STUART HOGG HOPES Scotland can take a leaf out of Glasgow’s book by beating the major powers in Europe when the Six Nations gets underway next month. Hogg was a member of the Glasgow side that thrashed two-time European champions Leicester 43-0 at the English giants’ Welford Road ground on Saturday — arguably the most […]
Johnny Holland Source: James Crombie/INPHO MUNSTER SUPPORTERS GENERALLY don’t extract positives from a defeat to Leinster. The 16-13 loss at the Aviva Stadium on 2 April last year was a rare exception, but it wasn’t the value of a bonus point to their bid to secure a Champions Cup place that acted as consolation for […]
CONNACHT TODAY ANNOUNCED some encouraging contract news ahead of Sunday’s away game against Cardiff Blues in the Guinness Pro12 [KO 1.05pm]. Hooker Dave Heffernan and lock James Cannon have both put pen to paper on new two-year deals with the western province, which Connacht Rugby CEO Willie Ruane has described as “great news for Connacht […]
ULSTER HAVE MADE their second management appointment in the space of three days with the province announcing the arrival of Dwayne Peel as assistant coach from next season. The former Welsh international scrum-half has signed a two-year contract at Ravenhill and his appointment follows the acquisition of Jono Gibbes as head coach. Click Here: Peel, who […]
MUNSTER DIRECTOR OF rugby Rassie Erasmus has ruled out any move for Ian Madigan. He said that Madigan was not on his radar and that they wouldn’t be bringing him back to Ireland from Begles Bordeaux. “No, definitely not,” he responded when asked if there was any move to sign Madigan. Erasmus is set to […]
THE RETURN OF Jared Payne from a serious kidney injury yesterday, earlier than first expected, will have been watched closely by Joe Schmidt. The Ireland head coach would have been buried in analysis of his own side’s 19-9 win against France for most of the day, of course, but he took time out of the […]
AUSTRALIAN BACK AND second row Scott Fardy will join Leinster after the conclusion of the 2017 Super Rugby season, the province confirmed today. The 39-cap Wallaby is understood to have agreed a two-year contract in Ireland after 83 appearances in five years for the Canberra-based side. “Scott is a player of considerable talent and experience […]
RORY BEST BLAMED ‘silly mental errors’ for Ireland’s 22-9 defeat to Wales in Cardiff last night, a result that means Joe Schmidt’s men are out the running for the Six Nations title. Several failures from close-range attacks were hugely damaging to the visitors’ attempts to secure the win that would have possibly meant a title […]
Updated 16 March THE ANALYSIS OF Ireland’s try-scoring trends we carried out before the Six Nations highlights exactly why their close-range failings against Wales were so costly. Over the course of their 12 Test matches last year, 58% of Ireland’s tries came from lineout platforms. In other words, the passage of possession leading to the […]
EDDIE JONES has revealed he received a number of calls last week from England players eager to address the indiscipline that has ruined their Guinness Six Nations title defence. Following the 40-24 mauling by Wales, the squad left camp for a scheduled break week but the shortcoming of England’s Championship-high penalty count compelled some to […]