WALES HUNTERS | Ireland into quarters October 2, 2011 TWO tries from birthday boy Keith Earls and another from Brian O’Driscoll (above) ensured Ireland topped Pool C and set up a quarter-final date with Wales. Needing at least a draw with Italy to claim top spot, Ireland overwhelmed the Azzurri 36-6 in Dunedin to send their Six Nations rivals home. Fly-half Ronan O’Gara kicked [...]
Ireland plead with O’Gara not to quit September 18, 2011 IRELAND chiefs are planning a last-ditch effort to talk Ronan O’Gara out of retirement, after the fly-half revealed his intention to quit post-World Cup. O’Gara made his admission after coming off the bench to kick two penalties in Ireland’s superb 15-6 win over Australia on Saturday. But team manager Paul McNaughton: “Ronan hasn’t talked formally [...]
Late slip-up sours Irish relief at end of losing run September 11, 2011 IRELAND (22) vs USA (10) IRELAND captain Brian O’Driscoll blasted his team’s display after they began their World Cup campaign with a stuttering victory over the United States. Two tries from winger Tommy Bowe and another from hooker Rory Best ensured they emerged from their Pool C opener in New Plymouth with the minimum requirement. [...]
IRELAND September 7, 2011 DESPITE their far from encouraging pre-tournament preparations only a series of freak results would see Ireland fail to reach the quarter-finals for the second successive World Cup. Declan Kidney’s side are rooted in a transitional phase with the stars of the 2009 Grand Slam-winning side on the wane, and the young upstarts vying to replace [...]
A bargain estate in bucolic Ireland August 4, 2011 TO say the Irish property market has had a bit of a rocky patch is like saying Brian O’Driscoll’s relatively tasty when it comes to scoring tries. As the Irish economy came apart in the recession, the property market fell, and fell, and fell. Then it fell a bit more. Now, those prepared to make [...]
Ireland missing star O’Driscoll August 2, 2011 RUGBY UNION: Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll is unlikely to feature in the upcoming friendly internationals against Scotland and France in the run up to September’s World Cup. O’Driscoll is nursing a shoulder and neck injury, but Ireland manager Paul McNaughton insists he will be fit for the tournament.
O’Driscoll is still a doubt May 19, 2011 LEINSTER vs NORTHAMPTON IRELAND captain Brian O’Driscoll remains a doubt for Leinster’s Heineken Cup final against Northampton tomorrow. O’Driscoll sustained a knee injury against Ulster last weekend and was unable to take a full part in yesterday’s training session. Leinster coach Joe Schmidt said that O’Driscoll had only been able to run at “three-quarters pace” [...]
Leinster too strong for Mallinder’s Saints May 19, 2011 LEINSTER vs NORTHAMPTON TOMORROW – 5PM, SKY SPORTS FEW, other than perhaps the most partisan Frenchman, would argue that the two most deserving sides will meet in tomorrow’s Heineken Cup Final. That story is told by the judges’ selections for the European Player of the Year: Leinster’s Sean O’Brien, Jamie Heaslip and Isa Nacewa and [...]
Quins prepared for ultimate test April 27, 2011 HARLEQUINS are previous winners of this competition but if they are going to match their 2004 success then they are going to have to do it the hard way. Beating Munster on their own turf is something only the mighty Leicester have achieved in European competition and that was by the skin of their teeth. [...]
O’Driscoll skips Royal wedding April 25, 2011 Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll has turned down an invite to the royal wedding in favour of a Leinster training session ahead of their Heineken Cup semi-final. “One thing I learnt early on my career is that personal gratification takes second place. The team ethos comes first even after 12 years,” he said. “I’ll be at [...]