Philip Doyle, by far Ireland’s most successful head coach, has given his verdict on the team’s failure to qualify for the World Cup. It is damning. But he doesn’t aim his arrows at the targets many might have imagined, those at the top of the tree. He claims that funding was not the principal issue.
World Cup Qualifier – Round Three If the Rugby World Cup committee was hoping for some drama next year, they got it in bucket-loads in Parma today. For Ireland and Scotland it was all or nothing. For much of the game the Irish looked well on top, yet the half-time score read 5-8 against them.
There was huge tension surrounding the two test matches played out in Parma. Scotland and Ireland knew that a second successive loss would mean a sudden end to their World Cup hopes. In the first match the two teams lined up as a guard of honour for Sara Barattin who celebrated her 100th cap, the
Spain achieved what few expected of them. In a thrillingly tight match they nudged ahead in the closing minutes to give the Irish a mountain to climb. Spain started well too. Patricia Garcia’s kick-off was knocked on. At the resultant scrum they rocked the opposition back with apparent ease. Ireland may have introduced lots of
Sarah Evans (2), Anna Toman, Giselle Ansley and Jo Hunter score as England record important win Came from 1-0 down after Deirdre Duke gave Ireland an early lead Result leaves them top of Group C on six points, with Ireland and Scotland on three; victory over Scotland will see them remain there and qualify for
Italy v Ireland; Scotland v Wales The clash of the two I’s in Dublin is hard to predict. Both sides have match-winners; both have shown flashes of outstanding form. Italy are full of confidence as they reach No 5 in world rankings, three places above the hosts. They may pay the penalty of surrendering home
Irish Travel ban The Ireland RFU is seeking urgent talks with its government over plans to introduce a quarantine period on people arriving from France. It would start on Thursday, just two days before the much anticipated clash between Ireland and France at Energia Park Dublin. One alternative receiving active attention is a move to
Your choice: ‘20 training camps since our last international against Italy on 24 October 2020’ or ‘we played last week’. I hope you went for the first option Ireland blew Wales off the map. If Warren Abrahams sought brave words to explain last week’s effort in France, his hair may be turning grey after this
A year ago I was rash enough to suggest Italy were the coming force, most likely to emulate the achievements of England and France in the Six Nations. That hope remains unfulfilled. For the first twenty minutes of the game in Dublin the Azzurre took the fight to the Irish, pinning them in defence as
Six Nations Rugby have made the following statement: Further to yesterday’s Press Release announcing the postponement of the Guinness Six Nations match between France and Ireland, Six Nations can now confirm that The Women and U20 matches between the two countries have also been postponed. The Wales V Scotland Guinness Six Nations and U20 matches
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