Division 1A

St Mary’s College 27-18 Old Belvedere

Templeville Road

Old Belvo’s Chalie Rock recently made his Leinster debut. Source: Donall Farmer/INPHO

ST. MARY’S COLLEGE snapped their four-match losing streak in the Ulster Bank League with a much-needed 27-18 bonus point victory over south Dublin rivals Old Belvedere at Templeville Road.

Belvedere, who qualified for the Bateman Cup final last week, were 15-0 winners when the sides met at Anglesea Road in early December. They included Charlie Rock – a recent Leinster debutant – at scrum half, while his Academy colleague Terry Kennedy featured at full-back for the hosts.

Out-half Willie Staunton drifted a second minute penalty past the posts for ‘Belvo and it was his opposite number, versatile youngster Dave Fanagan, who opened the scoring with a comfortable strike at the other end.

Although Daniel Riordan and Rock were combining to good effect for the visitors, a stray offload on 17 minutes allowed Fanagan to set the wheels in motion for Mary’s opening try. Having broken out of defence, he passed wide to Conor Hogan and in attempting to prevent the winger from scoring, Belvedere’s Shane McDonald conceded a penalty try and was also sin-binned.

Mary’s confidence was growing as the first half went on. Staunton opened ‘Belvo’s account off the tee before Hogan touched down from a Paddy O’Driscoll assist for Mary’s second seven-pointer – Fanagan’s second conversion went over with the aid of the woodwork. The latter then crossed for a try of his own in the 29th minute, at the end of a sweeping attack.

The margin stood at 22-6 at the turnaround, with Staunton landing his second penalty following a yellow card for Mary’s replacement back rower Jack Dilger. From their very first attack of the second half, ‘Belvo’s McDonald drifted in off his right wing to collect a pass and dot down in style for Staunton convert.

However, Mary’s kept their discipline in defence and by the time Dilger returned, they were still in the driving seat. Just before the hour mark, a strong maul got them into scoring range and when the ball was turned loose, Mary’s captain Brian McGovern finished off the bonus point try.

Belvedere did have the better of the closing stages, but they missed out on a losing bonus point when Rock missed the conversion of replacement David Brandon’s late try which came from a magnificent passage of play involving several players.

ST. MARY’S COLLEGE: Terry Kennedy; Ryan O’Loughlin, Darren Moroney, Paddy Lavelle, Conor Hogan; Dave Fanagan, Paddy O’Driscoll; Tom O’Reilly, Richard Halpin, Brian McGovern (capt), Ciaran Ruddock, Cathal O’Flaherty, Hugh Kelleher, Nick McCarthy, Kevin Sheahan.

Replacements: Hugo Kean, Cathal Ryan, Jack Dilger, Conor Gilsenan, Zach O’Hagan.

OLD BELVEDERE: Daniel Riordan; Shane McDonald, John Kennedy (capt), James Kearns, Sean Coughlan; Willie Staunton, Charlie Rock; Jonathan Inglis, Cathal O’Flynn, Adam Howard, Connor Owende, Jack Kelly, Jonathan Slattery, Michael Oyuga, David Sherry.

Replacements: Brian Coyle, Killian Foley, Karl Miller, David Brandon, Aaron Sheehan.

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Dublin University 0-29 Clontarf

College Park

Clontarf’s Royce Burke-Flynn. Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

Clontarf were the only team in the Division 1A to win both back-to-back fixtures either side of Christmas as they whitewashed Dublin University 29-0 at College Park.

Hirsute winger Mick McGrath grabbed the headlines with four tries, including a second half hat-trick, as ‘Tarf followed up on their 33-0 home win over the students in the last round.

Aided by other results yesterday, Andy Wood’s men have climbed back into the top four ahead of next Friday night’s clash with lowly Terenure College back at Castle Avenue.

There was little between the teams in the first half, Trinity defending stoutly with ever-alert flanker Brian du Toit stealing possession on two occasions to break up promising ‘Tarf attacks.

Tommy Whittle injured himself during a try-saving tackle, so regular out-half Jack McDermott made his return off the bench. After two penalty misses by Rob Keogh, the visitors finally broke the deadlock when loose ball led to McGrath barrelling through in the 25th minute for Keogh to convert.

The students started the second period in very good fettle, their strong scrum continuing to make an impression and winger Bryan Mollen was just fingertips away from an intercept try.

However, ‘Tarf pushed on and went 14-0 ahead when good work in midfield by David Joyce and Matt D’Arcy saw McGrath complete his brace. Trinity, willed on by the consistent excellence of scrum half Slater and du Toit, went close again but a knock-on at a 62nd minute maul, five metres out, robbed them of a real try-scoring opportunity.

The students felt aggrieved at some of referee Leo Colgan’s decisions, including his interpretation of a couple of high tackles from ‘Tarf on Slater. A Keogh penalty made it 17-0 before McGrath added two more tries late on, either side of Trinity captain Jack Burke’s sin-binning for a high tackle – a decision which capped off another frustrating day at the office for Tony Smeeth’s youngsters. They are second-from-bottom now and need to produce a big performance away to Cork Constitution next week.

DUBLIN UNIVERSITY: Colm Hogan; Tim Maupin, Michael Courtney, Kyle Dixon, Bryan Mollen; Tommy Whittle, Brian Slater; Eric O’Sullivan, Paddy Finlay, Andy Keating, Jack Burke (capt), Cian O’Dwyer, Pierce Dargan, Brian du Toit, Tom Ryan.

Replacements: Jack Boland, Darragh Higgins, Niall O’Riordan, Daniel Joyce, Jack McDermott.

CLONTARF: Jack Power; Rob Keogh, Michael Brown, Matt D’Arcy, Mick McGrath; Mark Sutton, Peter du Toit; Vakh Abdaladze, Jason Harris-Wright, Royce Burke Flynn, Ben Reilly (capt), Mick Kearney, Michael Noone, Adrian D’Arcy, Tony Ryan.

Replacements: Jonathan Larbey, Karl Moran, Dylan Doyle, Sam Cronin, David Joyce.

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Terenure College 27-17 Garryowen 17

Lakelands Park

Terenure head coach James Blaney. Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO

Bottom side Terenure College lifted their spirits with a well-earned 27-17 success at home to Garryowen, reversing last month’s 41-26 defeat to the same opposition.

Obviously fired up by James Blaney’s half-time words and armed with a second half wind advantage, Terenure thrilled their Lakelands Park faithful with a 27-point performance over the closing 40 minutes.

The result put an end to their six-match losing run in the league and provides some vital momentum to their bid to avoid relegation. They are now nine points behind UCD at the foot of the table, but February could make or break them with three games against title-chasing teams – Clontarf, Young Munster and Cork Constitution.

Sitting in fourth place before kick-off, Garryowen had to wait until just before half-time to open the scoring. Two line breaks were clinically finished by scrum half and captain Neil Cronin (33 minutes) and centre Hugh O’Brien-Cunningham (37) for unconverted tries and a 10-0 interval lead.

However, the third quarter really belonged to resilient ‘Nure who cut the gap thanks to two well-struck penalties from out-half Mark O’Neill after 47 and 51 minutes.

The hosts’ first seven-pointer followed just four minutes later, referee Mark Patton awarding them a penalty try after the Light Blues had cynically pulled down a lineout maul on their own whitewash.

Now trailing 13-10, it soon descended into a nightmare scenario for Garryowen as persistent infringing saw O’Brien-Cunningham sin-binned and they were down to 13 men when Steven McMahon – the hat-trick hero from the sides’ first meeting on December 3 – saw yellow for a high tackle in the corner on the advancing Sam Coghlan Murray.

Terenure’s numerical advantage paid off with 12 minutes remaining when influential number 10 O’Neill used turnover ball to send centre Marc Hiney over for a converted score – 20-10.

O’Neill’s opposite number Jamie Gavin was then binned for offside. That left them with 14 players and ‘Nure copper-fastened the win with Hiney’s second try via a powerful fend out wide. Garryowen full-back Andrew O’Byrne grabbed a late consolation try converted by Cronin, but there was no bonus point for the ill-disciplined Limerick side who have fallen one place to fifth.

Terenure College scorers:
Tries: Marc Hiney x2, Penalty try
Conversions: Mark O’Neill x3
Penalties: Mark O’Neill x2
Garryowen scorers:
Tries: Neil Cronin, Hugh O’Brien-Cunningham, Andrew O’Byrne
Conversions: Neil Cronin

TERENURE COLLEGE: James O’Donoghue; Jake Swaine, Marc Hiney, Conor Finn, Sam Coghlan Murray; Mark O’Neill, Kevin O’Neill; Kieran Moloney, Robbie Smyth, Oisin Heffernan, Mike Murphy, Kyle McCoy (capt), Harrison Brewer, Stephen Caffrey, Eoin Joyce.

Replacements: Risteard Byrne, Gary Hamilton, John Dever, Conor Weakliam, Willie Devane.

GARRYOWEN: Andrew O’Byrne; Steven McMahon, Hugh O’Brien-Cunningham, Dave McCarthy, Dylan Sheehan; Jamie Gavin, Neil Cronin (capt); Niall Horan, Diarmaid Barron, Mike O’Donnell, Tim Ferguson, Barra O’Byrne, Johnny Keane, Alwyn van Vuuren, Bailey Faloon.

Replacements: Caolan Moloney, Jack Mullany, Mike Wilson, Dara Shanahan, Ronan O’Halloran, Conor Oliver.

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UCD 17-3 Cork Constitution 

Belfield Bowl

UCD’s Nick Peters with Ned Hodson of Cork Con. Source: Gary Carr/INPHO

A sterling defensive performance in the first half was followed by tries from Peadar Timmins and Stephen Murphy as UCD turned the tables on Cork Constitution at Belfield.

UCD’s last two league encounters with Constitution ended in whopping defeats – 58-15 at this venue last February and 50-25 on Leeside before Christmas.

However, a reinforced starting line-up, bolstered by the presence of Billy Dardis, Hugo Keenan, Jeremy Loughman, Sean McNulty and Peadar Timmins who were all back from Leinster ‘A’ duty, helped the students to carve out a determined 17-3 victory.

Cork Con should have been ahead at half-time but the 3-3 scoreline owed much to UCD’s ability to frustrate them in defence. Matthew Gilsenan and Tomas Quinlan swapped penalties inside the first 25 minutes, yet the visitors had nothing to show for a prolonged 15-minute spell in the College 22.

They also could not capitalise on two UCD yellow cards before the break. The students succeeded in disrupting the Con lineout, winning a crucial steal at the second attempt.

The home side had shown little in attack, but they looked the brighter team on the resumption as Ireland Sevens international Harry McNulty, playing on the left wing, and captain Jamie Glynn both found space and exploited it.

Con invited further pressure on them with a deliberate knock-on, and centre Stephen Murphy made them pay with a clever dummy and gliding run to the try-line. Gilsenan converted for 10-3.

UCD’s tails were up now and a second converted effort followed from Leinster ‘A’ captain Timmins who finished off good work from Josh Murphy and Sean McNulty. Gilsenan supplied the extras again, and flanker Murphy, who had a great impact off the bench, managed to disrupt the Con lineout again as the Bateman Cup finalists struggled to respond.

A terrific kick chase by Glynn and Harry McNulty summed up UCD’s greater desire and work-rate on the day, with the result seeing Andy Skehan’s charges climb back up to seventh overall. Cork Con had dropped one place to third following their first defeat in seven league rounds.

UCD: Billy Dardis; Hugo Keenan, Jamie Glynn (capt), Stephen Murphy, Harry McNulty; Matthew Gilsenan, Nick Peters; Jeremy Loughman, Sean McNulty, Liam Hyland, Brian Cawley, Emmet MacMahon, Greg Jones, Alex Penny, Peadar Timmins.

Replacements: Gordon Frayne, Stephen McGivern, Josh Murphy, Sean McKeon, Andy Marks.

CORK CONSTITUTION: Liam O’Connell; Alex McHenry, Ned Hodson, Niall Kenneally (capt), Rob Jermyn; Tomas Quinlan, Jason Higgins; Gavin Duffy, Max Abbott, Rory Burke, Conor Kindregan, Brian Hayes, Luke Cahill, James Murphy, Evan Mintern.

Replacements: Ger Sweeney, Graeme Lawler, Cian Barry, John Poland, Darragh Lyons.

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Young Munster 19-10 Landsdowne

Tom Clifford Park

 

Lansdowne. Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

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Young Munster have reduced Lansdowne’s lead at the top of Division 1A to a single point following their impressive 19-10 win over the table toppers at Tom Clifford Park.

Multi-talented Tipperary teenager Alan Tynan showed his coolness under pressure by kicking 14 points in what was a huge game for his club, coming on the back of last month’s 30-24 loss at Lansdowne.

The Cookies did themselves and other play-off hopefuls a big favour with this hard-earned victory which moves them above Munster rivals Cork Constitution into second place.

Almost all of the scoring came in the first half, but telling Lansdowne were unable to make the most of the attacking qualities possessed by the four Ireland Sevens internationals in their back-line – Mark Roche, Tom Daly, John O’Donnell and Alan Bennie.

Munster duo Dan Goggin (another Sevens international) and Cian Bohane provided plenty of work for the Lansdowne defence in midfield, and it was the latter who broke through for a 23rd minute try, converted by out-half Tynan for a 13-3 lead.

Tynan had opened the scoring with successive penalties after 8 and 10 minutes, before Scott Deasy, who recently became the first Lansdowne player to score 500 league points, split the posts with 21 minutes on the clock.

Limerick man Bennie snipped through in typical scrum half fashion for a Lansdowne try, with Deasy supplying the extras, however a third successful penalty from Tynan, a recent member of the Ireland Under-20 training squad, closed out the first half 16-10 in Munsters’ favour.

The second period was just as gripping, although scores proved hugely difficult to come by. In the end, a fourth and final penalty goal from the left boot of Tynan was enough to see the home side over the line and send Lansdowne home pointless, with their head coach Ruddock still awaiting his first victory at Greenfields.

YOUNG MUNSTER: Shane Airey; Craig O’Hanlon, Dan Goggin, Cian Bohane, Jack Harrington; Alan Tynan, Rob Guerin; Gavin Ryan, Ger Slattery, Colm Skehan, Alan Ross, Sean Duggan (capt), Alan Kennedy, Dan Walsh, Darren Ryan.

Replacements: David Begley, Shane Fenton, Ben Kilkenny, Abrie Griesel, David O’Mahony.

LANSDOWNE: Eamonn Mills; Daniel McEvoy, Mark Roche, Tom Daly, John O’Donnell; Scott Deasy, Alan Bennie; Peter Dooley, Tyrone Moran, Ian Prendiville (capt), Josh O’Rourke, Stephen Gardiner, Willie Earle, Charlie Butterworth, Max Deegan.

Replacements: James Rael, Ntinga Mpiko, Barry Fitzpatrick, Matthew D’Arcy, Charlie McMickan.

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FOLLOWING A DISAPPOINTING defeat at Murrayfield, Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt will name his match-day squad for their second tie of this year’s Six Nations on Thursday.

Before he does, we’d like to hear who would make your selection for the clash with the Azzuri on Saturday (KO 14.25 Irish time), from 1-23 and why, in the comments section below.

Starting on the back foot, and having ruled out their chances of winning both the Grand Slam and Triple Crown, Ireland seek redemption at the Stadio Olimpico and need their strongest possible side to do so.

Ireland team manager Paul Dean stated that there were no new injury concerns for Ireland at Carton House yesterday, but the fate of Johnny Sexton is still unclear.

So what changes will you make to last week’s match-day squad? Let us know who you think should make it this weekend in the comments section below.

BERNARD O’BYRNE has claimed ‘five or six’ sports federations have colluded in advance of Thursday’s vote to elect the next president of the Olympic Council of Ireland.

O’Byrne, the current Chief Executive of Basketball Ireland, will be on tomorrow’s ballot alongside acting OCI president Willie O’Brien and Swim Ireland’s Sarah Keane.

But speaking to Ger Gilroy on Newstalk’s Off The Ball this evening, O’Byrne painted a picture of a tainted, corrupt process.

“I know there are other deals done in advance of it. I haven’t done any deals. I’ve declared who I’m going to vote for for the officerships”, he said.

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O’Byrne is one of three people in the running to succeed Pat Hickey as OCI president. Source: James Crombie; ©INPHO/James Crombie/INPHO

He was then pressed by Gilroy on what he meant by ‘deals’.

RICHARD COCKERILL WILL take over as head coach of Edinburgh from the beginning of next season.

The ex-England hooker has agreed a two-year deal with the Pro12 club and will start the job when his short-term spell coaching role with Toulon comes to an end.

Assistant coaches Stevie Scott and Pete Wilkins will remain in their current roles.

46-year-old Cockerill, capped 27 times at international level, retired from playing in 2005 spent 12 years at Leicester Tigers but was sacked position as director of rugby last month.

“I am very much looking forward to a new challenge and the opportunity at Edinburgh Rugby ticked all the boxes,” Cockerill said.

“It’s a real rugby city, and the club has a lot of potential to grow on, and off, the pitch.

“The conversations I had with (Scottish Rugby chief executive) Mark Dodson and Scott Johnson (Scottish Rugby director of rugby) were instrumental in understanding what the vision for Edinburgh Rugby is and it is a project I’m excited to be a part of.

“I’m also relishing the chance of coaching in the Guinness PRO12, which is a new league for me, and working with a clearly talented group of players.”

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NEW ZEALAND LEGEND Dan Carter has revealed that luxury car maker Land Rover has dropped him as a brand ambassador after he was caught drink-driving in Paris last week.

The two-time Rugby World Cup winner, who plays for defending French champions Racing 92, has already admitted to “a massive error in judgement” over the incident.

Carter said he had been holding meetings with sponsors to discuss his actions.

“Not surprisingly, Land Rover, who for good reason have zero tolerance towards drink driving, have ended their relationship with me,” he posted on Facebook.

“I understand this completely and am disappointed I put them in this position.”

The 34-year-old has long been regarded as the most marketable athlete in New Zealand and been used to sell everything from underwear to credit cards and air conditioners.

Carter was tested at the roadside in Paris last Wednesday night and a police source said his alcohol level was measured at 0.8 grams per litre of blood.

He could face penalty points on his driving licence or, if the case goes to court, a fine of €4,500 or even a two-year jail sentence.

Carter posted over the weekend that he was back in New Zealand and still reflecting on what he had done.

“(It) was supposed to be a fun pre planned holiday,” he wrote on Facebook.

“Seeing the family again puts fresh perspective on just how big a mistake I made. #dontdrinkanddrive.”

Carter, a three-time World Player of the Year, is regarded as one of the sport’s finest fly-halves and was a World Cup winner with the All Blacks in 2011 and 2015.

He is also the sport’s record international scorer with 1,598 points in 112 games.

Carter began his second playing stint in France after the 2015 World Cup, but it has not been a smooth ride.

After his man-of-the-match performance in the Top 14 final in June, he tested positive for corticosteroids, along with fellow former All Black Joe Rokocoko and Argentine winger Juan Imhoff.

All three Racing players and the club were later cleared of any wrong-doing by a French Rugby Federation medical commission.

But the players have now been summoned to appear before the French Anti-Doping Agency (AFLD) over the incident.

© – AFP 2017

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A FEW EYEBROWS were raised when Leinster named their team to take on the Dragons last week. They needn’t have been.

Joey Carbery at fullback and Zane Kirchner at centre were two selections which stood out and suggested that Leo Cullen’s side may not be at their free-flowing best at Rodney Parade.

Yet the Blues produced one of their most devastating attacking performances of the season in a 55-24 demolition job on the road, quite a statement from a side that contained a number of new combinations and one that was shorn of its international stars.

The versatility of Leinster’s backline is slowly reinforcing the province’s arsenal for all sorts of eventualities, and strengthening their hand to win back the Pro12 title.

There was a time when Isa Nacewa was the primary Mr Polyfilla at the RDS but young guns Rory O’Loughlin, Adam Byrne and Carbery, and the more experienced pair of Zane Kirchner and Fergus McFadden, give Cullen a delightful array of options out back.

The chopping and changing is working a treat as Leinster’s league-leading attack is operating in a different realm of destruction to last season.

Leinster backs coach Girvan Dempsey. Source: Donall Farmer/INPHO

In their last seven games (five in the Pro12 and two in the Champions Cup), dating back to a 22-7 New Year’s Eve defeat of Ulster, Leinster have amassed 326 points and 44 tries.

That’s an average of almost 50 points and six tries per game in an incredible spell that has seen Cullen’s charges return to the top of the Pro12 table and secure a home quarter-final in the Champions Cup.

They seem to be streets ahead of their last Pro12 campaign, when they eventually went down to Connacht in the decider, their total of 69 tries in 16 games this season is 18 more than they managed in 22 regular-season games in 2015/16.

They have been conceding four points more on average per game (17) but the way they’ve been attacking, averaging 10 points more per outing, backs coach Girvan Dempsey can’t help but smile, especially on the back of a five-game Pro12 winning streak since their defeat to Munster on St Stephen’s Day.

“The guys are going really well, they’ve worked so hard,” says Dempsey.

“This was a block that we targeted, one we realised that we had to do well in if we wanted to be competitive and try and get in that top two, and compete with Munster and the Ospreys, and obviously the Scarlets coming up behind.

“We’re fortunate that we’ve got some very smart footballers that can adapt and change and move around.

“The way we train, we try and put pressure on them and try and make them adapt and develop in different areas.

“Looking at last week’s selection, what we were looking at was the players we had available.

“We’ve had a number of injuries but also what was best in terms of the dynamic of that backline, we felt that was the best backline that we could put out against Dragons.”

Ireland fly-half Carbery impressed at fullback in what was just his second start following his return from an ankle injury.

MUNSTER HAVE RUNG the changes for tomorrow’s Guinness Pro12 clash away to Cardiff Blues with five alterations for the game at Cardiff Arms Park (17.15pm, Sky Sports 2).

Andrew Conway and Rory Scannell return to the Munster starting XV.

In the pack Darren O’Shea comes in to partner captain Billy Holland and Robin Copeland has recovered from a thumb injury to be named at number 8.

Ian Keatley starts at outhalf with Rory Scannell and Andrew Conway also returning to the starting side.

Francis Saili, Dan Goggin and Conor Oliver all drop to the bench while Tyler Bleyendaal was unavailable for selection due to managing player load and illness means Dave Foley misses the weekend game.

Academy player Fineen Wycherley is named on the bench for the second consecutive week and is in line to win his first senior cap.

Fineen Wycherley at Munster training this week Source: James Crombie/INPHO

Munster (v Cardiff Blues):

15. Andrew Conway
14. Darren Sweetnam
13. Jaco Taute
12. Rory Scannell
11. Ronan O’Mahony
10. Ian Keatley
9. Duncan Williams

1. Dave Kilcoyne
2. Rhys Marshall
3. Stephen Archer
4. Darren O’Shea
5. Billy Holland (captain)
6. Dave O’Callaghan
7. Tommy O’Donnell
8. Robin Copeland

Replacements:

16. Kevin O’Byrne
17. Peter McCabe
18. Brian Scott
19. Fineen Wycherley
20. Conor Oliver
21. Abrie Griesel
22. Dan Goggin
23. Francis Saili

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YOU HAD TO feel for Peter O’Mahony as he dutifully sat down to face the Monday media in Carton House.

It must surely have been an immensely frustrating Six Nations campaign for the Munster captain. After returning from his lengthy injury absence to help Munster’s winning streak, a hamstring issue kept him out of the opening two rounds of the Championship until Josh van der Flier’s injury provided an opening onto the matchday squad.

But Joe Schmidt’s starting back rowers have been immovable throughout and so the Corkman has just 29 Six Nations minutes to his name this year as the finish line approaches with England’s name already etched on the trophy.

Even the matter of sitting down to face the press doesn’t go smoothly as team manager Paul Dean arrives to ask O’Mahony to scooch over, so that he can take his regular seat for the weekly injury update reading.

O’Mahony is never a man to make a fuss unduly and he tends to offer even-keeled responses whether he’s analysing victory or defeat. So when his opinion is sought on wider issues such as a perceived lack of progress or the absence of a cutting edge in the 22, O’Mahony exhales before bringing the issue back to the fine margins that have brought Ireland two losses in their four outings this year.

“We really are close, we know we are and we believe,” says the back row with a hand planted on the table.

“It’s not like we’ve thrown everything out and done something different. It’s the same squad, we’ve just got to finish off the small things and we can beat any team in the world on our day.”

“It’s little things, smallest of margins at this level, foot placement here or there…

“It’s not an effort issue, we need to be more accurate. It’s nearly there, the smallest of margins, we know we’re a good enough team to complete and finish off those drills we’re asked to. We know if we do that, there aren’t many teams that can compete with us.”

Source: Donall Farmer/INPHO

With any luck, O’Mahony will be tasked with driving those standards from the start this weekend. He has had to tailor his game slightly to make an impact as a replacement instead of gradually influencing the tide from the start. Despite being a fierce competitor, he insists that he has been happy fulfilling any role for the team.

“It’s the same as everyone, same as the lads who started the last day. Same as the lads who weren’t involved in the 23. Everyone’s here this week to put in a performance in training and prepare whoever’s starting as best we can to win at the weekend.”

Standing between Ireland a sweet win to bounce back from the disappointment of Friday night in Cardiff is the most difficult opponent this tournament can provide. And, on form, the best in the world. But ramping up intensity for England matches has never been an issue and that won’t start when this Ireland side have a point to prove.

“There is a huge amount to play for from our point of view, rankings, pride and wanting to leave the jersey in a good place after the Six Nations.

“Every time we come together, we want to build and improve and that’s no different. We have learned a huge amount already, we have a big game at the weekend and we want to build and add to that we’ve done already and take away learnings and leave it on a positive.

“There’s a huge amount of stake but there is a huge amount for us to go after as well.”

‘Stinger’ won’t keep Murray from facing England, but it’s a leg fracture for Tommy BoweSchmidt’s attention turns to halting England’s Grand Slam bid after Cardiff defeat

IT’S NOT QUITE the game fans would have hoped for before last Friday, but Ireland take on England at the Aviva on Saturday with a chance to bring their 18-match winning streak to an end. And, thanks to our friends at Guinness, we have two pairs of tickets to give away.

However, to be in with a chance of winning, you’ll need to take our three quizzes over the next 12 hours, with each one focusing on a different decade up to the present day.

Each time you score 10/10 in a quiz, you’ll be given a clue to the identity of an Irish player.

Once you identify the player, tweet his name, alongside the hashtag #fearofgod, to @The42_ie account up until 2pm on Friday 17 March.

Readers without a Twitter account can email [email protected] during the same time period. Both winners will be drawn at random from all correct entries.

Good luck!