresh tactical, and personnel, shot in the arm. Wales beat Ireland 25-7 to claim a third Grand Slam […]

7 years ago

Ireland coach Joe Schmidt believes “genuine” fans will understand a good team are enduring a rough patch and will do all they can to get it right for Japan. Rob Kearney, one of Ireland’s longest serving players, is expecting a tougher reaction. The Ireland fullback has endured a frustrating Guinness Six Nations championship, missing the […]

7 years ago

Handling errors all over the shop from Ireland. Ahead of the Guinness Six Nations clash between Wales and Ireland, the IRFU formally requested for the Principality Stadium roof to be left open. Warren Gatland and Wales cribbed about it, but the decision ended up going in their favour. While Wales’ handling – like many other […]

7 years ago

WALES 25-7 IRELAND Wales are the 2019 Guinness Six Nations champions, and with a Grand Slam to boot. Joe Schmidt’s final Six Nations game as Ireland head coach happened to coincide with the worst performance during his six-year tenure. Wales scored early and never let up all afternoon in a raucous Principality Stadium, in Cardiff. […]

7 years ago

Tommy Bowe claims that just about the entire Ospreys’ backline would go for fake tan top-ups on the morning of each Captain’s Run. Ahead of the Guinness Six Nations finale, Tommy Bowe and Adam Jones paid a trip to Dublin to spread the word about rugby’s power to foster life-long friendships. The former Ospreys teammates […]

7 years ago

“It’s an amateur sport and they take it so seriously, and the whole town gets behind it.” Two years on from his Gaelic football debut for Glenswilly, Shane Williams still marvels at his time with the Donegal club side, and in the village that follows their every move. The former Wales and Lions legend headed […]

7 years ago

“Rory is a legend around these parts, and a legend around the whole of Ireland.” Devin Toner’s comments on Ireland captain Rory Best, ahead of his final game in the Guinness Six Nations, got a rapturous response from the crowd at the Belfast Empire, during a live recording of Baz & Andrew’s House of Rugby.  The […]

7 years ago

He lifted the Guinness Six Nations trophy at Dublin in 2011, but in his England kit. James Haskell has played 77 times for England, represented his country at two World Cups and won three Guinness Six Nations championships with a red rose on his chest. Paul Doran Jones won six Test caps for England and […]

7 years ago

It would be an extremely tough call to drop either Iain Henderson or James Ryan but needs must, and a dog of war may be required. There will definitely be one change in the Ireland XV to play Wales, this Saturday in Cardiff, but Joe Schmidt is set to restore Rob Kearney to fullback and […]

7 years ago

James Ryan wasn’t hanging around. Wales, in Cardiff, were only 140 hours away and the clock was ticking. We are closing in on two hours since Ireland beat France 26-14 to keep their Guinness Six Nations hopes alive. Jacques Brunel and Guilhelm Guirado have been in for a pretty sombre chat and, minutes before, Joe […]

7 years ago

On two occasions, Ireland threatened the rolling maul only to switch wide and puncture the French. Ireland are well behind second-placed England for points difference but this really felt like a game where they could have clawed a chunk back on Eddie Jones’ men. England beat France 44-8 earlier in this Guinness Six Nations championship […]

7 years ago

This Guinness Six Nations championship has put some stress on the reigning champions’ squad. Joe Schmidt was asked the now inevitable questions after Ireland kept their title hopes alive by beating France. “Any injury news? How is everyone?” “Not too bad,” Schmidt began before his answers revealed he may be down another body for the […]

7 years ago

“KILLER! KILLER!!” When pictures emerged, in early February, of CJ Stander’s hammered, damaged face – posing with his brother-in-law near the Ireland team bus – few would have expected for him to feature again in the Guinness Six Nations. Instead, within 10 days, he was back out and training with Munster. After featuring in that […]

7 years ago

IRELAND 26-14 FRANCE Ireland beat the holy hell out of an ordinary France side to ensure they go to Cardiff next weekend still in with a title chance. Their comprehensive victory over Les Bleus, at the Aviva Stadium, laves them third in the standings but a win over Grand Slam-chasing Wales should put second-placed England […]

7 years ago

Whirlwind stuff. 80 minutes before Ireland faced off against France, Jordan Larmour was pitched in at No.15 for the injured Rob Kearney. He saw an awful lot of ball and had fans across the country talking. Larmout started off on the right note as he spotted France fullback Thomas Ramos was not covering the back-field. […]

7 years ago

Ireland do not need this. Just 80 minutes before kick-off at the Aviva Stadium and Rob Kearney has been ruled out of action. The Leinster fullback has been pulled from the starting XV and, indeed, the matchday squad for the Guinness Six Nations clash against France. His provincial teammate Jordan Larmour steps up to wear […]

7 years ago

“He avoided the papers.” Andrew Trimble has some great memories of playing, and winning, in Paris. He scored a try on the night Ireland bid farewell to Brian O’Driscoll with a Guinness Six Nations winners’ medal around his neck. Trimble also endured some tough times in the City of Lights. The former Ulster winner, in […]

7 years ago

The Munster forward trained on Tuesday and Wednesday Joe Schmidt says Ireland went into the 2019 Guinness Six Nations with ‘a different brief’. Tadhg Beirne has yet to force himself into that brief. Schmidt rarely drops his players, in public anyway. To the press, he will talk about wanting to look at other players, of […]

7 years ago

Ulster fans would have been hoping Best would have seen out the 2019/20 season. Captain’s Runs are often laid-back affairs as the coaching staff take a back seat and allow the senior players to walk through some plays and the goal-kickers use the opportunity to find their bearings in the stadium they will be lining […]

7 years ago

My word, this is a peach of a jersey. James Horan will take his Mayo side to New York, in May, to kick off their latest quest for the Sam Maguire. They will line out for the Connacht SFC clash in a one-off jersey. Mayo GAA has announced the men’s senior side will wear the […]

7 years ago

You should get most of them, but a couple may catch you out. As we head into the final few months of the Premier League season, we’ve a nice quiz to test your wits. We are celebrating the league’s assist maestros and there are nine of you to get. You have four minutes to get […]

7 years ago

“Ici c’est Manchester!” Cantona, Neymar, Pogba, Evra, Neymar’s father, a crazy match and some fleet-footed security staff. All the ingredients right there. It all kicked off up in the stands, at Le Parc des Princes, on Wednesday. Manchester United were roundly written off before their Champions League Last 16 second leg clash with Paris Saint […]

7 years ago

That’s another chunk of seats filled anyway. The Mick McCarthy roadshow rolled back into Dublin this week and the Ireland boss was on the hard sell. Some of the striking images of the final matches of the Martin O’Neill reign were of huge swathes of empty seats as the Irish football team struggled to get […]

7 years ago

This game could still prove to be a title decider, and we’ve got a great line-up to set the scene. Following on from their rollicking live show at the Guinness Open Gate Brewery, back in November, Baz & Andrew’s House of Rugby is on the road again. The last live event helped tee up Ireland’s […]

7 years ago

Arguably his best moment in a Manchester United jersey. There was always a feeling that Jose Mourinho was not exactly the driving force behind the £52m transfer of Fred to Manchester United. The Brazilian had a decent start to life at Old Trafford but faded into the background so much that Andreas Pereira and Scott […]

7 years ago

World Rugby is about to shake the shit out of this snow globe. Amid talk of a 12-team World League and grumblings from players and representative from, in particular, the Pacific nations, World Rugby has moved to clarify their new plans. ‘The World League’, which was mooted in leaked reports published widely last week, is […]

7 years ago

‘Although we’re rivals on the pitch, we are sisters first and foremost.’ Back in 2009, brothers John (for Leinster) and Denis (Munster) Fogarty went into battle against each other in a European Cup semi final at Croke Park. Neither of the Tipperary natives gave an inch that day but it was John that emerged the […]

7 years ago

Anne, Princess Royal as the biggest ‘rugby nause’ in the Royal Family. There you have it. Mike Tindall and Zara Phillips Tindall joined Alex Payne on JOE UK’s House of Rugby and were great value as they discussed how they met, supporting each other in their various sporting pursuits and on who the biggest ‘rugby nause’ in the […]

7 years ago

This squad will be cut down to 23 for Sunday’s game against Les Bleus. Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt has named a 37-man squad for the fourth round of the 2019 Guinness Six Nations. Tadhg Beirne, Rob Herring, CJ Stander, Garry Ringrose, Ross Byrne and Kieran Marmion are all included in a wider training squad, […]

7 years ago

This is really stirring the pot. Nice motivation for Johnny Sexton on the week of a crucial match. Simon Zebo is currently tearing it up for Racing 92 and Donnacha Ryan is still trucking away after playing an integral role in the Parisians reaching last season’s Champions Cup final. Duncan Casey (Grenoble), Dave Foley, Paddy […]

7 years ago

Getting out of a rut can be the hardest thing in life, and sport is often no different. There was a time, in the 1990s, when Ireland were lucky to cobble together two wins over the course of a year. The Five Nations wooden spoon loomed as a spectre and stirring wins were the exception […]

7 years ago

It is possible, and it may be worth a try. Down in Australia, on Ireland’s tour last summer, Joe Schmidt was desperate to counter the detrimental effect David Pocock and Michael Hooper had on his side in the Brisbane Test defeat. The solution was to draft in Dan Leavy but that one hit the skids […]

7 years ago

We were expecting the wider Ireland squad to be confirmed today. That has now been pushed back 24 hours. Bad news for two Ireland stars but some positive updates on Andrew Conway and Joey Carbery. The squad for the fourth round of the 2019 Guinness Six Nations was set announced this afternoon. However, minutes before […]

7 years ago

Ireland could definitely do with the big man from George returning in super-quick time. By 5pm on Sunday, Ireland should know more about their chances in the 2019 Guinness Six Nations. Joe Schmidt’s men take on the French at Lansdowne Road on Sunday (from 3pm) but Wales and England may well have put them under […]

7 years ago

What a gem of a goal. Aston Villa are clinging onto their Championship playoff hopes but absolutely leathering Derby County will do their chances no harm at all. Villa are down in mid-table after another indifferent season but they stayed in touch with the top six by playing Frank Lampard’s Derby off the (Villa) park. […]

7 years ago

18 years young today and clearly going places. Anfield may be one of those places. “We can beat anyone,” declared Ryan Cassidy after his brace helped Watford into the semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup. The former St Kevin’s Boys forward has scored 22 goals in 47 games for Watford’s underage sides (U18s and U23s) […]

7 years ago

“I haven’t ever seen a fitter guy.” Two of the fittest players ever to share a pitch with James Haskell – a Welsh outhalf and an English prop that used to enjoy the post-match sessions. Not exactly what we were expecting but a big compliment, all the same. The latest episode of JOE UK’s House of […]

7 years ago

This would be in keeping with the Conor McGregor that fans know so well. Poirier. Ferguson. Cerrone. Holloway. Silva. Iaquinta. St-Pierre. Conor McGregor could have thrust them into the biggest [in terms of money and media attention] fight of their MMA careers, but he appears to have found his focus. ‘The Notorious’ has not fought […]

7 years ago

It was all going so well… Dana White had some bad news for UFC fans, this weekend, as he put the kibosh on a potential summer ding-dong between Conor McGregor abd Donald Cerrone. McGregor was expected to fight either Dustin Poirier or Tony Ferguson next, after he lost to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229, but […]

7 years ago

“Sorry mate, I did not see that happening.” Rugby teams the world over have a tradition of making the debutants or, in international circles, the new cap sing a song in front of the squad. Whether it is ‘The Gambler’, ‘Jump Around’, ‘Wonderwall’ or the Home & Away theme tune, or anything good or bad […]

7 years ago

Pitching CJ Stander back into battle just four weeks after he fractured his cheekbone may be a bit of stretch. Heading into the final two rounds of the Guinness Six Nations and Ireland are not the only team coping with injuries in key positions. Scotland’s squad has been ravaged while England must do without Mako […]

7 years ago

‘Who the f*** is this guy?’ ‘Sanjay’ has crafted a reputation as a class, evasive player and an antagonist supreme. For a back three player, Liam Williams has always had the habit of getting stuck in, laying some shots and winding the opposition up. The Wales and Lions star worked as a scaffolder and played […]

7 years ago

This is going to take some doing. On Saturday evening, as fans digested Wales’ 21-13 win over England, Ireland’s title chances in the Guinness Six Nations were looking good again. Ireland then went out at Stadio Olimpico and got a bonus point win over Italy. Job done, but not in great style and it only […]

7 years ago

This surfaced on the 2017 Lions Tour to New Zealand but it is being overplayed this time around. Ever since suffered a shoulder injury, which ended up affecting his neck, Conor Murray has been dealing with increased scrutiny to his game. From 2011 to 2018, Murray took to Test rugby effortlessly and has been arguably […]

7 years ago