It will all end in tiers if Ireland don't beat ArgentinaAs Declan Kidney had forecast, and as was the case four years ago when the sides met at the Aviva, the psychological importance…Tue Nov 20 2012 - 00:00
Argentina's pride now matched by attacking ambitionOn Rugby: Those dastardly Pumas are back and while the nasty edge may have dissipated in recent times, once more there’s plenty…Tue Nov 20 2012 - 00:00
Ireland welcome Argentina with spring in stepHaving tapped into the Ulster zeitgeist in Saturday’s 53-0 romp against Fiji, Ireland move on to an altogether sterner and more…Mon Nov 19 2012 - 00:00
Facile victory provides a timely boostIn the greater scheme of things this will barely constitute a footnote in history, and allowing for the Fijians’ increasing rancour…Mon Nov 19 2012 - 00:00
A fine chance for Ireland's young guns to take aim at a starting placeIreland v Fiji: Whatever about not affording this game Test status, a break from the norm to pitch up in Thomond Park for the…Sat Nov 17 2012 - 00:00
No team is an island as Fiji are left at sixes and sevensThey began their tour with a full Test in front of 82,000 against England at Twickenham, moved on to Gloucester for a Tuesday…Sat Nov 17 2012 - 00:00
Fiji rue missing players for Thomond Park clashFiji have made six changes to the side which lost 54-12 at Twickenham last Saturday as well as a couple of positional switches…Fri Nov 16 2012 - 00:00
Kidney rings the changes for FijiBy rights, Ireland’s encounter with the flamboyant Fijians should perhaps have been played in Ravenhill.Fri Nov 16 2012 - 00:00
Cave strives for a fresh opening at centreOver five years have passed since he was part of Ireland’s Under-20 Grand Slam and Churchill Cup teams, and it’s been four seasons…Thu Nov 15 2012 - 00:00
Ireland to get an infusion of youth for Fijian adventureIf the Springboks like to drag their opponents into structured arm wrestles, then the Fijians are the polar oppositeThu Nov 15 2012 - 00:00
Strauss happy to sing off the same song sheetOne of the defining images of last Saturday’s Test was assuredly that of Ireland’s adopted South African gamely singing Amhrán…Wed Nov 14 2012 - 00:00
Smal sees big things ahead for Ireland's up and coming talentRUGBY: Autumn Internationals Gert Smal admitted yesterday that the two weeks leading into last Saturday’s meeting with South…Wed Nov 14 2012 - 00:00
Another honour for Kearney as he continues on road to recoveryIn what has proved to be a multi-decorated if ultimately frustrating 2012, Rob Kearney last night received the Guinness Rugby…Tue Nov 13 2012 - 00:00
Ireland easy to read if they don't get offloadingON RUGBY: Looking across the rest of the opening round of fixtures in this November window will be a cause of mixed feelings…Tue Nov 13 2012 - 00:00
Ireland outmuscled by experienceRUGBY: Autumn Internationals As encouragement gave way to a feeling of anti-climax, you came away from the Aviva on Saturday…Mon Nov 12 2012 - 00:00
Springboks' power proves crucial as Ireland can't quite get over the lineMATCH REPORT: Ireland 12 South Africa 16 The bravery, the effort, the resilience, the enthusiasm and even much of the ambition…Mon Nov 12 2012 - 00:00
Springboks won't give an inch as Ireland search for redemptionRUGBY: Ireland v South Africa To hell with the IRB rankings, World Cup draws, the presence of Lions coach Warren Gatland and…Sat Nov 10 2012 - 00:00
O'Mahony always had good head for heightsIRELAND v SOUTH AFRICA: Tough and versatile, Peter O’Mahony is a natural born leader in red and in greenSat Nov 10 2012 - 00:00
Heaslip humbled and delighted at captaincyAs Declan Kidney noted, Jamie Heaslip would be swift to deny it. In truth, he would probably the first to do soFri Nov 09 2012 - 00:00
All has changed for new-look IrelandA new captain, a new hooker, three more potential debutants on the bench, seven changes in personnel and two positional from …Fri Nov 09 2012 - 00:00
Meyer entrusts talented Lambie with crucial outhalf roleDespite a flight of wild geese proportions to more lucrative climes in Europe and Japan, along with an horrendous injury list…Thu Nov 08 2012 - 00:00
O'Connell absence a huge blowTo lose one Lions captain may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like a potential game-changerThu Nov 08 2012 - 00:00
Zebo ready to move into fullback from left fieldThe most interesting selection in the Ireland team to play South Africa when it is announced tomorrow will be the occupant of…Wed Nov 07 2012 - 00:00
Eager-to-get-going Trimble laughs off Pietersen gaffeTo be mistaken for a goalkicking French outhalf whose national team have long since discarded him and who is notionally second…Wed Nov 07 2012 - 00:00
O'Connell looks ready to lift the burdenRUGBY: IRELAND CAMP The sight of Paul O’Connell, along with Cian Healy, bounding out on to the pitch at Carton House yesterday…Tue Nov 06 2012 - 00:00
It's Kidney's duty to put the best team possible on the pitch for IrelandON RUGBY: The gnashing of teeth which has greeted Michael Bent’s call-up has been surprisingTue Nov 06 2012 - 00:00
Indispensable Ross faces a stern test at tightheadINTERVIEW: Few have carried a heavier load over recent years than Mike Ross, so few would appreciate some back-up more than …Tue Nov 06 2012 - 00:00
London providing a new lease of life for one of Munster's favourite sonsINTERVIEW: TOMÁS O'LEARY The London-Irish scrumhalf is enjoying the hectic challenge of life in the PremiershipSat Oct 27 2012 - 01:00
Qualified Bent could get Ireland out of a tight spotNOVEMBER INTERNATIONALS: RICHARDT STRAUSS and David Kilcoyne having been fast-tracked into the 31-man Irish squad which will…Fri Oct 26 2012 - 01:00
Strauss joined by three other new capsAS EXPECTED, Richardt Strauss is in line to be named on the bench and thus make his debut for Ireland against his native South…Thu Oct 25 2012 - 01:00
Operation to sideline Kearney for 10 weeksRUGBY: IRELAND AND Leinster have been dealt a decidedly ill-timed blow with the news that Rob Kearney is to undergo an operation…Wed Oct 24 2012 - 01:00
Strauss set for Ireland squad call-upRICHARDT STRAUSS is set to be named in an Ireland squad for the first time today when Declan Kidney unveils a 20-man panel for…Wed Oct 24 2012 - 01:00
Irish sides stand in way of Anglo-French bulliesON RUGBY: CAST A cursory glance across the six Heineken Cup group tables and, as is the case off the pitch, the French and English…Tue Oct 23 2012 - 01:00
Murray shows mental strength to go with the physicalNO LESS than his physical strength, Conor Murray has mental strength as wellMon Oct 22 2012 - 01:00
Munster reclaim that old magicRUGBY: AFTER AN oddly dull and uneventful first period on a glorious autumnal Sunday in Limerick, the thought occurred that …Mon Oct 22 2012 - 01:00
Munster burst into life late to secure bonus pointMunster 33 Edinburgh 0: MAYBE IT was the Sunday brunchtime kick-off but after a fairly soporific first 40 minutes, Munster exploded…Mon Oct 22 2012 - 01:00
Hobbled Leinster need to show some patience in the valleysRUGBY: THE VERDICT on this current Leinster team cannot be suspended much longer and today, as they say, should tell us much…Sat Oct 20 2012 - 01:00
Munster need to get cooking at homeSKY SPORTS have done much for the Heineken Cup, but the unwanted, TV-dictated Sunday brunch time kick-off isn’t uppermost amongst…Sat Oct 20 2012 - 01:00
Connacht post attracts worldwide interestTHE IMPENDING vacancy in Connacht for the position as head coach next season has already attracted a high calibre of interest…Wed Oct 17 2012 - 01:00
Pienaar returns to bonus territoryFOR RUAN Pienaar, it was quite a return to the Ulster foldWed Oct 17 2012 - 01:00
Three out of four ain't bad but still plenty to improve onRUGBY: THREE WINS out of four but in truth this wasn’t one of the most distinguished of Heineken Cup opening weekends by the…Mon Oct 15 2012 - 01:00
'They lost that today to be honest'FOLLOWING ON from a stop-start beginning to their campaign, the largely positive first hour against Munster would have been forgotten…Mon Oct 15 2012 - 01:00
Leinster struggling to find their rhythmLeinster 9 Exeter 6: LAST WEEK against Munster had seemed like a step forward for the European champions but, even allowing …Mon Oct 15 2012 - 01:00
Anxious Leinster begin their defence with tricky openerLeinster v Exeter Chiefs: SO IT begins, Leinster’s defence of their back-to-back European crowns and with it their pursuit of…Sat Oct 13 2012 - 01:00
Pienaar ensures a maximum haulHEINEKEN CUP POOL FOUR Ulster 41 Castres 17: ULSTER MADE desperately heavy weather of obtaining the bonus point that the class…Sat Oct 13 2012 - 01:00
Determined Ulster to start campaign on a winning noteHEINEKEN CUP POOL FOUR Ulster v Castres: A PROVINCE expects and all that, and probably like never beforeFri Oct 12 2012 - 01:00
No progress reported in ERC talksTHERE WERE no revelations after another lengthy meeting of the ERC stakeholders in Rome yesterday, but at least they are all …Tue Oct 09 2012 - 01:00
Leinster hopeful over injury list as Munster look to regroupRUGBY : LEINSTER WILL hold on to reasonably strong hopes that Rob Kearney and Gordon D’Arcy might yet recover from the back …Mon Oct 08 2012 - 01:00
Leinster have that bit more in handLeinster 30 Munster 21: THIS WAS a fairly accurate barometer of where both sides are in their evolutionMon Oct 08 2012 - 01:00
Provincial matters are key todayRUGBY Leinster v Munster: AS HAS become the norm in recent times, a slow burning start to the rugby season should be set aflame…Sat Oct 06 2012 - 01:00
