If Ireland follow the five second rule they can escape to victory over EnglandNegate Joe Marler at the scrum and the home side will win the battle of quick ballFri Feb 27 2015 - 05:45
Liam Toland: Impact of those on the bench cannot be overestimatedTeams seeking to create mismatches both in athletic and fatigue terms in the last quarterFri Feb 20 2015 - 11:00
Liam Toland: We shouldn’t get too excited for World Cup – France’s problems are fixableSexton immaculate in the accuracy of kicking and the way he run his backlineMon Feb 16 2015 - 11:02
Ability to cope with beefy brigade will dictate endgameFrench bench will inject massive muscle but home side can exploit lack of cohesionFri Feb 13 2015 - 16:08
Liam Toland: Ireland’s win good but may not be enoughTournament could be decided by who earns biggest win over weakest sideMon Feb 09 2015 - 13:53
Liam Toland: Ireland must target rampaging CastrogiovanniNew lease of life at Toulon makes experienced prop a real danger manFri Feb 06 2015 - 16:46
Leinster deserved to beat Wasps and decision that cost them left my blood boilingWasps’ scorer handled ball in ruck – it seemed clear at time and video replay confirmed itFri Jan 30 2015 - 11:00
Leinster must control the pace of the game to draw Wasps’ stingLimited Wasps are no Saracens and Leinster have the pedigree to prevailFri Jan 23 2015 - 12:00
Munster must adjust as Allianz Park poses own challengesSaracens home pitch one of the obstacles in next European Champions Cup clashFri Jan 16 2015 - 13:40
Anne McInerney is a wonderful window into the heart of professional sportThe much-loved former Leinster Rugby Schools Administrator died on SundayFri Jan 09 2015 - 12:00
Broadening the player base an obvious priority for Joe SchmidtFringe players can also benefit from gaining game time at provincial levelFri Jan 02 2015 - 12:00
Connacht arrive at the RDS with new spring in their stepI have long since felt that Connacht are a potential threat to Munster – both are the only real professional alternative west(ish) of the Shannon, with have a huge (potential) followingFri Dec 19 2014 - 01:00
Leinster can remedy systems failure but Munster’s predicament goes deeperAnthony Foley needs to maximise power of unit to compensate for individual weaknessFri Dec 12 2014 - 12:00
Joe Schmidt faces a huge tactical call as he prepares World Cup planWill Ireland’s current kicking strategy suffice when it comes to the latter stages?Fri Dec 05 2014 - 14:10
Liam Toland: World Sports Team is Ireland’s gift to the sporting worldThe charity will raise awareness and generate support for those affected by catastrophic sports injuriesFri Nov 28 2014 - 12:00
Ireland have lot to learn from Wallabies’ attacking threatGame bookended by massive and vital hits – first from Zebo, second from O’ConnellMon Nov 24 2014 - 10:07
The key to Ireland’s success is high-tempo, low-error rugbyIreland can use their scrum to expose Australia’s defensive frailtiesFri Nov 21 2014 - 08:00
Growing Irish depth in evidence against GeorgiaHalfbacks and lineout impressive but scrum continues to be an issueMon Nov 17 2014 - 08:27
Get with the programme! Henry’s heroics impress the three wise menMore attention to detail in Irish camp than from some supportersFri Nov 14 2014 - 09:00
Ireland’s intelligence provided cutting edge on day when Springboks came to bludgeonIn the face of such physical onslaught mind proved just as important as matterMon Nov 10 2014 - 15:04
Springbok midfield’s ability must be tested well behind their gain lineJoe Schmidt’s men braced for the inevitable massive physical challenge the Boks representFri Nov 07 2014 - 18:29
Anyone endangering a player’s head deserves a long and well-advertised banRomain Taofifenua was guilty of top-end stupidity and the punishment should have reflected that factFri Oct 31 2014 - 12:00
Stopping Matt Giteau and Toulon a formidable task for UlsterThe best outhalf in world rugby graces Irish soil this weekend as European champions arrive in BelfastFri Oct 24 2014 - 09:00
Impressive Ulster in good shape as European campaign beckonsGiven Leicester Tigers’ injury woes, visit to Welford Road looks ideally timedFri Oct 17 2014 - 06:00
Les Kiss will have learned plenty from his spell with UlsterPotential of contenders for the Irish squad will have been subjected to close scrutinyFri Oct 10 2014 - 06:00
Munster need to make ‘vision’ clearAn extremely tricky balancing act between management and leadershipFri Oct 03 2014 - 12:00
Solid Munster play augurs well for seasonWhile Connacht and Munster can be optimistic, Leinster have yet to fireFri Sept 26 2014 - 09:00
Once more into the breach for legends of the game in aid of cancer researchTwo thoughts: what is a ‘legend’; and difference between ‘management and leadership?’Fri Sept 19 2014 - 09:00
Mental toughness and a little 1999 genius can see off formidable Glasgow challengeLeo Cullen and Brian O’Driscoll have been the steady heads behind Leinster successFri May 30 2014 - 09:00
We must be wary of the dangers posed by concussionIf we don’t wise up many players could reap a terrible harvest after retirementFri May 23 2014 - 12:00
There’s a time to keep the emotions in check and there’s a time to cut looseThey’ve unfairly kept Eddie O’Sullivan out of a job but will help Munster perform against GlasgowFri May 16 2014 - 12:00
Liam Toland: The maximisation of indigenous resources key if Irish provinces are to succeedTaking on the money boys of Toulon is not an option for the IRFUFri May 02 2014 - 09:49
Munster must engage Toulon in warfare long before the inevitable ruckTo do so they must recognise their weaknesses and play to their strengthsFri Apr 25 2014 - 12:00
Interaction with the clubs must be part of Ireland’s new grand planWhile David Nucifora may be concentrating on the game’s elite, the clubs’ participation must be fosteredFri Apr 18 2014 - 09:00
Munster need to be dynamic to expose Toulouse behemothsHome side can use dominant scrum to move opponents aroundFri Apr 04 2014 - 09:00
Playing for two masters at the AvivaThe Munster and Leinster players meeting tomorrow are also trying to fit in with Joe Schmidt’s schemesFri Mar 28 2014 - 01:00
Après match fillet steak, a large Bordeaux and thoughts of Henderson filleting Bastareaud . . . magnifique!Fri Mar 21 2014 - 12:00
Irish breakdown play proved cornerstone of epic victoryOld warriors to the fore as dominance at scrum proves profitable platform for epic triumphMon Mar 17 2014 - 01:00
Organisation the key to an Irish successJoe Schmidt’s men must keep their heads when all around them the French are losing theirsFri Mar 14 2014 - 09:00
Sweet victory for Irish rugby yet still so much to work onMore formidable opposition lie in wait but there is room for postive improvementMon Mar 10 2014 - 08:09
Ireland need to rack up points against ItalyPace and variation with concentrated precision will ensure an Irish victoryFri Mar 07 2014 - 09:00
Arrival of such new talent bodes well for Ireland’s futureBy the end of last week’s game, half the pack was comprised of four recent U-20 playersFri Feb 28 2014 - 11:00
In a game of incredibly tight margins, England’s defensive discipline proves keyEngland’s line speed, discipline and physicality forced Ireland to commit numbers to simply maintain possessionMon Feb 24 2014 - 12:00
They’re going after us in the lineout jungleAnd how Ireland respond will have a huge bearing on contest and resultFri Feb 21 2014 - 09:00
If Foley is right fit Munster must act quickly as show of confidenceAnthony Foley has been in Munster senior rugby for over 20 years, does he have Munster’s confidence? Yes or no?Fri Feb 14 2014 - 10:00
Calm and composed Ireland look good going forwardPhysical when needed, Joe Schmidt’s men take their toll on WalesMon Feb 10 2014 - 06:00
Ireland must keep the head as the Welsh bodies fly aroundThis clash will be physical but Joe Schmidt must get the breakdown rightFri Feb 07 2014 - 10:00
Schmidt’s men establish the necessary platformBut plenty of room for improvement in advance of the expected massive Welsh challengeMon Feb 03 2014 - 09:00
