Rugby
Joe Schmidt has confirmed that he will make a decision on his future as Ireland rugby coach after the tour of South Africa this summer.
Speaking at Carton House yesterday the 50-year-old said that there were many factors that would play a part in whether or not he would be open to extending his contract past it’s expiry at the end of the 2017 season.
“It is something that I’ve committed to, making a decision once we get back from Africa really. It’s really important that there is a clear pathway for players to know that there’s some continuity there or if that continuity is going to be with someone else. That there’s a span of enough time that they can get the game up and running as they see it best being played. I am conscious of my responsibility there,” Schmidt said.
With Josh van der Flier dropped from the squad, Liam Toland looks at how the selection of Tommy O'Donnell will stem the quick ball used so often by Scotland.
“Maybe this is the thinking behind the change at openside for Ireland. Is it that Josh van der Flier is tired or is it Tommy O’Donnell is a slightly better reader of the evolving breakdown? It’s the latter, I feel. O’Donnell is also slightly more imposing over the ball.
Both have great speed and instincts going forward so I fancy selection is about who has the best chance to disrupt Scotland’s ambition from the quick ball,” he writes.
Also speaking at Carton House yesterday was Johnny Sexton. The Ireland outhalf spoke of how he hopes that Schmidt will sign a new contract as coach.
“All we know is that he’s here for next year,” said Sexton yesterday. “We had big goals this year. We were trying to go three in a row. We’ve still got big goals, trying to create history. We’re got three chances to do that in South Africa and two against New Zealand. Then, we have another crack at the Six Nations next year,” Sexton said.
Cheltenham
It was certainly a proud St Patrick's Day to be Irish at Cheltenham yesterday as Ruby Walsh began the rout that saw six Irish winners on the seven race card.
Walsh led home the magnificent Willie Mullins-trained Vautour in the Ryanair Chase as well as Black Hercules and Luminee, also for the Mullins yard.
There were also wins for Davy Russell on board Mall Dini, Empire Of Dirt ridden by Bryan Cooper and Jamie Codd on Cause of Causes.
Today looks set to be a thrilling final day as Davy Russell hopes to steer Don Poli to Gold Cup victory, finally giving Willie Mullins a winner in the biggest of them all.
In a festival highlight containing any number of angles it is ultimately Mullins’ Gold Cup quest which continues to prove the most enthralling.
On five occasions jump racing’s dominant figure has endured the frustration of finishing runner-up in the race that matters most, including the last three years in a row.
The last two, Djakadam and On His Own, try again and bookmakers reckon Djakadam is best placed to end what might not yet justify being called a ‘hoodoo’ but which edges ever closer to such status the longer Mullins fails to win steeplechasing’s ‘blue-riband’.
One they'll all have to beat however is Cue Card, ridden by Paddy Brennan. The once volatile jockey spoke yesterday of his desire to land the biggest one of all on the horse that 'saved his career'.
“He has saved my career,” Brennan says bluntly. “I was struggling mentally, trying to come to terms with probably not getting back to the big stage again, and he’s changed that,” Brennan said.
Soccer
It was a successful night for Liverpool as they advanced past Manchester United in the Europa League round of 16, thanks to a 3-1 aggregate win. Anthony Martial's penalty looked to have given United a way back into the game but Philippe Coutinho's chip over David de Gea right on the stroke of half time effectively ended the game as a contest.
Liverpool will be the only English representative in this morning's quarter-final draw after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's brace at White Hart Lane dumped out Tottenham, 5-1 on aggregate.
Gary Neville's Valencia also saw their European run ended as, despite winning 2-1 on the night, they went out on away goals to Athletic Bilbao.
It's a big night of League of Ireland action as Cork City head to the home of the champions, Dundalk.
“It is about us making sure that we go out there with a proper gameplan,” says John Caulfield, “that we have the attitude we had the other night (when they beat Longford 6-0) and that we target the areas that will cause them trouble. It is important for us to get at them, show how good we are and play with the intensity that we can.”
GAA
A comprehensive display from Dublin side Ballyboden St Enda's saw them cruise past Castlebar Mitchells to win the All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship.
Castlebar seem to have contracted the Mayo curse when it comes to Croke Park – this being their third All-Ireland final loss since 1994. And it was to a Ballyboden side playing in their first final having not even won a provincial title before this year.
And it was a day for first time winners as Limerick's Na Piarsaigh crushed Cushendall in the hurling final to take their first title.
The final margin was 11 points with sterling displays from Adrian and David Breen as well as Alan Dempsey and Shane Dowling carrying them through.
Golf
In Florida the struggles continue for Rory McIlroy as a first round 75 left him way off the pace set by leader Jason Day at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. The world number two sits nine shots off the lead and has work to do just to make the cut.
McIlroy carded two double-bogeys on a miserable front nine before stemming the tide somewhat on the way in.
A 66 sees Day top the leaderboard with fellow countryman and in-form Adam Scott just one behind after some short game wizardry helped him to a 67.
What to watch out for
Cheltenham: Coverage of day four begins on Channel 4 at 12.35pm and on RTE1 at 1.20pm.
Golf: Second round of the Indian Open. Sky Sports 4, 7am-noon.
Second round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Sky Sports 4 from 6pm.
Cricket: ICC World Twenty20 – Australia v New Zealand. Sky Sports 2 from 9am.
England v South Africa. Sky Sports 2 from 1pm.
Rugby: Leinster travel to play Glasgow in the Pro12. Sky Sports 3 from 7.35pm.
Ireland U20s take on Scotland. RTE2 from 7.30pm.
