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Sean Farrell reports from the Aviva Stadium

“THE ALL BLACKS are the team that can put the most points on you in the shortest space of time,” warned Joe Schmidt on Thursday.

Nobody on Lansdowne Road was getting too giddy with a three or even a 10-point cushion. This is the same New Zealand outfit who trailed the rejuvenated Springboks by 17 points with 20 to go in Pretoria, by 12 points with five to go. And still, somehow, they managed to find a way to score tries and win.

Watching black jerseys suddenly begin to move a little sharper, a little more purposefully in the wake of Jacob Stockdale’s magnificent try last night it was difficult to avoid thinking there was another comeback on the way.

They had done it on this ground before, after all.

In 2013, Aaron Cruden grubbered brilliantly to find left wing Julian Savea to score a try and land a hammer blow to the hosts. It was almost a mirror image just after the hour mark on Saturday night. Beauden Barrett in the 10 shirt peeled off towards the right flank and his kick through the line looked inch perfect.

Brodie Retallick and Peter O’Mahony gave chase, but Jacob Stockdale and Ben Smith were eating up the ground fast and it seemed a straight race between them for the bouncing ball.

“Peter O’Mahony coming back,”said Luke McGrath post-match, in no doubt as to the pivotal moment during his time on the field.

A deserved man of the match award for the Munster skipper. Source: Billy Stickland/INPHO

“That was absolutely unbelievable. I thought his hamstring nearly went when he was running back.”

The Corkman did succumb to injury soon after, but by the time he turned, dug deep and thrust two safe hands onto the precariously-positioned, he had already been struggling around the Aviva Stadium pitch for over 10 minutes.

A knock early in the second half, left him crumpled on the turf and O’Mahony looked very uncomfortable when first making his way back to the defensive line. Yet he remained in that line and shuffled from position to position, filling holes and hitting rucks until he was called on for a try-saving snaffle of the ball that Smith was eyeing up as a certain try.

“I was a bit far away,” adds McGrath, “I just couldn’t believe he came out with the ball. I’ll have to look at it again. 

“The determination he has, you see it in training, he led the team all week. He leads by example every single time I’m absolutely over the moon to see him come away (with the ball).”

With Conor Murray watching from the stands, the Leinster scrum-half was tasked with closing out the win for Ireland. It’s far from his perceived strength of injecting pace and tempo into a contest.

The clash between the world’s number one and two was already pacy and frenetic enough. And as for the volume in the ground in the dying minutes, as the crowd sensed a first ever win over New Zealand on home soil.

“Unbelievable,” McGrath says with a shake of the head.

McGrath kicks Ireland into Kiwi territory late on. Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

“You can’t hear two feet from you, you have to scream at each other. It’s nice knowing you have that seven-point lead, but that crowd lifts you, makes you want to get up off the ground quicker and put in bigger tackles. they definitely pulled us through.

“It’s a case of trusting your defence. With two minutes to go we were in the thought process of: ‘do we hold onto the ball around halfway?’

“It’s tough at the moment, referees do sometimes look for penalties if you’re sloppy at the breakdown or sealing off.” 

Ireland didn’t dare give their guests a sniff.

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AFTER A TWO week break, the Guinness Pro14 returned last weekend as Leinster, Munster and Connacht all resumed their respective campaigns with impressive victories, although Ulster suffered a heavy away defeat to Scarlets.

Leinster extended their lead at the top of Conference B with an emphatic seven-try victory over the Ospreys at the RDS, with a number of young players — including debutant Scott Penny — shining for Leo Cullen’s side.

In Parma, Conor Murray made his long-awaited comeback from a neck injury as he came off the bench to help Munster to a bonus-point win over Zebre in round nine, while Connacht stormed to all five points in their clash with the Kings in Port Elizabeth.

If you missed any of the weekend’s action, highlights from all seven games are below.

Glasgow Warriors 40-15 Cardiff Blues

Source: PRO14 Rugby/YouTube

Leinster 52-7 Ospreys

Source: PRO14 Rugby/YouTube

Scarlets 29-12 Ulster

Source: PRO14 Rugby/YouTube

Cheetahs 31-25 Benetton

Source: PRO14 Rugby/YouTube

Southern Kings 14-31 Connacht

Source: PRO14 Rugby/YouTube

Zebre 7-32 Munster

Source: PRO14 Rugby/YouTube

Dragons 18-12 Edinburgh

Source: PRO14 Rugby/YouTube

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LIGHTING STRUCK TWICE as Old Belvedere secured back-to-back wins over leaders Railway Union on Saturday evening, with only two points now separating the top three sides in the Women’s All-Ireland League table.

Old Belvedere 8-5 Railway Union, Anglesea Road

Looking to avenge last week’s 18-15 home defeat, Railway Union laid down an early marker with a fifth-minute try from the in-form Susan Vaughan.

Old Belvedere’s Nora Stapleton. Source: Bryan Keane/INPHO

Unfortunately for the visitors, Old Belvedere’s iron-clad defence managed to thwart them and keep them scoreless over the remaining 75 minutes.

Belvedere’s returning centre Sene Naoupu, fresh from captaining Ireland against England at Twickenham, made some excellent runs, and prolific prop Linda Djougang followed her team-mate’s lead by scoring her fifth try of the campaign — on the back of some close-range carries from her fellow forwards.

Both tries went unconverted and the pelting rain made handling a challenge for both teams.

Emma Murphy, Chloe Blackmore and Siobhan McCarthy stood out in the forwards for Railway, while Belvedere held the edge in open play with the centre partnership of Naoupu and Ailbhe Dowling working a treat.

Railway had certainly worked hard to reduce their penalty count, but one slight slip allowed Ulster’s Jemma Jackson to kick a penalty for ‘Belvo and 8-5 is how it stayed.

It was another exhilarating Dublin derby and both sets of players must be commended for the high standard of play in trying weather conditions.

While disappointed with the narrow loss to one of their title rivals, Railway head coach John Cronin singled out Nora Stapleton afterwards for the key role she played for the hosts.

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He praised the Belvedere fullback for “managing the game so well and keeping ‘Belvo playing in the right areas.”

Cooke 12-22 Blackrock, Shaw’s Bridge

A walkover win for UL Bohemians over injury-hit St Mary’s keeps the defending champions in second place, while Blackrock have climbed into fourth after completing a quick-fire double over Cooke.

Captain Michelle Claffey made a try-scoring return as ‘Rock bounced back from conceding an early try.

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JOHANN VAN GRAAN adopted the language of a prize fight on Friday night.

The lights in Kingspan Stadium were still a long way from being shut down for Christmas, but the Munster head coach had thoughts firmly fixed on Leinster.

The South African is rarely short of a complimentary word for his rivals in the east. He continually refers to the team setting the benchmark, the team with Pro14 and European champions daubed all over them. 

Yet aside from offering up that continuous stream of respect, once the L word was mentioned, the fixture was fixed in Van Graan’s vision like a fight for a fighter. The usual use of a day or ‘next week’ to point at a given fixture was replaced with a specific date as boxers and their promoters are wont to do.

“There will be many changes,” said Van Graan, who also expects to see Leinster fully locked and loaded in an already sold-out Thomond Park.

“24-25 guys were rested for this week, given a mental break. We’ll carefully plan through this week and, what a great challenge awaits us on the 29th.”

The selling points of the bout were on the tip of his tongue. Munster are winding up for this one, make no mistake

“Munster-Leinster is a great game in the Irish context. Munster haven’t lost at home in exactly a year. And since we lost to them at Thomond Park they’ve gone on to become Pro14 and European champions.

Andrew Conway tackles James Lowe in Thomond Park last season. Source: Billy Stickland/INPHO

“Everyone in Europe is striving for what they’re achieving at this stage. You just have to look at their last two games (against Bath); they can win a close game or blow other teams out of the park.

“Great challenge for us and one that we as a squad are really looking forward to.

“It’s a team that we respect. And what better way to test yourselves than against the double champions on the 29th in Thomond Park.”

After making 13 changes to his full-strength side and still forcing a losing bonus point in a loss to Ulster, Van Graan took heart from the defensive effort on show to deny Dan McFarland’s men a try-scoring bonus point. Further cause for positivity arose from the  successful returns of Conor Oliver, Tommy O’Donnell, Darren Sweetnam, Jean Kleyn and Jaco Taute.

“As a squad we took a step forward tonight,” said the head coach, “we want to take it step-by-step over the next four weeks.

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THESE DAYS IN rugby, going into games with only a notion of what the opposition will bring is a thing of the past.

Teams are analysed to the nth degree, every play dissected and broken down into its individual components, with game strategies and tactical analysis done based around the video review.

By the time both sides take to the pitch at the weekend, there are no secrets between them. Everything is in the open. But for Ulster this season, head coach Dan McFarland has even taken that a step further than they’d done previously.

The Englishman has come in with his own style, his own systems and now his own approach on video review on a Monday morning, which has seen the team go even more in-depth than usual.

Already McFarland has received a reputation as being a coach with an attention to detail, somebody who has a tendency to break down every play harking back to his time with Connacht and Glasgow.

Schmidt at Ulster training in August. Source: Ulster Rugby/John Dickson/INPHO

That has driven standards within the northern province which sees them this week looking to potentially secure a place in the knockouts of the Heineken Champions Cup and in the mix in a tight Conference B in the Guinness PRO14.

“It’s more that it trickles back from Ireland as well,” says scrum-half John Cooney, an integral part of McFarland’s system with Ulster and now regular call-up in Joe Schmidt’s national squads.

“As more and more individuals go off with them I think they get a taste for that and they bring that back, whereas after November going so well I think a few of the Irish players sat down and said ‘this is what we need to bring back to Ulster’.

“It’s no coincidence that Ireland are up there as two in the world and with Dan, Dan loves that and he’s close to Joe and talks to him a lot. He is mad into attention to detail and as in the leadership group, or the older lads, if you’re seen not to know what you’re meant to do, he will have a go at you.

Ahead of this weekend it perhaps won’t be quite so pertinent with Ulster fairly familiar with Saturday’s opponents Racing 92, in particular two of their more prominent stars in that back line. But for Cooney, the delight hasn’t been in the preparation but instead with the amount of buy-in from the squad.

“You nearly know what step people have, left or right, what side they kick-off, and we have those snippets all in our computers at the moment,” adds Cooney.

“So it is important when you get to the game in that Finn Russell might dummy late, stuff like that. Even the people running the second team (know), so they even understand.

“I noticed that Johnny Stewart was looking at computers at what Antonie Claassen does for them, so it’s a huge squad effort. It’s great to see people that might not be picked week-in, week-out, looking at all their players. That is pretty good to see.”

It’s been a staple of Ulster’s success this season. As they head into the next two games which will define their European fate, there’s both a familiarity and a fresh feeling.

Cooney and Will Addison move in on Rhys Patchell. Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO

Like last year, when they defeated La Rochelle in Belfast and then lost to Wasps in Coventry to end their European involvement, they came into the two games off the back of losses to Connacht and Leinster.

Similarly, this year they come into the doubleheader with Racing and the Leicester Tigers off those back-to-back interpro losses. But, unlike last year, the mood is fairly positive.

EDINBURGH REACHED THE Heineken European Champions Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 2012 on Friday, taking Scottish rivals Glasgow into the last-eight with them.

Edinburgh defeated Montpellier 19-10 to ensure top spot in Pool 5.

Victory ensured Glasgow, who face already qualified Saracens on Saturday, will also make the quarters either as Pool 3 winners or as one of the best three runners-up from the five groups.

Furthermore, Friday’s result at Murrayfield allowed defending champions Leinster and Racing 92 to move into the quarter-finals before the rest of the weekend’s final batch of group games.

The result is also a positive one for Ulster who go into tomorrow’s game against Leicester at Welford Road with their destiny firmly in their own hands.

They will progress to the quarter-final of the competition should they so much as pick up a losing bonus point against the Tigers.

Edinburgh’s Jaco van der Walt kicks a penalty during Friday’s game. Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

Fly-half Jaco van der Walt kicked Edinburgh 9-0 ahead before his fellow South African and Montpellier lock Jacques du Plessis drove over for a converted try for the French side on the brink of half-time.

Veteran kicker Ruan Pienaar nudged Montpellier ahead with a penalty early in the second half for a 10-9 lead but Edinburgh’s greater possession eventually told.

Van der Welt was successful with another penalty before Edinburgh grabbed their first try just on the hour mark.

Winger Darcy Graham crossed in the corner after his forwards created the opening with a ruthless drive and maul with van der Welt converting.

© – AFP 2018

Ahead of the final weekend of European pool games, Murray Kinsella, Andy Dunne and Gavan Casey look at what each of the provinces can expect, and who impressed last weekend:

Source: Heineken Rugby Weekly on The42/SoundCloud

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IRELAND HEAD COACH Adam Griggs says he doesn’t want to rush star winger Alison Miller back into the starting XV for Friday’s Six Nations opener, after suffering a horrific injury in last year’s tournament. 

Miller being stretchered off after suffering that terrible injury against Italy. Source: Bryan Keane/INPHO

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Miller sustained three broken bones in Ireland’s round two victory over Italy last February, and a lengthy recovery kept her on the sidelines until last month when she was back on the pitch for her club, Old Belvedere. 

She subsequently started for Ireland in their Six Nations warm-up win against Wales earlier this month, but is being held in reserve for England’s visit to Donnybrook on Friday evening [KO 5pm, RTÉ 2].

Griggs is pleased with the progress she’s made since fracturing her fibula and tibia as well as suffering a compound fracture, but insists that they want to be sensible about Miller’s return to competitive games.

“She’s been doing really well and we just wanted to make sure that we don’t just throw her straight back in,” said Griggs after announcing the Ireland squad that will take on England this weekend.

“Her playing against Wales a couple of weeks ago certainly was a step in the right direction for her there. You look at someone like Eimear Considine who was one of our star players in November. It’s a bit of a reward for her and Megan Williams.

“I’m sure Ali will get some time on the field and I know she’ll show us what she can do.

“She’s absolutely brilliant around the squad.

“In terms of being off the field and what she contributes to our environment around her leadership as well, it’s brilliant to see her back and she’s been ticking along the last two or three months where we were hoping that she would be available for this.”

Adam Griggs addressing the media after announcing the squad that will begin Ireland’s Six Nations campaign. Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

Lindsay Peat is a huge loss for Ireland heading into this clash against England with the star prop failing to make the 23-player matchday squad due to an injury affecting the neck/shoulder area.

Griggs reports that she “just ran out of time” to be fit for selection, but added that they’re hoping to have her in camp again this week where she will continue to be assessed. 

Ireland still have a number of experienced players to call upon against England, with Ciara Griffin captaining the side from the back row while Sene Naoupu and Claire Molloy are also in the starting line-up.

Ireland stalwart Niamh Briggs continues to be a notable absentee in the squad.

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

The Munster out-half was omitted for Ireland’s November Tests and was also left out of recent squad selections, including the one that faced Wales in their Six Nations warm-up fixture.

Griggs says that she remains in contention to make a return to the Six Nations squad.

England were runners-up in last year’s competition as France completed a Grand Slam triumph.

Following on from that setback, Simon Midleton’s charges have taken a major step towards becoming a fully professional outfit after the RFU handed 28 full-time contracts within the 35-woman Six Nations squad.

Those deals came into effect at the start of January.

Additionally, England remain in the number two spot on the world rankings, making them a formidable prospect for Ireland to face in the opening round of the Six Nations.

A professional environment certainly gives England an advantage over their Irish neighbours, but Griggs is electing to draw the positives from the challenge that lies ahead this week.

“It’s also about having the home crowd as well. For the players to know that they’ve got support behind, it always helps them get up for a game.

“It is difficult to start off against the second-best team in the world but it also sets you up for the rest of the tournament because you’re under no illusions of how tough a Six Nations competition is.

“Speaking to their coach Simon Midleton, they’re talking about their recovery times and things being improved as well. For us, when we’re in camp and the way we go about things from the medical staff to our management, we’re always as professional as we can be.” 

Join us to preview the Six Nations with Simon Zebo, Murray Kinsella and Gavan Casey on Thursday @7pm in Liberty Hall Theatre Dublin.

DEVIN TONER, IAIN Henderson, Tadhg Beirne, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, Andrew Conway, CJ Stander, Dan Leavy, Luke McGrath, Kieran Marmion.

Ireland’s injury list has stacked up heavily in recent weeks, although it does provide exciting chances for the likes of Quinn Roux, Jack Conan and Chris Farrell this weekend against Scotland in the Six Nations.

Scotland captain Greig Laidlaw with Ireland’s Rory Best. Source: Billy Stickland/INPHO

Joe Schmidt has been keen to stress a “fantastic opportunity” for Ireland to test themselves and adapt in order to bounce back from last weekend’s defeat to England, but Gregor Townsend’s Scots will be eyeing an opportunity.

Ireland had a painful defeat on their last visit to Murrayfield in 2017 and, speaking on this week’s episode of The42 Rugby Weekly, Bernard Jackman expressed his concerns.

“They’re very dangerous,” said Jackman of the Scots. “This is a really dangerous game for us because of what happened to us at the weekend and the nature of it.

Source: The42.ie/YouTube

“The way to beat Scotland is to physically dominate them. Every game is won around that but that’s their Achilles’ heel.

“Ireland, based on everything we’ve seen up until last Saturday, can do it to them but you wonder why we didn’t perform to that level [last weekend].

“In fairness to Scotland, they’ve got some boys in their pack – Jonny Gray is a big boost for them, I really like Grant Gilchrist, Josh Strauss has come back in and he’s physical.