Leinster's Tadhg Furlong ruled out of Scarlets game but expected to be fit for Lions tour
He will be marked absent for Leinster's United Rugby Championship quarter-final clash against Scarlets at the Aviva Stadium this Saturday (kick-off 3pm), but Tadhg Furlong is not expected to be a doubt for this summer's British & Irish Lions squad.
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Irish Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Leinster vs Glasgow: Will the real Warriors please stand up
Leinster thrashed Glasgow Warriors 52-zip in the Champions Cup quarter-final at The Aviva on April 11. Yet they were posed significant problems five weeks later on May 17 when beating the same opposition 13-5 in a close-run encounter at the same ground. Leinster's James Ryan concedes that his side, when it comes to Warriors this Saturday, expect to see the 'test match standard' May performance not the back-tracking April outfit. 'They were a completely different team when they played us a couple of weeks ago versus when they played us in the Champions Cup," he says. "I felt that in that game when they came to the Aviva a couple of weeks ago, in terms of the ruck and the physical parts of the game, for me it was like test match standard - that was the level. "They had an impressive win again on the weekend against the Stormers. They won't be the side that came a few weeks ago in the Champions Cup. They'll be a much better side. "I don't think they'll fear coming to Dublin, I think they like going away. You saw when they won a semi-final over in Limerick last year. Went away and won against the Bulls obviously as well." There is no doubting their ability on both sides of the ball. "You can see that when they play, they have a number of different threats 'For us as forwards, their line-out drive was the best in the URC last season. Our maul defence is going to be huge this week. Making sure we've got clarity there, so we can bring the right intent. "Then also off counter-attack, off any loose ball, they're very, very good. They've got a number of guys that are quick. "Our connections defensively there, our kick chase, it's all going to be huge for us. There's a number of areas across the park we're going to have to be just very good in a number of areas.' Moreover Glasgow are twice URC champions, 2014/15 and 2023/24, and they are able to play with confidence in their championship-winning ability. "They do. They played against us a couple of weeks ago and I watched them this last weekend, particularly defensively. "They looked like a team that are pretty together and they want to play for each other whatever it takes - that is sort of their mantra. "I think there is a good sense of identity there in that club." Ryan is delighted to be back playing, has got three games under his belt since returning from a calf injury sustained in training directly following the Six Nations. "Yeah, it's never ideal timing wise," he says, conscious of missing the Champions Cup defeat to Northampton particularly. "It was a bit frustrating to miss the block that I did but it is what it is, not a good time but I was able to work with the physios at Leinster, they did a great job. "So I felt like I came back and there wasn't a big leap between what we did in terms of our S&C and and then the actual match intensity so that when I came back, basically, I felt like I was fit and good to go. "It felt good and it's been good to get back the last few weeks." It was a lay-off that meant Scarlets last week was his first knockout game of the season, one he agrees was a little 'mixed' performance-wise. "I thought we started well, first 15/20 minutes then I think we got a bit loose for the second part of the first half. "Loose with the ball for us, you know, we should be playing in the right areas in a knockout game and then discipline as well - I gave away two pnos myself and gave them access into the game so it was a bit of a mixed bag. I think we were unlucky not to score at the end of the first half, it could have gone to 21-5 but instead they picked it up and ran the length and it all of a sudden became 14-13 and was a close game at half-time. "We showed decent composure in the second half to sorta grind out a win." But then knockout games are there to be won, there are no second prizes, the key is the scoreboard, get ahead, stay ahead. Is this concern at all, the form or the performance or a worry? "I think in knockout games more often than not things don't go your way because the opposition, they have their own plans and ideas and they've got stuff up their sleeve and they want to put you off. "I think you get more out of a win when you have to grind it out then when it comes to easier and it'll be the same this week against Glasgow, they'll have their own plans and it's not gonna be easy. "So with knockout rugby it's not about who scores four tries or who plays better, it's who wins the game and so if you win it by point, great." His boss Leo Culen had described this as winning 'ugly' and being enough. 'I think so, and I hope so. That's probably something we can be better at, being able to win those games 'ugly' "I think you'd get more out of a game like that where you're coming in at half-time and the game is very much up in the air and you have to chat and think about the second half and what's going to work and what's not been working and what you decide to do. "You do get more of it. You learn more than a game, as I said, where it comes a little bit easier to you. "Back in July, if you had told me we'd have a semi at home, might have bitten your hand off, so delighted. "We are Looking forward to this week now, a semi-final at home, we are excited as a group, they'll be pumped and we'll have to be at our very best, be very good to beat them.'
The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
‘Don't believe everything that's written' – Florian Wirtz hits out at Liverpool transfer rumours in 14-word statement
FLORIAN WIRTZ has hit out at reports claiming he wants to snatch a Liverpool star's shirt number to join the club. The German ace is on the brink of joining the Reds if they can strike a deal with Advertisement 4 Florian Wirtz has hit out at Liverpool transfer rumours in 14-word statement Credit: Instagram @flowirtz 4 It comes after reports suggested he wanted to take the No10 shirt off of Alexis Mac Allister Credit: Getty Bayer have already rejected an offer worth £109million as they hold out for a British transfer record payment of £126m (€150 million). A report from Sky Sport Germany claimed the 22-year-old wanted to be given the No10 shirt if he joins the Anfield outfit - having already agreed personal terms. However, Wirtz has directly addressed that claim on social media. Taking to his Instagram story, he wrote: "Who says I want the 10 [emoji]. Advertisement READ MORE IN FOOTBALL "I respect players. "Don't believe everything that's written," followed by a clown emoji. World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister is the current owner of the shirt, having taken it when he joined Liverpool from Brighton in 2023. Wirtz wears the No10 for his club but wears the No17 for the German national team. Advertisement Most read in Football Breaking Exclusive BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK Previous owners of the No10 shirt at Liverpool include Sadio Mane, Joe Cole, Michael Owen, Frimpong jets into UK with Leverkusen star to complete £30m Liverpool move City pulled out of the race early after realising the cost of the overall package to land the German could set them back £252m. Advertisement Wirtz will become the biggest English transfer of all time if Liverpool stump up the money Bayer are demanding to sell him. Liverpool have already announced the 4 Advertisement 4
Irish Daily Mirror
6 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Kieran Molloy vows to make Galway a boxing capital ahead of Pearse Stadium bout
Kieran Molloy has vowed to make Kaisee Benjamin wish he did his homework when the pair clash at Pearse Stadium in Galway on 28 June. Molloy is unbeaten in 11 professional fights, and not only does he want to become a world champion, but he wants to take his county along for the ride. The 26-year-old flew in from London on Tuesday morning, where he trains with Charlie Beat, and went straight to the home of Galway GAA. He will be the headline act of the first event to be held at the Salthill stadium, and as he walked around the pitch and up the steps of the main stand, it was obvious that the enormity of the occasion was hitting him. The Oughterard man told the Irish Mirror: "I've been dreaming of moments like this since I was a kid. "I've been here for many big football and hurling matches. I've got a few great mates playing football now for Galway, Matthew Tierney and Johnny Heaney, they'd all be local lads from where I'm from, so I know what the atmosphere and the crowds are like here. "It's just huge now to be able to bring it back to the West of Ireland and have a first ever outdoor stadium. "This has been my vision. I really do believe that Galway can become an active hub for Irish boxing. We're making history with this show alone. "They've always had shows in Belfast and Dublin, and Galway's been missing out on all that. But on 28 June, people are going to set it for real and it's going to be very exciting. I think everyone is going to get right behind it. "It's brilliant to be able to bring a different sport to this venue." It was typical Galway weather for the press conference, a cold wind blowing and showers of rain. Indeed, Molloy's opponent Benjamin started to shiver as the fighters sat down to talk about the upcoming fight. And the Englishman, a former British title challenger, could be forgiven for wishing he were elsewhere as he revealed that he is on baby alert. "My last couple of fights haven't been my past, as I had stuff going on outside of the ring. But I have got that all sorted now. "I have a little girl on the way. The due date is the day after the fight, so I've got my wife eating prunes, dates and pineapples, everything to get it out earlier." He added: "I'm doing it for her, my unborn child. I'm doing it for her future and my future. "It's all or nothing for me." Experienced campaigner Benjamin (18-4-1) raised some eyebrows when he said that he had never seen Molloy in the ring. Asked how highly he rated the Galway man, he said: "To be honest, I've never seen him box. You might think I am being a bit naive, but that's the way I do things." Molloy was quick to respond to this revelation, saying, "Fairy play Kaisee for stepping in as the last seven or eight opponents have all pulled out for one reason or another, but I would recommend that you get studying before 28 June or you could be in big trouble!" The fight night is stacked with a brilliant undercard, including the likes of Belfast's Sean McComb, Westmeath's Joe Ward, and Hughie Fury, the cousin of heavyweight king Tyson, and a late addition to the bill. But there is no doubt that Molloy, who was joined at Pearse Stadium by a host of family and friends, will bring the star attraction as he looks to inspire a new generation of Galway boxers. He said: "When I started off boxing in the Oughterard Club, I was five years old, but I had dreams to fight here. "That's where it all started for me, and the great coaching I received, and all the fans travelling up and down the country, around Europe and around the world to watch me fight, it's all preparation for these nights, and I'm going to grab this with both hands. "I think everybody's in for a shock about how much noise this place is actually going to make on the night. "It's going to build a massive platform for Galway boxing. "In Belfast, you've got your Lewis Crockers and your Michael Conlons, in Dublin you've got your Katie Taylors, and in Galway it's going to be the Kieran Molloy show. We're going to build it massive."
