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Irish Daily Mirror
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Munster need a specific 2024/25 'first' if they are to beat Sharks
Munster have been living life on the cliff edge these past few weeks. The penultimate URC game with Ulster was the equivalent of a knockout game when it came to quarter-final qualification as was the last game against Benetton. Positive results, 38-20 and 30-21 respectively, hoisted the Reds to a sixth place finish, the single most important detail being it guaranteed Champions Cup next season. Sixth meant an away quarter-final and Munster duly found themselves in with Sharks, ostensibly the post-New Year form team in the URC and a third knockout game in succession. Munster have not won three games in a row at any point this season. "It was an awesome challenge, I guess when we started Ulster we knew we had to win those two games to ensure we made the play-offs," says star centre Alex Nankivell of Saturday evening's game. "That's probably the exciting part of rugby, when you are in those positions you have to play a big game. Those are the ones in which you want to be involved and fortunately we did enough to get the two wins which was great and make the play-offs from the team point of view. "For myself there is a bit of nerves at times being like sh*t you think about the one-off, but we've got a good team around us in terms of management and players give you confidence, focus on the process and nail the week. "It's a bit of a cliché but you nail the week and the game takes care of itself." Nankivell is pleased to be back talking about winning again as, returning from a hamstring injury, sustained in late December, on the last day of February there was a run of five defeats in the six games previously. "It's been tough personally," admits the New Zealander. "Probably one of my more interesting years for myself and my career so far. "I guess continuity and playing and then trying to be consistent on my performance like at the end of the first round I thought I had a good pre-season and then I tearing my hamstring "I'd been out for ten weeks and then that Six Nations block where you got a game and you get a week two weeks off, you are playing with different people, new combinations. "That has been really challenging but looking back on it now the amount that you learn has been huge and you take that forward. "These last two games I've been able to string together, they always give you confidence in terms of this week and just building those minutes and those combinations, relationships on the field, can't really beat that so good learning I'm happy where I'm at the moment. By contrast the Durban-based Sharks have won eight of the last URC 10 games, the shock 7-10 reverse against Leinster's 'seconds' five games back their last defeat. It was, coincidentally, their only defeat at home in the competition this season. "Transition is going to be huge for us so, our ability, our speed to connect those moments are massive but for us like I said they have a load of world class players, a lot of Springboks but a lot of opportunities. "If we work hard in our transition, when we are transitioning in attack and we feel we can put them under pressure around their speed to set and try and play around them. "Hopefully they will snowball during the game and things will present themselves later in the game. "So, working hard, getting into position quickly and being ambitious to take opportunities when they present themselves." The opportunity is there to make the semi-finals, it's all to play for. "The Sharks are traditionally a very strong team. That hasn't been touched on yet by the coach or anything. I'm not sure if it will be because it's a quarter-final and, in my opinion, if you start thinking about that too much . "It might be in the back of your mind and it might create a bit of pressure for the lads so we are purely just focused on our preparation and then winning the quarterfinal and getting another week in the semi-final so. "Honestly if we get our stuff right, I genuinely believe we can beat them." Beating Sharks on home soil will be a tough task and to see Ian Costello namecheck Nankivell as a key part of the Munster collective, as a 'great leader'. 'It was nice to hear firstly but, to be honest, I wouldn't have ever looked at myself like that. "It's something I'll dive a bit deeper into over the next the summer I'd say. Talk to a few people who have been in those positions before because it is hugely important for a team to be successful is to have good leaders. I'll try to find my own way of doing that. "I kinda feel like I'm part of the cog but I'll challenge people and keep people accountable. I have a different experience coming from a different place that plays a different style of rugby so I feel like can be helpful at times, just challenging ideas and getting people to think outside of the box. I guess I've never really thought about, well I've thought about leadership obviously and how I can influence people but probably not to that extent. It's probably something that I've got to think about as I'm ageing a wee bit now and a few of those big guys are leaving. "We need people that are going to step up and drive standards and be leaders and show the younger guys how to be a professional so it's definitely something since that conversation that I've been thinking about in the background."
The 42
9 hours ago
- Sport
- The 42
Ireland name 37-player preparation squad for World Cup
IRELAND HAVE NAMED 37 players for their preparation squad ahead of the World Cup in England later this summer. A group of 21 forwards and 16 backs includes the uncapped duo Alma Atagamen and Ivana Kiripati. Meanwhile, Jane Clohessy and Aoife Corey have retained their places after impressing on their debuts in the Six Nations. Sarah Delaney, Shannon Ikahihifo, Sam Monaghan, Eimear Corri, and Beibhinn Parsons return after missing the WXV1 and Six Nations campaigns through injury. The backroom team has also been confirmed. Joining head coach Scott Bemand are Denis Fogarty (Scrum Coach), Alex Codling (Forwards Coach), Gareth Steenson (Kicking Coach) and James Scaysbrook, who comes onboard as Defence Coach. Ex-Bath and Exeter Chiefs flanker Scaysbrook previously had stints with England U20s and Coventry RFC, in addition to spending time coaching in Hong Kong and Japan. Advertisement The squad will assemble on 2 June at the IRFU High Performance Centre ahead of warm-up matches against Scotland and Canada in early August. The 16-team World Cup takes place between 22 August and 27 September. Ireland have been paired in Pool C, along with Japan (24 August), Spain (31 August) and New Zealand (7 September). More information on tickets for the Summer Series can be found here. Ireland squad – Club/Province/Caps: Forwards: Alma Atagamen (Balbriggan RFC)* Aoife Wafer (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)(15) Brittany Hogan (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster)(32) Christy Haney (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)(24) Clíodhna Moloney (Exeter Chiefs)(43) Deirbhile Nic a Bháird (Old Belvedere RFC/Munster)(11) Edel McMahon (Exeter Chiefs/Connacht)(34) Eimear Corri (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)(4) Fiona Tuite (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster)(15) Grace Moore (Trailfinders Women/IQ Rugby)(20) Ivana Kiripati (Creggs RFC/Connacht)* Jane Clohessy (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)(1) Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)(46) Neve Jones (Gloucester Hartpury)(35) Niamh O'Dowd (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)(15) Ruth Campbell (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)(7) Sadhbh McGrath (Cooke RFC/Ulster)(14) Sam Monaghan (Gloucester Hartpury/IQ Rugby)(21) Sarah Delaney (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)(3) Shannon Ikahihifo (Trailfinders Women/IQ Rugby)(3) Siobhán McCarthy (Railway Union RFC/Munster)(8) Backs: Amee-Leigh Costigan (Railway Union RFC/Munster)(18) Anna McGann (Railway Union RFC)(10) Aoibheann Reilly (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht)(15) Aoife Corey (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)(1) Aoife Dalton (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)(23) Béibhinn Parsons (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht)(26) Dannah O'Brien (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)(24) Emily Lane (Blackrock College RFC/Munster)(15) Enya Breen (Blackrock College RFC/Munster)(29) Eve Higgins (Railway Union RFC)(26) Katie Corrigan (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)(5) Molly Scuffil-McCabe (Manawatū RFC/Leinster)(21) Nicole Fowley (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)(15) Stacey Flood (Railway Union RFC)(19) Vicky Elmes Kinlan (Wicklow RFC)(4) Training Panellist: Méabh Deely (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht)(13).
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Monaghan and Parsons in Ireland RWC training squad
Ireland's Sam Monaghan and Beibhinn Parsons have both been included in a 37-player training squad for the Women's Rugby World Cup in England. Scott Bemand's side begin their tournament against Japan on 24 August with New Zealand and Spain also in their pool. Co-captain Monaghan has not played international rugby since the 2024 Six Nations with the 31-year-old lock missing this season's championship and last year's WXV1 campaign through a knee injury sustained playing for her club Gloucester-Hartpury. Olympian Parsons has also been absent through injury after she suffered two leg breaks in the space of four months, the second coming when representing Ireland Sevens in December. With 26 Tests to her name, only Enya Breen has more caps than Parsons among the backs in Bemand's panel. Forwards Sarah Delaney, Eimear Corri and Shannon Ikahihifo are all included after missing out on the Six Nations where Ireland finished third with two wins and three defeats. Alma Atagamen and Ivana Kiripati are the only two uncapped players in the panel. Influential forwards Erin King and Dorothy Wall have already been ruled out of the tournament through injuries sustained in the Six Nations. Ireland's final squad for the competition will be reduced to 32 players with the side playing warm-up games against Scotland in Cork on 2 August and Canada in Belfast seven days later. The side did not qualify for the 2021 World Cup after finishing eighth on home soil four years prior. Forwards: Alma Atagamen, Aoife Wafer, Brittany Hogan, Christy Haney, Cliodhna Moloney, Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird, Edel McMahon, Fiona Tuite, Grace Moore, Ivana Kiripati, Jane Clohessy, Linda Djougang, Neve Jones, Niamh O'Dowd, Ruth Campbell, Sadhbh McGrath, Sam Monaghan, Sarah Delaney, Shannon Ikahihifo, Siobhan McCarthy. Backs: Amee-Leigh Costigan, Anna McGann, Aoibheann Reilly, Aoife Corey, Aoife Dalton, Beibhinn Parsons, Dannah O'Brien, Emily Lane, Enya Breen, Eve Higgins, Katie Corrigan, Molly Scuffil-McCabe, Nicole Fowley, Stacey Flood, Vicky Elmes Kinlan.
RTÉ News
11 hours ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Scott Bemand names 37-player Irish preparation squad for World Cup
Ireland head coach Scott Bemand has revealed his 37-player preparation squad for the Women's Rugby World Cup in England in August and September. The initial squad contains two uncapped players, Balbriggan RFC's Alma Atagamen and Creggs RFC's Ivana Kiripati who are both included in the 21 forwards named. Jane Clohessy and Aoife Corey have been rewarded with a call-up into the preparation squad having impressed on debut in the side's final Six Nations match against Scotland this season. Sarah Delaney, Shannon Ikahihifo, Sam Monaghan, Eimear Corri and Beibhinn Parsons make their return to the squad after missing both the WXV1 and Six Nations campaigns through injury. Bemand has also added to his coaching team with James Scaysbrook joining as defence coach. Scaysbrook, a former Bath and Exeter Chiefs flanker, transitioned into coaching after his playing career. He coached in Hong Kong and Japan before taking up a position as an England Under-20s defence coach. Since 2020, he has been with Coventry RFC. The team will assemble at the IRFU High Performance Centre from Monday, 2 June and will undertake a series of camps before two home warm-up games against Scotland and Canada in early August. "We're excited to come back together as a group refreshed, recharged, and ready to build towards what promises to be a huge few months," said Bemand. "The competition for places in the final World Cup squad will be fierce, and I know the players will embrace that challenge. "There's great continuity within the squad, with many of the group having come through WXV1 last September, but we've also brought in some young talent who are hungry to make their mark. Now it's about putting in the hard work. We've got a valuable block of time ahead to prepare, and we're looking forward to the opportunity to test ourselves in front of home support in Cork and Belfast this August." Forwards: Alma Atagamen (Balbriggan RFC), Aoife Wafer (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster), Brittany Hogan (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster), Christy Haney (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster), Clíodhna Moloney (Exeter Chiefs), (Deirbhile Nic a Bháird (Old Belvedere RFC/Munster), Edel McMahon (Exeter Chiefs/Connacht), Eimear Corri (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster), Fiona Tuite (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster), Grace Moore (Trailfinders Women/IQ Rugby), Ivana Kiripati (Creggs RFC/Connacht), Jane Clohessy (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster), Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Neve Jones (Gloucester Hartpury), Niamh O'Dowd (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Ruth Campbell (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Sadhbh McGrath (Cooke RFC/Ulster), Sam Monaghan (Gloucester Hartpury/IQ Rugby), Sarah Delaney (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster), Shannon Ikahihifo (Trailfinders Women/IQ Rugby), Siobhán McCarthy (Railway Union RFC/Munster) Backs: Amee-Leigh Costigan (Railway Union RFC/Munster), Anna McGann (Railway Union RFC), Aoibheann Reilly (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht), Aoife Corey (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster), Aoife Dalton (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Béibhinn Parsons (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht), Dannah O'Brien (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Emily Lane (Blackrock College RFC/Munster), Enya Breen (Blackrock College RFC/Munster), Eve Higgins (Railway Union RFC), Katie Corrigan (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Molly Scuffil-McCabe (Manawatū RFC/Leinster), Nicole Fowley (Galwegians RFC/Connacht), Stacey Flood (Railway Union RFC), Vicky Elmes Kinlan (Wicklow RFC)
Scotsman
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Glasgow Warriors' chase aided by 'infectious personality' as Springbok's Scotstoun nightmare explained
Warriors' title is on the line in URC knock-outs Sign up to our Rugby Union newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... And then there were eight. Like victims in an Agatha Christie thriller, half the cast list of the United Rugby Championship has been dispatched. There will be further casualties over the next three weekends as the survivors are whittled down via a play-off schedule which begins with Friday's first quarter-final, between Glasgow Warriors and the Stormers, and continues on Saturday with the Bulls v Edinburgh, Leinster v Scarlets and the Sharks v Munster. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Glasgow were the last club standing a year ago, victors over the Bulls in a dramatic final in Pretoria. It was a seismic moment, one which showcased the Warriors squad's abilities and courage in equal measure under the totemic leadership of Franco Smith. Glasgow Warriors' Sione Tuipulotu tries to break clear of Manie Libbok during last season's United Rugby Championship play-off quarter-final against the Stormers at Scotstoun. | SNS Group It was a real team effort but several Glasgow players touched new heights across the play-offs which, like this year, began with a home quarter-final against the Stormers, then continued with a semi-final win over Munster in Limerick followed by the remarkable triumph at Loftus Versfeld. Zander Fagerson was a titan in the scrum, playing the full 80 minutes in all three knockout ties; Tom Jordan was equally effective in the backline but it was Sione Tuipulotu who added the extra pizzazz, the dynamism, personality and sheer attacking brilliance to elevate Glasgow. Poirot not needed to crack this case It doesn't take Hercule Poirot to work out that the Warriors have missed Tuipulotu. The all-action centre has been injured: sidelined since mid-January after ripping a pectoral muscle in training. If anything, Tuipulotu's form had been even better this season, both for club and country, and he had been set to lead Scotland into the Six Nations. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad As things turned out, he missed the entire championship but happily he has recovered and made his comeback from Glasgow a fortnight ago, playing the first half of their narrow loss to Leinster in Dublin. A small step, perhaps, but not an insignificant one. 'I think Sione's return for 40 minutes against Leinster was massive for the club,' said Chris Paterson, Scotland's all-time record points scorer, who will be on punditry duties for Premier Sports at Scotstoun. 'I thought he was outstanding. His influence on others, let alone his own performance after being out for so long, was brilliant. Sione Tuipulotu during a Glasgow Warriors training session at Scotstoun this week, | SNS Group 'I think his infectious personality and his standards make a difference. And I also think, technically against a team like Stormers, who traditionally want to come really hard at you in defence, his ability to play the late pass at the line or cut through the line and carry, I think will really suit him. So I think he'll be crucial. It's really good to have him back.' Tuipulotu will go into battle without his side-kick, Huw Jones, who has been ruled out by the persistent Achilles tendon problem that has been troubling him since the Six Nations but Stafford McDowall is a more than adequate replacement. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Boks playmaker's horrible night in front of the posts When the sides met at this stage last year, it was something of a slow burn. There were no tries until the 58th minute when Ben Loader scored for the Stormers. It galvanised the hosts and Glasgow touched down three times in the final quarter, through Sebastian Cancelliere, Henco Venter and Ross Thompson, to win 27-10. It was a difficult evening for Manie Libbok. The lavishly gifted South Africa fly-half had a horrible night in front of the posts, missing everything. He is on the bench tonight, with fellow Springbok Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu preferred as the starting 10. 'I do think it'll be open because of the nature of the two teams,' said Paterson. 'It's the same quarter-final as last year and that was a disappointing game. It was wet, it was windy and it was in the balance. I think there were three points in it until about the last 15 minutes. 'Manie missed four kicks I think, consecutively. I was standing at the side of the pitch watching him in the warm-up and he was really struggling because of the wind. And Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu seemed to be hitting everything. 'Not to get too technical, but Manie Libbok's tee was really high. The ball sits right up and he kicks underneath and it goes really high. I don't think there was much wrong with his technique and I just think it just wasn't suited to the wind whistling through Scotstoun. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Former Scotland international Chris Paterson will be on duty for Premier Sports at Scotstoun. | ©INPHO/Tom Maher 'For as much as it hindered Stormers, it actually helped Glasgow because it meant they could stay ahead. And then of course Glasgow ramped it up the last 15 minutes and finished the game. 'I don't know what the conditions are going to be like tomorrow but if I was in the Stormers' camp I'd be thinking, 'we let ourselves down last year, let's make the difference now', which will focus the mind. And Glasgow have to be aware of that.' The return of Murphy Walker Winning the title last year has raised expectations for Smith's side who have struggled in recent weeks. Injuries took their toll and they slipped from second to fourth in the URC standings. It was enough to secure a home quarter-final but they go into the tie still without some key personnel. Jack Dempsey, the Fagerson brothers and Jones are all missing but they are fortified by the return of No 8 Venter from suspension and full-back Josh McKay who has recovered from an ankle infection. There are also recalls for half-backs George Horne and Jordan and lock Scott Cummings, and a first start of the season for Murphy Walker at tighthead after a wretched time with injuries. Tuipulotu remains Glasgow's game-breaker, however, a point not lost on Stormers coach John Dobson. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We know the threat Tuipulotu poses,' said Dobson. 'He was really good against us at Stellenbosch, which was a game we deserved to lose. He is their game-maker, their talisman and we have to be better at defending him than we were last time.'
