Joe Schmidt sees need for Ireland to sharpen cutting edge in openerCanada worry Irish head coach with their ability to quickly turn defence into attackFri Sept 18 2015 - 01:00
Rugby World Cup: Simon Easterby stays focused on CanadaUnlike 2007, Ireland must start with a quality performance, says forwards coachWed Sept 16 2015 - 08:51
Gerry Thornley: Eddie O’Sullivan the fall guy in Biarritz’s soap operaFormer Ireland coach victim of a French club rugby coup from withinTue Sept 15 2015 - 07:45
Rory Best: No panic yet but pressure is on now for a winAfter defeats against Wales and England, Ireland needs to generate momentumTue Sept 15 2015 - 01:15
RWC 15: Bolt from the blue should inspire the boys in greenWorld’s fastest man Usain Bolt paid quick visit to Irish squad on eve of England gameTue Sept 15 2015 - 01:00
RWC 2015: Ireland's Peter O’Mahony charging in to his first World CupKnown as a player with no fear, and the backrower is ready to give it his allSat Sept 12 2015 - 05:30
RWC 15: Frontman Seán O’Brien ready for a second crackSecond time around, no-frills flanker wants to make the most of the World CupThu Sept 10 2015 - 10:00
RWC 15: World in union one more timeRugby Correspondent Gerry Thornley sets the scene for Rugby World Cup 2015Thu Sept 10 2015 - 07:00
Gerry Thornley: Echoes of 2011 revisited for IrelandDespite patchiness of warm-up performances Schmidt’s squad will be better for themTue Sept 08 2015 - 08:38
Underwhelming Irish bowed but not broken after defeatHope is Ireland are keeping their powder dry for World Cup after sub-par showingMon Sept 07 2015 - 01:00
Schmidt weighs injuries and defeats ahead of World CupNo danger of Ireland going into tournament thinking world is rosy, says coachMon Sept 07 2015 - 01:00
Error-strewn Ireland display not what Joe Schmidt requiredConcern over a number of walking wounded after loss to England at TwickenhamSat Sept 05 2015 - 18:18
Ireland victory will be improved performances and no injuriesA match against England is never a friendly, but winning is not the biggest concernSat Sept 05 2015 - 13:59
Paul O’Connell: Ireland World Cup win is ‘long, long way away’Captain admits players got reality check after defeat to Wales in DublinFri Sept 04 2015 - 17:23
Ireland at full strength for final warm-up against EnglandGame at Twickenham will be a hot-bed from the start, says boss Joe SchmidtFri Sept 04 2015 - 07:41
Joe Schmidt set to send strong Ireland team to TwickenhamFinal warm-up game against England to provide game time for Six Nations startersThu Sept 03 2015 - 01:10
Gerry Thornley: Ireland set for hard work as tough calls madeJoe Schmidt likes blend of youth and experience but admits to gambling at scrumhalfWed Sept 02 2015 - 15:58
Ireland players endure nerve-wracking day waiting for callDevin Toner says competition for places leading to very intense training sessionsWed Sept 02 2015 - 01:00
Joe Schmidt takes calculated risk with World Cup squadIreland will have a total of 17 tournament debutantes when they travel to EnglandTue Sept 01 2015 - 09:48
Gerry Thornley: World Cup will be full of spectacular heavyweight collisionsWales getting over gain line will worry Joe Schmidt, with France also opting for powerTue Sept 01 2015 - 08:25
Keith Earls and Luke Fitzgerald still in runningIreland coach Joe Schmidt expecting another huge physical clash against EnglandMon Aug 31 2015 - 01:00
Wales show Ireland what’s expected at World CupJoe Schmidt’s men know they’ll have to improve as they fail to penetrate red wallMon Aug 31 2015 - 01:00
Plenty at stake as Ireland aim to sign off with victory over WalesPlayers last chance to impress Joe Schmidt as Paul O’Connell plays his final home TestSat Aug 29 2015 - 13:19
Gerry Thornley: My Ireland squad to battle for World CupRugby World Cup is around the corner and players will be twitchy this weekendSat Aug 29 2015 - 11:25
Conor Murray ready to fuel Ireland’s fire at World CupMunster scrumhalf is in prime of career four years after making dramatic breakthroughSat Aug 29 2015 - 01:03
Luke Fitzgerald set to be centre of attention as front-liners returnLeinster man to appear at 13 with O’Connell to make home farewell v Wales on SaturdayThu Aug 27 2015 - 07:10
Les Kiss says coaches still open-minded over World Cup squadBackroom team will be ‘burning midnight oil’ when making final decisionsWed Aug 26 2015 - 01:02
Robbie Henshaw keen to be centre-stage as plan of attack takes shapeGerry Thornley talks to the Connacht player about his preparation for the World CupWed Aug 26 2015 - 01:00
Gerry Thornley: England asking for trouble if they are putting hopes on Ford’s shouldersWorld Cup-winning teams almost always have outhalf who knows way around blockTue Aug 25 2015 - 07:45
Leinster appoint Leo Cullen as new head coachJohnny Sexton says former team-mate has qualities to succeed with provinceThu Aug 20 2015 - 01:00
Johnny Sexton ready to hit the ground runningIreland outhalf is ‘itching’ for action following first proper pre-season in two yearsThu Aug 20 2015 - 01:00
Gerry Thornley: Mercurial French major obstacle to Irish World Cup hopesDespite failing to defeat Ireland in four years, winning the group is not beyond Les BleusTue Aug 18 2015 - 13:06
Gerry Thornley: Error-strewn victory gives much to ponderThree leaked tries, 23 missed tackles, as Ireland come from behind three times to winMon Aug 17 2015 - 09:41
Audition for World Cup places ensures intensitySchmidt looking for solid set-piece as platform to examine player combinationsSat Aug 15 2015 - 12:14
Schmidt confident his old pal Vern Cotter will improve Scotland’s fortunesTwo coaches, who together delivered glory for Clermont, set to renew acquaintancesSat Aug 15 2015 - 06:00
Jack Conan handed debut as Schmidt makes 14 changesOpportunity knocks for likes of Zebo, Madigan, Tuohy and Kilcoyne to seal squad placeFri Aug 14 2015 - 08:49
Injured Andrew Trimble ruled out of Scotland gameWinger’s right foot ‘a source of concern’ as Madigan set to start at outhalf on SaturdayWed Aug 12 2015 - 01:00
Paul O’Connell: Rugby Writers of Ireland Player of the YearIreland captain enjoying preparation for his fourth World Cup campaign with IrelandTue Aug 11 2015 - 20:30
Impressive Darren Cave would love another chance to shineUlsterman lays down marker with strong try-scoring performance against WalesTue Aug 11 2015 - 01:08
Tommy O’Donnell out of Rugby World Cup with dislocated hipMunster openside ruled out of tournament after injury sustained in Wales warm-up winMon Aug 10 2015 - 13:27
Tommy O’Donnell’s injury clouds Cardiff winIreland muddied its selection waters whereas disjointed Welsh clarified theirsMon Aug 10 2015 - 07:57
Felix Jones sees good points but concedes there is work to be doneTommy O’Donnell injury a poignant reminder of how best laid plans can go wrongMon Aug 10 2015 - 01:00
Slick Ireland show their greater strength in depthImpressive display bore hallmarks of a squad well-coached by Joe SchmidtMon Aug 10 2015 - 01:00
Ireland ease to impressive warm-up win over ragged WalesO’Donnell and Trimble injuries mar dominant showing from Schmidt’s men in CardiffSat Aug 08 2015 - 17:11
Joe Schmidt keeping cards close to chest as he looks to pare down squadIreland coach admits waters still unclear with backroom staff meeting every daySat Aug 08 2015 - 06:00
Ireland back to business with first warm-up match against WalesWorld Cup hopefuls get opportunity to seize moment in front of capacity crowdFri Aug 07 2015 - 23:59
Gerry Thornley: Opportunity knocks for Ireland fringe playersStrong performance against Wales outfit will be impossible for Joe Schmidt to overlookFri Aug 07 2015 - 08:00
Joe Schmidt’s aim will be to keep alarm bells quiet ahead of World CupIreland’s warm-up matches don’t always offer clear indicator of performanceThu Aug 06 2015 - 01:02
Gerry Thornley: Irish players get last chances in warm-upsJoe Schmidt and Warren Gatland discuss policy to avoid mistakes of World Cup 2007Wed Aug 05 2015 - 01:13
Warren Gatland turns up heat in advance of World Cup warm-upsWales are training hard and building team spirit as final preparations are being madeWed Aug 05 2015 - 01:00
