Connacht need to be a little more street smart tomorrowANALYSIS : Now the trauma of Christmas day and Brussels sprouts is behind me I can look forward to the possibilities of 2013…Fri Dec 28 2012 - 00:00
More focused Ulster to bounce back after dropping unbeaten runMy first visit to Ravenhill was way back in 1989 as a Munster schoolboy, which formed an impression which has been slow to change…Fri Dec 21 2012 - 00:00
Foreign player system back to bite ConnachtProp Joe’s philosophy is “Buy for a dollar, sell for two”, which makes him an ideal business associate of Spiros “Vondas” Vondopoulos…Fri Dec 14 2012 - 00:00
Best clubs are never in transition; continuity's the name of the gameImanol Harinordoquy, captain and talisman is back (on the bench) for Biarritz; Dylan Hartley is back for Northhampton Saints; …Fri Dec 07 2012 - 00:00
One-off passion play won't do, we need precision, pace and a planAccording to Stephen Hawking the greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance; it is the illusion of knowledgeFri Nov 30 2012 - 00:00
With a new game plan like this, many reasons to be cheerfulFifty per cent of possession and seven tries, six coming from the back three and the outhalf with the seventh from the hooker…Mon Nov 26 2012 - 00:00
Pumas' kicking game begs for planned Irish counter-attacksWell the Fiji fixture was a success after all and congrats to Craig Gilroy, not for his three tries but for his unbridled relentless…Fri Nov 23 2012 - 00:00
Gilroy explodes into contention on a good day out in LimerickRUGBY ANALYST: Coming away from Thomond Park on Saturday night I was struck by the recurring question; what was the purpose …Mon Nov 19 2012 - 00:00
No substitute for timing when it comes to fresh legsRUGBY ANALYSIS: When is Seán Cronin better than Richardt Strauss? Clearly the Ireland management believed that at 5Fri Nov 16 2012 - 00:00
By dropping the pace we let Boks set the tempoANALYSIS : Don’t ever dance with the bear, because the bear decides when the music stops!Mon Nov 12 2012 - 00:00
Fail to prepare, prepare to fail: it's time for Ireland to get ready for the futureRugby Analyst: While watching Old Crescent’s under-13s this week I started daydreaming about tomorrow’s matchFri Nov 09 2012 - 00:00
Players' lifestyles affecting their decision makingRUGBY ANALYST: The general exposure to real-life daily decision making for today’s players has been reduced radically compared…Fri Nov 02 2012 - 00:00
Ireland need to ask more from secondrowsRUGBY ANALYST: Connacht’s Mike McCarthy is the stand-out secondrow with his athleticism and impact in all aspects of the game…Fri Oct 26 2012 - 01:00
Connacht have to put the brakes on HarlequinsTheir half back pairing like to have the English champions playing at pace. If Connacht can stop them, they can winFri Oct 19 2012 - 01:00
Munster are fully committed to pursuit of widthRUGBY ANALYST: It will be interesting to see how Munster’s new style will suit Paul O’Connell in ParisFri Oct 12 2012 - 01:00
Connacht swashed and Leinster just buckledOld foes Munster offer the perfect opportunity for the province to get their mojo working againFri Oct 05 2012 - 01:00
Exploiting space brings whole new style of playRUGBY ANALYST: Teams are employing some new and revolutionary systems to unlock defencesFri Sept 28 2012 - 01:00
We've great individuals, they have a great teamRUGBY ANALYST: I’VE HEARD Ireland’s Call in many wonderful places but the rendition from the Habitat for Humanity volunteers…Mon Jun 11 2012 - 01:00
One man's misery is another man's opportunityRUGBY ANALYST: The injuries that have blighted the Irish squad ahead of the tour to New Zealand can also serve to create chances…Fri Jun 01 2012 - 01:00
Dearth of tighthead scrummagers a real issueRUGBY ANALYST: As Ulster learned last Saturday, no amount of football will mask a deficient scrumFri May 25 2012 - 01:00
Schmidt's men show that extra bit of qualityThe machine Joe Schmidt has built had a ruthlessness that Ulster simply couldn’t matchMon May 21 2012 - 01:00
Leinster can win in many ways, Ulster in a fewRUGBY: WHILE SUFFERING in Hamiltons pub in Leenane, Co Galway, from the 31km of the Connemara Adventure Challenge last Saturday…Fri May 18 2012 - 01:00
I can't wait for Connacht's second season in HCRUGBY ANALYST: You need a little slice of luck and Wesley Fofana’s spill in Bordeaux last week was like manna from Heaven for…Fri May 04 2012 - 01:00
Penney should drop and Foley's mana top Tana'sTonight’s Ulster and Leinster clash provides an insight into the challenge that awaits Munster’s next coachFri Apr 20 2012 - 01:00
Disrupt Pienaar and Munster disrupt vital COGRUGBY ANALYST: EVERY TEAM has a centre of gravity (COG) normally manifest in a player, a unit or a styleFri Apr 06 2012 - 01:00
Six Nations suits could pay for disregarding fansAnd should our own Sir Percys still be picking or evaluating top coaches in this professional era?Fri Feb 17 2012 - 00:00
Time for Ireland to drop the dead donkey actWe’ve got to up the pace to meet the predictable French onslaught in ParisFri Feb 10 2012 - 00:00
Connacht ship likely to be hit by meteor stormON JANUARY 13th, 2002, a little after 3.30pm, I stepped out onto the Stade Municipal, Toulouse’s hallowed turfFri Jan 13 2012 - 00:00
Catching up on the good, the bad and the uglyWho has put their hand up for a green jersey over the coming seasons?Fri Jan 06 2012 - 00:00
Munster can learn from Ulster's powerful playRUGBY ANALYST: For Munster to negotiate very stiff opposition, the front five will have to be very direct in how they carryFri Dec 09 2011 - 00:00
In youth we learn, in age we understandRUGBY ANALYST: You can learn much about a team, and its prospects, by focusing on a few of the side’s talented young players…Fri Dec 02 2011 - 00:00
Maximising effort at key times pivotal to successWhether in rugby or rowing or American Football, the shared philosophy of the key coaches/motivators is strikingFri Nov 25 2011 - 00:00
Challenge for Irish teams to live with pace of the gameGiving Ireland’s best young players game time at Connacht represents a way forward for Irish rugbyFri Nov 11 2011 - 00:00
Thoroughbreds should come to the fore on testing derby daysThe local and passionate clash this weekend is the perfect mental test for the new generation of Irish professionalsFri Nov 04 2011 - 00:00
Four minutes and three touches that cost FranceRUGBY ANALYST: WITH THE score standing at 8-7 France were still very much in itFri Oct 28 2011 - 01:00
Enfants de la Patrie stand tall against the HakaThe All Blacks retreated into their shells under the pressure of injury and of the nation, but they did not buckleMon Oct 24 2011 - 01:00
Ireland must learn that Plan A may not be enoughAs we were busy perfecting Plan A, which was pretty damn good, Wales for months, even years, were perfecting Plans B and CFri Oct 14 2011 - 01:00
Wales ruthlessly expose Irish tacticsWales were physically immense and surprisingly level-headed and coolMon Oct 10 2011 - 01:00
Deccie, why did you go for O'Gara? Go on, be honest. . .RUGBY ANALYST: But can he be, really? In doing what’s best for the team, he risks smashing the confidence of Jonny Sexton, still…Fri Sept 30 2011 - 01:00
Russians ideal preparation for the Italian jobRussia will provide a good physical test for Ireland helping the side peak for the challenges further down this World Cup road…Fri Sept 23 2011 - 01:00
Come on Ireland, let's not wait four more yearsRUGBY ANALYST: Technically we are way behind AustraliaFri Sept 16 2011 - 01:00
Ireland's forwards seem to be going backwardsAt a time when patience, precision and punch are required, outside of the scrum and lineout, Ireland are struggling with the …Mon Sept 12 2011 - 01:00
Brave USA effort won't be enough to cope with IrelandWORLD CUP ANALYSIS: Beating Russia and a big performance against Italy would make a super RWC for the USA and Eddie O'Sullivan…Sat Sept 10 2011 - 01:00
Wondering what Gaffney has up his sleevesRUGBY ANALYST: FOUR YEARS later we now know the 30 men tasked with winning the RWC 2011Fri Aug 26 2011 - 01:00
Munster must avoid reverting to typeThe Magners League has now become a victim of the Munster- Leinster successFri May 27 2011 - 01:00
Blues' multiphase play to bear fruitRUGBY ANALYST: Northampton lack the creativity inside to maximise their skill setFri May 20 2011 - 01:00
Leinster heroic with patient defendingThere’s no other team in Europe that could test the Leinster defence as Toulouse couldMon May 02 2011 - 01:00
What match-ups to savour at Thomond tomorrowR UGBY ANALYST: But it’s the competition within the squads that intrigues most: like Luke Fitzgerald versus the wonderful Isa…Fri Apr 01 2011 - 01:00
Cleverest performance of the past 12 monthsIreland managed to maximise their abilities and minimise the English strengthsMon Mar 21 2011 - 00:00
Greater unity of purpose will be needed against FranceRUGBY ANALYST: I’m quietly confident the French will bring much out of this teamMon Feb 07 2011 - 00:00
