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Wasted friendlies & mixed messages - have Ireland actually made progress?

Wasted friendlies & mixed messages - have Ireland actually made progress?

Gary points out some tactical issues that have him concerned ahead of September's World Cup qualifiers while it is set to be a vital summer for Evan Ferguson after another ineffective display.
Before all that, Aidan Fitzmaurice checks in with Joe from Frankfurt airport on his journey home and gives his verdict on Ireland's struggles,
Football on the Indo Sport podcast is brought to you by Sky Sports.
If you'd like to get in touch with the show, email us at indosportpodcast@independent.ie.
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Irish father's pride at son's Wimbledon debut
Irish father's pride at son's Wimbledon debut

RTÉ News​

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Irish father's pride at son's Wimbledon debut

An Irish father has told RTÉ of his excitement ahead of his son's Wimbledon debut. In 1987, when he was 22-years-old, Patrick McCabe moved to Austrlia with his brother where he worked as a labourer for "18 odd years". His son is just a year younger than he was then, and James Fernandez McCabe will play the iconic tennis tournament tomorrow. Patrick is originally from Greenhills, Walkinstown in Dublin and married Irene, originally from the Philippines. The couple also have a daughter, Jasmin "who is looking for an Irish passport", now that James has his, her dad said. Patrick trained his son using YouTube, as he did not have much money. Professional lessons were not an option as they were "reall, really, really expensive," he told RTÉ Radio's Oliver Callan. When James was "two or three", his father brought him down to a tennis court at the complex where they were renting in Rockdale near Sydney Airport. They they still go there to this day, Patrick said. "I got carried away early days," he conceded. "I was probably a bit hard on him... but you do what you have to do." He taught James to swim also, and the boy went on to become "national champion in both swimming and tennis". Patrick "started travelling with James for the last three years on the professional circuits", he said. 'I'm just grateful' James said he is "excited, grateful" and "it's a dream come through playing Wimbledon". But having the privilege to take the champions' tour - and see where his heros have gone before him - was a bit "overwhelming" and gave him "goosebumps". The 21-year-old spoke of his unusual upbringing. "That is my childhood. Maybe it wasn't normal at the time." "It builds character and without it I wouldn't be where I am now. So I'm just grateful. I'm lucky." He said as a child he used to get up around 4am, and start swimming training at 5am. At 7.30am he moved onto his music practice, which could be playing in an orchestra or marching band. He had a music lessons during breaks in his school day, and again after school. It was midnight before when he got to sleep - and that was his routine when he had "dropped the rackets", meaning when he had taken a break from tennis, from age 12 to 15. James is pitch perfect, plays piano, flute and guitar. Asked how he intends to approach the tournament, James said he plans to take one match at a time, as "it's every tennis players dream", and is also his father's dream, just to participate. He has three aunties in Ireland, one in Saggart, one in Blessington and one in Mullingar, and another Irish aunty in Sydney. He has been to Ireland four times.

Club World Cup could ‘destroy' Manchester City's season, says Pep Guardiola
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time3 hours ago

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Club World Cup could ‘destroy' Manchester City's season, says Pep Guardiola

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Wallabies release Taniela Tupou for Waratahs clash with Lions
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RTÉ News​

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Wallabies release Taniela Tupou for Waratahs clash with Lions

Australia prop Taniela Tupou has been released from the Wallabies squad to join the New South Wales Waratahs for their tour match against the British & Irish Lions on Saturday, leaving his hopes of featuring in the test series up in the air. The move means Tupou will not be selected for Sunday's test in Newcastle against Fiji, the Wallabies' last warmup before they face the Lions in the series-opener in Brisbane on 19 July. Tupou, who has 58 tests under his belt, had an inconsistent season for the Waratahs in Super Rugby but Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt included him in his initial squad along with tighthead options Allan Alaalatoa, Tom Robertson and Zane Nonggorr. With the Wallabies' match-day squad against Fiji likely to be close to Schmidt's first-choice team for the Lions, Tupou may need to produce something special for the Waratahs to be considered for the series. Once a ball-carrying dynamo ranked among the world's top scrummagers, Tupou's stock has fallen in recent years amid poor form and injury struggles. His release from the squad raised question marks about his test future but Wallabies teammate Fraser McReight backed the man nicknamed "Tongan Thor" to return stronger. "He's coming together and he's honing what he needs to do but I have no doubt that he will come back and be firing, ready to go," McReight told reporters on Monday. "But obviously his first job is to put that light blue jersey on and go against the Lions for the 'Tahs." The Lions kicked off their tour of Australia on Saturday with a thumping 54-7 win over Western Force in Perth. They next face a Queensland Reds team featuring nine Wallabies, including centre Hunter Paisami and hooker Matt Faessler, at Lang Park in Brisbane on Wednesday. Former New Zealand prop Aidan Ross, the Reds' new signing, will also start against the Lions. Some of the Reds' best are being kept on ice for the Fiji test, though, including flanker McReight and halfbacks Tate McDermott and Tom Lynagh. Under Eddie Jones, Australia were stunned 22-15 by Fiji on the way to exiting at the group stage of the 2023 World Cup. While the Lions series-opener looms, McReight said the players were not treating Fiji as a warmup. "It's a test match against Fiji, who are a bloody good side," he said. "We're not worried so much about trying to get revenge (for the World Cup) or anything like that .... Two years ago was a long time, it's a completely different squad." Though focused on Fiji, the Wallabies players will be keeping close tabs on the Lions' tour matches, which include further fixtures against the ACT Brumbies and an invitational Australia-New Zealand XV. Reds and future Wallabies coach Les Kiss on Monday named the first four New Zealand players for the Australia-NZ squad to face the Lions on July 12 at Adelaide Oval. Former All Blacks enforcer Shannon Frizell is the headliner, with support from Canterbury Crusaders centre-captain David Havili, livewire fullback Shaun Stevenson and test scrumhalf Folau Fakatava.

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