MUCH OF THE focus around South Africa this week has discussed their attacking ‘transformation’, but Heyneke Meyer’s men remain a unit that prides itself on winning the set-piece battle and the collisions. Those pillars of their game will lay the foundation for any expansive play with ball in hand on Saturday against Ireland; getting those elements right is the primary […]

Updated 14.00 IRELAND TEAM MANAGER Mick Kearney says that Chris Henry’s illness will continue to be investigated despite the flanker ‘feeling well’ this week. Source: Inpho/Billy Stickland Henry was a late withdrawal from the starting line-up of Saturday’s opening November Test against South Africa with a reported virus. Kearney today was  able to add little clarity other than that Henry […]

IRELAND’S DOMINIC RYAN, Eoin Reddan and Joe Schmidt refused to be drawn into condemning the actions of Georgia flanker Viktor Kolelishvili after his boot made contact with Ryan’s face in the first half of the November Test in Dublin. Reddan asked referee JP Doyle to look at the incident during Ireland’s 49-7 victory at the Aviva Stadium, but the RFU match official […]

CENTURIES OF EMIGRATION have left Ireland and Australia inextricably linked despite their geographical differences. Tomorrow, however, the two nations will be at war. Not actual war, you understand, but sporty war. Yes, our best and brightest GAA and rugby players are going up against their counterparts in the two codes. So, before the one off International Rules match throws in […]

THE ELITE ANNOUNCES “DOUBLE OR NOTHING” EVENT RALLY IN JACKSONVILLE ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 8 @ 5PM — New “All Elite Wrestling” Poised to Change Wrestling Landscape — JACKSONVILLE, FL, (January 3, 2019) – All Elite Wrestling, the new wrestling promotion headlined by members of The Elite, today announced plans for a special DOUBLE OR NOTHING event rally in Jacksonville, FL. […]

Reproduced with permission from Whiff Of Cordite Following the November series / Autumn internationals / over-marketed “Irish” drink owned by London-based multinational series, Ireland now have the following games left on their pre-RWC schedule: 5 Six Nations games (Italy, France, England, Wales, Scotland)The Barbarians in Mayfour World Cup warm-ups (Wales x 2, Scotland, England) Ignoring the money-spinner in Thomond, and taking […]

Click:软文 BOTTLERS, CHOKERS, MENTALLY weak. Put it however you like, but Clermont can’t quite shake the doubts over their ability to deliver in highly stressful situations. The last three seasons have seen the Auvergne-based club lose two Top 14 semi-finals and one quarter-final, a Heineken Cup final and two European semi-finals. They’ve had no silverware since Joe Schmidt helped them […]

WITH THE RUGBY World Cup fast approaching, coaches will do whatever they can to get a tactical edge on their pool opponents. Former Australia coach Eddie Jones, who guided the Wallabies to the final in 2003, is now in charge of Japan and he has sought out the advice of two-time Champions League winning manager Pep Guardiola. Pep oozes slickness […]

Darragh Leader breaks clear in Connacht’s win over Bayonne Source: James Crombie/INPHO Ballyhale Shamrocks and Kilcormac/Killoughey players battle for the ball Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO Fionnuala Britton and Sara Treacy go out on a practice run ahead of the European Cross Country Championships Source: Sasa Pahic Szabo/INPHO Ronnie O’Sullivan celebrates with the trophy after winning the final of the UK Championship […]

But what about [insert your county here]? Don’t worry, we’ll be producing a series of articles that will cover every county in Ireland – even yours – over the next few weeks. See the ones we’ve already covered here. 1. Kieran McGeeney fulfilled a lifelong ambition for every GAA fan Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO 2. The Championship got off to a rip-roaring […]