Wales 9 Australia 6 DAN BIGGAR HIT a late penalty to help Wales edge out Australia and buck a 10-year, 13-match losing streak against the Wallabies. Psychological one-upmanship was up for grabs in a dress rehearsal of what had been billed a pool-deciding match at next year’s Rugby World Cup. But neither side shone from…
Read more‘He’s always there to carry, always there to tackle’: James Ryan continues to soar
OF ALL THE big moments, and there were many, that early collision when Devin Toner and James Ryan — Ireland’s twin towers — double-teamed Brodie Retallick and smashed the All Black second row two metres backwards set the tone. The giant had been felled. 32-year-old Toner was unwavering in his lineout brilliance again on Saturday,…
Read moreCrusaders coach Robertson would ‘take a good look’ at All Blacks job
CRUSADERS HEAD COACH Scott Robertson — considered as one of the leading contenders to replace Steve Hansen as All Blacks boss — will take a ‘good look’ at the role if it becomes available after the 2019 World Cup. Hansen, who is out of contract following next year’s tournament in Japan, is expected to announce…
Read moreLeinster ‘confident our supporters and other clubs have nothing to fear’ over flags
LEINSTER RUGBY HAS moved to formally address last weekend’s flag controversy at Bath’s Recreation Ground, reiterating in a statement that their supporter’s flags are covered by a safety certificate. Bath Rugby was criticised for not permitting Leinster supporters to bring club flags into Saturday’s Heineken Champions Cup pool game, as the Premiership club cited health…
Read moreRead looks forward to ‘new experience’ overseas after World Cup
ALL BLACKS CAPTAIN Kieran Read says he is looking forward to spending more time with his family after next year’s World Cup, as he gets set to play overseas for the final years of his career. The 33-year-old, who has been subjected to criticism from some quarters for his form during the 2018 season, has…
Read moreFarrell boost adds to Munster confidence for Kingsholm clash
KINGSHOLM ON A Friday night, with Munster travelling in search of another memorable victory on the road. This is the kind of game that the Heineken Cup is all about [KO 7.45pm, BT Sport]. Adding to the excitement are the inclusions of key men on both sides – one unexpected and one hoped-for. When Chris…
Read moreConnacht face Sale rematch as Challenge Cup quarter-final line-up confirmed
CONNACHT WILL HAVE the chance to avenge their pool defeat to Sale Sharks when the sides renew battle lines in the Challenge Cup quarter-finals at the AJ Bell Stadium. Andy Friend’s side will travel to England on the last weekend of March after progressing through to the knockout stages with a last-gasp victory over Bordeaux…
Read more‘The American passport is like a golden ticket’: Conor Kearns on life in the US and the complexities of identity
CONOR KEARNS WILL drop the odd picture of his current location into some WhatsApp groups and the reaction from friends is inevitable. “There’s a little bit of resentment coming back through the messages but some of the guys are planning some trips out here,” he says with a laugh. “It’s not a bad place…
Read moreToner to miss rest of Six Nations as O’Brien sits out Ireland’s captain’s run
Murray Kinsella reports from Murrayfield IRELAND’S DEVIN TONER will miss the remainder of the Six Nations after undergoing ankle surgery. The Leinster lock, who could also be absent for his province’s Champions Cup quarter-final against Ulster at the end of March, was ruled out of tomorrow’s clash with Scotland earlier this week. Toner will miss…
Read moreMature Ireland U20s look to make it three from three in the Six Nations
ITALY’S U20 TEAM has been making progress in recent years, one of the signs that there are strides being made in Italian rugby since Conor O’Shea took over in 2016. Perhaps O’Shea’s key hire at the very beginning was Stephen Aboud, the IRFU’s ‘Head of Technical Direction’ until he was lured to Italy to take…
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