James Ryan a doubt for Ireland’s clash with Scotland with Iain Henderson on standbyJack Conan in line to return to bench while Keith Earls could come in for injured Robbie HenshawWed Oct 04 2023 - 21:43
Dan Sheehan: ‘There’s no need to go chasing something that isn’t there’ Despite problems against South Africa, the hooker says Ireland have no plans to overhaul their lineout for Saturday’s Rugby World Cup showdown with ScotlandWed Oct 04 2023 - 06:00
Mike Catt says Ireland are comfortable with the high hopes around them this weekRugby World Cup: ‘If you asked any player in this room, any of us, would they want Scotland to beat you by 21 points? No, sorry’Tue Oct 03 2023 - 14:37
Finlay Bealham: ‘Who’d have thought that I’d be here at a World Cup?’The Connacht tight head opens up about his slow rise to the top, his joy at representing Ireland, and the possibility of listening to regular chats between him and ‘best friend’ Pete O’MahonyTue Oct 03 2023 - 06:00
Ireland getting used to being the country others are talking aboutRugby World Cup: Let’s not dwell on the grim possibility of being eliminated by Scotland. But we can’t discount it eitherTue Oct 03 2023 - 06:00
Irish rugby’s head of nutrition Emma Gardner: ‘They just like food and lots of it’‘They have six opportunities to eat during the day and I’ll work with the individual to see what their needs are’Mon Oct 02 2023 - 06:00
Rugby World Cup: Pool B permutations for Ireland are simple if they beat Scotland. But, if they lose. . .Going into Saturday’s pool finale against Scotland, any two from three can still advance to the knock-out stagesMon Oct 02 2023 - 06:00
Ireland braced for tricky assignment against bullish ScotsFarrell’s side require a minimum of two match points to top the group and ensure qualification for the quarter-finalsMon Oct 02 2023 - 06:00
Gerry Thornley: Rugby doesn’t have the depth of quality to justify an expanded World CupReports that the 2027 and 2031 Rugby World Cups are to be expanded from 20 to 24 teams come as no surpriseFri Sept 29 2023 - 17:10
Gerry Thornley: South Africa and Ireland may meet again - but watch out for ScotlandThe Rugby World Cup has shown that Australia’s appointment of Eddie Jones was an even bigger mistake than initially thoughtTue Sept 26 2023 - 06:00
Ireland provided the excitement but now it’s time to relax and absorb the French way of lifeMost of the 45,000-plus Green Army have headed for home and some to other parts of France, with many to return in the next invasion for the Scotland gameTue Sept 26 2023 - 06:00
Rugby World Cup: Memorable Ireland victory over South Africa built on splendid defensive lineRugby World Cup: Tackling accurate and ferocious but ‘that’s not a one-off’, says defence coach Simon Easterby of stout rearguard actionMon Sept 25 2023 - 06:01
Ireland v South Africa: Andy Farrell’s composed team stayed in the fight and found a way to winRugby World Cup: This Irish team is getting a lift from riding the huge tide of support from Irish rugby fansMon Sept 25 2023 - 06:01
Ireland’s Dan Sheehan happy to be part of memorable win over South Africa Rugby World Cup: ‘The lads have done great to get me back, I was a bit worried after the England game … but they worked to get me back’Mon Sept 25 2023 - 06:00
Rugby World Cup: Ireland come out of South Africa epic with clean bill of healthIreland scrum coach John Fogarty reports no obvious injuries after 13-8 win over SpringboksSun Sept 24 2023 - 11:26
Johnny Sexton on Ireland’s win: ‘It’s right up there but we’ve got to make it count now’Captain and head coach Andy Farrell praise Irish fans for Stade de France atmosphereSun Sept 24 2023 - 00:36
Rugby World Cup: Ireland hang on to hold off Springboks on breathless night in ParisIreland got over a malfunctioning lineout to see off the defending World champions in Pool B showdownSat Sept 23 2023 - 22:46
No split loyalties for ex-Ireland stalwart Dion O’Cuinneagain when Springboks take the field ‘I support the Boks against every other side except Ireland. It’s always been that way and will continue to be that way’Sat Sept 23 2023 - 06:00
South Africa to provide the ultimate test for Ireland’s attackSaturday night’s winners will add to their form, confidence and momentumFri Sept 22 2023 - 19:48
Gerry Thornley: Antoine Dupont’s injury again highlights the toll on modern-day rugby playersAny World Cup which loses the world’s best player is simply the poorer for his absenceFri Sept 22 2023 - 15:07
Ireland v South Africa: 7-1 bench split shows Springboks’ gameplan, says Farrell Rugby World Cup: Ireland coach Andy Farrell springs no selection surprises for Saturday’s pivotal clash with South AfricaFri Sept 22 2023 - 06:00
Ireland v South Africa: Jamison Gibson-Park the only change for crucial Rugby World Cup match Andy Farrell retains conventional 5-3 split despite Springboks opting for seven forwardsThu Sept 21 2023 - 16:02
Ireland’s calm and collected James Ryan focused on South Africa challenge Rugby World Cup: They’re reigning world champions, we have a huge amount of respect for them and we know we’ve got to really step it up this week’Thu Sept 21 2023 - 06:00
Ireland v South Africa: Andy Farrell set to stick with 5-3 split for Springboks game Rugby World Cup: ‘We haven’t tinkered with that split before’ says Simon Easterby as Jack Conan set to miss Paris gameWed Sept 20 2023 - 15:36
Ireland’s Caelan Doris on facing South Africa: ‘I remember being shocked by the sheer size of them’ Ireland number eight Caelan Doris is braced for impact with huge Springboks in Saturday’s crucial Rugby World Cup clashWed Sept 20 2023 - 06:00
Ireland v South Africa: Jack Crowley set to make bench as Andy Farrell considers 6-2 split Munster outhalf’s versatility to cover backline would allow coach to name six forwards including Jack Conan and Finlay BealhamTue Sept 19 2023 - 17:24
Ireland v South Africa: Anticipation growing ahead of key Pool B clashAustralia prove disappointing but New Zealand and Springboks deliver on tournament potential with powerful performancesTue Sept 19 2023 - 06:00
O’Connell knows Ireland will face the best defensive lineout in the world in the SpringboksRonan Kelleher and all the Ireland players have been blown away by the scale and strength of the Irish supportTue Sept 19 2023 - 06:00
Jack Conan in race to be fit for Ireland’s Rugby World Cup showdown with South AfricaIreland attack coach Mike Catt admits Springboks are the masters of the blitz defenceMon Sept 18 2023 - 06:00
Ross Byrne pulls off understudy role to perfection on World Cup debutOuthalf helps Ireland finish strongly after taking over from Johnny Sexton in the second halfMon Sept 18 2023 - 06:00
Rugby World Cup-winning outhalf Handre Pollard called up to the Springboks squadHe’s been called up to fill the vacancy created by hooker Malcolm MarxSun Sept 17 2023 - 17:56
Andy Farrell: It’s a fantastic week to look forward to playing the World ChampionsIrish head coach reacts to win over Tonga, Johnny Sexton’s record and looks ahead to South AfricaSun Sept 17 2023 - 12:40
Ireland 59 Tonga 16: Ireland gather further momentum with impressive bonus-point winRugby World Cup, Pool B: Andy Farrell will be happy with seeing his side rack up a 15th successive win ahead of the vital meeting with South AfricaSat Sept 16 2023 - 22:43
Conor Murray still taking nothing for granted in fourth Rugby World Cup outing Ireland v Tonga: Scrumhalf will partner Johnny Sexton for a 69th Test having first paired up at halfback in 2011 World CupSat Sept 16 2023 - 06:00
Rugby World Cup: Ireland looking to keep up momentum in tricky Tonga testIrish fitness levels could be decisive against a Tongan team playing their first game in the tournamentSat Sept 16 2023 - 05:00
Gerry Thornley: This World Cup probably couldn’t be in a better rugby countryRugby may be the 10th biggest sport in France in terms of playing numbers, but its popularity as a sporting spectacle is clear to seeFri Sept 15 2023 - 14:38
Ireland v Tonga: Andy Farrell’s line-up for Saturday a logical choiceIrish team selected against Tonga for Saturday has echoes of 2007 Rugby World Cup but makes utter senseFri Sept 15 2023 - 05:00
‘Where the hell did all that come from?’ Andy Farrell unhappy with Mack Hansen non-story‘Did Andy not just censor a question about this a second ago?’ Ireland head coach and Peter O’Mahony unhappy with speculationThu Sept 14 2023 - 19:18
Ireland v Tonga: Johnny Sexton to captain Irish team in second Rugby World Cup gameIreland play their second Rugby World Cup match against Tonga in Nantes on Saturday nightThu Sept 14 2023 - 14:38
Rugby World Cup: Tadhg Beirne hoping Ireland can dictate play against powerful TongaTadhg Beirne says there is one area, in particular, where Ireland must improve in their next Pool B matchThu Sept 14 2023 - 05:00
Ireland v Tonga: Johnny Sexton likely to be named in another strong Irish selectionRugby World Cup: Robbie Henshaw set to return for Ireland after missing opener through injuryWed Sept 13 2023 - 21:00
Rugby World Cup: Jack Conan the only Ireland player ruled out of Tonga clash Dan Sheehan, Dave Kilcoyne and Robbie Henshaw set to be in selection mix for Saturday’s gameWed Sept 13 2023 - 14:49
Andrew Porter lost 4kg in the heat against Romania but he’s ‘champing at the bit’ to go againVisit to children’s hospital an ‘incredibly humbling’ experience for the Irish propWed Sept 13 2023 - 05:00
Mental conditioning: The high-performance coach guiding the Irish rugby team Players not fazed by Ireland’s Rugby World Cup history, says Gary Keegan — ‘I think this group wear that skin very well’Wed Sept 13 2023 - 05:00
Ireland v South Africa is the most pivotal remaining Rugby World Cup pool matchFollowing their impressive defeat of New Zealand, it’s clear a confident France would be best avoided in the quarter-finalsTue Sept 12 2023 - 05:00
James Lowe on the Rugby World Cup: ‘You can’t bloody get away from the Irish!’Ireland winger says presence of family has made the Rugby World Cup even more enjoyable despite testing on-field conditions in FranceTue Sept 12 2023 - 05:00
‘I feel like I’m only scratching the surface’ - Joe McCarthy on his impressive Rugby World Cup bow Young Irish lock capped a typical all-action display with a try in the opening victory over RomaniaMon Sept 11 2023 - 05:00
Ireland tick all the boxes in Rugby World Cup opener but the heavy lifting is still to come Ireland’s superior conditioning helped them punish Romania in the stifling heat of BordeauxMon Sept 11 2023 - 05:00
Johnny Sexton keen to keep the foot down for Ireland’s next game with TongaRugby World Cup: Outhalf was excellent in the 65 minutes he played in the opening win over RomaniaMon Sept 11 2023 - 05:00
Simon Easterby confident Ireland will select from a full hand for Tonga gameRugby World Cup: Defence coach happy with how players came through tough conditions in BordeauxSun Sept 10 2023 - 12:24
