FAMILIAR SURROUNDINGS, FAMILIAR faces, but as one of two uncapped players in Ireland’s extended World Cup training squad, this all remains new territory for Jean Kleyn. The big South African-born second row was a popular figure during Ireland’s open training session at Thomond Park on Friday, the sight of a Munster favourite in national kit…
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All Blacks fired up for Wellington revenge against ‘Boks
NEW ZEALAND SECOND row Brodie Retallick predicts fireworks in Wellington this Saturday as the southern hemisphere rivals seek a mental edge ahead of the Rugby World Cup. The Rugby Championship clash is a dress rehearsal for the global showpiece in Japan, where New Zealand and South Africa will face each other in their opening Pool…
‘Next week it’s do or die’ – Read laments missed tackles as All Blacks concede record points haul
Click Here: cronulla sharks jersey NEW ZEALAND CAPTAIN Kieran Read lamented the All Blacks’ performance in their joint-heaviest defeat as Australia inflicted a 47-26 thrashing on the reigning Rugby World Cup champions. The Wallabies ran in six tries at Optus Stadium – against a team that played the entire second half with 14 men following Scott Barrett’s red…
Carbery injury sucks the air out of Ireland’s win over makeshift Italy
Ireland 29 Italy 10 FOR 49 MINUTES, this match felt like nothing more than a showcase for Joey Carbery’s tremendous talent. Perhaps even the beginnings of a case for his promotion in Ireland’s out-half pecking order. However, just over half an hour remaining, the excitement he brought to otherwise tame proceedings was replaced with concern…
Farrell and Ford in tandem for England against Ireland
ENGLAND HEAD COACH Eddie Jones will return to the pairing of Owen Farrell and George Ford as a 10-12 axis when Ireland visit for Saturday’s World Cup warm-up fixture. It is over a year since Jones has paired the two playmakers from the start, seeking out other centre options alongside Farrell since a summer Test…
Game time for Kleyn a ‘priority’ as Beirne gets another bench chance
JEAN KLEYN ONLY qualified for Ireland two weeks ago but already he looks like being a notable part of Joe Schmidt’s World Cup plans. The South African native made his debut as Ireland opened their warm-up campaign with a win over Italy, with Kleyn underlining his ability to do the nuts and bolts around the…
The Six Nations beats NFL and World Cup as the best attended sporting event on the planet
THE SIX NATIONS is the best attended sporting event in the world according to a new report commissioned by Uefa. The report from European football’s governing body found that an average of 72,000 people attended Six Nations matches in 2015 — a competition won by Ireland –compared to 68,400 in the NFL that year and…
‘They need to strike a balance with new tackle rules’ says Reidy
UNFORTUNATELY FOR ULSTER flanker Sean Reidy during this week’s media briefing, he has to repeat one word that has consistently eluded Ulster’s grasp this season. “Clinical.” It’s something Ulster have not been for the past few weeks. At home to Connacht they were turned over on several occasions in key areas. Away to Leinster they…
Here’s how to deal with the negative thoughts brought on by pressure
Updated 8.47pm IN MY FIRST column, I wrote about the pressure we feel from external forces, outlining three techniques to manage and harness this felt pressure. In this piece, we look at the kind of pressure that is self created – internally produced psychological pressure – and the related chemical processes that can produce negative side effects. Here,…
O’Loughlin in ‘pinch yourself’ territory as he tries to get his head around rapid Leinster rise
IT’S EASY TO forget how far Rory O’Loughlin has come in a relatively short period of time. In a season of breakthroughs and outstanding performances at Leinster, his rise has been the story of the year. As O’Loughlin presents himself for media duty at the province’s UCD headquarters, he does so in a hoody with…