Tag Archives: Donncha O’Callaghan

Kidney call puts him in make or break territory

Posted on February 20, 2013 by Brendan Fanning

  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

Posted on March 6, 2012 by Brendan Fanning

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

Four things Ireland need to pack for Paris

Posted on February 10, 2012 by Brendan Fanning

 After all the talk about defence this week the extraordinary policy of ceding ground to Wales last Sunday will surely be revised against France. Here are four other things that need to change along with it.  1: Box Clever France … Continue reading →

Posted in Irish Rugby, Saracens, Six Nations, Sports Comment, Wales | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ireland got what they deserved

Posted on February 5, 2012 by Brendan Fanning

  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

Make someone happy this Christmas…..

Posted on December 1, 2011 by Brendan Fanning

 If your idea of doing the Christmas shopping is to take an hour or two in a bookshop and come out with it all done, then here are a few suggestions that will take time off the journey. For those … Continue reading →

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

Stringer struggling to make the ton

Posted on August 10, 2011 by Brendan Fanning

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

Posted on August 4, 2011 by Brendan Fanning

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