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Extra.ie
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Extra.ie
The tactical tweak which can get Ireland back on track next season
From the moment you touch down at Lisbon Airport, there is a sense of urgency about this city. You won't have to wait long for a taxi either. There will be minimal delay getting to your onward destination. 'Drive it like you stole it' seems to be the mantra of the cab drivers in Portugal's vibrant capital. And that frantic pace continues when you walk the narrow, cobbled streets throughout Lisbon. The place is buzzing. It's a hive of activity. It's a fitting setting for Ireland's second and final game of this summer's development tour. Ireland's Calvin Nash Pic: INPHO/Ben Brady Last weekend's 34-5 win against Georgia was an impressive result, given the depleted nature of the Irish team on duty and the age profile of Paul O'Connell's young squad. It was a bit of a grind in the biblical downpours of Tbilisi, mind you. Saturday's clash with Portugal at Estádio Nacional do Jamor promises to be a more lively affair. The hosts, who are ranked 18th in the world, won't be able to offer the same resistance as the hardy Georgians. Instead, Os Lobos will look to play to their strengths. Portugal won plenty of admirers at the 2023 World Cup with their ambition and enterprise. Lisbon, Portugal. This youthful Irish team, featuring three debutants, looks born to run as well. When Andy Farrell's Ireland were at the peak in 2022 and 2023, they were market leaders with their savvy and punchy attacking blueprint. The mixture of Jamison Gibson-Park's breakneck tempo and Johnny Sexton's calm authority were the key components in a game-plan which hummed. Ireland were a potent team which could punch holes and outmanoeuvre teams. The one thing they did lack as a unit was out and out pace, however. And it's been a key issue during the national team's recent slump. This experimental Irish team has no such worries. In Tommy O'Brien, Ireland have a genuine speedster on the right wing while Jimmy O'Brien, Hugh Gavin and Shayne Bolton – the pair of uncapped Connacht outside backs – can shift as well. It doesn't stop there. Ryan Baird has top-end acceleration for a blindside flanker, while Munster openside Alex Kendellen, another uncapped rookie, and Connacht captain Cian Prendergast are pretty nimble backrowers, too. Cian Prendergast of Ireland during the Bank of Ireland Nations Series match between Ireland and Italy at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile Is there a more agile second row in the game than Tom Ahern at the moment? The Munster forward has earned his first Test start after making his Ireland debut from the bench against Georgia. Ahern has serious gas and the Waterford man should have plenty of road ahead of him here. There's more gas on the bench with Cormac Izuchukwu, Ben Murphy and Calvin Nash all very much in the fast-twitch muscle category. It's a been a turbulent season for Jack Crowley. There's rarely been a dull moment, for province or country. After a breakout season where the Corkman filled the post-Sexton void with admirable composure, he endured a dip in form. Graham Rowntree's shock exit from Thomond Park didn't help matters. Sam Prendergast seemingly surged ahead during a dramatic autumn international series. Suspicions were subsequently confirmed in the Six Nations when the Leinster No10 started four straight games before Crowley got the nod for the final-round clash with Italy in Rome. Jack Crowley Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile In between all of this drama, Crowley delivered a statement performance on a memorable day at Stade Marcel Michelin when Munster rolled back the years with one of those trademark backs-to-the-wall performances on foreign soil as Ronan O'Gara's La Rochelle were downed in a memorable Champions Cup last-16 encounter. It was Crowley's clutch, long-range drop goal which ultimately secured a memorable win. There was a collective gasp from the fanbase when word spread that Leicester Tigers were tabling a big-money bid to lure Crowley to Welford Road. In the end, the Munster out-half chose to stay. Now, he can end this dramatic campaign on a positive note by guiding this young Irish team to a big win in Lisbon. A nice opportunity to remind the Irish management of his quality. The fledgling all-Leinster frontrow of Jack Boyle, Gus McCarthy and Thomas Clarskson will get another spin this week. It makes a lot of sense. All three emerged from the sternest of examinations in Tbilisi with reputations very much enhanced. This is another big chance for this trio of young front-rowers to cement their status as viable Test options in the coming years. This extra layer of depth at hooker and prop will be vital at the next World Cup. This tour was a nice way of easing O'Connell into the front of house gig. The former Munster and Ireland captain has looked comfortable in this caretaker role with Farrell and Simon Easterby away on Lions duty. Ironically, there is a school of thought that the Lions backroom team are lacking a coach with the forensic eye of O'Connell on the current tour. Lest we forget, it was O'Connell who came on board in 2021 – when Farrell's Ireland were really struggling – and immediately brought some bite, purpose and accuracy to the breakdown. The Lions have been suffering with the same ruck issues throughout this stuttering campaign thus far. Paul O'Connell during an Ireland rugby media conference Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile O'Connell's coaching stock has risen even further on this low-key tour. He has blooded a host of new caps and, as expected, if he guides this new generation to a convincing win against Portugal, this summer expedition will be deemed a big success. O'Connell has enjoyed it clearly. It begs the question, would he fancy doing the gig on a long-term basis in the future when/if Farrell decides to step down after the next World Cup? 'I think maybe one of the reasons I enjoyed it is that it isn't anything I have my eyes on in the short or medium term,' Ireland's head coach said yesterday. 'I might wake up one day and decide I want to do it but it hasn't happened yet.' O'Connell is surely warming to the task now. He's always been a reluctant coach, but he looks made for the top gig down the line. He has plenty of momentum behind him now.
Irish Times
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Jacob Stockdale ruled out of Ireland's game against Portugal
Jacob Stockdale has been ruled out of Ireland's match against Portugal in Lisbon next Saturday and will return home to Belfast after suffering a shoulder injury in Ireland's 34-5 victory over Georgia in Tbilisi. The Ulster winger successfully contested a high ball but landed awkwardly and suffered damage to an AC shoulder joint. He will see a specialist to ascertain whether surgery is required. The 29-year-old had been an impressive figure in attack for Ireland up until his injury, one that represents a continuation of misfortune in a green shirt as this is the third Test in a row in which he's suffered a bang, the previous one a hamstring injury against Fiji last November. Stockdale was replaced by Calvin Nash in the win over Georgia with the Munster man playing an important role in Ireland's fourth try. Ireland's interim head coach Paul O'Connell's wing resources include Nash, Tommy O'Brien , who chipped in with two tries on his debut last weekend, and the uncapped Shayne Bolton. Jimmy O'Brien played fullback against Georgia and Jamie Osborne in the centre, both of whom could also play wing, as could the uncapped Hugh Gavin, who did so for the Irish 20s, although centre is his preferred position. READ MORE It would be a significant surprise if the 25-year-old Bolton doesn't win a first cap, as the South African-born Connacht player is someone that the Irish management is keen to give a run to. He was a try scorer for Ireland against England in an A international in February and might have made his senior debut before now but for injury. The Ulster and former Irish under-20s tighthead Scott Wilson, who was a late call-up and travelled with the squad to Georgia, is not required for the Portugal game and has returned home to Belfast. Cian O'Sullivan is available for selection after missing the win over Georgia through illness. There are no further injuries and the team to play Portugal in Lisbon on Saturday night (7.0pm, Irish time) will be announced on Thursday morning.
The 42
05-06-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Dramatic finale in Durban was typical of turbulent Munster season
DURBAN PROVED TO be the set for the final scene in Munster's season and, typically, there was unadulterated drama. Munster supporters will tell you that following the province can be a heartbreaking, joyous, dejecting, pessimistic, optimistic, and thrilling experience. Sometimes, all of those things fit inside 80 minutes. There are rarely dull moments. Even when Munster seek a quieter existence, drama chases them down. Their shootout defeat to the Sharks last weekend summed up their campaign in many ways. They were close to a rousing knock-out win on the road. They played some brilliant rugby at times. They played some awful rugby at other times. They never gave anything less than total commitment to the cause. But they did give less than total accuracy on occasion. The Wink is what will be remembered by most, but the jump to applaud Munster's undoubted heart overlooks what should also feel like a missed opportunity. Munster made a dream start against the Sharks, scoring a stunning try through Calvin Nash after just 10 minutes. The South Africans were dreadful early on and seemed totally unfocused. Munster needed to press their dominance home to a greater degree, but couldn't get further scoreboard separation. Jack Crowley missed a kickable shot at goal, then Munster turned the ball over three times in quick succession near or inside the Sharks 22. Leading 7-0 away from home after the first quarter was a fine outcome, but it probably should have been more. Heading into the last quarter of the game, Munster pulled 21-10 clear thanks to two further excellent tries from Josh Wycherley and Diarmuid Kilgallen. The first of them was a characteristic free-flowing phase-play attack, the kind of score attack coach Mike Prendergast has helped to make a calling card for this team. 21-10 up away from home with 18 minutes left in a quarter-final is a good place to be. But Munster knocked on the restart after Kilgallen's try and picked the ball up in an offside position. That immediate penalty concession metres from their own tryline was, unfortunately, a little characteristic of Munster this season too. Advertisement Michael Milne and Craig Casey. Steve Haag Sports / Darren Stewart/INPHO Steve Haag Sports / Darren Stewart/INPHO / Darren Stewart/INPHO The Sharks piled on set-piece pressure and eventually scored to get back within four points at 21-17. 10 minutes to go, Munster still had the advantage. But another error that they have made often this season – a bridge pass floating forward – gave the Sharks more access to the Munster half and the South African power told again. Munster showed their mettle by earning an equalising penalty chance for the composed Conor Murray, then their sheer doggedness was on display in extra time. Tadhg Beirne's turnover on the line. Nash's trackback tackle. Tom Ahern's blockdown of the drop-goal attempt. Pure Munster DNA. The Sharks were one kick better in the shootout as Jaden Hendrikse, Jordan Hendrikse, and unheralded Bradley Davids nervelessly slotted all six of their shots. It's an awful way to lose a game – albeit thrilling for everyone else – but Munster have cause to rue their inability to win during the 80 minutes given their advantages in the first and final quarters. Victory would have meant a semi-final away to the Bulls this weekend. Even if we know this Munster team can be excellent on the road, it would have been an onerous task. The reality is that the damage was done during the regular season. Losing away to Zebre in September, the miserable defeat to Edinburgh in Cork in February, and being edged out by the Bulls at Thomond Park in April, giving up a winning position in Cardiff a week later. Those were the results that saw Munster come up short in the goal of a home quarter-final. Munster were champions of the URC in 2022/23. They finished top of the regular season table in 2023/24 and advanced to a home semi-final. So this season was a clear backwards step in the URC as they finished sixth and exited in the quarter-finals. Balancing that was progress beyond the Round of 16 in the Champions Cup thanks to their superb win away to Ronan O'Gara's La Rochelle. That was a brilliant performance and also a memorable occasion as the Red Army travelled in force. It was a weekend that underlined that Munster still have magic about them. Winning in La Rochelle was the highpoint of the season. Ben Brady / INPHO Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO Zooming out, this was a more chaotic season than usual as head coach Graham Rowntree departed in October. There was another injury crisis. Forwards coach Andi Kyriacou followed Rowntree out the exit door, as did head of athletic performance Ged McNamara. Munster ended up seeing the season out with Ian Costello as interim head coach and Alex Codling as interim forwards coach. Codling wasn't even there at key stages due to his commitments with Ireland Women. The lineout was, in truth, shambolic for Munster overall this season. Statistically speaking, Munster's lineout was the worst of the 16 teams in the URC. It remains the key area they need to improve in next season. The scrum had some good days but an equal amount of bad ones. It's very hard to win top-level rugby games when the set-piece doesn't at least get parity, so Munster must become more effective at lineout and scrum. Defence coach Denis Leamy will surely feel that their consistency in his area of the game needs to be better, although that's probably true of all elements of Munster's play. Too often, they mixed the superb with the sloppy. Incoming head coach Clayton McMillan knows he has lots of good players to work with. He will have seen again in the Sharks game that this squad is gritty. But the Munster set-up will be bracing themselves for some cold, hard truths from the Kiwi when he lands this summer. His no-nonsense, demanding approach will surely lift standards across the board. He must do that after key standard-setters have left the building. Nailing down their forwards coach – Codling has been linked with a permanent role – is vital, while it's expected that McMillan will bring a new head of athletic performance with him. It's crucial that Munster secured Champions Cup qualification for his first season in charge because it would have been disastrous to miss out. There is warranted optimism for the future within Munster, given some of the talent in their squad and McMillan's pedigree. But no amount of romanticism can mask the fact that this season was a disappointing one.
Irish Times
31-05-2025
- General
- Irish Times
Heartbreak for Munster in Durban as Sharks win after placekicking shoot-out
URC quarter-final: Sharks 24 Munster 24 AET (Sharks win on kicks) Drama, drama, drama in Durban. The United Rugby Championship quarter-final between the Sharks and Munster was a brutal struggle from start to finish, with not a quarter asked or given by either side. The mere fact that they were level-pegged on 24-24 after 100 minutes, including 20 minutes of extra time, and that the game eventually had to be decided by a placekicking shoot-out, tells the tale of the Titanic tussle. There had to be a loser, and it turned out to be Munster after the Sharks triumphed in the kicking contest. The Springbok-laden Sharks pack forced an early scrum penalty after Munster had done a lot of attacking during the opening five minutes. Another five minutes later, however, Calvin Nash finished off in style in the far corner, after a scintillating counterattack of almost 50 metres by his partner on the left wing, Diarmuid Kilgallen, who managed to beat four defenders along the way. READ MORE How can the provinces break France's dominance? Listen | 29:52 Although the home side enjoyed territory during this early period, Munster were more than 60 per cent better off in terms of possession and kept hammering away at the opposition's line. Jack Crowley, who had succeeded with the difficult conversion of Nash's try, bungled a fairly straightforward penalty attempt in the 16th minute. The defence on both sides was rock solid, suggesting this might not be a high-scoring affair. It was trench warfare upfront, with Munster front-rowers Stephen Archer and Niall Scannell in particular putting their bodies on the line in defence. The Sharks started opening up on the attack in the final 10 minutes of the first half, with Bok veteran Makazole Mapimpi regularly breaking tackles and making ground. The Munster defensive screen remained intact though, affording the visitors a slight yet deserved 7-0 advantage at the break. Calvin Nash scores Munster's opening try. Photograph: Steve Haag Sports/Darren Stewart/Inpho The second spell started in much the same vein as the first, with the battle for territory upfront raging on. Six minutes into the half, Sharks flanker Vincent Tshituka offloaded to winger Ethan Hooker, who beat the cover defence from 30 metres out with a lethal combination of pace and footwork. The Sharks maintained their scrum ascendancy too, eliciting yet another penalty at the set piece in the 50th minute, and through the increased pressure the home side managed to generate more territory and possession. This led to a penalty in front of the sticks, which Jaden Hendrikse banged over to put his side in the lead for the first time. The 10-7 lead was short-lived though, as Munster struck back through replacement prop Josh Wycherley minutes later. On the hour Kilgallen was rewarded with a try of his own after a favourable bounce of the ball. Crowley's conversion opened up a 21-10 lead, with barely a quarter of an hour left. After a period of sustained pressure, especially at scrum time, Sharks fullback Aphelele Fassi raced across for his team's second try and Hendrikse's conversion reduced the deficit to four points. More relentless pressure led to a third, by replacement hooker Fez Mbatha, with Hendrikse once more adding the extras to take the Durbanites back into a three-point lead. Munster's Jack Crowley kicks a conversion. Photograph: Steve Haag Sports/Darren Stewart/Inpho A heart-stopping final five minutes followed, with Munster throwing the kitchen sink at the Sharks and forcing a penalty just inside the opposition half. With nerves of steel, Conor Murray nailed the 45-metre kick to level the scores 24-24 at full-time. Thus, the battle went into 20 minutes of extra time, which still didn't break the deadlock, both sides failing to register any an additional scores. It all came down to a placekicking shoot-out, with the Sharks coming out on top after nailing each of their six kicks while Rory Scannell missed his first attempt from the 22. SCORING SEQUENCE – 9 mins: Nash try, Crowley con 0-7; Half-time 0-7 ; 45: Hooker try, Jaden Hendrikse con 7-7; 54: Jaden Hendrikse pen 10-7; 56: Wycherley try, Crowley con 10-14; 60: Kilgallen try, Crowley con 10-21; 67: Fassi try, Jaden Hendrikse 17-21; 73: Mbatha try, Jaden Hendrikse con 24-21; 76: Murray pen 24-24. SHARKS: A Fassi; E Hooker, L Am, A Esterhuizen, M Mapimpi; Jaden Hendrikse, Jordan Hendrikse; O Nche, B Mbonambi, V Koch; E Etzebeth, J Jenkins; J Venter, V Tshituka, S Kolisi. Replacements: E van Heerden for Jenkins (12 mins); P Buthelezi for Kolisi (55); N Mchunu for Nche, F Mbatha for Mbonambi, H Jacobs for Koch (all 57); F Venter for Am (75); Davids for Mapimpi (99). MUNSTER: T Abrahams; C Nash, T Farrell, A Nankivell, D Kilgallen; J Crowley, C Casey; M Milne, N Scannell, S Archer; J Kleyn, T Beirne (capt); P O'Mahony, J Hodnett, G Coombes. Replacements: M Haley for Abrahams (51 mins); T Ahern for O'Mahony, D Barron for N Scannell (both 55); J Wycherley for Milne (55-66); A Kendellen for Hodnett, C Murray for Casey (both 65); J Ryan for Archer (68); R Scanell for Nankivell (76). Referee: M Adamson (Sco).
The Irish Sun
31-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
What Irish TV channel is Sharks vs Munster on? Time, stream, teams & odds for United Rugby Championship quarter-final
MUNSTER face the Sharks in the United Rugby Championship quarter-finals this weekend. Ian Costello's men will be looking to avenge the 41-24 defeat to the South African side from last October. Advertisement Here's everything you need to know about the match. When is it on and what time is kick-off? Sharks vs Munster will take place at Kings Park Stadium in Durban on Saturday, May 31. Kick-off is at 5:30pm Irish time. Where can I watch it? Sharks vs Munster will be shown live on TG4, with coverage beginning at 5:25pm, while it can be streamed via the TG4 Player. Advertisement Read More on URC The game will also be shown live on Premier Sports 1, with coverage beginning at 5:15pm. Those looking to stream the game can do so via a subscription to NowTV. What are the teams? Munster have named an unchanged starting XV for the third game in a row. Thaakir Abrahams, Calvin Nash and Diarmuid Kilgallen start in the back three. Advertisement Most read in Rugby Union Alex Nankivell and Tom Farrell, who has started every single game so far this season, continue their centre partnership with Michael Milne, Niall Scannell and Stephen Archer pack down in the front row with Peter O'Mahony's wife jokes 'glad I gave him three mini-mes' as kids help Munster hero with garden Diarmuid Barron, Josh Wycherley, John Ryan provide the front row back-up with Tom Ahern and Alex Kendellen completing the forward cover. Advertisement Should he be used, Scannell will become the 16th player to making 200 appearances for the province. Munster : Thaakir Abrahams, Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Diarmuid Kilgallen, Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Michael Milne, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer, Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne, Peter O'Mahony, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes. Replacements : Diarmuid Barron, Josh Wycherley, John Ryan, Tom Ahern, Alex Kendellen, Conor Murray, Rory Scannell, Mike Haley. Advertisement Sharks: Aphelele Fassi, Ethan Hooker, Lukhanyo Am, Andre Esterhuizen, Makazole Mapimpi, Jordan Hendrikse, Jaden Hendrikse; Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi, Vincent Koch, Eben Etzebeth, Jason Jenkins, James Venter, Vincent Tshituka, Siya Kolise. What are the odds? Sharks are 1/3 favourites to advance to the United Rugby Championship semi-finals. Munster, meanwhile, are out to 13/5. with the draw at 18/10. 1 Munster face the Sharks in the United Rugby Championship quarter-finals Credit: Shaun Roy/Sportsfile Advertisement
