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How the Pro14 is aiming to bring about ‘world-class’ refereeing

REFEREEING IN THE Guinness Pro14. It’s the old chestnut that supporters are so often exasperated by and a subject that Edinburgh boss Richard Cockerill recently turned his frustration on, bemoaning the standard of officiating in the championship after his side beat Connacht. So, what is the Pro14 doing to improve the quality of refereeing? We put […]

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‘Rory is number one… the rest of us are probably fighting for that second spot’

THERE ARE MANY parts that make up a successful lineout and Munster needed each of them to be in good working order in the incredibly strong winds at Sandy Park last weekend. All involved deserve great credit, including hooker Niall Scannell, whose throwing accuracy in the conditions was laudable. Munster lost only three of their […]

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Connacht claw back 14-point deficit, but suffer dramatic late loss to Ospreys

Ospreys 22 Connacht 17 Alex Bywater reports from Morganstone Brewery Field CONNACHT PAID FOR a poor start and their failure to convert pressure into points as they suffered a last-gasp defeat in their Guinness PRO14 clash with the Ospreys in Bridgend. It was a poor result for Andy Friend’s side given their inclusion of the […]

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No excuses for Schmidt’s Ireland as they aim to move up a gear for Pumas

YESTERDAY WAS A slightly strange one for Ireland. 26 of Joe Schmidt’s squad arrived into Dublin Airport early in the morning, the first of two groups landing in from Chicago at 6am, the second following a few hours later. Schmidt returned home with some of his players at 6am yesterday. Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO After bussing […]

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‘I know he can’t wait to get out there and have a shot at these guys’

ONE DAY TO go, and this seismic meeting of the first and second ranked teams in the world can’t come quickly enough. Forget about the rugby, the mind games — if you can even call Ian Foster’s comments that — have become tiresome and not overly surprising. The All Blacks assistant coach may have been […]

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November clean sweep beckons for Schmidt’s Ireland against the Eagles

THIS, IN AN odd way, is perhaps the most dangerous game of the lot this November. Ireland are 35-point favourites, the USA are at the very end of their season, and most people expect Joe Schmidt’s much-changed team to stroll to victory. With today’s Test [KO 6.30pm, RTÉ/Channel 4] potentially being the last clear opportunity for […]

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Bath point to new UK safety guidelines in defence of move to ban Leinster flags

FLAG-GATE RUMBLES on with the second round of Heineken Champions Cup fixtures drawing closer. The Leinster Rugby Supporters Club on Saturday said they were prevented from bringing 1,500 flags inside Bath’s ground, the Rec, for distribution ahead of the round three fixture. Bath Rugby quickly announced that the move was made on health and safety […]

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‘A difene and a couple of co-codamol’: O’Driscoll opens up on painkiller use in rugby

O’Driscoll, right, was speaking on Off The Ball on Wednesday. BRIAN O’DRISCOLL’S USE of legal painkillers to manage injuries “almost became like habit” in the final years of his career. Speaking on Off The Ball on Wednesday night, the former Ireland captain revealed that he regularly took medication as part of his pre-match routine to […]

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Leinster wary of Connacht’s returning threats in RDS Christmas cracker

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS, AND sub-plots abound in this Christmas cracker as the Leinster juggernaut — albeit in a different guise this week — bid to power on and extend their winning run and lead at the top of their Guinness Pro14 conference. Back to the RDS, and back to league matters for the defending champions, but […]

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Nomadic scrum-half Mathewson keen on long-term Munster stay

AFTER LIVING IN five countries in the last two years Munster scrum-half Alby Mathewson is eager to find a long term home. His initial four-month contract with Munster has been extended until the end of March, but after playing a big part in Munster’s season to date he is desperate to be signed up until […]

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