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Ireland’s Jonathan Walters. Source: Donall Farmer/INPHO
Ulster’s Dave Shanahan will make his first start for the province this weekend against Exeter Chiefs in the Champions Cup.Jonathan Walters could be a doubt for Ireland’s upcoming World Cup qualifier against Wales, as he is set to undergo surgery.Joe Sheridan is set to make his inter-county comeback this weekend, and has been named to start in goals for Meath. Ireland’s James McGee is just one step away from reaching the main draw at the Australian Open.Wales rugby legend Shane Williams kicked 0-4 in his Gaelic football debut for Glenswilly as part of AIB’s ‘The Toughest Trade’.Ireland’s Robbie Brady is understood to be the subject of Premier League bids.Away
Source: EMPICS Sport
Justin Thomas became the youngest player to break the sub-60 barrier at the Sony Open in Hawaii.Manchester City’s Jon Stones says he has no interest in hitting back at those who have criticised him following a number of underwhelming performances.Manchester United’s Memphis Depay has reportedly drawn the attentions of French club Lyon during the winter transfer window.Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson will battle it out for the interim UFC lightweight title, where Conor McGregor is the reigning champion.The Best Thing We Shared
Thierry Henry in conversation with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, featuring Paul Pogba.
On The Record
Leinster’s Tadhg Furlong preparing for tonight’s clash against Montpellier. Source: Donall Farmer/INPHO
Tadhg Furlong expresses his excitement ahead of tonight’s Champions Cup clash with Montpellier which has already started.
“It would be huge if we could get through, it was disappointing last year. There’s a lot of young fellas like myself that got a first start last year against Bath and we definitely learned a lot from the campaign.”
The Fixture List
The Munster rugby squad in training. Source: James Crombie/INPHO
There’s plenty of rugby and football action coming up tomorrow. Munster and Connacht both have Champions Cup fixtures down for decision.
The Premier League is back this weekend, with Chelsea looking to extend their lead tomorrow against Leicester. Meanwhile, Arsenal face Swansea and Spurs host West Brom.
Showbiz, Baby!
Welsh rugby great Shane Williams had to brave the elements on his Gaelic football debut in Donegal. Check it out.
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LIVE: Leinster v Montpellier, Champions CupChelsea axe Diego Costa after China link – reports
DR EANNA FALVEY has been appointed the head of the British and Irish Lions medical team that is bound for a 10-match Tour in New Zealand this summer.
Falvey is expected to link up with Warren Gatland’s charges after the RBS Six Nations along with Rhodri Bown (head analyst) and Paul Stridgeon (head of strength and conditioning).
The former doctor of the Munster rugby team also worked with the Irish rugby team from 2009-2015 and was a member of the Lions medical team which travelled to Australia in 2013.
He has been working with elite athletes for over 15 years, covering sports including football and boxing as well as rugby.
Responding to the appointments, a delighted Gatland said he’s looking forward to the wealth of experience Falvey and the others will bring to the Lions team.
“Rhodri, Paul and Eanna have a lot of Lions experience, including being part of a winning team in 2013 and they know what is required for us to be successful in New Zealand. They will bring a wealth of knowledge and skill to their roles and I know they will fit well into the environment we are trying to create.”
The Lions are looking for a first series win over the All Blacks since 1971.
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Keane tight-lipped on future but hints at Championship returnCaptain, leader, legend: John Muldoon signs on for a 15th season with Connacht
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HomeCora Staunton has confirmed she’ll be back for her 23rd season of inter-county footballAiden McGeady likes what he’s seen from Daryl Horgan and Andy Boyle so far at Preston North EndLeinster and Munster will play in back-to-back Champions Cup quarter-finals on April Fool’s DayIpswich boss Mick McCarthy says Leon Best‘s days at the club are numberedCork City have confirmed the signing of Ryan Delaney on loan from BurtonCarl Frampton‘s coach Shane McGuigan says the Jackal has discovered his ‘devastating’ knockout power ahead of his title fight with Leo Santa Cruz
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AwayRafael Nadal set up a dream Australian Open final against Roger Federer after a five set win over Grigor DimitrovAIBA have revealed that the Rio Olympics boxing fights weren’t fixed – but there was ‘an atmosphere of collusion’Arsene Wenger has been handed a four-game touchline ban and a £25k fine for his actions during Arsenal’s win against BurnleyThe Welsh Rugby Union Board voted to annul a historical agreement with the Irish Rugby Football Union
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We visited St Fintan’s High School in Sutton, who are taking part in the Leinster Senior Schools Cup for the first time in their history.
On The Record
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-Wayne Rooney showed his poetic side when he was asked to describe his feelings when scoring one of his 250 Manchester United goals.
Source: AP/Press Association Images
The Fixture ListThe FA Cup fourth round takes place this weekend, with Liverpool kicking Saturday’s action off by hosting Wolves at 12.30pm.The Farmers Insurance Open continues at Torrey Pines in Southern California, with Justin Rose leading after the opening round.Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer will renew their great rivalry in the Australian Open men’s final on Sunday morning, while Serena and Venus Williams meet in the women’s final.Carl Frampton defends his WBA Super World Featherweight title in the early hours of Sunday morning against Mexican fighter Leo Santa Cruz in Las Vegas.The GAA’s pre-season continues with the McKenna Cup final taking place on Saturday, where Derry play Tyrone, while Galway face Roscommon in the Connacht SFL decider. The O’Bryne Cup, Munster SHL final and Walsh Cup semi-finals are also on the cards.The National Cup Finals in basketball take place this weekend in Tallaght’s National Basketball Arena.Showbiz, baby!
We look back at a fashion statement made by Mick McCarthy at a press conference in 1998.
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‘I caused my own pain’ – Richie Towell on his injury-plagued start to the season’Scoring a goal is like coming up for air’: Rooney shows poetic side before taking aim at Wigan
Scotland 19
Ireland 20
Murray Kinsella reports from Broadwood Stadium
IT WAS AN evening of Irish smash-and-grabs in Cumbernauld, as the Ireland U20s echoed the Ireland Women by scoring a late winning try against their Scottish counterparts.
Scotland U20 out-half Josh Henderson missed a chance to win it for his team in the last three minutes with a long-range penalty shot off the tee, meaning Ireland were let off the hook.
Source: Craig Watson/INPHO
Two wins from two for the Irish sides, in the kind of poor weather conditions that are expected at Murrayfield tomorrow, bode well – even if these performances at Broadwood Stadium were far from convincing.
On a cold, wet night, Nigel Carolan’s U20s will take their victory with pleasure, though we can be sure the head coach will be demanding more from his young men next weekend in Italy.
Johnny McPhillips’ 100% return off the tee was important for Ireland, while hooker Tadhg McElroy and flanker Paul Boyle scored the crucial tries – both of them efforts from the pack. Cillian Gallagher was a totem in the back row.
The Ireland scrum did, however, have a poor night and allowed Scotland good field position and several shots at goal from penalties. Despite some of those negatives, Ireland displayed grit to grind to their victory.
Henderson missed an early long-range shot at goal, but the Scots had the first try of the game in the 8th minute as centre Cameron Hutchinson picked a sharp line to dot down, with his out-half converting for 7-0.
Two penalties from McPhillips were all Ireland had to show for their first-half efforts as they struggled to hold onto the wet ball.
Darcy Graham wins the high ball over Colm Hogan. Source: Craig Watson/INPHO
Henderson knocked over two penalties in the second quarter to ensure a 13-6 half-time lead, with only a brilliant try-saving tackle in the left corner from Jordan Larmour and captain Jack Kelly – after the fullback had spilled a cross-field kick – preventing Darcy Graham from ensuring that advantage was greater with a second Scotland try.
Carolan’s men finally adapted to the conditions after the break, kicking a penalty up into the left corner through McPhillips, hitting Oisin Dowling in the lineout and then powering up their maul for hooker McElroy to score.
McPhillips converted to bring Ireland level, but that didn’t last long as a 53rd-minute scrum penalty allowed Henderson to fire over three points for Scotland.
The Glasgow Hawks out-half was able to extend that lead out to 19-13 with his fourth successful penalty heading into the final quarter, as referee Christophe Ridley punished Ireland for failing to roll away.
A crooked throw into a five-metre lineout cost the visitors their next attacking opportunity in Scotland territory, as the frustration threatened to grow.
But, as with the Ireland Women earlier, this Irish team mastered the difficult situation they found themselves in and showed composure to eke out the winning score.
Ciaran Frawley is wrapped up in the tackle. Source: Craig Watson/INPHO
From a right-handed lineout around 35-metres out, Ireland put together another superb maul to get them rolling, before a rampaging series of pick and jams, led by the superb Gallagher and the powerful Caelan Doris.
It was openside Paul Boyle who put the finishing touch to the passage, forcing his way over from a metre out and to the left of the posts.
The reliable McPhillips converted to send Ireland into the 20-19 lead that they didn’t give up – albeit due to Henderson’s miss – ensuring a successful start to their Six Nations campaign.
SCOTLAND U20: Darcy Graham; Robbie Nairn, Craig Pringle, Cameron Hutchison (Stafford McDowall ’75), Ross McCann; Josh Henderson, Andrew Simmers (Charlie Shiel ’13 to ’18); George Thornton (Frank Bradbury ’40), Fraser Renwick, Adam Nicol (Daniel Winning ’74); Alex Craig (Hamish Bain ’55), Callum Hunter-Hill (captain); Luke Crosbie, Matt Fagerson, Tom Dodd (Bruce Flockhart ’55).
Replacements not used: Robbie Smith, Jamie Ure.
IRELAND U20: Jack Kelly (captain) (Tommy O’Brien ’63); Jordan Larmour, Gavin Mullin, Ciaran Frawley, Colm Hogan; Johnny McPhillips, Johnny Stewart (Jack Lyons ’66); Joey Conway (Rory Mulvihill ’76), Tadgh McElroy (Adam Moloney ’78), Peter Cooper (Charlie Connolly ’63); Fineen Wycherley, Oisin Dowling; Cillian Gallagher (Jack Regan ’76), Paul Boyle, Caelan Doris (Marcus Rea ’75).
Replacements not used: Conor Fitzgerald.
Referee: Christophe Ridley.
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IT’S LITTLE WONDER that Andy Farrell prefers not to dwell on some of the big statistics of his time in charge of Ireland’s defence.
Though Farrell has clearly brought an energetic new presence to bolster Joe Schmidt’s coaching ticket last summer, there have been numerous times when the energy and willful destruction he calls for has not translated into a miserly defence.
Keeping in mind the enormous caveat that Ireland have played, and beaten, the traditional southern hemisphere big three in the last year (with only the Wallabies not coming back around for a second bite) Farrell’s Irish defence have conceded: two, four, one, four, three, three, three and three tries. It’s an average of 2.87 tries conceded, or at least three per game this season.
“When you say three tries, it’s too high. But I don’t go on stats,” said Farrell after wincing through his memory of scores by Stuart Hogg and Alex Dunbar on Saturday,
“At the weekend, we got caught tight twice and those tries needed to be dealt with better from us and it was in the second half. We got the ball we wanted because of that and those are the things we need to address.”
Farrell put the second half improvement down to a reinvigorated attitude, feeding the better technical points touched on by Robbie Henshaw. The slow start, he insists, was not down to any complacency or lack of fear factor to heighten the collective urgency, but he did highlight an important mindset lesson to be taken from Murrayfield.
Schmidt’s men were clinical enough in reeling in Scotland’s lead in the second half, but once they hit the front, the foot seemed to come off the pedal with decisions made on and off the field sucking the wind back out of Ireland’s sails.
“That last 10 minutes we slacked off the mood a bit and allowed them access back in. I ain’t taking anything away from that second half performance, I thought they were fantastic. We challenged them at half-time and they rose to it. It was a big old mountain to climb, but they climbed it pretty hard.
“If we can get that ruthless streak for 80 minutes we’re going to do well in this competition.
“Because they’re all good teams, every international team is tough and if you’ve not got an edge then it’s very hard to put teams away. We’ve got it in us, we’ve got to just keep educating, keep drawing it out of them.”
A relentless and ruthless streak would certainly be valuable this weekend as Ireland go to face Italy. A bonus point win could help start turning the Six Nations opener into a mere footnote rather than a defining 30 minutes of Ireland’s year.
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Analysis: Scottish trick play lowlights a bad day for Ireland’s lineout and maulAnalysis: Scottish trick play lowlights a bad day for Ireland’s lineout and maul
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CONNACHT COACH PAT Lam will be able to call on Ireland internationals Ultan Dillane, Kieran Marmion, Tiernan O’Halloran and Finlay Bealham for Saturday’s Pro12 clash against Newport Gwent Dragons [KO 7.35pm, TG4].
The quartet have been released by Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt ahead of the national team’s three-day training camp in Monaghan this week, which is expected to feature 21 or 22 players.
Dillane and Marmion have featured as replacements in Ireland’s opening Six Nations fixtures against Scotland and Italy, while O’Halloran and Bealham, who started Sunday’s 19-13 Pro12 win at the Cardiff Blues, are yet to be called upon by Schmidt for this season’s competition.
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O’Halloran will be keen to impress when the reigning Pro12 champions play Welsh opposition for the third successive round this weekend, as Ireland fullback Rob Kearney sustained a bicep injury against the Azzurri and has emerged as a doubt for the visit of France on 25 February.
Connacht will be looking to build on last weekend’s victory in Cardiff which saw them move just three points behind the seventh-placed Blues on the table.
However, Lam may be without centre Stacey Ili for Saturday night’s game at the Sportsground as the New Zealander picked up a “minor” ankle injury against the Blues. Ili will be monitored by the province’s medical and fitness staff this week.
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Ulster boosted by released Ireland internationals and fit-again PienaarEngland fly-half George Ford returning to Leicester Tigers
JAMIE HEASLIP DIDN’T quite let the name of his greatest desire slide out from his lips, but he might as well have had little William Webb Ellis Cup signs ring up in place of the pupils of his eye.
On a day when Ian Madigan was a prime example of the drawbacks that potentially lurk beneath the lucrative figures associated with a move abroad, Heaslip and his newly inked IRFU contract was excitedly looking at the possibilities within the scope of his new two-year deal.
“There is one thing I haven’t won that I would like to win,” said a grinning Heaslip, the holder of Six Nations, Pro12, Heineken and Challenge Cup medals and vice captain of a team who beat the All Blacks, Springboks and Wallabies last year, but began 2017 with defeat to Scotland.
“I would like to add a couple more things to what Leinster have won as well.
“I like winning!
“I think any professional player that has ambition (does). I have been lucky to have a lot of success. It actually makes you hungry for more, to be honest.
“It makes all the crazy stuff that we do, sacrifice-wise, family-wise, friends-wise, pay off in a big, big way. That is something that drives me.”
This time around there was no great drama or wrangling over Heaslip’s future. A coy glance abroad perhaps, but nothing too serious. The number eight is content in his home province and the facilities and opportunities that come with the package. Less pertinent, insists Heaslip was the IRFU’s power of control over its playing resources which help to limit fatigue, if not necessarily injury.
Values
“I don’t think it would have mattered where (I was playing rugby). I physically and mentally feel very good. I don’t think that specifically is something (important).
“I just thought that the opportunity that was ahead of me, the decision on all the things that go on in my life that (staying) was the best decision for what I wanted to do, according to what I’m about, what my values are about – I’m very happy.”
He added: ”I have been lucky enough to visit other places, sporting environments, not necessarily rugby, and Leinster is one of the best facilities out there.
“We are very lucky we have some of the best coaches right now in our club, best S&C, amenities like I said, and a really strong culture and identity.
Before ensuring to actively reel back his projected World Cup age from the suggested 36 to a mere 35, Heaslip said he felt “really lucky” to feel fit and able to compete at the international grade for at least two more years. In the immediate aftermath of the painful quarter-final exit to Argentina at the last World Cup, he had hinted that 2019 might be a season too far, but it was more than just the fresh-out-the-shower appearance that gave off an impression of a reinvigorated Jamie Heaslip.
“In 2015, I probably just meant that you just don’t know in rugby. I’ve seen too many guys, my peers, guys who started the same time as me, guys who started after me, who had career-ending injuries.
“You just don’t know. That’s probably what I meant. I felt very lucky to be able to go to two (Rugby World Cups) and, if I get a chance to go to a third, that would be amazing.
“What drives me is adding value to the club or the country, to the jersey. I still think I can add a lot of value to it.”
Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO
If it feels odd that Heaslip was targeting a World Cup midway through a Six Nations campaign, don’t worry, the Kildare man is never far from checking his stride to prioritise the upcoming clash with France as the most important game on his radar. But it’s also a step along the road to the ultimate goal.
“I think everyone involved wouldn’t be involved if they don’t have those ambitions. But like, you have got to work back from there…even if you got in a position where, say, you are in the ‘final’ there is still a lot of things out of your control for that to happen.
“But working back from that, it comes back to: ‘what we can do today? Build on that tomorrow.’
“You might have that long-term ambition, but one thing I have learned is that when you start looking down the road, it is the thing in front of you that kills you so you have to keep your eye in front of you and what’s going on.”
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