Matt Williams: How positive affirmations can give you buckets of self-belief
Sports psychologists swear by the technique of self-talk, and many players and teams are out there proving that it works
United Rugby Championship
Munster Rugby has been mismanaged for years. The chickens are now coming home to roost
It will take much more than voluntary redundancies to steady the ship at a proud sporting institution
Seamus Hurley-Langton bags a brace as Connacht see off Ospreys
Late Matthew Devine try earns westerners fifth successive URC win
Munster show resilience to take bonus points from Bulls defeat
Clayton McMillan’s side recover from Sharks drubbing to put up a fight in Pretoria
Leinster mix the good with the ugly in bonus-point win over Scarlets
Man-of-the-match Tommy O’Brien and Joshua Kenny go over for two tries apiece at the Aviva
Munster must focus on solutions not problems ahead of clash with Bulls
Playing in South Africa places a huge demand on being able to handle the ferocious physical element of the game
Connacht keen to keep distance from Ospreys with victory in Saturday’s meeting
Stuart Lancaster’s side face a tough run-in including a two-game trip to South Africa
Ulster head to Zebre looking for win that would put recent turbulence behind them
Ireland internationals Stuart McCloskey and Nick Timoney return to the starting XV after Six Nations
Will Leinster benefit from the IRFU managing player minutes?
Irish players have played fewer games so far than their French and English counterparts
Dan Sheehan says renewing Leinster contract was ‘easy decision’
Hooker craves 'big days’ as Leinster face into pressure phase of season
Connacht well on their way but face tough URC run-in
Stuart Lancaster’s side host Ospreys on Saturday before trip to South Africa
Ulster can’t afford to slip up at Zebre in URC
Izuchukwu and Postlethwaite sidelined but McCloskey and Timoney are back in training
Ireland prop Andrew Porter returns from injury for Leinster’s meeting with the Scarlets
Locks James Ryan and RG Snyman will be assessed later in the week ahead of game on Friday night
Stakes are high for all four provinces as they seek to define their season
Leinster, Ulster, Munster and Connacht sit within seven points and six places of one other in URC table
Munster boosted by ‘energy’ of returning Ireland stars ahead of tough Bulls test
Jack Crowley, Craig Casey and Jeremy Loughman have joined their team-mates in South Africa
Glasgow open up daylight at top of URC table as Leinster’s top two ambitions take a hit
Warriors run in six tries at Scotstoun to go eight points ahead of the rest at the top
Miserable Munster shutout and savaged as Sharks run in seven tries in Durban
The scars of this thrashing will be difficult to shake off for Clayton McMillan’s side
Connacht second-half storming earns bonus-point win at Ulster
Replacements provide the tempo as Stuart Lancaster’s side continue positive streak
Sharks v Munster: South African side braces for Irish set-piece test
After last season’s dramatic quarter-final, Munster travel to Durban seeking redemption
Leinster out to make move at top of the URC table as they take on leaders Glasgow
Leo Cullen’s side have been boosted by the return of Hugo Keenan for his first game of the season
Below-strength Ulster to make use of versatility in URC clash with Connacht
Jacob Stockdale to fill void at outside centre as head coach attempts to minimise impact of injury and suspension
Munster aided by international and injury returnees for away trip to the Sharks
Clayton McMillan’s side first travel to Durban as part of their two-match stint in South Africa
Harri Morris tackle on Ulster’s Cormac Izuchukwu should have been straight red card
The incident in question took place in the 64th minute of Ulster’s victory at the Hive last weekend
Ulster plagued by injury concerns ahead of URC clash against Connacht
Richie Murphy’s side host Stuart Lancaster’s charges on Friday night in Belfast
Brian Deeny: From Wexford football dreams to Leinster lock
Now his week-to-week challenges under Leo Cullen are how to navigate the competitive secondrow
Hugo Keenan could make Leinster return for trip to Glasgow on Saturday
James Lowe remains unavailable after suffering groin injury in Ireland’s win over England at Twickenham
Connacht cancel St Patrick’s Day celebrations to prepare for Ulster challenge
Tuesday will be crucial training day, says Stuart Lancaster, with several players returning from international duty and from injury
Ulster boosted by return of four Ireland players for Connacht interpro clash
Head coach Richie Murphy have a spring in their step after 40-19 win away to Edinburgh last weekend
Five-try Connacht too much for Scarlets
Sean Jansen scores first-half brace in 17-point win at the Dexcom
Ulster charge back to take rousing win at Edinburgh
Richie Murphy’s side dominate second half to climb URC table
‘A sweet one,’ says Stuart Lancaster after Connacht earn surprise win against Glasgow
Sean Jansen crashed over for a dramatic late winning try against the URC leaders
Ulster fall to defeat against Ospreys after late try is controversially ruled out
Irish province left the Brewery Field with nothing but the memory of a huge defensive shift, a crumbling scrum and lineout
Munster grind out victory against Zebre to end losing run at home
Irish province miss out on bonus point at Thomond Park
Leinster take narrow defeat against Cardiff after leaving comeback too late
Leo Cullen’s side miss chance to take URC lead at Cardiff Arms Park
Lancaster family briefly divided as father and son collide in URC clash
Connacht in desperate need of victory to move toward top-eight standings
Ulster firepower looks enough to change their Welsh fortunes against Ospreys
Province lost to Cardiff and Scarlets in trips to Wales earlier this season
Munster look to avoid unwanted record as Zebre visit Thomond Park
Irish province have never lost four in a row at Thomond in the professional era, but should be too strong for Zebre
Leo Cullen wary of Cardiff cohesion as Leinster aim to get back on top in URC
Away win on Friday would see Leinster lead the URC for the first time this season
Leinster get double boost as Robbie Henshaw and Jimmy O’Brien return for Cardiff trip
Both players suffered injuries in Leinster’s Champions Cup win away to Bayonne in January
John Muldoon admits Connacht’s ‘room for error’ is shrinking ahead of Glasgow clash
Off-form western province will need Ireland contingent at their best for visit of the URC leaders
Richie Murphy challenges Ulster players to follow in the footsteps of Ireland quartet
The province are back in URC action this weekend but boss Murphy took time to praise international contingent
‘Seeing them wear the green jersey is what we want’: Munster’s Six Nations players praised
Time spent on international duty can only improve their game, forwards coach Alex Codling says
Robbie Henshaw and Jimmy O’Brien expected to line out for Leinster in Cardiff
Hugo Keenan’s thumb injury has been a source of continued frustration on the back of a hip injury he sustained last year
Connacht left frustrated by Matthew Devine’s decision to leave for Ulster
Western province were keen to keep scrumhalf but he accepted move in pursuit of more game time
Chatty officials in Zebre v Connacht match reminded us why change is badly needed
Tiresome back-and-forth between referee and TMO spoiled the match for viewers
Ulster dig deep to beat Cardiff in scrappy encounter
Northern province had led 14-0 at half-time but failed to get bonus point
Scott Penny grabs hat-trick as experimental Leinster beat Edinburgh
Impressive bonus point win for Leinster in Dublin despite missing Irish international contingent
Connacht secure much needed bonus-point win against Zebre
Irish province leave it until late to get bonus point in Italy
Fresh-faced Munster battle hard but Glasgow prove too powerful
Host’s blistering first half too much for Clayton McMillan’s side to overcome
Ulster blend youth and experience to try maintain positive Belfast record against Cardiff
Welsh side have not won away to Ulster since 2010
Leinster face tall task against Edinburgh without international contingent
Eleven of Leinster’s matchday 23 have fewer than 10 caps
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