Sport

The Morning Sports Briefing

Stephen Moore’s Irish connection, Dan Coles an all-round All Black, Donal Óg Cusack to join Clare hurling management and the Dublin marathon

Dan Coles position in the frontrow belies his ability with the ball in hand and around the field. Photograph: Reuters
Tue Oct 27 2015 - 08:24

Stephen Moore’s Irish connection

Saturday may finally be the day when a shiny-headed Irish hooker gets to lift the Webb Ellis Cup - only it won't be Keith Wood, but Australia captain Stephen Moore.

Born to Irish parents in Saudi Arabia Moore spent the first five years of his life growing up in Tuam before relocating to a small Queensland mining town in 1988.

And until he was brought off the bench to replace Jeremy Paul in a 74-7 drubbing of Samoa in 2005, thus beginning his 100-cap career with the Wallabies, the IRFU had been interested in bringing him back to Ireland as the long-term replacement for his idol Wood.

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But with a World Cup final looming at the weekend Moore’s decision to choose the Wallabies over Ireland isn’t one he seems to regret. When asked about the IRFU offer to opt for green instead of gold he said: “I have always been a proud Australian.”

Classy Coles an all-round All Black

Moore's opposite number at Twickenham will be Dan Coles. The All Blacks hooker's ability around the park and with the ball in hand is such it makes him more akin to a centre than a frontrow lump.

At 28 Coles has 35 caps to his name and looks likely to be a fixture in the New Zealand team for a while, writes Gerry Thornley.

In his colum Gerry Thornley says Argentina should be thankful the old European order rejected their request to join the Six Nations after the 2007 World Cup, with the Pumas now flourishing in the Rugby Championship.

Cusack to join Clare management

Clare hurling have announced former Cork goalkeeper Donal Óg Cusack will join Davy Fitzgerald's management set-up as a coach and selector for the 2016 season.

Cusack will leave his position as a pundit on RTE’s Sunday Game as well as ending his club playing career with Cloyne in order to take up the new role, but will see out his term as chairman of the GPA.

Dublin marathon

Elsewhere Ethiopia's Alemu Gemechu and Ukraine's Nataliya won the men's and women's Dublin marathon respectively in the pouring rain yesterday, while Sean Hehir and Pauline Curley picked up the national titles.

Pressure on Mourinho increasing

Last weekend's defeat to West Ham increased the pressure on Jose Mourinho and tonight his Chelsea side travel to play Stoke City in the League Cup.

It has been a stormy season thus far for the Portugese, with the defending champions losing six competitive fixtures out of 14, while the great manager continues to attract the ire of the FA’s discplinary committee.

Ireland close in on innings victory

Ireland are closing in on a second consecutive innings victory in their Intercontinental Cup clash with Namibia, William Porterfield’s side needing just three wickets on day four to secure a comfortable win.

What to watch out for:

Football

There are four League Cup fixtures tonight with Everton welcoming Norwich to Goodison Park, Leicester travelling to play Hull, Mourinho’s Chelsea taking on Stoke at the Britannia and Sheffield Wednesday facing Arsenal at Hillsborough (SS1, 7.45pm ko)