The gesture made by the Clara native on the ninth green summed up a super round that deserved even better than his 68. Shane Lowry overcame a double bogey six on the 16th to finish birdie, birdie and give himself an outside chance, heading into The Open Championship weekend. Lowry will go to bed tonight […]

3 years ago

The ‘Road Hole’ crowd were in raptures. After Cameron Smith put the lights out, on Day Two of The Open Championship, Rory McIlroy kept well in the hunt with a shot that not many of his peers would have even attempted. McIlroy will go out in the penultimate pairing, on Saturday, after following his opening […]

3 years ago

‘Lefty’ is happy to be here. He’s super happy. He’s “ecstatic”. And don’t try and suggest otherwise. At the age of 52, Phil Mickelson is over at St Andrew’s for a crack at winning a second Claret Jug. Mickelson took a short golfing sabbatical after some ill-judged comments on LIV Golf and the breakaway series’ […]

3 years ago

He may not be a “cheerleader” for the four-time major winner, but you can certainly tell he is invested. Rory McIlroy and first rounds at majors. They are usually his Achilles’ heel. Over the past six years, McIlroy’s cumulative score for first rounds at majors was a shocking +34. In majors this year, it is […]

3 years ago

Chirping from the gallery on the 13th was not welcome, but the former Open champion kept fighting. While many others were going low on the opening day of The Open Championship, at St Andrew’s, Shane Lowry was engaged in a mighty battle just to stay in touch. The 2019 Open champion would have seen the […]

3 years ago

“We go into this Test with a strong squad of 23. It’s a young, inexperienced but together group.” Eddie Jones has made three changes to his starting England team for Saturday’s Test Series decider against the Wallabies in Sydney. England defeated Australia 25-17, last weekend, to level the three-game series. In doing so, however, they […]

3 years ago

These are the men selected to try make history for the second Saturday in a row. Andy Farrell has made just one change to his Ireland team for the Third Test against New Zealand, in Wellington, and another on his replacements bench. With Garry Ringrose sitting out for a minimum rest period of at least […]

3 years ago

“That guy has got a lot of clubs in the bag, aye?” On Saturday night, rolling into Sunday morning, a rewatch of Ireland vs. New Zealand in the Second Test made three Irish players in particular look even better. Josh van der Flier, Tadhg Beirne and Johnny Sexton all had superb games. In the cut […]

3 years ago

Welcome to Wellington, for those of you that have not been before. In the teeming rain, after a hit-out at Hutt Recreation Ground, All Blacks captain Sam Cane was surrounded by Kiwi media and asked to pick over his side’s weekend defeat to Ireland. “The situation is not what we wanted, but now we look […]

3 years ago

‘The people hope but they no longer believe.’ Down New Zealand way, some are hoping a first ever Test defeat to Ireland on home soil is enough to rouse Ian Foster into some big personnel and tactical changes. Knowing ‘Fossie’ well, though, they are not holding their collective breath. The overriding Kiwi mood, heading into […]

3 years ago

“I do hope before the boots are hung up for good that there might be supporters back in the stands.” So said Michael Bent, back in April 2021, when he announced he would be retiring at the end of the 2021/22 season, after nine years with Leinster. The 36-year-old, who arrived at Leinster in 2021, […]

3 years ago

“We’re all for keeping the game pure. Keeping it 15 vs. 15” For the past couple of years, there has been a North and South divide regarding what exactly is ‘a rugby incident’ and what should be a red card. World Rugby has its’ laws, but it is all about how coaches, players, referees, leagues […]

3 years ago

The stage is set. Now that the midweek games are out of the way – and that series against Maori All Blacks was levelled – focus turns to the Ireland team announcement for the Third Test against New Zealand. Andy Farrell will name that team in the early hours of Thursday morning [Irish time], and […]

3 years ago

“Greg has done some things that I don’t think are in the best interests of our game.” Tiger Woods is back at ‘The Home of Golf’ and he is already teeing off and hitting targets, away from the ‘Old Course’. The 15-time major winner is at St Andrew’s, where he twice won the Claret Jug, […]

3 years ago

Plenty of road ahead for the old dog. In general terms, Keith Earls is still a young man with plenty of years left ahead of him. In rugby terms, we are often amazed that any backline player over 32 can still shift about the place. Props and locks may not even hit their true primes […]

3 years ago

MAORI ALL BLACKS 24-30 IRELAND It has taken a stretch of years, but Ireland have finally beaten the Maori All Blacks. Our Ireland player ratings feature two back-rows in ripping form. Many may have feared for a repeat of the opening Maori game as Ireland made three errors in the first two minutes. It led […]

3 years ago

“We talked about leadership. Comer showed that leadership.” Finian Hanley can recall Damien Comer doing some jump tests, back in 2016, with a strength and conditioning coach that was brought in to help get Galway ready for the league and championship. “‘This lad’s jump,’ Hanley remembered the S&C coach saying, ‘is something from a different […]

3 years ago

No complaints from the Hurricanes star. Ardie Savea was not looking for a single excuse after his side’s 23-12 defeat in their Second Test against Ireland, on Saturday night. The All Blacks No.8 was man-of-the-match in the opening Test win, at Eden Park, but headed to the sidelines after a spate of yellow and red […]

3 years ago

“You can’t say it was a fair fight.” We had a feeling, on Saturday, that the cool, steely post-match interview given by Johnny Sexton, not long after Ireland beat New Zealand, would be picked up on. The Ireland captain was a level-headed as you like, at Forsyth Barr Stadium, when Sky Sport NZ caught up […]

3 years ago

The Munster star will partner Stuart McCloskey in the centre. Keith Earls has been named captain of an Ireland team to face the Maori All Blacks at SKY Stadiun in Wellington on Tuesday evening [kick-off 8:05am Irish time]. Andy Farrell has effectively made three changes from the midweek side that lost the first game against […]

3 years ago

‘The GAA is so much more than just sport’. Westmeath are the first ever Tailteann Cup champions, and Kieran Martin is the toast of the county. ‘The Bear’, as they affectionately call him, scored 1-4 as Westmeath beat Cavan at Croke Park to reward Jack Cooney’s side for all their efforts. The performance of Martin […]

3 years ago

A staggering contribution to Ireland’s latest win over New Zealand. At Eden Park, as Ireland got off to a losing Test Series start, two players in green stood out as absolute warriors for the beaten side – Peter O’Mahony and Josh van der Flier. The All Blacks had their homework done, with former teacher [and […]

3 years ago

“8 needs to come off.” 35 minutes into Ireland’s Second Test encounter with the All Blacks saw untold confusion, on the part of the match officials, New Zealand’s players, and most fans watching at Forsyth Barr Stadium, and on TV. Ardie Savea was not the only person wondering what the hell was going on. From […]

3 years ago

The squad players get a final chance to force themselves into the Test picture. The Ireland team for the second tour match against the Maori All Blacks will be named in the early hours [GMT] of Monday morning, ahead of the Tuesday clash between the sides. Spirits are high in the Irish camp after the […]

3 years ago

“Unfortunately, he has to go.” South African referee Jaco Peyper was almost apologetic as he told All Blacks captain Sam Cane that his teammate, Angus Ta’avao had to go. Watching from Brisbane, Eddie Jones made note of the incident. The England head coach was getting his team ready to play the Second Test against Australia […]

3 years ago

Just in case you were getting carried away… Peter O’Mahony may well have rode off into the Kiwi sunset with one of the all-time killer lines. Heading to New Zealand at the end of a long season, particularly for the Leinster players that went deep in both competitions, for a five-game tour was always going […]

3 years ago

Ireland could have finished the day as world number one, had they not conceded a late try in Dunedin. The latest round of Test matches, this weekend, has seen a big shift in the top 10 of the rugby world rankings, and a new No.1. After a weekend that saw the northern hemisphere nations bounce […]

3 years ago

Next Saturday can’t come fast enough. The First Test at Eden Park was a night that many of the Irish players must wish they could get back. Tadhg Beirne was one of a handful of usually reliable players that was quieter than he should be. The Irish second row was outgunned and outshone by Sam […]

3 years ago

Even when the inevitable fitness question arose, captain and coach responded in high spirits. After a week in which the Head Injury Assessment process and Johnny Sexton’s capacity to play the Second Test against New Zealand were raised, Saturday in Dunedin had a happier end. Johnny Sexton had been cleared to play, earlier in the […]

3 years ago

This is the guy rugby fans have been raving about over the past two years. Not just in Ireland, too. Caelan Doris was a week late getting to the party, but he arrived two-footed through the front door, and left the best impression yet. Last Saturday night at Eden Park, Caelan Doris tried his best […]

3 years ago

AUSTRALIA 17-25 ENGLAND It was not always pretty for Eddie Jones’ side, but the Test Series Down Under goes to a decider. Here are our full England player ratings after the Second Test, in Brisbane. England hit the front with an early Billy Vunipola try and they had a choke-hold on the Wallabies for most […]

3 years ago

The 50:22 kick got the love, but it was merely the cherry on top. Whether it is getting selected in Ireland XVs, being named on the Ireland bench, being included in a touring Ireland squad or getting a fresh IRFU contract, it rarely takes long for the Peter O’Mahony doubters to start cawing. The Munster […]

3 years ago

“Enjoy it. You’re pretty stoic but the job has got to be done.” Ireland captain Johnny Sexton has made a handy habit of beating the All Blacks, over the past six years. History may have been made in Dunedin but, for Sexton, it is all about that Test decider, next Saturday. Ireland defeated New Zealand […]

3 years ago

NEW ZEALAND 12-23 IRELAND For the first time in their 117 Test rugby history, Ireland have beaten New Zealand on their home patch. Our full Ireland player ratings show just how well these men in green played. For the second weekend in a row, Ireland started like a train and got an early try. Johnny […]

3 years ago

“Yeah. That was reckless, for me.” Former Blues and Leinster star Isa Nacewa may have felt it was reckless, but Alan Quinlan believed All Blacks winger Leicester Fainga’anuku should have seen red for a dangerous hit on Mack Hansen. Ireland, for the second week running, were off to a flyer against hosts New Zealand, and […]

3 years ago

Brought to you by NOW One side have the edge in this Combined XV. Ireland and New Zealand have shared three wins apiece in their last six Test encounters. One team is set to gain the upper hand on Saturday in the second Test of Ireland’s summer tour to New Zealand, a match that is […]

3 years ago

Brought to you by NOW This Ireland vs. All Blacks quiz will test your rugby wits to the extreme. After over a century of hurt, Ireland have finally started to land some blows, and earn some respect. The results are still stacked in favour of New Zealand, but the Irish lads have enjoyed some famous wins […]

3 years ago

Sam Underill replaces the injured Tom Curry and Danny Care drops to the bench. One week after scoring a consolation try on his debut, scrumhalf Jack van Poortlviet gets his first start in an England team named to face the Wallabies in this weekend’s Second Test. England head coach Eddie Jones has made five changes […]

3 years ago

A show of faith in the frontline players. Andy Farrell has made a few tweaks to his Ireland match-day squad, ahead of the Second Test against the All Blacks, in Dunedin. There is only one change to the Irish starting XV, with Mack Hansen starting on the right wing in place of the unlucky Keith […]

3 years ago

It was not his night, at Eden Park, but calls for change are premature. Jamison Gibson Park will have pictured his first ever Test match outing at Eden Park going better than what went down on Saturday night. Much better. Playing behind a pack that did not have it easy, and with set-pieces either just […]

3 years ago

Up at 6am, keeping track of the little brother’s big rugby game. The parents of Cian and Sam Prendergast must be busting [and bursting] with pride. One son just had an outstanding season with Connacht, is over with Ireland on his first ever summer tour with the senior Test side, and fronting up to a […]

3 years ago

“We can keep going. I have time!” For a long time, it was Rory McIlroy leading the charge for the PGA Tour against the newly formed, and Saudi-funded, LIV Golf series. Jon Rahm and Justin Thomas rode in behind him. Billy Horschel has unequivocally joined the party. The American, who has three wins across the […]

3 years ago

“I remember the atmosphere was electric down there for that game.” As part of the Test side on the 2017 British & Irish Lions tour, Tadhg Furlong had a watching brief for the warm-up match against Highlanders at Forsyth Barr Stadium, in Dunedin. The only two members of the current Ireland squad to have played […]

3 years ago

The pair could be starting together, this weekend. Although he will always cherish the England jersey he made a try-scoring debut in, Henry Arundell absolutely loved the post-match gesture from Owen Farrell. It was a strange day out for Eddie Jones’ men in Perth, last Saturday. They squandered a 14-6 lead against 14-man Australia to […]

3 years ago

Processes, accuracy. Following the processes and being more accurate. That was the drum Ireland attack coach Mike Catt was banging in his Tuesday appearance in front of the media, in New Zealand. The reporters tried their best to get his take on concussion questions, involving Johnny Sexton and Sam Whitelock. The latest news coming out […]

3 years ago

“It’s pretty bleak waking up off the back of a loss like that.” Garry Ringrose was up for media duties the day after Ireland were shook by the All Blacks, at Eden Park. As a try-scorer and one of Ireland’s better players, on a day they lost 42-19, the Leinster centre was a guy that […]

3 years ago

In his final spot of punditry before heading off on his holidays, ROG would have had some Kiwi flashbacks. For all his achievements over a long and distinguished playing career, Ronan O’Gara finished with an 0-12 record against the All Blacks. There were a few close calls and plenty more that were nowhere near. A […]

3 years ago

The Clara native got the bad news as he headed towards the 18th. As a keen Offaly GAA fan, Shane Lowry was hoping to finish as strong as possible at The Irish Open and then hear about some minor hurling success. Not too far from where he teed off, at Mount Juliet Golf Club in […]

3 years ago

“It’s been the same football team for the last five years.” Former All Blacks winger John Kirwan was cautious ahead of the Test Series, last week, and stuck the favourites’ tag on Ireland. Kirwan declared that Ireland and France had taken the New Zealand rugby template and improved on it. One week on and a […]

3 years ago

There must be a revolving door at Auckland International Airport. As James Hume heads for home, Stuart McCloskey arrives in New Zealand for his seventh or eighth coming with the Ireland squad. The Ireland squad will continue to train at North Harbour Stadium in Auckland until Wednesday, when they travel to the South Island of […]

3 years ago