Joe Schmidt has named his Ireland team to take on Scotland in Round 2 of the Guinness Six Nations at Murrayfield on Saturday. Injury has forced Schmidt’s hand as he has made a number of changes to the starting XV which lost to England last time out. In the second-row, Quinn Roux partners James Ryan as the Connacht man comes …

Wales have made wholesale changes to the side which beat France last weekend for their upcoming clash with Italy in Rome in Round 2 of the Guinness Six Nations.  Warren Gatland’s side will be looking to make it two wins from two before heading into the break. Jonathan Davies captains Wales for the first time as he makes his 70th …

Ireland’s loss to England in the opening round of the 2019 Guinness Six Nations on Saturday will have likely stung for a number of reasons.  Not only would Ireland have been disappointed with a number of unforced errors and inaccuracies in their game but they were beaten up physically by their English opponents, something which tends not to happen with …

The post-mortem on Ireland’s loss to England, from the squad’s perspective at least, has been swift.  The players had Sunday off to recover from the game and on Monday morning they sat through a video review session on their 12 point loss to their rivals from across the Irish Sea. Painful and uncomfortable viewing most likely but from speaking to …

Ireland have been dealt a blow with the news that Garry Ringrose and Devin Toner have been ruled out of Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations clash with Scotland at Murrayfield.  The pair emerged as major doubts for the upcoming clash with Scotland when the IRFU issued an injury update on Monday afternoon revealing that Ringrose was suffering from hamstring tightness and …

All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen has revealed some of the mind game techniques he utilises on opposition coaches.  Hansen was speaking at a Circa Theatre fundraiser on Monday night where he was interviewed by former television presented Ian Fraser. When Fraser raised a comment from former Wallaby Mark Ella that “Mickey Mouse could coach the All Blacks to victory”, …

Billy Holland has joined up with the Ireland squad at Carton House this week ahead of Saturday’s Murrayfield clash with Scotland. Devin Toner is a major doubt for the Round 2 match due to a rolled ankle he suffered towards the end of Ireland’s 20-32 loss to England at the Aviva Stadium. Toner has suffered from ankle injuries in the …

Wasps have confirmed that Elliot Daly will leave the club at the end of the season.  Daly has made 188 appearances for Wasps scoring 404 points for the club and he triggered a release clause in his contract according to Director of Rugby Dai Young. “Elliot triggered a release clause in his contract and despite our best efforts to keep him …

For someone who prides himself on his ability to physically impose himself on opponents, the manner of Ireland’s Six Nations loss to England on Saturday will sting Peter O’Mahony in particular.  O’Mahony and the rest of his forward pack came out second best to their English counterparts with the likes of the Vunipola brothers, Mako and Billy, Kyle Sinckler, Maro …

When Joe Schmidt spoke to the media after Ireland’s 20-32 loss to England in the Guinness Six Nations on Saturday, he mentioned how the Irish players were “very quiet” before the game.  The Ireland head coach also revealed that the energy levels weren’t there. Now, this poses a problem. Why couldn’t the players get themselves up to the required mental …

Stephen Larkham has been removed from his position of Wallabies attack coach and will now take up a new job as a national high-performance coach advisor.  According to reports, tensions have been simmering between head coach Michael Cheika and Larkham with the latter understood not to have been able to implement his strategies on the team as the Wallabies averaged …

Just seconds from the kick-off in England’s 32-20 win over Ireland in the opening round of the Guinness Six Nations, you got the sense that Eddie Jones’ side were going to make the next 80 minutes as uncomfortable as possible for the reigning champions.  Owen Farrell executes his kick off to perfection by sending it long but also high, just …

Sean McMahon reporting from the Aviva Stadium  The manner in which Ireland were defeated by England at the Aviva Stadium today will hurt the Irish players and coaches alike.  To lose out in the physicality stakes, something which this team prides itself on, will come as a cruel blow. This was just one of the many areas of the game where …

Sean McMahon reporting from the Aviva Stadium  There will be plenty of sore bodies around Carton House on Monday when the Ireland squad begin preparations for their trip to Murrayfield to take on Scotland.  In terms of the physicality and intensity which was evident at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday afternoon, Ireland were definitely second best. From the moment Jamie …

Ireland 20 England 32 Sean McMahon reporting from the Aviva Stadium England inflicted Ireland’s first defeat since the summer tour of Australia last year after scoring four tries, two in either half, as Joe Schmidt’s side couldn’t find an answer to the excellent kicking game and physical approach from the visitors. England made their intentions known almost immediately when they …

Such are the fine margins of international Test rugby, referees often have a big impact on the outcome of games and the Guinness Six Nations is no different.  Before every round of fixtures, we will take a closer look at those in the middle and some of their key statistics in previous Six Nations games. France v Wales – Wayne …

England attack coach Scott Wisemantel admitted he was surprised at Joe Schmidt’s decision to name Robbie Henshaw at fullback for tomorrow’s eagerly anticipated clash between Ireland and England at the Aviva Stadium.  Wisemantel and George Kruis addressed the media today at a city centre Dublin hotel and the duo were keen not to give too much away as they prepare …

Joe Schmidt, when speaking to the media on Thursday during Ireland’s team announcement, singled out praise for England’s Tom Curry who he expects could have a big impact on proceedings on Saturday.  Curry, who now has five caps at senior international level and made his debut as an 18-year-old in the summer of 2017, will start at openside for England …