Rugby

Ireland loose forward Cian Healy has insisted that facing New Zealand in a World Cup quarter-final will be “a different kettle of fish” to their previous meetings.  Healy has featured in all of Ireland’s Test games against the All Blacks since making his debut for the senior side in 2009. Of those nine games, the Leinster man has only emerged …

World Rugby have confirmed that they will issue misconduct charges against the Scottish Rugby Union following their comments in the build-up to their pool-deciding match against Japan. The fixture in Yokohama was under threat last week due to the impact of Typhoon Hagibis and had it not gone ahead, Scotland would have been automatically eliminated from the competition. The chief …

New Zealand assistant coach Ian Foster has said that his side will not be altering their preparations in light of the suspension of Ireland centre Bundee Aki. On Monday, a judicial committee handed the 29-year-old a three-match ban following his dangerous tackle on Ulupano Seuteni during Ireland’s win over Samoa, thus ruling him out of Saturday’s clash in Toyko. While …

Bundee Aki will continue to train with the Ireland squad ahead of their titanic World Cup quarter-final showdown with New Zealand and will have a “massive” influence on preparations, according to Simon Easterby.  The Connacht centre was handed a three-match ban on Monday following his high tackle on during Ireland’s 47-5 win over Samoa in their final Pool A game, …

Ireland received a huge blow to their World Cup hopes with the news that Bundee Aki has been banned for three weeks and as a result, will miss the remainder of the tournament.  Aki received a straight red card for his high tackle on Ulupano Seuteni on Saturday and the independent Judicial Committee upheld referee Nic Berry’s on-field decision. The …

Ireland will have to plan for their clash with the All Blacks without the services of Bundee Aki who has been banned for three games following his dismissal against Samoa. The Ireland centre received a straight red card from referee Nic Berry in the 29th minute of their 47-5 win in Fukuoka. As the Samoan fly-half Ulupano Seuteni went to …

Last September, with a year to go until tournament kick-off, World Rugby were busy ticking boxes. To mark the final countdown to their premier competition, they rolled out the usual stats from numbers of visitors to economic benefits. Chairman of the governing body Bill Beaumont added that he believed “in the tremendous opportunity to further the sport across Asia, and …

Ireland fly-half Johnny Sexton has remarked that the squad find the lingering negativity surrounding their current form “pretty strange”.  Joe Schmidt’s men are currently preparing for their titanic Rugby World Cup quarter-final battle with New Zealand on Saturday in Toyko. Ireland go into the clash on the back of a relatively mixed pool campaign, finishing in second place behind hosts …

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has kicked off the vocal battle between New Zealand and Ireland ahead of their highly-anticipated Rugby World Cup quarter-final clash on Saturday.  The sides meet in Toyko Stadium (KO 11:15 [UK & IRE] / 19:15 [local]) in the second of the day’s games following the meeting of England and Australia in Oita. Ireland have an …

Japan head coach Jamie Joseph began his post-match press conference by paying tribute to those who lost their lives as a result of destructive Typhoon Hagibis.  The Typhoon has caused significant damage to Japan over the weekend and three matches at the Rugby World Cup were cancelled as a result. Japan’s clash with Scotland was allowed to go ahead thanks …

The quarter-final makeup of the 2019 Rugby World Cup is now confirmed after Japan’s sensational 28-21 victory over Scotland at the Yokohama Stadium.  Scotland took a 7-0 lead through a Finn Russell try but Japan dominated possession (79%) for the remainder of the half as they ran in three scintillating tries from Kotaro Matsushima, Keita Inagaki and Kenki Fukuoka to …

The IRFU have hit back at claims by Sunday Times columnist Stephen Jones that Ireland and New Zealand were “vehemently opposed” to the possibility that the Pool A clash between Scotland and Japan could be rearranged.  Prior to the confirmation that today’s game would go ahead as scheduled, Scotland have been putting pressure on World Rugby to rearrange the game …

World Rugby have confirmed that the final Pool A clash between Scotland & Japan will go ahead on Sunday (11.45 am UK & Ireland time) as scheduled.  Typhoon Hagibis has left 19 people dead, 16 people missing and more than 100 people injured according to the latest figures from Kyodo News. The destructive weather event as already played havoc with …

Joe Schmidt sympathised with Bundee Aki as the Ireland centre faces the prospect of his World Cup being over because of the red card he picked up in Ireland’s 47-5 win over Samoa.  Ireland’s seven-try performance saw them clinch a quarter-final spot against either New Zealand or South Africa but Aki faces a nervous wait to see if he will …

Samoa head coach Steve Jackson has said that his side will do what they can to ensure Bundee Aki faces no further punishment following today’s clash in Fukuoka.  The Connacht centre received a straight red card from referee Nic Berry midway through Ireland’s 47-5 victory over the Pacific Islanders following his hit on Ulupano Seuteni. As the Samoan fly-half collected …

Ireland 47 Samoa 5 Despite being reduced to 14 men for the majority of the game, Ireland produced an excellent performance to secure a spot in the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup thanks to a bonus-point 47-5 victory over Samoa. Ireland were completely dominant throughout and even though they were reduced to 14 men midway through the first half …

Ireland 47 Samoa 5 Though their final position in Pool A is yet to be decided, Ireland have booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup 2019 following a bonus-point win over Samoa.  It was the performance Ireland fans had been crying out for throughout 2019. CJ Stander was back to his best, Johnny Sexton directed proceedings …

Ireland are down to 14 men in their final Pool A clash with Samoa after Bundee Aki was red-carded for a high hit on Ulupano Seuteni.  Robbie Henshaw threw an inaccurate pass which went to ground and as Seuteni collected the bouncing ball, Aki made a tackle attempt but his shoulder made direct contact with Seuteni’s head.   Referee Nic …