by Neill Clarke
Heineken Cup and Pro 12
WE now enter the business end of the year. This is the time of the year when coaches must concentrate on winning games and hopefully silverware.
The time for experimentation is over. The Irish provinces are in reasonable shape. All three front runners are reasonably placed to get into the top four in the Rabo.
The winning Bantry team/
King Cup Final – CP Bheanntrai v Hospital CC
Tuesday 11th December 2012
Venue: Mahon
Colaiste Pobail Bheanntrai 14 - Hospital Community College 5
Report by Neill Clarke
Twenty two teams started in this competition. more »
With the first series of games finished, the surprises are the poor form of Edinburgh and Scarletts.
Both teams came into the competition with high hopes but have completely under performed.
WHAT a relief from the world of high finance, greed and avarice, to have a great news story dominate our headlines.
To think one talented gracious young girl has given us a break from, the TROIKA and all that goes with it.
Pool 1
Munster, Edinburgh, Saracens and Racing Metro
This looks an easier pool than last year for Munster. Last year they were seen to be in the toughest pool, but were comfortably qualified with a game to play. more »
by Neill Clarke
Ireland 0 – All Blacks 60
THIS really was a game to forget for Ireland.
I thought something like this was going to happen in the second test.
Not as bad, but a heavy defeat, I wouldn’t have expected it to be as humiliating as it turned out.
What happened was hard to take. more »
Neill Clarke on Rugby
Ireland 19 - New Zealand 22
Well I called that one all wrong. You could hardly believe that this was the same team (more or less) that were hammered in the first test. Stung by the severity of the defeat Ireland came out all guns firing and for once, against the All Blacks, kept it going to the end. more »
Rory Best
The front row crisis
Ireland in New Zealand. The chicken has come home to roost for the I.R.F.U and the Provinces over the lack of front row coaches and development officers with front row credentials.
In the past Cork and Limerick provided front rows off the club conveyor belt. Schools also gave a lot of time on front row development.
Ulster also had a tradition of good front rows. Connacht also had some good talent e.g. Ray McLaughlin and Kieran Fitzgerald
The situation now is that all the provinces depend on non Irish qualified props and hookers and now we are paying the price in New Zealand the Irish tradition of good hookers and props has gone. more »
