Sport

The Morning Sports Briefing

Leinster can take advantage of Toulon weaknesses, Liverpool move up to fifth, Spieth has Rory in his sights and Mark Collins at the heart of Cork’s free-scoring style

Steffon Armitage faces a race to be fit for Toulon’s European Champions Cup semi-final against Leinster on Sunday. Photograph: Inpho
Steffon Armitage faces a race to be fit for Toulon’s European Champions Cup semi-final against Leinster on Sunday. Photograph: Inpho
Tue Apr 14 2015 - 08:40

Toulon not as invincible as they seem

With failure to qualify for the top four of the Pro 12 for the first time since the play-off system was introduced looking likely, Leinster are now faced with a daunting trip to play Toulon, of all teams, to try and resurrect their disappointing 2014/15 campaign.

But while playing the European champions in Marseille on Sunday may not seem like the best place for Matt O’Connor and his charges to get things back on track, the French Galacticos are not without their weaknesses.

Gavin Cummiskey spoke to former Munster scrumhalf Mike Prendergast, who now coaches Top 14 side Grenoble, about how to get at Toulon, after his side crossed the line four times against the French league leaders last Saturday.

READ MORE

As well as seeing Toulon ship four tries, Leinster will also be boosted by the news Wales fullback Leigh Halfpenny is a doubt for the Champions Cup semi-final clash, with Steffon Armitage also struggling for fitness.

Whatever the result on Sunday, however, Leinster have not been themselves this season, and Gerry Thornley looks at a side which seems to be suffering from a damaging loss of self-belief.

Liverpool back up to fifth

Liverpool look set to challenge Manchester City for a European Cup spot after they moved into fifth place and within four points of the top four last night as goals from Raheem Sterling and Joe Allen set up a routine 2-0 win against Newcastle United at Anfield.

The Champions League returns tonight with Juventus welcoming Arsenal's conquerors Monaco to Turin and the small matter of a Madrid derby at the Vicente Calderon.

Spieth has Rory in his sights

Jordan Spieth's Masters win signalled his arrival at golf's top table, and now the young Texan has more Majors and Rory McIlroy's world number one spot in his sights as he becomes a bigger draw both on and off the course, writes Philip Reid.

Meanwhile Patrick Reed has become the latest headline name to join the impressive field at the 2015 Irish Open at Royal County Down.

Collins at the heart of Cork

Despite their dabbling in defensive dark arts and their use of auxillary defenders, Cork ended the regulation Allianz League season as top scorers and the only side to manage double figures in goals, and at the heart of this has been the industrious Mark Collins, whose distribution and work-rate have become vital for the Rebels.

Meanwhile the GAA have said Kerry's win over Antrim which secured them an improbable promotion to Division One B of the hurling league has vindicated the play-off system.

Record crowd headed for Punchestown

Elsewhere authorities at Punchestown race course are expecting to see a new record attendance during the national hunt festival in two weeks time, with more than 110,000 people expected to pass through the gates.

What to watch out for:

Football

TV3 and UTV from 7.30pm,Champions League Quarter-final, (7.45) Atletico Madrid v Real Madrid

Setanta from 7.30pm, Sky Sports 1 from 7.40pm Champions League Quarter-final, (7.45) Juventus v Monaco

Tennis

Sky Sports 3, 9.30am-5.30pm, ATP Monte-Carlo Masters

Cricket

Sky Sports 2 from 2.30pm, 1st Test, D2 West Indies v England