Learning from the best in the worldSome people believe Ireland shouldn't be on the same pitch as the All Blacks. They think the contest is all overTue Nov 18 1997 - 00:00
Knock on Wood is selectors' main worryWounded souls apart, the physical damage to Keith Wood's ankle ligaments is the primary concern for the Irish management in the…Mon Nov 17 1997 - 00:00
Change of structure essentialYou could almost reach out and touch the resigned Lansdowne Road airMon Nov 17 1997 - 00:00
Brilliance of the All Blacks will dazzle determined IrishLegends in our midst and all that. The first All Blacks to tour these islands, in 1905, were called The OriginalsSat Nov 15 1997 - 00:00
Ireland's mood a bit more positiveThe preparations wound down, the phoney war continued (proof of which was a minor red herring about banning the Haka which will…Fri Nov 14 1997 - 00:00
Haka lifts friend and foeOutlaw the haka? You could have slapped John Hart in the face with a wet fishFri Nov 14 1997 - 00:00
Living up to the role of the Men in BlackThere's a saying in the Land of the Long White Cloud that being the All Blacks' coach is a more difficult job than being New …Wed Nov 12 1997 - 00:00
Squad set new goals as reality bites hardIn times past, Irish rugby stood indicted for suffering from delusions of grandeur. Not this week. This week, reality dawnsWed Nov 12 1997 - 00:00
Mehrtens v Spencer a game of outhalvesWhat's really frightening about the current All Blacks is the inability of some awesome players to make the Test teamTue Nov 11 1997 - 00:00
Gatland has Connacht brotherhood primedOn Tuesday, September 16th, Connacht had a training session in BordeauxSat Nov 08 1997 - 00:00
Novel idea to reward players in formThere are a few ways of looking at this decidedly new-look Ireland teamTue Nov 04 1997 - 00:00
Weary London Irish fail to maintain heroicsLondon Irish couldn't scale the heights of the previous week and in that this could almost be dismissed as an all too predictable…Mon Nov 03 1997 - 00:00
Nowlan is one of five new facesIt says something about both the new broom and the injury jinx which is sweeping through the Irish rugby team that the selection…Mon Nov 03 1997 - 00:00
More fiery tackling can crack NewcastleEnglish champions one week, unbeaten league leaders the nextSat Nov 01 1997 - 00:00
Side to face All Blacks looks settledAs revelations from the Irish management go, it's about the biggest thus far: they will decide today whether to announce next…Thu Oct 30 1997 - 00:00
Transfers to Sunbury would be good for allThere's a feeling about in Irish rugby that somehow London Irish are the enemy abroadTue Oct 28 1997 - 00:00
Irish swarm all over Wasps in thrilling winIt was a good day to be Irish in London yesterday, especially in that little corner called Sunbury which will be forever Irish…Mon Oct 27 1997 - 00:00
Davidson injury rules him out for seasonAs expected, Jeremy Davidson's worst fears were confirmed yesterday when the keyhole surgery performed on his left knee revealed…Sat Oct 25 1997 - 01:00
Wasps vulnerable at SunburySuch is the nature of the Irish psyche that the anti-climactic London Irish display against Gloucester last week was almost inevitable…Sat Oct 25 1997 - 01:00
Outlook bleak for DavidsonThe Irish management will not divulge any decision to award some additional, full-time contracts for national squad members until…Fri Oct 24 1997 - 01:00
Davidson is ruled out until next yearJeremy Davidson has been sidelined until next yearThu Oct 23 1997 - 01:00
Options aplenty for Irish up frontThat time of year and with it that great guessing game againTue Oct 21 1997 - 01:00
Wood tired but will playNecessity being the mother of invention, Keith Wood is expected to take his customary place in the middle of the Harlequins front…Sat Oct 18 1997 - 01:00
Irish call in two psychologistsSports being as much a battle of minds as bodies, the Irish management have adhered to a growing trend in international sport…Thu Oct 16 1997 - 01:00
Connacht unfazed about facing AgenTo hell or to Agen. It says something about Connacht's current standing that the province's coaches reacted favourably to an …Wed Oct 15 1997 - 01:00
Lansdowne debut for DaviesThe next couple of weekends in the Irish rugby calendar constitute something of a mini-breather and the highlight of a pretty…Wed Oct 15 1997 - 01:00
Lansdowne date for DaviesJonathan Davies will come out of retirement to made a guest appearance for Lansdowne in their 125th anniversary game against …Tue Oct 14 1997 - 01:00
Munster rediscover fire and brimstoneThomond Park has seen it all before but it's no less fun because of thatMon Oct 13 1997 - 01:00
Brive meet PontypriddThe convoluted qualifying procedures for the knock-out stages of the Heineken European Cup were finally resolved yesterday and…Mon Oct 13 1997 - 01:00
Round-UpEntering the last round of pool matches, only Wasps are guaranteed a quarter-final place while only three teams, Milan, Munster…Sat Oct 11 1997 - 01:00
Connacht bandwagon to keep rolling onIf it's Saturday then it must be "the biggest game in Connacht's historySat Oct 11 1997 - 01:00
Thomond awaits hero WoodsHail the return of the conquering hero? Well, maybe not quiteSat Oct 11 1997 - 01:00
Settled Connacht to field same sideIn characteristic fashion for probably the most settled side in either European competition this season, Connacht will field …Fri Oct 10 1997 - 01:00
Intensive care still needed for Irish gameWith the final examination of the Irish in the European Cup due this Saturday, sadly it's not too premature to deliver a final…Tue Oct 07 1997 - 01:00
Key to Connacht success smells like team spiritNews came through of Nice's failure to beat Northampton at about 9.00 in Galwegians Rugby Club on Saturday nightMon Oct 06 1997 - 01:00
Cup Round-UpKeith Wood will confine himself to a place on the bench for the return meeting between Pool D leaders Harlequins and Cardiff …Sat Oct 04 1997 - 01:00
Leinster v MilanThere should be no mistaking Leinster's vengeful mood at Donnybrook this afternoon when they seek to eradicate the memory of …Sat Oct 04 1997 - 01:00
Ulster exit kitchen as Wasps turn up the heatAnother enjoyable night at Ravenhill, English drawing power ensuring a huge crowd and the hint of a vintage night at the venue…Sat Oct 04 1997 - 01:00
Connacht's time for a killThe biggest game in Connacht's history, again, and, pending the result at the Spotsground this afternoon, there might be more…Sat Oct 04 1997 - 01:00
Leinster add strengthLeinster have made two changes for their return meeting at home to Milan tomorrowFri Oct 03 1997 - 01:00
Connacht's Cup runneth over as provinces go dryThere are many ways of measuring Connacht's extraordinary progress this seasonWed Oct 01 1997 - 01:00
Quinlan's efforts are rewardedMan of the moment Alan Quinlan, along with Reggie Corrigan and Brian Cusack are the latest additions to the Irish squad for tomorrow…Tue Sept 30 1997 - 01:00
Cissies of the world uniteLike the released convict on parole, rugby behaved itself with model deportment last weekendTue Sept 30 1997 - 01:00
