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Posted 66 days ago
IT WAS always going to be interesting to see how Ireland would respond to last week’s draw with France: would they be able to build on their first-half performance in Paris? Or would surrendering the lead and failing to get on the scoreboard after the break leave them with a hangover?
Posted 66 days ago
OF THE Six Nations performances we have seen so far from Scotland, the one which ended in a 32-14 loss to Ireland was probably the most frustrating. Andy Robinson must have horrible nightmares that he is sticking his fingers in one hole of a giant blue dyke, only for water to spurt out of a hitherto undiscovered leak. Or worryingly, one that he thought he had already plugged.
Posted 66 days ago
RUGBY WORLD: Do you have any phobias?
Jamie Heaslip: I hate snakes. Once on holiday, a guy had a snake around his neck and tried to put it on me. I had to tell him to go away. I also hate small creatures that can kill you, like the (funnel-web) spider that can kill you with one little bite.
RW: Any…
Posted 67 days ago
Scotland knew they’d have to come out of the changing room firing if they were to beat Ireland at home, and some early pressure put them 0-6 ahead thanks to two penalty kicks from Greig Laidlaw. But Ireland responded by showing they meant business, opting to go for a lineout as a result of their own penalty, instead of taking a shot at goal. The gamble paid off, as captain Rory Best scored in the 14th minute, and the Scots were playing catch up for the rest of the game.
Posted 69 days ago
IT’S been a bruising week for Ireland. Their match against France was not only mentally draining, given their disappointment at throwing away an 11-point half-time lead to come away with a draw, but it also cost them their captain and scrum-half.
Posted 71 days ago
Ulster hooker Rory Best will captain Ireland in their penultimate RBS 6 Nations fixture against Scotland in Dublin on Saturday.
Paul O’Connell was ruled out for the remainder of the championship after picking up a knee injury against France on Sunday so Best will lead Ireland for a third time. Best, whose brother Simon also captained Ireland, has a 100% winning…
Posted 72 days ago
International wing Tommy Bowe will return to play in Ireland with Ulster next season until 2015.
Following agreement from his current club Ospreys, Bowe has been given early release from his contract with the club to allow him to take up a new contract with the IRFU and to play in Ulster for the next three seasons.
Schooled at Royal School Armagh,…
Posted 72 days ago
There is one change to the starting XV, playing Scotland Women in Ashbourne RFC on Friday, March 9th (kick off 19:30). Paula Fitzpatrick making her first start of the championship in the front row between Fiona Coghlan and Ailis Egan.
Gillian Bouke moves to the replacements. The experienced Shannon Houston has also been recalled to the squad and is named on…
Posted 72 days ago
HAVING waited three weeks to get this game underway, no one playing or watching on Sunday wanted to hear the final whistle at the Stade de France – at least not until someone got that decisive last score. Of course given that Ireland were under the most pressure and in the final play of the game it was their scramble defence that saved them from another defeat in Paris, perhaps in hindsight they will be grateful for the referee’s whistle.
Posted 73 days ago
France clawed their way back from an 11-point deficit to draw with Ireland in the rearranged RBS 6 Nations fixture at the Stade de France. The men in green started well, and Tommy Bowe scored two tries in the first half, silencing the French crowd. But Wesley Fofana scored his third Championship try in the 51st minute, and the swing in momentum saw France even the scores thanks to Morgan Parra’s boot. Ireland couldn’t convert a surge of pressure into points in the final quarter of the match, as France’s defence proved to be water tight.
