Tag Archives: Donnacha Ryan

Lions to kick off in Ireland


  Punters in Ireland will be able to get a close-up look at the Lions before they head Down Under thanks to Carton House being chosen for the pre-tour camp.   The tourists will begin arriving in Kildare on 19 … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, Brendan Fanning, British and Irish Lions, Irish Rugby, Leinster Rugby, Munster Rugby, Rugby News, Rugby Opinion, Sports Comment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Kidney call puts him in make or break territory


  We used to look at the decision in 2008 to run with Denis Hurley and Tomas O’Leary ahead of Shaun Payne and Peter Stringer for Munster as the high water mark for Declan Kidney’s capacity to surprise. And then … Continue reading

Posted in Brendan Fanning, IRFU, Irish Rugby, Leinster Rugby, Munster, Munster Rugby, Rugby, Rugby News, Rugby Opinion, Scottish rugby, Six Nations, Sports Comment, Ulster, Ulster Rugby | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Best battling to make starting line against Scotland


Rory Best is the latest casualty in Camp Ireland, and his doubt for Saturday heaps more pressure on Declan Kidney in a sequence that gets worse with each passing day. Damian Varley has been called in to the squad as … Continue reading

Posted in Irish Rugby, Rugby Opinion, Six Nations, Ulster Rugby | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Ireland got what they deserved


  The elephant in the room is an overused phrase, but never was it more appropriate than in the immediate aftermath of this afternoon’s game at Lansdowne Road. First Declan Kidney and then Paul O’Connell fetched up for the immediate … Continue reading

Posted in IRB, Irish Rugby | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Good night for McFadden and Boss


Ratings on Ireland v Connacht 15 Geordan Murphy: keen and very active which is probably better news for Leicester than Ireland at this stage 14/13/12 Johne Murphy/Darren Cave/Ian Keatley (replaced by Ian Whitten): not in RWC plans 11 Fergus McFadden: … Continue reading

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Stringer struggling to make the ton


This is where it gets difficult. This is the point where the idea of being part of the international squad is not necessarily as attractive as we all presume. This is the staging post where there are those who are … Continue reading

Posted in Irish Rugby, Munster Rugby, Rugby World Cup, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

McFadden now needs more than a good game


I hope that while Fergus McFadden at last is getting a start at 13, his first in any class of  jersey since 2010, it doesn’t coincide with the odds lengthening on his going to New Zealand next month. It is … Continue reading

Posted in Connacht Rugby, Leinster Rugby, Munster Rugby, Rugby Opinion, Rugby World Cup | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Kidney postpones the pain as long as he can


The derby finish to the season may have presented Irish rugby in a very positive light but it hasn’t done much to clear the muddied waters for Declan Kidney. This is a good thing. Kidney’s mantra borrows from the Spanish … Continue reading

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