Soccer: Euro 2016
Ireland striker Jonathan Walters is a significant injury concern for the Republic of Ireland ahead of their Euro 2016 opener on Monday against Sweden.
Martin O’Neill says he will give the Stoke attacker every chance to prove he is ready for the opener, although his ongoing Achilles problem severely limited his involvement in training again yesterday.
Ahead of tonight's tournament opener between France and Romania, Ken Early is previewing the host nation - France and its many faces.
“Eighteen years ago, the French national team became the country’s most powerful symbol of multicultural fraternity when it won a home World Cup. Today the team is again the focus of a national debate over race.”
Rugby
Meanwhile Joe Schmidt picked his Irish XV for tomorrow’s first test against South Africa in Cape Town. Paddy Jackson got the not at outhalf, in Johnny Sexton’s absence, while Jared Payne makes his first international start at fullback.
The Irish head coach says that the injury toll can be an opportunity for the fringe players, and for new leaders to emerge. "There are alpha males in your group the others tend to just be part of the group. Inevitably things become 'needs must' situations and somebody else needs to step up."
One of those expected to step up to the plate is Connacht centre Robbie Henshaw - he says that he is braced for 'that dark place' against South Africa.
“They’re going to drag us down to that and if we expect to get out of there with a result we have to put our bodies on the line and we have to go to that dark place.”
Golf
Padraig Harrington suffered a miserable start to the FedEx St Jude Classic yesterday with a first round 77 leaving him way down the leaderboard. Also struggling during his first round at TPC Southwind was Graeme McDowell who carded a disappointing 73.
What to watch out for
Euro 2016 gets underway tonight - France take on Romania with kick-off at 8pm.
RTE 2 from 7pm
The second round of the St Jude Classic gets underway this afternoon, with both Padraig Harrington and Graeme McDowell looking for significant improvements.
Sky Sports 4, 8.30pm-11.30pm
