MUNSTER NOW KNOW that anything less than a win at Thomond Park could be fatal to their Champions Cup hopes after Saracens picked up an important away win at the AJ Bell stadium against Sale.
It was a closely contested affair throughout but there was one moment of quality that swung the game in the visitors favour.
Midway through the first half Charlie Hodgson took the ball flat on the gain line after a lineout on the Sale ten metre line, and after throwing a dummy and motoring past four defenders he was able to free his hands and offload to Owen Farrell to score.
That scintillating score allowed Saracens to take a 11-10 lead into the break, with penalties from Hodgson and Farrell either side of the try adding to the visitors total.
Sale had taken the lead early in the game after Magnus Lund touched down for a five-pointer on the back of a powerful maul. Danny Cipriani also kicked a penalty in the first 40 for Sale.
Saracens returned the favour early in the second half as Billy Vunipola crashed over after a strong lineout drive from Saracens. However, missed conversions after both of Saracens tries kept Sale alive.
And that hope blossmed into their second try after an hour, with Russian second row Andrei Ostrikov galloping past the tackle of Mako Vunipola to score.
However, Nick MacLeod missed the resulting conversion badly, allowing Saracens’ to hold onto a slender lead.
Owen Farrell fattened the lead to four with another penalty, and Sarries were able to hold off a late onslaught on their own line to come away with the win.
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LUKE MARSHALL WILL make his first start since October when Ulster face the Scarlets in the Champions Cup on Sunday.
The Irish international has recovered from a knee injury and returns as one of three changes for the game in Parc y Scarlets (5.15pm).
Wiehahn Herbst and Nick Williams are both ruled out with hamstring injuries and so Declan Fitzpatrick starts at tighthead and Clive Ross comes into the back row at openside with Roger Wilson shifting in to eight.
Last week’s bonus point win at Kingspan Stadium was Ulster’s first following back-to-back defeats to start the competition.
Neil Doak’s side sit third in Pool 3 behind Toulon and Leicester and are 15/2 outsiders to qualify for the knockout stages.
Ulster
15. Louis Ludik 14. Tommy Bowe 13. Darren Cave 12. Luke Marshall 11. Craig Gilroy 10. Ian Humphreys 9. Ruan Pienaar 1. Callum Black 2. Rory Best (c) 3. Declan Fitzpatrick 4. Dan Tuohy 5. Franco van der Merwe 6. Robbie Diack 7. Clive Ross 8. Roger Wilson
Replacements:
16. Rob Herring 17. Andrew Warwick 18. Bronson Ross 19. Alan O’Connor 20. Mike McComish 21. Paul Marshall 22. Michael Heaney 23. Michael Allen
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ROBBIE HENSHAW, KIERAN Marmion, John Muldoon, Bundee Aki and the rest of Connacht’s front-liners are set to return for tomorrow night’s Pro12 clash with Leinster [KO 19.35], but the past fortnight has shown that Pat Lam’s squad is developing depth.
Back-to-back wins over Bayonne in the Challenge Cup were impressive, particularly the second fixture in France, for which Lam changed his entire XV and handed 20-year-old scrum-half Caolin Blade his first start for the province.
The Galwegians man responded with a superb two-try performance in a dramatic 29-27 victory, while younger players such as Conor Finn, Danny Qualter, James Connolly and Finlay Bealham all stepped up to the mark too.
While Connacht’s budget has been boosted this season, Muldoon explains that the province are still not in the realm of chartering flights for this type of European trip.
Indeed, Pat Lam and his players left Galway at 6.30 on Friday morning, flew with Ryanair to Gatwick Airport in London, then on to Bayonne a couple of hours later. The return journey post-match saw Connacht arrive into Galway in the early hours of Sunday morning.
“The performance after all that travel was outstanding and especially seeing the younger guys that people maybe don’t know about stand up is very good,” says Muldoon, who was not part of the squad last weekend.
Muldoon is set to return to the starting XV against Leinster. Source: Donall Farmer/INPHO
“To make 15 changes and still in the hunt in a competition, having a fight-out against Exeter at home [in January] to get that home quarter-final, it’s a great position to be in. We can’t speak more highly of what the lads did when they went over there.
“I think in the past that wouldn’t have happened. It just shows the depth we’re getting in our squad and the belief at the moment. The management have a few headaches this week, but that certainly beats looking at a squad and thinking you don’t have options.”
Chief among the standout displays from Connacht’s less experienced squad members last weekend was that of Blade in the nine shirt. The Ireland U19 international has been impressive at underage levels, and there is great excitement over the Monivea native’s potential.
Blade’s performance didn’t surprise Muldoon in the slightest.
“It’s one of those instincts that you can’t teach and he’s a short guy, a stocky little fella, so he’s fairly effective from about two or three yards out.
“His first try was just great play. A lot of people wouldn’t have seen that he carried the ball into the ruck, popped to Darragh [Leader], Darragh makes the break and Caolin is on his shoulder after picking himself up off the ground.
“That just hows you the desire he had to get on the back of it.”
Henshaw hasn’t played for Connacht since October. Source: Donall Farmer/INPHO
Blade did everything in his power to convince Lam that he is ready for a first-ever Pro12 appearance this season, following three in the Challenge Cup in recent weeks. Likewise, Miah Nikora and centre Conor Finn showed up well in the backline.
That said, the big hitters in Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, Mils Muliaina and Marmion are likely to be rolled out for tomorrow’s inter-provincial clash in the RDS.
Much has been made of that quality behind the scrum, and Muldoon admits it’s something of a thrill to have those players in the Connacht group.
“I think that’s been one of our strongest points of the year so far. We’ve got a sprinkling of experience with the likes of Mils and Bundee – even though age-wise he’s quite young, he’s played at a high level for quite long and he’s got a lot of experience of Super Rugby.
“Our job in the forwards is to produce good ball for those backs. It’s great to see the likes of Danie [Poolman] and Matt Healy scoring tries. It excites you and I think that’s what people who are coming to the Sportsground in the last couple of years are looking for.
“Mils maybe gives them that calm head. He’s still coming back [from injury] and Bundee is still getting used to everything. With a little bit more time and Robbie coming back into the frame this weekend, it should be great.
“Robbie hasn’t played with the lads either, so it should be exciting times. Hopefully it will turn out that way on Friday.”
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ULSTER SCRUM-HALF Ruan Pienaar and Connacht back row Eoin McKeon will likely have the rest of Christmas week off rather than come face to face with each other in Belfast.
Ulster host Connacht in the St Stephen’s Day inter-pro, but with the home side revealing that Pienaar twisted his knee in the defeat to Ospreys, he may be rested as a precaution.
Ulster today say a scan on their star import revealed ‘no significant injury’, but his progress and return to training will be monitored.
Pienaar has already missed a large chunk of the season after suffering a medial collateral ligament injury on international duty with South Africa. The Springbok has been slowly coming back to full fitness, often deferring the extra stress of kicking responsibilities to Ian Humphreys.
Source: Donall Farmer/INPHO
Connacht’s medical team report that McKeon sprained a knee ligament during the defeat to Leinster at the RDS. With teams announced on Christmas Eve, Pat Lam has a smaller window to determine whether the recovery will be quick enough to play a part in Kingspan Park.
Second row Andrew Browne has recovered from a knee injury and could make a welcome return for the western province in Belfast.
Two men who definitely won’t be fit to play in Belfast are wingers Tiernan O’Halloran and Fionn Carr. Carr suffered concussion against Bayonne and continues to follow return to play protocols. After undergoing minor knee surgery last week, O’Halloran is expected to be back available for selection within a month.
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UNLESS YOU HAD an exceptionally heavy St. Stephen’s night you will know by now that Munster comprehensively beat Leinster 28-13 at Thomond Park.
The majority of the game saw Munster employ a similar pick-and-go style that they used in the first fixture between the sides this season at the Aviva – and the men in red enjoyed just as much success this time around.
But while CJ Stander and Dave O’Callaghan burrowed over from close range for the home side, their second try, scored by Andrew Conway, was an impressive show of strength that sent the crowd wild.
Ian Keatley gets the ball and gives it in one fluid movement, which allows Conway to explode onto the pass. His running line gets him through the initial gap but in the replay you see that he gets a great fend on Dave Kearney.
Leinster’s attack was uninspired for much of the defeat but there was one lovely moment of skill from replacement back row Jack Conan late on. Conan showed great dexterity to free one hand and throw a lovely little pop pass for Shane Jennings to dot down.
It is the kind of pass that Sonny Bill Williams uses frequently – he moves the size 5 ball around in one hand like a normal person holds a mini rugby ball. It might not always be the most economical way to throw a pass, but you look damn cool when doing it.
That was nice from Conan, but he still has a long way to go to be as good an offloader as the maestro.
Source: SportsViids/YouTube
You can watch some extended match highlights here.
Source: Leinster Rugby TV/YouTube
So what did you prefer, Conway’s strength or Conan’s skill?
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CONNACHT HAVE CONFIRMED that lock Quinn Roux will remain at the province until the end of the 2014/15 season at least.
The 24-year-old South African joined Pat Lam’s squad at the start of the current campaign on a loan deal from Leinster and has been in impressive form ever since.
Roux signed for Leinster from Super Rugby’s Stormers on a one-year deal in 2012, extending that contract for another two years in 2013. Opportunities at Leinster proved limited, however, and Lam pounced to secure the second row on loan terms.
Roux has gone on to start 12 games for Connacht this season, demonstrating the aggression, ball-carrying ability and set-piece grunt that had originally convinced Leinster to lure the lock to Ireland.
“We are pleased to say we have extended Quinn Roux’s deal until the end of the season which is great,” said Connacht head coach Lam of the extension.
It remains to be seen whether Connacht will look to sign Roux beyond this season on a permanent deal, but his performances in this campaign suggest that is a strong possibility.
Meanwhile, Connacht are hopeful that out-half Craig Ronaldson will be available for Friday evening’s Guinness Pro12 clash with Edinburgh at the Sportsground.
The former Lansdowne man is following return-to-play protocols after suffering concussion against Munster on New Year’s Day, and has not yet been ruled out of this weekend’s fixture.
Ronaldson was impressive during Connacht’s win over Munster. Source: James Crombie/INPHO
Tom McCartney and Aly Muldowney missed Connacht training yesterday with a stomach bug and chest infection respectively, but the hooker and lock are both expected to be available against Edinburgh.
Prop Ronan Loughney and second row Michael Swift were back in training yesterday, while lock Mick Kearney is expected to make his training return next week and be available for the Challenge Cup clash with Exeter on 18 January.
Connacht will name their side for the Edinburgh game at noon on Thursday.
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YOU DON’T RATTLE Peter O’Mahony easily. But if you know the buttons to push you just might see him flinch.
In the week of a big game, the Munster captain has a stony-faced concentration about him. And so the gathered media, who love to talk about pressure, pain and all that kind of nonsense, get rebuffed with a simple ‘get on with it’.
With three of Ireland’s four TV broadcasters on top of the rights holders from across the water, all ready to put the spotlight on the blindside one remark does manage to shake his game-face off.
‘What’s up with your hair, Pete?’
‘What the…?’
There was nothing untoward up with his hair. Back to the serious business of beating Saracens and extending the Munster interest in this remodelled competition deep in to 2015.
“It’s cup rugby come Saturday. It’s win or bust, cup rugby, there’s nothing goes past Saturday,” says the captain.
“They were an important few weeks in the Pro12, but it was always there in the back of our minds to be preparing – we trained on the 3G [pitch in UL] a few times, getting ready for it. It’s a big week for the club certainly.”
That artificial surface is a big talking point for some players and coaches within the Munster camp. However, as a man who can cover the ground efficiently and isn’t expecting to kick the ball, O’Mahony tallies the impact of the surface on his gameplan to a nice round figure, “Zero”.
What will have a say in the outcome is his performance, and how he matches up with the Saracens back row. A game that doesn’t count the breakdown as a deciding factor is an extreme rarity (if it even exists), but on a hard surface that promises a clean dry ball, the tackle area will be 9/10s of the law.
“It’s such a cliché, but we’ve got to get go-forward ball,” says the 25-year-old captain in that trademark matter-of-fact way of his.
In Munster Rugby ‘everyone’ means absolutely everyone, not just the men on the pitch or with dressing room access. Munster aren’t better when they’re bitter, they’re better when in complete harmony with their supporters.
So as the playing staff sets about ransacking Saracens’ latest attempt at European glory, it’s curious that the hosts have generously added grist to the mill for away fans by inserting cunning obstacles in the way of non-sanctioned ticket sales. Obstacles like suspicious treatment of people with an Irish accent calling looking for tickets.
“You can be fairly sure they’ve been putting on fake English accents to get them,” smiles O’Mahony at the thought of some red-shirted hybrid between Dick van Dyke and Fonejacker.
“It’s unbelievable. I don’t know how they get the tickets, but they show up for us every time. We can’t get around to everyone to say thank you, but we’d love to. It’s hugely important for us and we’ve no doubt they’ll be there on Saturday.”
O’Mahony won’t be letting his hair, or anyone else, down any time soon.
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IRELAND HEAD COACH Joe Schmidt has today unveiled his 46-man squad ahead of the defence of the Six Nations Championship.
There are two uncapped players in the extended squad at either end of the age-scale with 33 -year-old Nathan White involved in his second squad and 22-year-old Leinster back row Jack Conan.
Neither O’Brien or Fitzgerald have won a cap since Ireland’s defeat to New Zealand in 2013. Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO
Sean O’Brien, Iain Henderson and Cian Healy are all named among the squad as they near a return to fitness after a prolonged spell on the sidelines, with Luke Fitzgerald aiming for a first cap since November 2013.
The inflated squad number will also provide the pool for Schmidt to select a Wolfhounds team to face England when the traditional pre-tournament fixture is played in Cork next Friday
With a spate of injuries denying Schmidt of a host of players – such as Andrew Trimble, Chris Henry, Luke Marshall, Donnacha Ryan and Mike Sherry – the Kiwi said that this squad provides a chance for younger players to stake a claim in either the Wolfhounds or the Test arena.
The breakdown of the squad by club is; one from Racing Metro, three from Connacht, eight from Ulster, 10 from Munster and 24 from Leinster.
Ireland squad, 2015 Six Nations
(Uncapped players in bold)
Props
Jack McGrath, Michael Bent, James Cronin, Cian Healy, Nathan White, Martin Moore, Mike Ross.
Hookers
Rob Herring, Sean Cronin, Rory Best, Richardt Strauss
Second rows
Dave Foley, Paul O’Connell, Mike McCarthy, Devin Toner
Back row
Jordi Murphy, Sean O’Brien, Tommy O’Donnell, Peter O’Mahony, Rhys Ruddock, Dominic Ryan, Jamie Heaslip, Jack Conan, Robbie Diack.
Half-backs
Kieran Marmion, Isaac Boss, Eoin Reddan, Conor Murray, Ian Keatley, Ian Madigan, Jonathan Sexton.
Centres
Darren Cave, Gordon D’Arcy, Jared Payne, Noel Reid, Luke Fitzgerald, Robbie Henshaw
Back threes
Craig Gilroy, Tommy Bowe, Keith Earls, Felix Jones, David Kearney, Rob Kearney, Fergus McFadden, Simon Zebo.
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