THERE WAS A refreshing honesty to the scrum battles in each of last weekend’s Guinness Pro12 semi-finals. Resets were minimal. Angles – for the most part – were straight, and on the majority of the 27 scrums over two games, the ball went in and came out with the view to starting an attack, rather…
Month: November 2022
‘I don’t want to be 24 or 25 and not starting for my club team’
JACOB STOCKDALE IS very much a modern young Irish professional rugby player. He is confident in his ability and not afraid to back it. The 19-year-old is currently preparing for the start of Ireland’s World Rugby U20 Championship campaign in Manchester – his second year at this level – but he is already ambitious for…
We’ll Leave It There So: Big signing for United, selection surprise for Rio and today’s sport
Home It was a tough day for rising equestrian star Bertram Allen. Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO Top Irish showjumper Bertram Allen will miss the Rio Olympics after Greg Broderick was picked ahead of him despite Broderick’s inferior world ranking.Two of Ireland’s leading bookmakers — Paddy Power and BoyleSports — announced that they will stop taking bets on…
Ford returns as Jones’ England look to clinch series against Wallabies
Click:wps官网 EDDIE JONES HAS recalled George Ford to his England team for the second Test against Australia, after the Bath out-half impressed off the bench in last weekend’s victory in Brisbane. Ford replaced Luther Burrell in the 29th minute of the first Test win, with Owen Farrell reverting to the inside centre slot he occupied…
Ireland wilt at 5,700 feet – but altitude is no excuse for late collapse, says Best
– Rory Keane reports from Ellis Park, Johannesburg RORY BEST HAS pretty much seen it all at this stage, but the Ireland captain has never experienced a heart-breaking defeat of this magnitude. Having stormed into a 19-3 half-time lead, Joe Schmidt’s side looked on course to take out the series 2-0 and secure their place in…
The evolution of Lionel Messi into a great and more of the week’s best sportswriting
1. “Some will argue that a team with a player as gifted as Lionel Messi almost has no need for tactics: Build a solid platform, let him play and you will win a lot more games than you lose.” Writing for Bleacher Report, Jonathan Wilson and Graham Hunter take a closer look at the evolution…
All Black Franks eager ‘to work hard’ as he sticks with relegated London Irish
FORMER NEW ZEALAND prop Ben Franks will ply his trade for London Irish next season, despite the recent upheaval at the club. Franks joined on a three-year contract last year, but the Exiles’ relegation has seen many best-laid plans enter the re-think stage. Head coach Tom Coventry, assistant Grant Doorey and lock Matt Symons all…
‘Tom will certainly be in with a big shout to play for Ireland’
BUNDEE AKI’S POTENTIAL eligibility for Ireland in 2017 has already sparked many a conversation, but the possible qualification of one of his Connacht team-mates has gone somewhat under the radar. Tom McCartney may not grab the headlines as often as Aki, but the New Zealand-born hooker has arguably been just as important a signing for…
We’ll Leave it There So: Keane’s Ireland future, Spieth makes charge and all today’s sport
Athlete Ciara Mageean. Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO HomeNorthern Ireland striker Kyle Lafferty has been charged with misconduct in relation to betting.Irish goalkeeper David Forde has joined League Two side Portsmouth.Martin O’Neill has given a strong indication that Robbie Keane’s Ireland career is over.Galway have named their team bidding for a place in the All-Ireland football semi-finals, while…
‘I don’t see why he can’t be back to that level. He’s an extraordinary athlete’
INJURIES HAVE BEEN cruel to Cian Healy in recent years, but Leinster remain optimistic that the loosehead prop can return to former heights in the upcoming season. Now 28, Healy has achieved so much in rugby. Two Six Nations titles, three Heineken Cups, two Pro12 trophies and a Challenge Cup winner’s medal. He was picked…