WE’RE WITHIN 24 hours of kick-off in Ireland’s opening Six Nations Test of 2015. Here’s how the Joe Schmidt’s squad are shaping up in Rome.

Ian Keatley lines up a kick at goal in Stadio Olimpico

Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO

Here’s one he nailed earlier

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

Click Here: Brazil football tracksuitSean O’Brien looks like a man who’s happy to be back

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Rory Best, itching for a scrap

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Joe Schmidt, always watching

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Never let it be said that Rob Kearney doesn’t carry his weight

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“Paulie, you think we’ll win, eh?”

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For a captain’s run, things got fairly intense

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Jared Payne gets ready to run from 13

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Let’s go to work

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Jack McGrath ready to go ’cause a bit of damage’ against legendary CastroAnalysis: Paul O’Connell’s lineout must fire for Ireland in Rome

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SIMON ZEBO HAS come full circle during his fledgling Ireland career.

Initially hailed as a breath of fresh air and forever attached to that overused catch-all term ‘X factor’, his high profile earned in a short space of time meant he had a long way to fall in people’s estimation.

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This time last year, he was written off by many when Joe Schmidt preferred Dave Kearney and Andrew Trimble as his wingers en route to the Six Nations Championship.

Zebo, however, never lost confidence in his own ability, never ignored the fact that injury played its part in curtailing his chances and never stopped trying to improve his game to make the cut.

The 19 – 9 win over England saw Zebo put in his most effective performance in green. While the Six Nations opener against Wales in 2013 included an unforgettable flick off his heel and a try in the corner, the Aviva Stadium was yesterday treated to an exemplary display of all round wing play as Zebo worked his trademark low-slung socks off.

“I thought the way he finished the game against France, taking Remi Lamerat – a very strong player – in to touch; those are things that don’t [involve] him carrying the ball.

Paul O’Connell echoed the sentiment of Schmidt, lauding his team’s backline for thriving on the workload that is required of them.

“One thing about our backs is that they’re all very talented, but they’re all very hungry as well. They’re willing to work hard.

“When we were looking out at the snow today, they were relishing playing in that maybe as much as some of us forwards were – an opportunity to mail a bit more or whatever. As well as great talent, [they have] great hunger and appetite as well. I think it’s a great thing from my point of view to see from them.”

6 talking points as Ireland take control of the 6 Nations after win over EnglandWas that display against England Paul O’Connell’s final act at home in the Six Nations?

WE HAVE ALREADY recapped how depressing last weekend was for the provinces but there was one moment of surging power that stood out from Dragons v Ulster too.

As the visitors threatened a comeback against the Newport side, wing Hallam Amos burst down the touchline and slammed Ulster scrum-half Ruan Pienaar to the ground before offloading for Carl Meyer to seal the game.

You won’t see a better hand-off than this bit of strength.

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There were some positives for Ulster, mainly young wing Rory Scholes’ slashing break in the build-up to Craig Gilroy’s opening try (first score in the clip).

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Irish teams weren’t always on the receiving end of big plays last weekend though. Here is Rodney Ah You flying out of the line like a human torpedo and levelling a Cardiff Blues attacker.
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There is one great stat that highlights just how bleak last weekend was for Irish rugby‘He’s been written off a few times’ – D’Arcy left on the outside by Ireland

THERE WAS A great photo floating around during the week of the Senior Cup trophy surrounded by sheep on a farm and the caption asked ‘what would Blackrock think of this?’.

The school likely saw the funny side of it like everyone else but they offered an indirect response in the Junior Cup final today, reminding everyone of their might by beating bitter rivals Terenure College 15-13.

Midway through the second half ‘Nure led 13-5 with the help of a try from Luke Murnaghan but a late five-pointer from Michael McGagh reduced the gap to just two points.

Remarkably, Blackrock won a penalty with a minute to go and Joey Caputo held his nerve to seal the school’s 49th Junior Cup.

It was Blackrock’s third Junior Cup in-a-row and the school had been going for a ‘treble treble’ until Roscrea ended the senior team’s three in-a-row dreams in the Senior Cup quarter final.

Terenure’s James Nolan is tackled by Adam Thompson of Blackrock. Source: James Crombie/INPHO

 

Becky Lynch is prepping for her eventual rematch with Ronda Rousey with Conor McGregor’s coach. John Kavanagh posted to Instagram noting that he trained with Lynch, running her through training for armbar defense as well as some counter throws. In addition to her armbar, Rousey’s MMA background is in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
You can see the pic below. It obviously is not yet confirmed, but speculation has been rife that Lynch may next face Rousey (and perhaps Charlotte Flair as well) at WrestleMania.

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Just finished a tough session with The Man @beckylynchwwe We focused on armbar defence and some sneaky counter throws. 2019 gonna be her year 😎
A post shared by Coach Kavanagh (@coach_kavanagh) on Dec 21, 2018 at 6:58am PST

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CBC captain Eoin Monahan lifts the trophy. Source: James Crombie/INPHO

CORK’S CHRISTIAN BROTHERS College were crowned Munster Schools Junior Cup champions with a 22-10 win in today’s final against Limerick’s Crescent College Comprehensive at Thomond Park.

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It was the 16th time the Cork school had won this competition and they laid the foundations in the opening period when they went into a 15-3 lead at the interval.

Robert Loftus and Robert Hedderman grabbed first-half tries while Eoin Monahan struck over a drop goal and a conversion.

Crescent College’s Conor Phillips and Conor Dennehy tackle Colin Sisk of CBC. Source: James Crombie/INPHO

Crescent College battled back with John Hurley scoring a try that he converted but Christian’s sealed their triumph with a try from JD O’Hea that was converted by Monahan.

Captain Eoin Monahan lifts the trophy. Source: James Crombie/INPHO

CBC’s Eamonn Doyle celebrates. Source: James Crombie/INPHO

Munster hurling pedigree helping Fitzgerald thrive for Ireland under 20s3 of Roscrea’s Leinster senior schools winning team in Irish squad to face Scotland

LEINSTER SCRUM-HALF Isaac Boss was in far from celebratory mood when he swapped the changing room for the media table after helping Leinster to a 34 – 34 draw with Pro12 leaders Glasgow Warriors.

The Ireland international scored two of Leinster’s three second half tries as they fought back from a 27 – 7 half-time deficit at home. Yet as he was commended on a 57-minute man-of-the-match display, he shrugged and the gruff Kiwi tone flowed:

“Not much of a consolation. I’d rather have a win.”

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

Boss entered the game as a first-half replacement for the injured Eoin Reddan. The Limerick man, like Richardt Strauss who also left the fray injured, is expected to recover from “a bang on the shoulder / neck” in time to compete for a place in the looming Champions Cup quarter-final against Bath.

“It’s a shame we let the first half get away from us,” says Boss, “that happens sometimes. Before you know it, one or two things don’t go your way and you’re 20 points down at half-time.

“I think it was good character from us. We knew what we had to do and it was spoken about in the second half. It’s no magic formula except a bit of an attitude shift and trying to change the momentum.”

EIGHT TEAMS ENTERED, only four advance to the semi-finals in France in a fortnight.

Here’s the players we thought stood out above their peers as Leinster beat Bath, Clermont thrashed Northampton, Saracens sneaked it against Racing and Toulon threw off the challenge of Wasps.

15. Nick Abendanon (Clermont)

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14. Noa Nakaitaci (Clermont)

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13. Mathieu Bastareaud (Toulon)

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12. Wesley Fofana (Clermont)

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11. Anthony Watson (Bath)

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10. Brock James (Clermont)

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

9. Joe Simpson (Wasps)

Source: Billy Stickland/INPHO

1. Cian Healy (Leinster)

MATT O’CONNOR SAYS speculation over his future as Leinster head coach is “irrelevant” as he prepares his side for Sunday’s Champions Cup semi-final meeting with Toulon in Marseille.

Captain Jamie Heaslip has again expressed his support for O’Connor. Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

Last weekend’s defeat to the Dragons leaves Leinster looking extremely unlikely to secure a play-off position in the Guinness Pro12 this season, adding to the unhappiness with O’Connor in some quarters.

While many Leinster supporters remain supportive of the Australian head coach, understanding the difficulties he has faced with injuries and departures over the last two seasons, there is belief elsewhere that O’Connor’s job is increasingly on the line.

The former Leicester and Brumbies coach’s contract in Ireland runs until the end of next season, but that has not stopped mutterings of a possible early departure this summer.

“You take no notice of it, is the reality,” said O’Connor of such speculation this morning in UCD.

“It’s irrelevant, the noise outside the environment makes no difference to what happens inside the environment.”

Leinster captain Jamie Heaslip underlined that the squad remain fully supportive of their head coach, with the Ireland number eight also pointing out that the players themselves must take responsibility for the poor performances this season.