Category: RUGBY
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Ireland crumble in Fortress Eden
Ireland… 19 New Zealand… 42 You might think that scoring three tries against the All Blacks – especially at Eden Park – represented a commendable day’s work. Don’t be fooled… This was a classic case of ‘come into my web, said the spider to the fly’, before the resident takes a choke hold of the […]
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Ulster progressing, Munster stuck in gear at best
Ulster… 36 Munster… 17 Graham Rowntree must be wondering is he insane. One of the most decorated players in rugby, you’d imagine he could have plumped for any coaching job he wanted in the game. But spare an even bigger thought for Denis Leamy… The former back row forward only during the week moved back […]
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Mack puts the knife into Wales on impressive debut
Ireland…29 Wales…7 A very short time into his Championship debut against Dublin, Ollie Murphy palmed the ball into an empty net in front a packed Canal End. For any Meath player it can’t get much better than that. Well, at the Aviva Stadium this afternoon, shy of scoring a try, if there is such a […]
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Irish eyes smiling for different reasons
It had to happen, didn’t it? Anytime they have been required to deliver big when it mattered most, Munster have answered the call. Against the All Blacks, 1978, The Miracle Match, then defeating Glasgow days after Axel Foley was laid to rest. And again on Sunday. Yet, in ways, for this observer at least, Sunday’s […]
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A quality not to be taken for granted
Munster… 16 Castres Olympique… 13 There will come a day when it won’t work. When the bucket will come up dry from the well. Don’t plan your schedule around it though. Because if it didn’t happen last night in France, there may be a lengthy wait for such a situation. Again Munster found aaawwwe teetering […]
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A bit of routine and some pleasant surprises – Rugby Wrap Part II
On another weekend, the latest chapter in the Munster European heroics tome would be more than enough to keep aficionados sated. Being the first helping of continental fare for the season, it was never likely to be the only talking point. Not even from an Irish point of view. Teams from the Emerald Isle going […]
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Munster outdo themselves – Rugby Wrap Part I
During a weekend with as many sporting highlights as there are Dublin busses, it’s hard to know where to begin. Between Clough-Ballacolla ousting Kllmacud Crokes from the Leinster Club SHC, Katie Taylor recording a 20th Professional win, the Irish U-23 team striking glory in cross country Athletics, Arsenal winning minus their petulant skipper. And so […]
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Ireland issue bench warrant for All Blacks demise
Ireland…29 New Zealand…20 Don’t let anyone tell you it was ‘only’ an Autumn International. Representation always mean something. Whether it’s a Division 8 football match or this. Taking on the greatest Rugby Union team on the planet. There was a time, not all that long ago, when Ireland – and many more like them – […]
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Munster go try-Axel to trailer more points
Munster…20 Connacht…18 There are two certainties about October. I will get a flu (check) and Munster will produce at least one remarkable performance at Thomond Park. If the second half of that hadn’t been accomplished before last night, the box was well and truly ticked by the time the 80 minutes had elapsed under the […]
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Snyman comeback tops typical Thomond turnaround
Munster… 34 Stormers… 18 As debuts go, rupturing your ACL in the early stages thereof and missing the rest of the season thereafter fairly stinks. Yet the giant RG Snymann had shown enough in that maiden outing to leave Munster fans in no doubt as to what they’d be missing for the remainder of last […]