‘I’m scarred by them from 1999 and 2007. They’re still a bogey team for us’
ARGENTINA HAVE FAILED to win on any of their previous eight visits to Dublin, but the Pumas have inflicted three painful defeats on Ireland on the biggest stage of all, most recently at the 2015 World Cup. While those particular demons from that day in Cardiff were partially banished with a dominant victory 12 months…
Schmidt hails Farrell influence as All Blacks suffer rare try-less night
Sean Farrell reports from the Aviva Stadium THE ACCEPTED WISDOM says that you must go in search of tries, and lots of them, if you want to beat New Zealand. That theory was underlined and put into bold type by Ireland’s high-scoring history-making win in Chicago. However, Saturday night on Lansdowne Road was a true…
Larmour undergoes ‘minor procedure’ to rectify knee issue
JORDAN LARMOUR HAS had a minor procedure to correct an issue with his knee, but Leinster say the fullback is due back in training next week ahead of the Champions Cup double-header against Bath. Larmour was released from Ireland duty last week ahead of the concluding November Test against USA, and the eastern province have…
‘Our squad depth got tested today’: Munster adapt after injury withdrawals
Sean Farrell reports from Thomond Park MUNSTER HEAD COACH Johann van Graan will hope for a positive report from his medical team tomorrow morning after a double injury blow before kick-off against Castres this afternoon. Both Joey Carbery and Chris Farrell were withdrawn and replaced in Munster’s starting line-up ahead of a messy 30-5 win…
The42’s finest international XV of 2018
IT WAS A momentous 2018 for Ireland as they won a Grand Slam and a much-anticipated Test against the World Champions, but a World XV can’t be made up entirely of Joe Schmidt’s team… can it? 15. Beauden Barrett Perhaps the best attacking talent in the game, so even though we couldn’t squeeze him into…
Toulouse’s Ntamack one of five new faces in French training squad for Six Nations
JACQUES BRUNEL HAS included five uncapped players in his 31-man training squad for the 2019 Six Nations, but the French coach must plot without the services of the injured Teddy Thomas. The inclusion of 19-year-old Toulouse starlet Romain Ntamack means he is in line to emulate his father Émile by playing for France in the…
Several WWE Network news from the Q4 2018 conference call
During the conference call with investors yesterday, WWE Co-President George Barrios said that they will not be revealing the WWE Network subscribers number the day after WrestleMania, something which has been a tradition ever since the service went live in 2014. Barrios said that “given the success of the WWE Network, we no longer believe…
Garryowen looking to keep good form up for visit of UCC and this weekend’s AIL previews
Updated Jan 18th 2019, 7:36 PM All-Ireland League Division 1A(Kick-off Saturday, 2.30pm unless stated) Garryowen v UCC, Dooradoyle, 2pm THERE ARE PLENTY of positive vibes emanating from Dooradoyle with Garryowen on a four-match winning streak in the league and pencilling in a Bateman Cup final date for the Easter weekend. Last week’s semi-final defeat of…
‘I’m not expecting to score eight tries this year’ – Stockdale stays grounded
MEASURING IN AT 6ft 3ins tall, Jacob Stockdale is eager to become a dominant figure in the air above the rugby pitch. The prolific Ulster wing’s aerial skills are sure to come in for a stern assessment on Saturday as England – who kicked eight times more than Ireland, on average, in the November Tests…
Injuries bring World Cup to mind as Schmidt seeks flexibility
IF ‘ACCURACY’ WAS the key word and theme early this week as Ireland attempted to move on from defeat to England, it was replaced by ‘opportunity’ by Joe Schmidt today ahead of the trip to Scotland. Schmidt in training in Maynooth this afternoon. Source: Billy Stickland/INPHO Gregor Townsend’s men may provide Ireland’s opposition for the…