“He’s another guy who will have played himself back into Lions contention.” Ireland finished the 2021 Six Nations with three strong performances and have restored some of their supporter’s waning faith. Their resounding win over England, at the weekend, has massively boosted to Lions prospects of several Irish players. Back in November, Lions head coach […]

5 years ago

“I’m sure Bundee would agree it was a red card. He caught him straight in the chin.” Bundee Aki was back and motoring for Ireland, on Saturday, but his high tackle on Billy Vunipola saw both men leave the field of play. Concussion protocols for Vunipola while the Ireland centre was sent off. Following Ireland’s […]

5 years ago

Amid the din, a voice of reason. We were searching for our tin pots and wooden spoons after Clive Woodward went Saxon crazy in his Lions Text XV selection. Jeremy Guscott, thankfully, has provided ‘yang’ to Woodward’s ‘yin’. Round five of the 2021 Six Nations saw Scotland wipe the floor with Italy, Ireland hand out […]

5 years ago

“We dominated them physically.” Minutes into the second half, at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, England were reaching within themselves to stay in the fight against a determined Irish side. Not for the first time, CJ Stander stepped up and delivered a statement. Recent games against England had seen Ireland out-gunned, out-muscled and out-played. We […]

5 years ago

“Wouldn’t make many predicted Lions squads but Gatland could do a lot worse.” So said The Guardian after Keith Earls delivered the goods for Ireland, yet again. Not everyone was as convinced, however. A round-up of the English press’ ratings for Ireland’s players, after Andy Farrell’s side won 32-18 at the Aviva Stadium, sees four of […]

5 years ago

“Lads will go off to the Lions and we’ll have a summer tour, hopefully.” Hugo Keenan is far too modest. The Leinster fullback had just come off the pitch after his 11th straight start for Ireland and another assured Test match performance. While some are now linking him with the Lions, Keenan was just hoping […]

5 years ago

Oh, Clive. “I haven’t gone entirely on Six Nations form,” former England and Lions head coach Clive Woodward states in his latest column. That must explain, then, why he has gone with six English players and one from Ireland despite some damning evidence in Dublin. If you were selecting your Lions Test XV last December, […]

5 years ago

“Johnny said it to us out there, we’ve set a new standard and it’s something we need to build on.” It had been over 18 months since Jack Conan last started a Test match for Ireland. He got his chance against England and he will take some shifting now.  With the benefit of hindsight – […]

5 years ago

“It’s been a mad few months now. It has been enjoyable. I can’t say I’ve seen it coming; it’s been a bit mad.” From October 24 until March 20, Hugo Keenan has logged 11 straight starts for Ireland and made the No.15 jersey his own. Back when Rob Kearney was finishing up with Ireland, the […]

5 years ago

It came in the closing stages of England’s third defeat of the championship. Leicester and England prop Ellis Genge was fortunate that the on-field officials did not witness his reckless treatment of Johnny Sexton at the bottom of a ruck. Genge came on for Mako Vunipola at half-time in England’s 32-18 defeat to Ireland, at […]

5 years ago

If the tune fits… CJ Stander caused a lot of eyes to well up, across the country, as he Face-Timed with his wife and young daughter, back home in South Africa, after his final game in an Ireland jersey. 30-years-old and at the peak of his powers, the Munster forward says he will retire from […]

5 years ago

From the highs of last December to a fifth place finish in March. Eddie Jones led England to their third Six Nations title in five attempts, late last year, but he once again finds himself under pressure. The England head coach has often had a testy relationship with the media and did not help matters […]

5 years ago

Both men went hard at it, right until the moment their games came to a thudding end. Bundee Aki would have been stewing all through the Six Nations. So long a backline and defensive talisman for Ireland, the Connacht centre missed out on Ireland’s first four games as Andy Farrell and his coaches settled on […]

5 years ago

IRELAND 32-18 ENGLAND A championship that started terribly ended on an uplifting note as Ireland outgunned and outplayed last year’s Six Nations champions. The full Ireland ratings are full of championship highs. After a slow enough opening 20 minutes, with the scores tied 3-3, Ireland’s bold attacking lineout saw Jack Conan release Keith Earls and […]

5 years ago

“I don’t think it’s an either, or. I think it’s a neither or neither.” Ireland versus England throws up another clash between Johnny Sexton and England’s playmakers George Ford and Owen Farrell. Once again, British & Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland will be watching closely. Following Ireland’s 27-24 win over Scotland, last Sunday, former […]

5 years ago

“I would love to see kids from this area come through and make it in rugby.” CJ Stander has never made it a secret that he would return to his home-town of George in South Africa. The big surprise is that he is doing so after saying no to one last big contract offer from […]

5 years ago

‘The Eagle’ steps away from the sport with a 29-0 record. Khabib Nurmagomedov has met with UFC president Dana White and has officially confirmed the retirement decision that he first signalled in November 2020 after defeating Justin Gaethje. Nurmagomedov had vowed to his mother that he would step away from fighting after he defended his […]

5 years ago

Injuries to James Ryan and Garry Ringrose meant there were always going to be changes. We all knew that there would be changes to the Ireland team to face England in their Six Nations finalé, but few would have guessed at how many. There are six alterations to the Ireland team that defeated Scotland 27-24, […]

5 years ago

“From the day he arrived in Munster he did his best to buy into our culture and now he’s creating bits of our culture.” It was a real novelty, at first, but you began to really appreciate those hand-shakes from CJ Stander. From the first day he rocked up at Munster’s midweek training session at […]

5 years ago

“He’s a family man, an incredible friend, incredible team-mate, but most importantly an incredible friend.” The IRFU could not have eased Peter O’Mahony back into press duties any better. Returning to the Ireland squad after the three-game ban he got for a reckless clear-out on Wales prop Tomas Francis, 13 minutes into his latest ninth […]

5 years ago

Johnny Sexton says when he was summoned for a chat with Andy Farrell and CJ Stander, on Monday, there were other possibilities in his mind. CJ Stander will play his final Ireland game this weekend, less than a week after winning his 50th Test cap. Ireland captain Johnny Sexton found out about Stander’s plans – […]

5 years ago

“I consider myself lucky to play alongside him.” Four Irish players vastly improved their Lions chances over the past two Six Nations games while Robbie Henshaw is now pressing for a starting role. Garry Ringrose was waiting to get on the Ireland team bus, on Sunday, when the phone was passed to him and he […]

5 years ago

This will be a big call for Andy Farrell. First off, the bad news. Ireland have to face England on Saturday without two players that stand a good chance of making the British & Irish Lions squad. Garry Ringrose (ankle) and James Ryan (concussion) will miss Saturday’s Six Nations clash with the outgoing champions while […]

5 years ago

Eben Etzebeth may hold back before he goes lacing into his next tackle attempt on the Wexford native. Deep in the bowels of a Murrayfield stadium with notoriously patchy WiFi coverage, Cian Healy was moving about to find a signal and contemplating the glory of those Tadhg Furlong side-steps. Healy and Furlong started their first […]

5 years ago

“He’s someone that could be drafted straight in to start against England.” Two changes to the Ireland team, with a couple more positional shifts due to injuries to James Ryan and Garry Ringrose. Ireland could still finish second, restore some pride, show they are truly going places, and boost the Lions chances of several of […]

5 years ago

“I was trying to keep it a little bit lower. It was quite blustery in the stadium and it was a good enough strike to get over.” Johnny Sexton stepping up to bang over a 76th minute penalty to win it for Ireland at Murrayfield with a low-scuttling rocket. The Scots must be sick of the […]

5 years ago

“Money won is twice as sweet as money earned.” The SportsJOE 12 o’clock quiz has whipped up another delicious and dangerous mix of questions that will test your wits and bring back some old memories. Step up to the plate and swing for the fences.

5 years ago

“You don’t always get it right, as I showed today, and he covers me.” James Lowe started off brightly against Scotland, at Murrayfield this afternoon, as he kick-started a move that led to Ireland’s opening penalty. Ireland then stretched their lead but a Finn Russell try, after some defensive errors, gave the hosts a platform […]

5 years ago

Jamie Heaslip even touted the Leinster lock for the Lions… in 2025. Watch out the Wallabies, in four years’ time. Ryan Baird is only two Tests into his international career – both as a sub – but he is getting folks talking. The 22-year-old, who made his Ireland debut against Italy a fortnight ago, came […]

5 years ago

SCOTLAND 24-27 IRELAND Johnny Sexton landed a touchline penalty with five minutes to go as Ireland broke Scottish hearts again. The Ireland ratings are dominated by the usual suspects. Scotland came back from 24-10 down to level a pulsating tie, but Sexton’s penalty was enough to edge home at Murrayfield. Ireland hit the front, early […]

5 years ago

ENGLAND 23-20 FRANCE England ended French Grand Slam hopes and several of their players answered the critics after a “courageous” Joy Neville call saw them produce a comeback win. France scored a try through their superb scrumhalf Antoine Dupont in the first minute but England responded with an Anthony Watson score and two Owen Farrell […]

5 years ago

ITALY 7-48 WALES Wales are one game away from one of the most unlikely Grand Slams after comfortably dispatching a hapless Italian side. Wayne Pivac entered the 2021 Six Nations under immense pressure but they have taken advantage of just about all the breaks that have presented themselves. Ireland and Scotland both finished with 14 […]

5 years ago

A horror show for the Plymouth defence, but a tidy finish from the Irish striker. Four minutes into his 30th senior game, Troy Parrott took advantage of woeful Plymouth Argyle defending to put Ipswich Town 1-0 up. Parrott, who is on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, pounced on a poor back-pass and rounded their goalkeeper Michael […]

5 years ago

“I wouldn’t say I was the best manager in the business… but I was in the top one.” The SportsJOE 12 o’clock quiz is kicking off with the 2009 sporting classic, The Damned United, before covering geography, top football managers and finishing up with some general knowledge. You’ve got this!

5 years ago

“I’m sorry, you can sit there and look and play with all your silly machines as much as you like!” The SportsJOE 12 o’clock quiz is celebrating top young talents and famous post-match rants, too. All that and your favourite rounds. Get after it!

5 years ago

“If the division was decided on characters, I think we would have won it!” Back in 1990, before he set off for his Italia ’90 adventure with Ireland, Andy Townsend had a decision to make – Arsenal or Chelsea. Having jumped from non-league Weymouth to Southampton, in 1985, the midfielder cut his first division teeth […]

5 years ago

“It’s definitely in the back of our minds somewhere.” Last November, British & Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland let it be known that club form, and European form, would be important factors in selecting his squad for the 2021 tour. While he is open to selecting those not picked by their countries, he has […]

5 years ago

A rare feat. 60 seconds and one question in a testing football quiz. That’s what is on your plate right now. We are looking for – The Two Players to Have Scored in a Manchester Derby and a Merseyside Derby in the Same Calendar Year. You have 60 seconds to get the job done. The quiz […]

5 years ago

A new management structure is in place at Manchester United. The 20-time league champions have announced the appointment of their first ever Football Director and confirmed a new role for former midfielder Darren Fletcher. United have been considering a restructure to their day-to-day management, including the appointment of a Football Director, for over two years. […]

5 years ago

Time to shine. The SportsJOE 12 o’clock quiz is starting off with some TV hosts from years gone by, before bringing you the classic geography, records and general knowledge rounds. Good luck today!

5 years ago

“We’re willing to do them, but I don’t think a lot of people are aware of the amount of sacrifices we make to play the sport.” ‘World Rugby has reaffirmed its commitment to delivering a spectacular Women’s World Cup tournament in New Zealand in 2022’. So came the best of a bad situation vow from […]

5 years ago

“He just got out of the car and started farming again.” Pieter-Steph du Toit won South African Player of the Year, and World Cup and World Rugby Player of the Year in the space of four weeks, in 2019, but his dad reckons he is not even the best sportsperson in his family. “That’s probably […]

5 years ago

“You’d love to have more time with the players… it’s a constant discussion with Andy about how much time you’re going to get.” You get the impression that Paul O’Connell would love nothing better than to chew the ears off the current Ireland players about lineout moves, set-plays and how to target the opposition. The […]

5 years ago

“I’m disappointed they didn’t have Rod Stewart doing this!” The draws for the last 16 of the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup competitions were drawn  in Lausanne, this afternoon, with some tasty ties in store for the Irish provinces. Over on BT Sport, Craig Doyle, Brian O’Driscoll and Ugo Monye all kept us entertained while […]

5 years ago

“That’s a challenge we’ll definitely accept, face-on.” For Pieter-Steph du Toit, most of 2020 was spent rehabbing and focusing on one light at the end of what seemed, at times, like a pitch-black tunnel – the Lions Tour to South Africa. The Stormers forward, who won the World Cup with his country in 2019 and […]

5 years ago

Another Top 10 finish for the Holywood native, but a tournament that got worse by the day. For most golfers, the current run of form Rory McIlroy is on would represent a super start to 2021. For Rory McIlroy, he is getting close but nowhere near close enough, and he is frustrated. The 31-year-old has […]

5 years ago

The Ulster fullback takes the place of Shane Daly. Jacob Stockdale is back in the Ireland squad for this Sunday’s Six Nations clash with Scotland at Murrayfield. Stockdale has been named as part of Andy Farrell’s 36-man squad for the game against the Scots, with Daly remaining with Munster. The 24-year-old started on the left […]

5 years ago

“I mean, it had to be done. I knew I had to stand up and execute three great golf shots.” On a day when some of the world’s best golfers were carding rounds of 75, 76 and worse, Bryson DeChambeau went -1 around Bay Hill to clinch the Arnold Palmer Invitational. The American went into […]

5 years ago

The Corkman finished off his playing career at Celtic. If Dave Jones was fishing for a sound-bite out of Roy Keane, he got a small but tasty morsel in response. Rangers wrapped up their first Scottish league title in a decade after Celtic’s 0-0 draw with St Mirren saw them drop 20 points off the […]

5 years ago

“That’s not the way I wanted to win.” Jamaican bantamweight Aljamain Sterling is the new champion of the 135lbs after a crazy finish to his title fight against Petr Yan, at UFC 259. With Sterling leading on one judge’s scorecard, and behind on the other two, Yan came out looking to prove his credentials in […]

5 years ago