Ireland captain Éanna McCarthy warns ahead of U-20 clash: ‘Italy are going to bring a different challenge'
Ireland captain Éanna McCarthy is wary of the task facing Neil Doak's side in Viadana today when they take on hosts Italy in the second round of the World Rugby U-20 Championship (6.30pm).
Italy scored a first U-20 Six Nations victory over Ireland in March, when they won 15-12 in Treviso, and McCarthy said while they were boosted by their 35-28 opening-round win over Georgia, he knows this will be a bigger test.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Journal
31 minutes ago
- The Journal
Eight Irish starters named in Lions team to face Brumbies in Canberra
The 42 Reports from Canberra LIONS HEAD COACH Andy Farrell has named eight Irish players in his strong starting XV for Wednesday's warm-up clash with the Brumbies [KO 11am Irish time, Sky Sports]. This game is being viewed as a Test rehearsal for the Lions, with their opening meeting against Australia 10 days later. There is one more warm-up game ahead on Saturday against an AUNZ Invitational team, but this Brumbies clash has increasingly looked like the last opportunity for Farrell to run most of his Test combinations. Jamison Gibson-Park and Finn Russell will resume their halfback pairing at Gio Stadium, while Irish centres Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose start together. Scotland's Blair Kinghorn gets his first Lions start at fullback, making up the back three with James Lowe and Tommy Freeman. Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong are picked in the front row with Ellis Genge, while Ireland's Joe McCarthy partners captain Maro Itoje in the second row. Jack Conan is at the heart of a back row that is completed by English pair Tom Curry and Ollie Chessum, the latter at blindside. Advertisement There are four more Irish players on the bench in Rónan Kelleher, Andrew Porter, Josh van der Flier and Mack Hansen, who will play in his hometown of Canberra. Interestingly, the Lions bench includes two back rows in van der Flier and Henry Pollock despite Farrell going for a 5/3 split, with Chessum providing second row cover from within the starting XV. Lions (v Brumbies): 15. Blair Kinghorn (Toulouse/Scotland) 14. Tommy Freeman (Northampton/England) 13. Garry Ringrose (Leinster/Ireland) 12. Bundee Aki (Connacht/Ireland) 11. James Lowe (Leinster/Ireland) 10. Finn Russell (Bath/Scotland) 9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster/Ireland) 1. Ellis Genge (Bristol/England) 2. Dan Sheehan (Leinster/Ireland) 3. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Ireland) 4. Maro Itoje (Saracens/England) (captain) 5. Joe McCarthy (Leinster/Ireland) 6. Ollie Chessum (Leicester/England) 7. Tom Curry (Sale/England) 8. Jack Conan (Leinster/Ireland) Replacements : 16. Rónan Kelleher (Leinster/Ireland) 17. Andrew Porter (Leinster/Ireland) 18. Will Stuart (Bath/England) 19. Josh van der Flier (Leinster/Ireland) 20. Henry Pollock (Northampton/England) 21. Alex Mitchell (Northampton/England) 22. Marcus Smith (Harlequins/ England) 23. Mack Hansen (Connacht/Ireland) Written by Murray Kinsella and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won't find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women's sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here .
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
Redemption, karma… There's only one jockey who makes sense on Field Of Gold with Colin Keane set to be banned
REDEMPTION and karma are wonderful things not always experienced by all. John & Thady Gosden are now likely to have the chance of putting their anger to one side and giving Kieran Shoemark the chance of redemption. Advertisement 2 Juddmonte's retained rider Colin Keane is set to miss the ride on superstar Field Of Gold in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood later this month due to a whip ban Credit: Getty 2 Matt Chapman reckons this is the perfect chance for John & Thady Gosden to give their former jockey Kieran Shoemark the ride... even if Oisin Murphy is more likely Credit: Shutterstock Editorial And in doing so the handlers themselves can gain karma and peace! None of you will be surprised I'm talking Field Of Gold, of course, who is set to run in the Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood on July 30. Shoemark lost the ride when he was defeated by a narrow margin in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket. That came on the back of a brilliant display by both jockey and horse in the Craven Stakes, when John Gosden was keen to praise Shoemark for his efforts. Advertisement Subsequently, Colin Keane rode Field Of Gold to facile successes in the Irish 2000 Guineas and St James's Palace Stakes. But Keane is this week likely to be given a whip ban which will rule him out of the Sussex. I'd be close to certain that owners Juddmonte would have no issue with Shoemark on top. Why would they? The rider has a tremendous record for the outfit over the last 12 months, and of course was brilliant at Goodwood in the Nassau when Lady Bowthorpe banged in her Group 1 in 2021. Advertisement Most read in Horse Racing That day owner Emma Banks showed loyalty and decency. And she was rewarded in spades. Of course I'm not totally crazy, and the chances are the Gosdens will refuse to let Shoemark do what is so obvious. Indeed, it's more than likely Oisin Murphy will be called up to ride Field Of Gold should Keane be absent. Rumours abounded that Murphy had, actually, been pencilled in to ride Field Of Gold in the Irish 2000 Guineas before Keane was put up as the Juddmonte main man. Advertisement But I can't back that up with any substance. It might have just been a rumour. Whatever the case, on a humane level Shoemark and Field Of Gold back together in the Sussex just seems the right way to go for all concerned. I won't hold my breath, but come on, people, you know it makes sense. Meanwhile… Much has already been said and written about the Coral-Eclipse since Saturday, but it will long remain one of the most insane races I have ever seen. Advertisement I spoke to more than one of the connections of Delacroix who were convinced he would be making all. I certainly didn't hear anyone suggest Delacroix would be ridden for a turn of foot! And of course he wasn't, for all that is what he eventually needed. Delacroix was last turning for home. OMG! Advertisement And who has ever thought Sosie was a front-runner? He was in the Eclipse, which was odd in the extreme. The one thing you know about French raiders is they mostly have a closing kick. Just a bizarre race, and if you have studied his body language to any degree at numerous moments Ryan Moore looked fairly miffed with how things were going. I wonder at what point Moore really thought – 'I might just go and win this'. Advertisement At a guess, only once Delacroix was pulled out wide and after a few strides started to get going. But at that stage Ombudsman was clear albeit he had probably been in front for long enough. As a form guide for the future, it's hard to say the Eclipse will be a reliable one. But what you can say is that Delacroix must be some machine. Advertisement Looking ahead I wonder if one day he will end up in the Breeders' Cup Mile or Turf? Which one would you pick for him? Time will tell… FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. . Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Read more on the Irish Sun Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chases their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – Gamble Aware – Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here. Advertisement
Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
NBA's Timberwolves single CJ Fulton out for Summer League praise
The Minnesota Timberwolves have gathered for a mini training camp ahead of the NBA Summer League, which kicks off this Thursday in Las Vegas. All Irish eyes are on CJ Fulton, who is rubbing shoulders with top NBA draft picks and current NBA squad members as part of the Timberwolves' 15-man roster. The dream of seeing an Irish-born and Irish-developed player actually reach the NBA seemed almost impossible just a month ago. However, growing interest in Fulton has forced many to reconsider what might now be possible for Ireland's brightest basketball prospect. Impressive pre-draft workouts led Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly to name-drop Fulton after the NBA Draft as a player he was keen to sign for their Summer League squad. That initial excitement has only continued to grow as the Summer League approaches. After the first day of Timberwolves practice, Assistant Coach Kevin Hanson - who is coaching the Summer League squad - identified Fulton as the standout performer from Day 1. CJ's ability to run a team and get the ball into the hands of higher-profile teammates is what earned him this opportunity, and that approach clearly made an impression on the coaching staff as they prepare for Vegas. Hanson went as far as saying Fulton reminded him of Indiana Pacer TJ McConnell who recently played a major role in the NBA Finals. However, Hanson did note a reluctance on Fulton's part (compared to McConnell) to aggressively seek out his own offence - an observation echoed by Timberwolves analysts, who have raised questions about his ability to score at the highest level given that he only average single digits at the NCAA level. Still, CJ knows how to run a team, a skill set the Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch is known to covet. For the first time in his life, Fulton is set to be surrounded by NBA-level talent now too, which will only help him thrive. If he can hold his own defensively and continue to thrive in his role, making those around him better, then what once seemed impossible might now be considered a long shot... or perhaps even more.
