“I’m going to be sore tomorrow!” James Lowe came up with a World Cup moment to rival the Stephen Ferris rag-doll on Will Genia, a dozen years ago, as Ireland beat the Springboks in Paris. The Leinster winger put in an immense shift as he won three turnovers for his side and showed up with […]

2 years ago

It is not all on one man, but you really have to feel for him. It was a tough watch. Ronan Kelleher played his first game of the season, last weekend, against Tonga so a game against reigning world champions, South Africa was always going to be a huge step up. The Leinster hooker started […]

2 years ago

A real clash of the titans, at Stade de France. Andy Farrell’s men beat South Africa 13-8 in another epic World Cup Pool B match, in Paris. We will have all the biggest moments, talking points and full Ireland player ratings in our live feed [below]. On Thursday, Farrell named an Ireland team that is close […]

2 years ago

“I promise you, there’s not going to be a dramatic comeback!” It is the week of Ireland versus South Africa in the 2023 World Cup and CJ Stander is getting excited. He is looking forward to the game, sure, but he is buzzing to be heading back to Ireland for some corporate and media work […]

2 years ago

The entire rugby population of France holds its’ collective breath. France scrumhalf and captain Antoine Dupont was rushed to hospital as the second half of his side’s World Cup Pool A match against Namibia played on. Dupont and France were cruising at 54-5 when the No.9 was crunched in a high tackle by Namibia’s Johan […]

2 years ago

“I don’t want to play against that guy.” CJ Stander has firmly declared “I’m an Irishman” ahead of this weekend’s game between his old team and South Africa, the country of his birth. He can understand, though, why Jean Kleyn has switched an Irish jersey for one of the Springboks. A recent South African rugby […]

2 years ago

“What’s ingrained in my brain, at the minute, is how to beat Leinster. That’s the only thing I really care about.” Following a scoring display against Tonga that saw him break the Ireland points record, Johnny Sexton was asked if he had received a message from his old Ireland jersey, and inter-provincial, rival, Ronan O’Gara. […]

2 years ago

One of those involved previously referred to the 2021 British & Irish Lions as “hobbits”. We are building nicely to a Saturday night clash between Ireland and South Africa – the world’s two top-ranked sides. Some folks are getting a tad over-excited, already. South African rugby fans have every right to feel confident, every time […]

2 years ago

The Ireland head coach has brought out the big guns for this crucial clash. Andy Farrell is sticking with several frontliners after his Ireland team to face South Africa was announced, asking them to dig deep for the third weekend in a row. During the press briefings (video in live feed, below) centre partners Garry […]

2 years ago

“That is a massive thing I took at the start.” The Springboks laid their selection cards flat on the table, on Tuesday. Just up the road, at Complex de la Chambrerie, Jack Crowley was playing his part in what could be the Irish response. Heading into this World Cup, back in mid August anyway, not […]

2 years ago

“I could have done with you on some of the selection committees!” Ian Madigan has announced that he must retire from rugby due to injury but has insisted ‘this is not a sad story’ in a poignant essay shared on Instagram. The former Leinster, Ulster and Ireland star hangs up his boots after giving up […]

2 years ago

“The competition really begins against South Africa, on Saturday.” Ronan O’Gara will be itching for the Top 14 season to return, but must wait until next month before league fixtures resume. His Stade Rochelais side lie ninth after winning one of their opening three games. While work continues in La Rochelle, the World Cup rolls […]

2 years ago

Brought to you by Heineken “That’s typical of Andy Farrell, because it’s not about him.” Andy Farrell won his first bit of proper silverware with Ireland in March 2022 when Ireland finished second in the Six Nations but claimed the Triple Crown. Farrell and his side have kicked on massively from that. Since that Crown-clinching […]

2 years ago

“The aura he has about him is exceptional, not just for his own team but very intimidating for us as the opposition.” The lead-up to Ireland vs. South Africa has already featured a lot of Johnny Sexton chat, and deservedly so, but some of the discourse will be over who backs him up. Jack Crowley […]

2 years ago

“No, I won’t be. There have been no talks and there is no truth in that.” Rassie Erasmus has denied any suggestions he will be returning to Ireland to take over from David Nucifora as IRFU Performance Director. While he was at it, he lobbed a couple of verbal grenades at Ireland and their World Cup […]

2 years ago

“I’m delighted to be there supporting him.” Robbie Henshaw believes Ireland need to ‘have balls to go for it’ against South Africa, this weekend. He will be itching to get involved, but he may have to bide his time. Following his 2023 World Cup debut, in the win over Tonga, Henshaw selflessly put personal ambition to […]

2 years ago

“Next week will be an even bigger test for us.” Bundee Aki was fresh off the field, at Stade de la Beaujoire, on Saturday with Tonga in his rear-view, when thoughts had already turned to South Africa. His Ireland team have scored 20 tries in their opening two games, but Aki is expecting the challenges […]

2 years ago

“It made me feel a million dollars” In Wales’ opening match of the World Cup, Dan Biggar was picked up, in the first half, giving teammate George North a right rollicking. Wales had looked on course for a vital win when they looked impressive, for long spells, in the first half but they were left […]

2 years ago

“It’s a big week ahead.” It was understandable, given the game that is coming swiftly into focus next Saturday, that Johnny Sexton and Andy Farrell were asked a few South Africa questions, less than an hour after seeing off Tonga. Such is the nature of this World Cup that once one challenge is passed, the […]

2 years ago

“He’s young, he’s fearless, he’s got a great rugby brain on him.” Although their last, respective, World Cup appearances were in 2011 and 2015, Brian O’Driscoll and Dan Carter were so excellent over a sustained period that their rugby opinions will hold weight for a long, long time. Ahead of the 2023 World Cup, the rugby […]

2 years ago

“I’ll let you tell the jokes and I’ll tell the stories.” James McClean had never been on The Late Late Show before, but that all changed – and then some – in Patrick Kielty’s first show as host. The Wrexham and Ireland star was the final guest on the long-running talk show, and he discussed […]

2 years ago

“Jesis Christ.” Peter O’Mahony had just finished waxing lyrical about Johnny Sexton when a question about a rumour got right under his collar. In fairness to the reporter that followed up with a question about Mack Hansen, to Mack Hansen, in Ireland’s Thursday press briefing, he was trying to raise the matter to ask the […]

2 years ago

The cards are firmly laid out on the table. During a House of Rugby discussion on possible team selection calls for the Tonga game, former Munster teammates Peter Stringer and Johne Murphy had a robust Johnny sexton debate. While Stringer urged caution, and suggested Jack Crowley start against Tonga, Murphy believed Sexton would start the […]

2 years ago

“Was it you? Where the hell did that come from?!” Andy Farrell and Peter O’Mahony lit into reporters, today, at a press briefing that followed Ireland announcing their team to play Tonga. The Ireland head coach and his veteran back-row both stood up for Mack Hansen after some speculation, late last week, that the Connacht […]

2 years ago

The Ireland head coach switched up his starting XV as he seeks to keep up winning momentum. Andy Farrell has made several changes to his Ireland team to face Tonga, this Saturday, as he keeps one eye on a huge game against South Africa. Having set an Irish record for a World Cup winning margin, […]

2 years ago

Brought to you by Heineken For everyone that fears Johnny Sexton playing Tonga, a former Munster star makes a good case for starting him again, this weekend. On Thursday, Andy Farrell will name his Ireland team to face Tonga in their second Group B game of the World Cup. Most of us will dart our […]

2 years ago

“He was useless. That’s what it was!” Mike Catt could barely contain himself as Bundee Aki chose a high profile press conference at a Rugby World Cup to show off a more playful side of himself that many of us don’t often get to see. Andy Farrell and his coaches have been all for their […]

2 years ago

“Not if he wins man of the match!” South Africa overcame their Pool B rivals, Scotland in their World Cup opener, with captain Siya Kolisi coming forward with a passionate defence of a teammate that actually finished as Man of the Match. Outhalf Mani Libbok ran the Springbok backline superbly and set up Kurt Lee […]

2 years ago

“Hopefully I’m better for the game and hopefully I can improve my performance for Tonga” Andy Farrell’s men had long finished their 82-8 destruction of Romania, on Saturday, when Johnny Sexton flung his hat in for the Ireland team to face Tonga. Sexton had the World Cup opener against Romania circled for well over a […]

2 years ago

“He’s a bloody good player.” Evan Ferguson is locked in as an Ireland international, following his six senior appearances for his country, but speculation continues about a possible switch to England. The 18-year-old has two competitive appearances for Ireland, and four friendly outings, meaning he has satisfied Fifa qualification rules. Although he would qualify to […]

2 years ago

“He has a duty of care.” England’s disciplinary issues came back to bite them against Argentina as Tom Curry was red-carded after an incident three minutes into the game. Curry was initially yellow-carded for tackling Juan Cruz Mallia too high as he landed from fielding a high ball. That decision went to the Television Match […]

2 years ago

On the day Johnny Sexton eclipsed another ROG record, he was briefly thrown by a ‘fine wine’ question. Johnny Sexton ran in his 18th and 19th Test tries for Ireland, as part of a 24-point haul, as Romania were put to the sword in Bordeaux. Sexton’s haul for Ireland equalled the World Cup individual match […]

2 years ago

“It was a right wake up call for us.” Peter O’Mahony turns 34 next Sunday but had plenty of gas in his tank to score two second half tries in 35-degree Bordeaux heat, this afternoon. The Munster captain shifted from blindside to openside for Ireland’s 82-8 victory over Romania, and did a fine job in […]

2 years ago

Ireland’s World Cup odyssey began in Bordeaux with an 82-8 win against Romania. Ireland went into their World Cup opener with a pretty stacked deck, after Andy Farrell named most of his frontliners in his match-day XV to take on the Eastern Europeans. Ireland were on a 13-game winning streak and will be looking to […]

2 years ago

These are the men Andy Farrell is backing to get Ireland’s World Cup campaign off to a winning start. Andy Farrell has mixed it up with his Ireland team to face Romania, selecting a number of frontliners yet giving some fringe players a chance to impress. Having last played in Ireland’s Grand Slam-clinching win over […]

2 years ago

No-one has got them all yet

2 years ago

“He’ll probably send me a message joking about this.” As a key player that missed a chunk of a big home World Cup, Dan Carter can relate to France outhalf Romain Ntamack missing out on the tournament after injuring his knee. The All Blacks legend, and two-time World Cup winner, is speaking with SportsJOE during […]

2 years ago

“I like Jonny; he’s a lovely guy… but.” For the guts of the past decade, Roy Keane has been the exasperated ex-Manchester United that says what many of the club’s supporters are thinking [either out loud or to themselves]. On Sunday, at The Emirates, the former United hit the nail firmly on the head when […]

2 years ago

“He can’t.” The last thing Roy Keane wanted, after witnessing his former side give up two late goals to lose to Arsenal, was a Gary Neville gag about Ireland’s best prospect in years. Keane had already been forced to trade gags with Declan Rice, who was the last ‘best prospect’ before Evan Ferguson. Neville, after […]

2 years ago

“It was tough, but that’s top level football.” Declan Rice was beaming after scoring a late winner for Arsenal against Manchester United, at The Emirates. United thought they had won it, late on, through Alejandro Garnacho but his goal was ruled out for offside. Arsenal then rallied and won it with late goals from Rice […]

2 years ago

ARSENAL 3-1 MAN UTD Declan Rice popped up at the death to win a thriller in North London. Our full Arsenal and Man United player ratings reflect on that topsy-turvy nature of the game. Alejandro Garnacho thought he had won it for United but VAR judged his goal offside. Minutes later, it was Arsenal overjoyed […]

2 years ago

“Sometimes there can be a lot of people, but not a lot of atmosphere. So fair play to them.” Johnny Sexton and his Ireland team were given a rousing welcome by 12,000 rugby fans during an open training session at Stade Vallée du Cher in Tours, on Saturday. Jamison Gibson-Park led the way with Icelandic […]

2 years ago

Good to see so many Irish players included, but a couple have been sold short. The beauty of any Top 5 and Top 10 list is that you will never have everyone agreeing. When you have a top 100 players in world rugby list, then, it is just a huge debate waiting to happen. Ahead […]

2 years ago

‘I believe the FAI made some major mistakes by directly overruling the tasks of the coach.’ Former Ireland manager Vera Pauw has released an explosive statement that is highly critical of the Football Association of Ireland, after she was not kept on following the Women’s World Cup. The Dutchwoman, who managed Ireland to, and during, […]

2 years ago

The squad looked in high spirits as they flew out to France. Andy Farrell’s Ireland players, and his backroom team, flew out from Dublin Airport this afternoon (August 31) for an adventure they hope lasts two months. The squad flew out to France on a specially chartered Aer Lingus flight – A320, a.k.a Green Spirit […]

2 years ago

‘A penalty magnet’ In a recent Tight Five Rugby run-down of best loosehead props heading to the World Cup, Andrew Porter was named No.1 in a Top 10 of the world’s finest. Porter is expected to pack down in a formidable Ireland front row with Leinster teammates Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong when the big games […]

2 years ago

11 years on from a class day out for all the Bandon Rugby youngsters, one of their best young players is one of two Cork men heading to France. When Ireland’s World Cup squad was announced, at the weekend, one Cork website went so far as to claim two and a half representatives from The […]

2 years ago

“Seeing those young girls coming up would instil a lot of faith in you.” Having heard for long enough how the Irish women’s side are starting from the bottom and looking to make the climb, Maeve Og O’Leary and her teammates are eager for the WXV to get going. While the men’s national side are […]

2 years ago

The former Leinster, Ulster and Scotland coach is not a happy camper. Matt Williams has railed against a replacements bench strategy that South Africa have taken to extreme levels, saying it is ‘against the spirit of the game’. The Australian was speaking on the VMTV Rugby podcast and used the platform to highlight the Springbok […]

2 years ago

The Ireland captain is back in rotation after his three game ban. Johnny Sexton has spoken publicly about his three-game ban for the first time, at a press conference that coincided with Ireland’s World Cup squad selection. Sexton, Keith Earls and Conor Murray all made the 33-man squad, meaning this will be their fourth time […]

2 years ago