Kidney admits avoiding All Blacks in quarter-finals a huge carrotBy common consent, the 2015 World Cup was too far away to make anything resembling concrete forecasts but, for what it was worth…Tue Dec 04 2012 - 00:00
Gatland accentuates positives in tough drawAs is his wont, Warren Gatland livened up proceedings with his candourTue Dec 04 2012 - 00:00
Wales the demon seeds to avoid in third potRUGBY : The perceived wisdom is Wales will be the team to avoid in today’s draw for the 2015 World Cup after Saturday’s agonising…Mon Dec 03 2012 - 00:00
Unbeaten Ulster ready themselves for a big monthNo less than the rest of the Irish provinces, Ulster face into something of a daunting, make-or-break midway spell in their season…Sat Dec 01 2012 - 00:00
Heaslip and Gilroy in Gatland's sightsLIONS TOUR: As reflects the ever-changing nature of the Lions’ selection landscape, the tourists’ head coach in Australia next…Thu Nov 29 2012 - 00:00
IRB Player of Year McCaw on shortlistIn a year when the All Blacks have remained unbeaten in nine matches to date, unsurprisingly their twin totems, Richie McCaw …Thu Nov 29 2012 - 00:00
Taxing five-day turnaround forces Anscombe to rest notable trioRABODIRECT PRO12: He who pays the piper calls the tune and all thatThu Nov 29 2012 - 00:00
Momentum puts a smile on Irish faces as a new team growsA full hour had passed at the Aviva Stadium last Saturday before the first Mexican Wave was followed by the day’s first rendition…Tue Nov 27 2012 - 00:00
Christmas turkey may never taste better as Ireland's special brew hits right spotRewind to the aftermath of that 60-0 beating in Hamilton, and if you’d countenanced Ireland would be missing their two Lions …Mon Nov 26 2012 - 00:00
Sexton the perfect 10 as Ireland unleash the beast on the PumasIreland 46 Argentina 24 By rights, Craig Gilroy should probably have passed inside to Jonny Sexton, but no-one was complaining…Mon Nov 26 2012 - 00:00
Ireland out to sow the seeds of victoryRUGBY: Ireland-Argentina tend not to do meaningless friendlies and so it is againSat Nov 24 2012 - 00:00
Gilroy brings the feel-good factorRUGBY: The hype is intensifying, as if any meeting between Ireland and Argentina needed itFri Nov 23 2012 - 00:00
Restyled Argentina fired up for final flingOozing confidence, enjoying each other’s company as ever and rallying for one final patriotic push for their 12th and final game…Fri Nov 23 2012 - 00:00
Waiting game pays dividends for HenryRUGBY : Amid all the talk of the young Ulster tyros cutting a swathe through the Irish ranks, there is an equally inspiring …Thu Nov 22 2012 - 00:00
Gilroy the only likely change from team that played SABoth Ireland and Argentina will today confirm largely anticipated line-ups for Saturday’s hugely significant international at…Thu Nov 22 2012 - 00:00
Gilroy deserves his chance against PumasRUGBY: Craig Gilroy, the 21-year-old uncapped Ulster winger, increasingly looks to have forced his way into the Irish starting…Wed Nov 21 2012 - 00:00
It will all end in tiers if Ireland don't beat ArgentinaAs Declan Kidney had forecast, and as was the case four years ago when the sides met at the Aviva, the psychological importance…Tue Nov 20 2012 - 00:00
Argentina's pride now matched by attacking ambitionOn Rugby: Those dastardly Pumas are back and while the nasty edge may have dissipated in recent times, once more there’s plenty…Tue Nov 20 2012 - 00:00
Camacho back in the swing and feeling in the moodJuan Martin Hernandez remains the biggest concern for the Argentinian managementTue Nov 20 2012 - 00:00
Ireland welcome Argentina with spring in stepHaving tapped into the Ulster zeitgeist in Saturday’s 53-0 romp against Fiji, Ireland move on to an altogether sterner and more…Mon Nov 19 2012 - 00:00
Facile victory provides a timely boostIn the greater scheme of things this will barely constitute a footnote in history, and allowing for the Fijians’ increasing rancour…Mon Nov 19 2012 - 00:00
A fine chance for Ireland's young guns to take aim at a starting placeIreland v Fiji: Whatever about not affording this game Test status, a break from the norm to pitch up in Thomond Park for the…Sat Nov 17 2012 - 00:00
No team is an island as Fiji are left at sixes and sevensThey began their tour with a full Test in front of 82,000 against England at Twickenham, moved on to Gloucester for a Tuesday…Sat Nov 17 2012 - 00:00
Fiji rue missing players for Thomond Park clashFiji have made six changes to the side which lost 54-12 at Twickenham last Saturday as well as a couple of positional switches…Fri Nov 16 2012 - 00:00
Kidney rings the changes for FijiBy rights, Ireland’s encounter with the flamboyant Fijians should perhaps have been played in Ravenhill.Fri Nov 16 2012 - 00:00
Ireland to get an infusion of youth for Fijian adventureIf the Springboks like to drag their opponents into structured arm wrestles, then the Fijians are the polar oppositeThu Nov 15 2012 - 00:00
Cave strives for a fresh opening at centreOver five years have passed since he was part of Ireland’s Under-20 Grand Slam and Churchill Cup teams, and it’s been four seasons…Thu Nov 15 2012 - 00:00
Smal sees big things ahead for Ireland's up and coming talentRUGBY: Autumn Internationals Gert Smal admitted yesterday that the two weeks leading into last Saturday’s meeting with South…Wed Nov 14 2012 - 00:00
Strauss happy to sing off the same song sheetOne of the defining images of last Saturday’s Test was assuredly that of Ireland’s adopted South African gamely singing Amhrán…Wed Nov 14 2012 - 00:00
Ireland easy to read if they don't get offloadingON RUGBY: Looking across the rest of the opening round of fixtures in this November window will be a cause of mixed feelings…Tue Nov 13 2012 - 00:00
Another honour for Kearney as he continues on road to recoveryIn what has proved to be a multi-decorated if ultimately frustrating 2012, Rob Kearney last night received the Guinness Rugby…Tue Nov 13 2012 - 00:00
Springboks' power proves crucial as Ireland can't quite get over the lineMATCH REPORT: Ireland 12 South Africa 16 The bravery, the effort, the resilience, the enthusiasm and even much of the ambition…Mon Nov 12 2012 - 00:00
Ireland outmuscled by experienceRUGBY: Autumn Internationals As encouragement gave way to a feeling of anti-climax, you came away from the Aviva on Saturday…Mon Nov 12 2012 - 00:00
Springboks won't give an inch as Ireland search for redemptionRUGBY: Ireland v South Africa To hell with the IRB rankings, World Cup draws, the presence of Lions coach Warren Gatland and…Sat Nov 10 2012 - 00:00
O'Mahony always had good head for heightsIRELAND v SOUTH AFRICA: Tough and versatile, Peter O’Mahony is a natural born leader in red and in greenSat Nov 10 2012 - 00:00
Heaslip humbled and delighted at captaincyAs Declan Kidney noted, Jamie Heaslip would be swift to deny it. In truth, he would probably the first to do soFri Nov 09 2012 - 00:00
All has changed for new-look IrelandA new captain, a new hooker, three more potential debutants on the bench, seven changes in personnel and two positional from …Fri Nov 09 2012 - 00:00
Meyer entrusts talented Lambie with crucial outhalf roleDespite a flight of wild geese proportions to more lucrative climes in Europe and Japan, along with an horrendous injury list…Thu Nov 08 2012 - 00:00
O'Connell absence a huge blowTo lose one Lions captain may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like a potential game-changerThu Nov 08 2012 - 00:00
Zebo ready to move into fullback from left fieldThe most interesting selection in the Ireland team to play South Africa when it is announced tomorrow will be the occupant of…Wed Nov 07 2012 - 00:00
Eager-to-get-going Trimble laughs off Pietersen gaffeTo be mistaken for a goalkicking French outhalf whose national team have long since discarded him and who is notionally second…Wed Nov 07 2012 - 00:00
It's Kidney's duty to put the best team possible on the pitch for IrelandON RUGBY: The gnashing of teeth which has greeted Michael Bent’s call-up has been surprisingTue Nov 06 2012 - 00:00
Indispensable Ross faces a stern test at tightheadINTERVIEW: Few have carried a heavier load over recent years than Mike Ross, so few would appreciate some back-up more than …Tue Nov 06 2012 - 00:00
O'Connell looks ready to lift the burdenRUGBY: IRELAND CAMP The sight of Paul O’Connell, along with Cian Healy, bounding out on to the pitch at Carton House yesterday…Tue Nov 06 2012 - 00:00
London providing a new lease of life for one of Munster's favourite sonsINTERVIEW: TOMÁS O'LEARY The London-Irish scrumhalf is enjoying the hectic challenge of life in the PremiershipSat Oct 27 2012 - 01:00
Qualified Bent could get Ireland out of a tight spotNOVEMBER INTERNATIONALS: RICHARDT STRAUSS and David Kilcoyne having been fast-tracked into the 31-man Irish squad which will…Fri Oct 26 2012 - 01:00
Strauss joined by three other new capsAS EXPECTED, Richardt Strauss is in line to be named on the bench and thus make his debut for Ireland against his native South…Thu Oct 25 2012 - 01:00
Strauss set for Ireland squad call-upRICHARDT STRAUSS is set to be named in an Ireland squad for the first time today when Declan Kidney unveils a 20-man panel for…Wed Oct 24 2012 - 01:00
Operation to sideline Kearney for 10 weeksRUGBY: IRELAND AND Leinster have been dealt a decidedly ill-timed blow with the news that Rob Kearney is to undergo an operation…Wed Oct 24 2012 - 01:00
Irish sides stand in way of Anglo-French bulliesON RUGBY: CAST A cursory glance across the six Heineken Cup group tables and, as is the case off the pitch, the French and English…Tue Oct 23 2012 - 01:00
