Tag Archives: ireland rugby

Forwards coach Simon Easterby is hoping to see a different animal when Ireland take to the field in their final Pool A clash with Samoa in Fukuoka on Saturday. Despite a very strong performance in their opening win over Scotland in Yokohama, Ireland have produced stuttering displays which resulted in a loss to Japan and an unconvincing bonus-point win over …

There are just two matches remaining in Pool A of the 2019 Rugby World Cup with Ireland, Scotland and Japan all still within a shout of qualifying for the knockout stages.  Japan’s bonus-point victory over Samoa on Saturday has seen them go on top of Pool A with 14 points after three games played. Ireland are on 11 points with …

While Ireland’s World Cup campaign hasn’t gone the way many expected, it’s important to savour the unique experience that many of these players, as well as their families, are experiencing for the first time.  Opportunities like these don’t come along too often and Chris Farrell knows that. Having admitted that he found it difficult acclimatising to Japan on tour two …

There can be no disputing that the pressure is mounting on this Ireland squad ahead of their final Pool A game with Samoa next weekend. Ireland’s all-conquering 2018 followed by a topsy turvy 2019 ensured that pressure was on Joe Schmidt’s side before the World Cup had even begun. Jacob Stockdale burst onto the scene during Ireland’s most successful ever …

Back on track with a victory, but it was again unconvincing at times for this Ireland side, writes Darren Cave. The scoreline tells one story, but the manner of the victory tells another. Ireland’s subdued performance in the 35-0 victory over Russia was far from the backlash we would have hoped for following the disappointing defeat to Japan. We may …

Ireland face a nervy wait on the fitness of Jordi Murphy and Joey Carbery as the duo are set to learn the extent of their injuries by undergoing scans today.  Murphy, who only arrived in Japan at the beginning of the week due to Jack Conan’s withdrawal from the squad due to injury, was put straight into the action against …

In the wake of an uninspiring performance against Russia as Ireland claimed a 35-0 bonus-point win, Simon Zebo has revealed his frustrations with Ireland’s conservative attacking approach and also offered an insight into how head coach Joe Schmidt deals with players in the wake of a disappointing performance or loss.  Zebo, who was speaking as a Paddy Power Rugby Ambassador, …

Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt has provided an injury update after their 35-0 bonus-point victory over Russia. There were a number of injury concerns coming out of today’s win, most notably Jordi Murphy who left the fray with a rib injury after just 27 minutes. Murphy was a late call-up to the Ireland squad due to Jack Conan’s withdrawal and …

Ireland 35 – 0 Russia Ireland have secured a 35-0 victory over Russia in Pool A of the 2019 Rugby World Cup. However, it will be the nature of the victory which will continue to cause concern for Irish supporters and Joe Schmidt. Ireland were solid in the first half as they ran in three first-half tries but it was …

Ireland have received a late blow ahead of kick-off in their clash with Russia in Kobe with the news that Joey Carbery is a late withdrawal.  With the team sheets confirmed over an hour before kick-off, Carbery was a notable absentee with Conor Murray coming onto the bench to replace him. Carbery was initially named amongst the replacements and he …

Ireland defence coach and head coach in waiting, Andy Farrell, believes that Ireland can use their shock defeat to Japan as a “powerful” motivator for the rest of the World Cup.  Farrell was speaking at Ireland’s captain’s run at the Kobe Misaki Stadium on the eve their clash with Russia on Thursday. The 19-12 defeat to the host nation has …

Johnny Sexton will captain Ireland for the first time on Thursday when they face Russia in the third pool game of their Rugby World Cup campaign. The Leinster out-half has been joint vice-captain alongside Peter O’Mahony for some time now and has previously taken over the duties during games when Rory Best was replaced. However, Thursday’s game marks the first …

Sean McMahon reporting from Shizuoka. You couldn’t help but feel sorry for Cian Healy in the aftermath of Ireland’s loss Japan on Saturday.  The powerful loosehead prop cut a downcast figure as he walked through a packed media mixed zone amid journalists probing with questions about Ireland’s shock defeat. But as ever, Healy spoke incredibly well despite the downbeat circumstances …

Sean McMahon reporting from Shizuoka.  The IRFU have confirmed that Jordi Murphy will replace Jack Conan in Ireland’s 31-man 2019 Rugby World Cup squad.  Last night, when Joe Schmidt spoke to the media in the aftermath of Ireland’s 19-12 loss to Japan in Shizuoka, the Kiwi head coach confirmed that Conan would be departing Japan on Sunday to return home …

Sean McMahon reporting from Shizuoka.  Japan head coach Jamie Joseph told a packed media room in the bowels of the Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa that his side had plenty of belief that they could shock the rugby world by beating Ireland. Japan produced a marvellous performance as they claimed an astonishing 19-12 victory and it could have been more if Keith …

Sean McMahon reporting from Shizuoka.  For as long as Joe Schmidt has been the head coach of Ireland, this has been a side which has placed discipline at the very top of the list of prerequisites for any performance.  In the build-up to Ireland’s 19-12 loss to Japan at the Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa on Saturday evening, the role of Australian …

Sean McMahon reporting from Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa.  Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt cut a downcast figure when he spoke to the media in the aftermath of his side’s 19-12 loss to Japan.  Ireland, after the opening 25 minutes of this game, were shambolic and they completely lacked the control and penetration which was evident in the opening quarter of the …

Sean McMahon reporting from Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt confirmed in his post-match interview that Jack Conan is departing from the Rugby World Cup.  Conan was originally pencilled in to feature in today’s historic 19-12 loss to Japan but a foot injury sustained in training ruled him out of the Pool A clash. However, with Jordi Murphy …