That’s just not cricket. Eddie Jones has found himself backed into a corner at a few stages of his England career but he has always come out swinging. At Twickenham, as night quickly descended, the Australian was back on the front-foot. It may sound strange to many of us here in Ireland but Jones was […]

6 years ago

ENGLAND 24-12 IRELAND Bullied, battered and plain brutal. The Triple Crown shield will be kept in storage for another year. Ireland were in touching distance of it until the game kicked off. Two years ago, Ireland came to a frozen Twickenham, played their hosts off the park and won a Grand Slam. That, and the […]

6 years ago

“He was going to mind you if he thought you were in the right.” Brian O’Driscoll to the rescue, and Sean O’Brien forever grateful. The over-eager flanker coming up against the veteran. Thousands upon thousands of training ground brawls have included those spicy ingredients. Over on House of Rugby UK, this week, Alex Payne helped set […]

6 years ago

Two wins from two and another Irish team buoyed by improving performances as they gear up for a huge test against England. The Six Nations start of Ireland Women has mirrored that of their male counterparts – a close-run slog against the Scots and serious improvement in a big win over Wales. Next up are […]

6 years ago

From ‘Ireland by 10’ to ‘England by 74’, the expert predictions on Sunday’s Triple Crown decider have gone from one extreme to the next. Sean O’Brien could not believe his ears when he heard Mike Tindall’s hot-take. This Sunday at Twickenham sees Ireland visit to Twickenham to see if they can beat England and claim […]

6 years ago

“I reckon Ireland will win by 10.” As if he was not loved enough in Dublin (and all of Leinster) already, that Scott Fardy prediction had the audience at Baz & Andrew’s House of Rugby eating from the palms of his giant Australian hands. The Leinster forward, who won 39 Test caps and played in a World Cup […]

6 years ago

“The seriousness of the occasion probably hit me on that third one.” 20 years of the Guinness Six Nations and plenty of Irish memories, good, bad and in between. On the latest episode of Baz & Andrew’s House of Rugby, we were fortunate to be joined by an Irish rugby legend and a Munster winger that has […]

6 years ago

If it ain’t broke… Andy Farrell has named a 36-man Ireland squad for round three of the 2020 Guinness Six Nations and it contains all 13 players that were released back to their clubs for provincial duty. Farrell took a 23-man grouping down to Cork, last week, for a two-day training camp ahead of the […]

6 years ago

“I didn’t plan on playing football at all this year but I ended up coming home from a holiday early and being home for two weeks of championship. And, sure, when you’re at home… “ So it goes down in West Clare. When there is a county championship on the horizon and the Considine sisters […]

6 years ago

Victory for Ireland at the weekend would be their 50th in Test matches against England. This Sunday sees Andy Farrell bring his Ireland team to England as head coach for the first time. Farrell has started off with 2020 Guinness Six Nations wins over Wales and Scotland, teeing up a Triple Crown decider against his […]

6 years ago

One new signing, one loan deal and plenty of irons in the fire ahead of what should be a busy summer. These Manchester United transfers could transform the club for the 2020/21 season but it remains to be seen who the manager will be. After seeing his side lose to Arsenal, in meek fashion, at […]

6 years ago

“I’m horrible at trivia.” Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson phones in on his way to a TV studio to record Family Feud (the US version of Family Fortunes) along with the likes of Henry Cejudo, Michelle Waterson and Holly Holm. “We’re representing the UFC and we’re up against a boxing team,” he tells us. “I know Evander […]

6 years ago

“There was talk about Jorge Masvidal too. He used to be a 155-er. He’s not a big, big 170.” Conor McGregor started off his ‘2020 season’ with an effortless dismantling of Donald Cerrone in January. He immediately declared his willingness to put a beating on ‘all these mouthy fools’ and remain very much active over […]

6 years ago

“No regrets, man. None.” It has been four months since Ben Askren last competed in Mixed Martial Arts. Askren is aged 35 and many would back him mounting a successful comeback after two losses in the space of four months [his only two defeats of a 22-fight career]. His body is telling him otherwise, though. […]

6 years ago

“We came here to win today.” The words of Patrick Campbell, in 2019, after he inspired Cork’s minors to an All-Ireland semi-final victory over Mayo. Two years on and Campbell could be set to make his senior debut for Munster Rugby, against Wasps in the Champions Cup, after the senior squad was hit by positive […]

6 years ago

“If you were to create a highlights reel, it would all be basic stuff but he didn’t put a foot wrong.” Andy Farrell was always going to need a new man to fill the Irish No.2 jersey but, that aside, the new head coach faced several tough decisions. In three men – Rob Herring, Jordan […]

6 years ago

“They won’t say it because they’re frightened of it.” England battled the elements, and the Scots, at Murrayfield and were locked at 3-3 until the 71st minute. Stuart Hogg’s fumble over his tryline looked to have cost his side a score but, instead, resulted in an attacking scrum for England. Their forwards rumbled close and […]

6 years ago

“Nothing has changed. I don’t see any changes yet.” Two wins from two, some attacking wrinkles, less box-kicking and three of Ireland’s five tries coming from their backline. Still, Mike Tindall is not convinced. The former England captain also has issues with CJ Stander and Ireland’s work around the breakdown. The 2020 Guinness Six Nations […]

6 years ago

“When Keith Earls plays instinctively, he has you.” Keith Earls has played jerseys 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 for Ireland but, since the 2015 World Cup, he grew into an ever-reliable on the wing. Since he started at outside centre in that World Cup quarter final exit, at the hands of Argentina, Earls started […]

6 years ago

The interview ends on a ‘No’ but a big grin. Andrew Conway succeeds in making a couple of us feel old. Next month will be the 20th anniversary of Brian O’Driscoll’s hat-trick of tries against France, in Paris. Andrew Conway was only eight at the time but does he remember the match, or anything from […]

6 years ago

The boys, gals and penguins are back in town. Baz & Andrew’s House of Rugby Live is coming to Café En Seine on Wednesday, February 19 and we want you to be there. Especially all you lovely penguins. Ahead of Ireland’s 2020 Guinness Six Nations clash with England, Barry Murphy and Andrew Trimble are bringing […]

6 years ago

“I would imagine there’ll be even more confidence, albeit going away to Twickenham.” From the depths after our World Cup exit to New Zealand to renewed hope that this Irish team can mix it with the best again. Andy Farrell is slowly making his changes, and mark, with this Ireland team and, after only two […]

6 years ago

“Plenty to fix” but plenty of positives too. Every Irish fan that headed along to the Aviva Stadium on Saturday afternoon – wrapped up warm in case Storm Ciara descended – knew that this was the first true test of Andy Farrell’s head coach era. The Scots were nuggety and proved tough to beat but […]

6 years ago

The last thing the Welsh players needed today. Likewise for women’s rugby. Ireland and Wales played out an entertaining Six Nations encounter at Energia Park in Donnybrook, this afternoon, with the hosts running out 24-14 winners. An issue with the Wales showers, after the match, was a bad look for the game on an otherwise […]

6 years ago

IRELAND 31-12 WALES After this year’s Six Nations championship wraps, Beibhinn Parsons will turn focus to her Leaving Cert examinations. It was clear when Ireland head coach Adam Grigg handed a Test debut to a then 16-year-old Beibhinn Parsons, some 18 months ago, that there was a top prospect to watch closely. Parsons showed sensational […]

6 years ago

“We want to play to space because we’ve got some really exciting backs.” Andrew Conway was having another cracking game for Ireland, against Wales, but his bonus point try really put a bow on it. The Munster winger was one of the few in Joe Schmidt’s World Cup squad to emerge with credit, even after […]

6 years ago

With gusts swirling about Lansdowne Road on Saturday afternoon, a strong kicking game was always going to cause issues. Conor Murray remains one of the best box-kickers in the game and his steeplers caused a few problems for the Welsh in their Guinness Six Nations encounter. During Ireland’s 24-14 victory, Murray put the ball into […]

6 years ago

One referee scored a razor-tight contest as 49-46 to the champion. Outrageous goings on. Jon Jones has retained his light heavyweight title after a unanimous yet controversial decision win over Dominick Reyes. The Californian challenger started like a freight train and, to most observers, took the opening two rounds with some punishing left-hand punches and […]

6 years ago

CJ Stander was never away. He never really goes away. 2019 was a brusque slap in the face for Irish rugby and CJ Stander was proved human on the Six Nations and world stage. He was not the only one, but he took more than his share of grief. Because Stander followed the game-plan of […]

6 years ago

“Some of the messages that have come out of the camp were not accurate… to suggest that we have thrown away everything is just wrong.” Johnny Sexton was asked, after Ireland’s 24-14 win over Wales, if that was the ‘most enjoyable’ game in green he had had for a while. “Yeah,” he replied. “It wouldn’t […]

6 years ago

IRELAND 24-14 WALES For long stretches of the first half, the Irish fans were lacking voice and belief. For the second week running, it took CJ Stander and a couple of other Munster men to change that story. Last Saturday, we watched on in a state of incredulity as TV replays showed Stuart Hogg dropping […]

6 years ago

“Just look at the walls.” School halls, club-houses, waiting rooms, changing rooms and offices. All filled with pictures. Rugby on the walls. Michael Bradley looking destined for great deeds, Mick O’Driscoll the towering man-child, Peter Stringer with the blonde mop, Simon Zebo with a big grin and the collar up. Go for an amble down […]

6 years ago

Saturday’s game was a continuation of a stultifying trend. Jacob Stockdale and Andrew Conway have retained the No.11 and 14 jerseys for this weekend’s clash with Wales but we are hoping to see a lot more of them with ball-in-hand. There were a couple of extremes emerging from the 19-12 victory over Scotland that opened […]

6 years ago

“What’s a Dark Vader?!” Ronan O’Gara – great on rugby, sketchy on Star Wars. On the latest episode of Baz & Andrew’s House of Rugby, Munster and Ireland legend Ronan O’Gara dropped by the studio for a Guinness Six Nations rivalry and camaraderie special with Welsh wing wizard Shane Williams. The rugby stars joined Barry Murphy, Andrew Trimble […]

6 years ago

The game is afoot. Andy Farrell got off to a winning start in the Guinness Six Nations opener against Scotland. Keeping up with his earlier than usual announcements, Farrell today named his Ireland team to face Wales in their next outing. There are two changes to the starting XV from the 19-12 victory over the […]

6 years ago

“Thank God, against Fermanagh, we brought it home.” Having endured All-Ireland final heartbreak against Limerick in 2018, last year’s junior championship victory over Fermanagh tasted all the sweeter for Eimear Byrne. “The week after winning an All-Ireland is pretty cool,” she tells SportsJOE. “There’s a lot of stuff on. You have interviews to do and […]

6 years ago

Caelan Doris will go through the Return To Play protocols for the bulk of this week but Garry Ringrose is definitely out. Ireland head coach Andy Farrell will be forced to make at least one change to his starting XV for this weekend’s Guinness Six Nations encounter with Wales. Farrell has a big call to […]

6 years ago

With Garry Ringrose expected to miss the next two games, the Connacht centre will be needed more than ever. Bundee Aki was tackling like a man possessed in the closing stages of Ireland’s victory over Scotland. Ireland were indebted to the doggedness of players like Aki and CJ Stander, but the Scots were not best […]

6 years ago

“Goodness me!” Graeme McDowell rediscovered his fighting spirit of old in 2019 and proved he could mix it with the best. On Sunday, at the Royal Greens Golf and Country Club in Saudi Arabia, he beat the very best and is heading home with a hug winners’ cheque. Last May, McDowell won the Corales championship […]

6 years ago

True Irish grit. Andy Farrell demanded it. Peter O’Mahony delivered. With Leinster producing two European-class back row starlets a season, the pressure is on the likes of O’Mahony and CJ Stander. They are great players but sometimes, in the red of Munster, the burden weighs too heavily. Johann Van Graan has dipped into his motherland […]

6 years ago

“We asked the lads all week to stand for something and I think you could easily see that true grit.” CJ Stander and Peter O’Mahony will have had Scottish fans irate thisSaturday evening. Andy Farrell was hammering this point home before Ireland’s Guinness Six Nations opener against Scotland. On Saturday night at the Aviva Stadium, […]

6 years ago

“It was great for us, wasn’t it?” New Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has been on two Lions tours with Stuart Hogg and speaks highly of the Scottish fullback. Still, with Ireland’s Guinness Six Nations encounter with Scotland in the melting pot, it did not stop him enjoying Hogg’s catastrophic error in the second half. […]

6 years ago

IRELAND 19-12 SCOTLAND There were big contributions from Leinster, Connacht and Ulster players but Ireland would have not beaten a determined Scottish side without their Munster contingent. Johnny Sexton scored all 19 points for Andy Farrell’s side to kick off the 2020 Guinness Six Nations with a victory. The two stand-out players were the back […]

6 years ago

“There was a time when you would enter the Six Nations with damage limitation in mind.” Ireland went into the first ever Six Nations, back in February 2020, with work to do to restore the public confidence. They had exited the World Cup earlier than anticipated having fallen 28-24 to Argentina in a quarter final […]

6 years ago

“The decision was made, let’s put it that way, that we would blood in new players.” On four occasions between 1992 and 1998, Ireland ended up rock bottom of the Five Nations. With it, they claimed the ignominious wooden spoon. Eddie O’Sullivan came into the Irish set-up to Warren Gatland in the late 90s and […]

6 years ago

“What is the craic behind them? Because I don’t think that anyone understands what you’re saying!” Ahead of the 2020 Guinness Six Nations, House of Rugby packed an overnight bag and threw itself straight into a rugby-mad throng at Reardens, right in the heart of Cork city. Andy Farrell has taken over the reigns from […]

6 years ago

Bringing Stephen A. Smith into the broadcast team for UFC 246 was always going to ruffle feathers. Moments after The Octagon cleared and UFC 246 was in the history books, Stephen A Smith stood alongside Joe Rogan to break down Conor McGregor’s rapid-fire victory over Donald Cerrone. While Rogan opted to concentrate on McGregor’s ruthless […]

6 years ago

“Well, I’m here today. I’m doing a lot of interviews.” That was the response of Andy Farrell when he was asked what had changed for him since he took over from Joe Schmidt as head coach of Ireland. Farrell is the new man in charge of Ireland but he is following on from Schmidt in […]

6 years ago

The Ireland international could be soon pitched into a relegation battle. Ahead of Tottenham’s FA Cup fourth round encounter with Southampton, José Mourinho was asked about Troy Parrott again, and his prospects of getting more first team football. With Harry Kane out for the next couple of months, and possibly until the tail-end of the […]

6 years ago

“Some people say that I’m a late starter.” Carla Rowe was not interested in GAA when she was growing up in Lusk. It was only when, at the age of 12, her family moved to Naul that the sport came into her life. “The Naul is a very small village community,” she tells SportsJOE, “and […]

6 years ago