The things that kills you is the hope. But poor errors and attitude cripple too. This has been a grinding, one- foot-in-front-of-the-other, week. Tough to move on from the exit from the Champions Cup, but all the more brutal given the circumstances. I’ve my hand up here too. After the Leinster game, I got the … Read more
“Did you hear Richie Whelan has signed for La Rochelle?” You never know when a sliver of transfer gossip will fall into your lap. This one came from overhearing punters taking in the annual fixture between Ireland U20s and a Leinster Development XV. The name of the club was familiar. That of the player less … Read more
The Leinster and Ireland rugby star looks back on the standout moments of his career, and reveals how family and school have played important roles Andrew Porter is a brand ambassador of Canterbury, and is promoting the Stampede boot, designed for forwards for whom traction and stability are key. See canterbury.com The game that stands … Read more
Mighty Munster may have won it in the first minute, assisted by a blade or two of whitewashed grass. But they certainly did win it in the last seconds, thanks to a refereeing decision which went their way. It was a stroll in Croke Park for Leinster. A marvellous team display but hardly of great … Read more
Munster will take their Champions Cup roadshow further down the French Atlantic coast to Bordeaux Bègles after the latter’s entertaining 43-31 Round of 16 win over a doggedly defiant Ulster set up a quarter-final between the two in the Stade Chaban-Delmas next Saturday (kick-off 4pm local time/3pm Irish time). Following on from their titanic 25-24 … Read more
The so-called Ronan O’Gara derby lived up to its billing and then some, but even by Munster standards you could hardly have scripted its denouement. Then again, this is Munster. So, maybe it was preordained that the current occupant of the fabled ‘10’ red jersey would keep his cool as a titanic collision reached boiling … Read more
Tadhg Beirne on Premier Sports: The belief going into this week, we’re underdogs, but we knew there was a bit more in us. There always is in this competition. Then you see the travelling support here, we’re an away game, to have so many here, it brings our energy up. The first 20 minutes, we … Read more
Like an exiled monarch, the La Rochelle coach continues to cast a major shadow ahead of Champions Cup reunion Jack Crowley during the captain’s run at Stade Marcel Deflandre. Photo: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile Twelve years have passed since Ronan O’Gara gripped his son Rua with one hand and gave a thumbs up with the other as … Read more
Munster attack coach Mike Prendergast during a training session at the University of Limerick. Photo: Tyler Miller/Sportsfile It just so happens that, ahead of coming up against his good friend in La Rochelle on Saturday evening, this year marks the 30th anniversary of Mike Prendergast’s first standout memory of Ronan O’Gara. The pair, who went … Read more
Brian O’Driscoll and Ronan O’Gara were both nearing their 27th birthdays when they explored their options in France. Though they were just two years older than Jack Crowley is now, their circumstances were materially different. O’Gara and O’Driscoll were established Test players who had both played for the Lions by then. Entering the final year … Read more