Schmidt has mind on home semi-finalRUGBY: COMING A week before their Heineken Cup semi-final against Toulouse at the Aviva, next Saturday’s penultimate Magners…Mon Apr 18 2011 - 01:00
Refreshed Leinster trample flat UlsterMAGNERS LEAGUE: Leinster 34 Ulster 26: THE FEELING lurked that Leinster would be revived and refreshed by seven changes to their…Mon Apr 18 2011 - 01:00
Much-changed Leinster still have edge in this encounterRUGBY: Leinster v Ulster NO REST for the victors or the vanquishedSat Apr 16 2011 - 01:00
Schmidt concedes Leinster are vulnerableRUGBY: IDEALLY, LEINSTER want to be playing four knock-out games in the last five weeks of their season, culminating in the …Fri Apr 15 2011 - 01:00
Leinster welcome Toulouse to DublinRUGBY: THE CREAM invariably comes to the top at the business end of the Heineken Cup and, after overcoming the two-time European…Mon Apr 11 2011 - 01:00
If Leinster get motoring, front and back, they'll be awayRUGBY: QUARTER-FINAL weekend in the Heineken Cup, the best competition in Europe: no better weekend in the calendarSat Apr 09 2011 - 01:00
Leicester are not without their flaws defensivelyON RUGBY: THE SIX Nations had better be carefulTue Apr 05 2011 - 01:00
O'Connell now faces anxious waitRUGBY : PAUL O’CONNELL and Munster received mildly encouraging news yesterday when an X-ray at Limerick Regional Hospital established…Mon Apr 04 2011 - 01:00
Avenging Munster may just shade itLIGHTS, CAMERAS and the action part is guaranteedSat Apr 02 2011 - 01:00
When they're good, they really are the bestON RUGBY: England will regroup, France are stuck with Lièvremont, Wales aren’t as good as they think, Scotland and Italy still…Tue Mar 22 2011 - 00:00
Kidney waiting for lot of pennies to dropRUGBY: IN CONTRAST to the relatively relaxed and forthcoming Martin Johnson as he contemplated the challenge of winning a Grand…Sat Mar 19 2011 - 00:00
Fortress needs new keystoneSIX NATIONS: A POWERFUL spur for both Wales and Italy last week was the underlying motivation that they simply owed their supporters…Thu Mar 17 2011 - 00:00
Try illegal on three countsFOR THE fateful quick throw by Matthew Rees to Mike Phillips for Wales’ match-winning try on Saturday, not only is it quite clear…Mon Mar 14 2011 - 00:00
Bright start but Ireland lose wayRUGBY/Wales 19 Ireland 13: THIS WAS taking one-that-got-away to ridiculous levelsMon Mar 14 2011 - 00:00
Both sides intent on putting best attacking feet forwardRUGBY: NO CHANGES for Ireland, but two significant ones for Wales; the net effect being that both sides seem intent on putting…Wed Mar 09 2011 - 00:00
O'Driscoll focuses on the positivesRUGBY: SUCCESS, AND with it raised expectation levels, can have their disadvantages too – Grand Slams in first campaigns under…Wed Mar 09 2011 - 00:00
Elwood gets new recruit from UlsterRUGBY: TRAFFIC BETWEEN provinces is becoming more commonplace and the trend continued yesterday when Connacht confirmed Ulster…Tue Mar 08 2011 - 00:00
Putting the lessons into practiceINTERVIEW DAVID WALLACE: PAST THE mid-way point and with a weekend’s respite before the final two rounds is a good time to take…Sat Mar 05 2011 - 00:00
Kidney always keeps it in perspectiveRUGBY: THREE GAMES in, Ireland find themselves having beaten the bottom two away and lost at home to France, thereby leaving…Fri Mar 04 2011 - 00:00
Munster decide to reduce ticket pricesMAGNERS LEAGUE: IN RECOGNITION of the economic climate, Munster have made “significant reductions” in their ticket prices for…Wed Mar 02 2011 - 00:00
From being in full control to a nervy finishScotland 18 Ireland 21: PHEW AGAINMon Feb 28 2011 - 00:00
Watching this Ireland is not good for youRUGBY: THIS IRISH rugby team is not good for you, especially when it comes to Murrayfield; this latest Edinburgh escapade adhering…Mon Feb 28 2011 - 00:00
Ireland must earn the right to playRUGBY: EDINBURGH CASTLE and the other landmarks of this charming city were resplendent in winter sunshine yesterday, but tomorrow…Sat Feb 26 2011 - 00:00
O'Driscoll dismisses Gaffney's theorySIX NATIONS SCOTLAND v IRELAND : IT HARDLY counts as dissension in the ranks, but no sooner had on-field communication been …Thu Feb 24 2011 - 00:00
Robinson opts for radical overhaulAS PART of a rallying call to “restore pride” in the Scottish jersey, Andy Robinson has pretty much overhauled the outfit which…Thu Feb 24 2011 - 00:00
BJ Botha set to join MunsterNEWS ROUND-UP: BJ BOTHA is set to join Munster on a two-year contract from next seasonThu Feb 24 2011 - 00:00
Gaffney pinpoints some basic failingsSIX NATIONS SCOTLAND v IRELAND: THE IRELAND backs’ coach, Alan Gaffney, yesterday admitted there is an anxiousness and a lack…Wed Feb 23 2011 - 00:00
O'Gara likely to start against ScotlandWITH PETER Stringer added to the Ireland squad, in part because of ongoing concerns over Tomás O’Leary’s back problems, and Ronan…Wed Feb 23 2011 - 00:00
Veteran again out in the cold, but Bowe may startSIX NATIONS NEWS: PETER STRINGER has again been overlooked by Ireland coach Declan Kidney, who has added eight other players…Tue Feb 22 2011 - 00:00
Munster have much to proveMAGNERS LEAGUE Munster v Edinburgh: MUNSTER seek to return to winning ways at home to Edinburgh tonight after their defeat to…Fri Feb 18 2011 - 00:00
Lièvremont swayed to go for stabilityRUGBY: IT IS a measure of both France’s content and intent that the Tinkerman has resisted the temptation to tinkerWed Feb 09 2011 - 00:00
Scrumhalf points to backline flawsRUGBY: IRELAND HAVE had better days in Rome and after such a mixed bag of a performance the feelings in the away dressingroom…Tue Feb 08 2011 - 00:00
Ireland back in the familiar role of underdogsTHE “VENI, vidi, Visa” days are over and, for a few eye-popping minutes on Saturday, it seemed the “vici” days had gone too. …Mon Feb 07 2011 - 00:00
'I just felt very relaxed'AFTER-MATCH REACTION RONAN O’GARA: HE’S DONE it more times than he can possibly remember himself, indeed so many times now he…Mon Feb 07 2011 - 00:00
Fitzgerald points to positives in fullback role and team's responseAFTER MATCH REACTION: FOR LUKE Fitzgerald, Saturday in Rome was almost like a first capMon Feb 07 2011 - 00:00
Multi-million euro package keeps Irish rugby stars at homeTHREE OF the biggest names in Irish rugby have signed new contracts in a multimillion-euro deal that will see them stay on home…Fri Feb 04 2011 - 00:00
McFadden makes first start but Kidney springs few surprisesRUGBY: NO GREAT surprises, no curve ballsWed Feb 02 2011 - 00:00
Good Six nations would make World of a differenceON RUGBY: Declan Kidney’s twin ambitions of Ireland doing well in the domestic tournament and in New Zealand in September can…Tue Feb 01 2011 - 00:00
Provinces get carrot of home semi-finalsHEINEKEN CUP: TWO EUROPEAN superpowers lurk in their way, but at least Leinster won’t have to leave Dublin until a potential…Mon Jan 24 2011 - 00:00
Munster out-hit, out-thought and out of the quarter-finalsToulon 32 Munster 16: IN THE final analysis, Munster could have few complaintsMon Jan 17 2011 - 00:00
Munster have the skills and the ethicFor much of the time, the Heineken Cup can re-visit dog-eared scriptsSun Jan 16 2011 - 00:00
Provincial hat-trick can steady the fleetRUGBY: IS THIS the end? On a weekend set to define the Irish season like few others – until next weekend anyway – all three …Sat Jan 15 2011 - 00:00
Munster have the skills and the ethicRUGBY: FOR MUCH of the time, the Heineken Cup can re-visit dog-eared scriptsSat Jan 15 2011 - 00:00
O'Connell set to start for Munster in ToulonHEINEKEN CUP NEWS ROUND-UP: COMETH their hour of need, cometh SupermanThu Jan 13 2011 - 00:00
Likely to stay: O'Brien on verge of Ireland dealTHE odds on Seán O’Brien leaving Leinster at the end of the season have receded, with the Ireland flanker seemingly on the verge…Wed Jan 12 2011 - 00:00
Munster propping crisis eases as Hayes and Buckley recoverHEINEKEN CUP/AMLIN CHALLENGE CUP: JOHN HAYES and Tony Buckley are expected to resume full training with Munster in Cork tomorrow…Tue Jan 11 2011 - 00:00
