AS THE GUINNESS Pro12 prepares to take an extended break for the return of European competition next week and, further down the line, the start of the Six Nations, it was a big weekend for the Irish provinces. Although Connacht suffered their first defeat of the season at the Sportsgrounds on Friday, it was, results …
WARREN GATLAND HAS named four uncapped players in his 34-man Six Nations squad, including New Zealand native Gareth Anscombe. The 23-year-old out-half/fullback has played just nine times for the Cardiff Blues since arriving earlier this season from the Chiefs, but qualifies for Wales through his Cardiff-born mother. Gatland was crucial in convincing Anscombe to move …
Continue reading “New Zealand native Anscombe included in Gatland’s 34-man Six Nations squad”
JOE SCHMIDT HAS a handful of injury concerns 11 days out from Ireland’s Six Nations opener against Italy in Rome, but he’s not the only head coach who is having to deal with the frustrating realities of a highly physical sport. England and Scotland are in similar positions, with negative injury news coming from both …
Continue reading “Farrell to miss England’s entire Six Nations campaign as injuries mount”
FRANCE HEAD COACH Philippe Saint-André has picked a halfback pairing of Camille Lopez and Rory Kockott for his side’s opening Six Nations fixture against Scotland on Saturday [KO 17.00 Irish time]. Basta is back in France’s midfield. Source: Billy Stickland/INPHO The former Toulon and Gloucester coach has largely opted for the XV that was expected, …
Continue reading “Philippe Saint-André has picked an impressive France XV to face Scotland”
IRELAND HAVEN’T GIVEN up hope of Six Nations triumph this year, despite defeat at home to France in round two. Niamh Briggs’ side welcome England to Ashbourne RFC this evening [KO 19.30] with steely determination to get their campaign back on track after the disappointment of the 10-5 loss to the French. Briggs speaks to …
Continue reading “‘Any day you get to play against the world champions is a good day’ – Briggs”
FOR THOSE WHO attempt to call the position their own, the wing is a cruel position in Irish Rugby these days. Dave Kearney will kick-off the St. Patrick’s Festival celebrations in the Guinness Storehouse on March 14th with pre-match analysis ahead of the screening of Ireland’s 6 Nations game versus Wales. The event will be …
Here’s the lineup for next week’s episode of Impact Wrestling, which will be the final episode on POP TV and the go-home show for the Homecoming PPV. *Impact Champion Johnny Impact & Bruian Cage vs. Rey Fenix & Pentagon Jr. *The Rascalz & Rich Swann & Willie Mack vs. OVE & Sami Callihan & Matt …
Former ECW and ROH Champion Jerry Lynn has undergone hip replacement surgery. Lynn took to Twitter to announce the news in a video post, which you can see below. Mikey Whipwreck posted after the surgery that he had caught up with Lynn and the surgery was successful. Here we go again!@frmpod @mikeywhipwreck_ @MikeFreland @TheHalifaxMatt pic.twitter.com/mWLTcil2N5 …
THE OPENING 14 minutes or so of Saturday’s Six Nations clash at the Millennium Stadium saw Wales come out of the blocks in a ferocious manner, with Ireland appearing to be utterly somewhat by surprise. Under Joe Schmidt, Ireland have placed a major premium on starting games efficiently, and to be 12-0 down after such …
Continue reading “Analysis: Ireland get taste of own medicine in early stages against Wales”
Murray Kinsella reports from Edinburgh A FEW MOMENTS stand out in this writer’s memory of realising that there was something different about Paul O’Connell. O’Connell with his son Paddy after yesterday’s win. Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO Back in 2007, the second row had already proven himself as a world-class lock and toured with the Lions, even …
Continue reading “‘Ultimate leader’ Paul O’Connell inspires Ireland to Six Nations success”