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The Irish Sun
16-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Rieko Ioane warned by Kiwi legends over ‘arrogant' Leinster comments after Johnny Sexton World Cup clash
JORDIE BARRETT might be on his way out of Leinster, but the province won't be short on All Blacks flair next season. That's due to the imminent arrival of Rieko Ioane, who is the latest All Black ace Advertisement 2 Jonathan Sexton and Rieko Ioane of New Zealand clash after the World Cup semi-final in 2023 2 New Zealand legend Israel Dagg says Rieko Ioane will need to do his talking on the pitch when he joins Leinster He is the second All Black to take his sabbatical - the NZRU allow players to take a season abroad before returning to the international fold - with Leinster after during this campaign. The New Zealander famously clashed with Earlier this week, Ioane broke his silence on the move to He said: "By all my friends' accounts, it's about 50/50 at the moment, so we'll try and get that 60/40 in my favour. The reception will be awesome, I can't wait to get over there. Advertisement read more on rugby "Fans will be fans, I'm no stranger to a bit of this. Rugby needs more of this, I love this side of the game. We'll have to wait and see when I'm over there." Butt New Zealand legend Israel Dagg and Scotty Stevenson issued a warning to the Auckland Blues back ahead of his On their He said: "More niggle… why? How about rugby needs a better left to right pass. Advertisement Most read in Rugby Union "Focus on this, your left to right pass. Focus on that before you start saying, 'Let's all have a fight.' Rugby does not need that, does it?" Dagg wasn't as scathing but made it clear Ioane has to let his rugby do the talking next season in the URC and Champions Cup. Irish province confirm ex-All Black signing at pivotal position prompting fans to predict 'we're back' - He added: "We're all pretty same, same. You see it when we get an interview on the show, you get the same answers." "Actually, a part of me loves it but, in saying that, you have to walk the talk. If you're going to come out and show some confidence – some may say arrogance – you have to go out there and perform." Advertisement "If that was me knowing what had gone on in that World Cup, there is no chance I'm going to Ireland, so you have to really sit back and commend him and go, 'he is ballsy'. I thought it was April Fool's when that happened." Ioane's form with the Blues this year has been patchy, and both Dagg and Stevenson made it clear he'll need to hit the ground running to make an impact in blue. Dagg, while calling Ioane's comments 'arrogant' - admits there's something about Ioane's self-belief he admires. He concluded: "Rieko's got a whole lot to focus on with his on-field performance.... he's still got a lot to address on the field." Advertisement "But a part of me loves this kind of arrogance and the way that he carries himself. "I don't know if he does it intentionally, but he does it and then he's got to go out there and front it, and he doesn't shy away from that."
Perth Now
27-04-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Former Wallabies coach guides Kobe to Japan playoffs
Former Wallabies coach Dave Rennie has guided the Kobe Steelers into the Japan Rugby League One playoffs for the first time since 2018. The Steelers beat the Sagamihara Dynaboars 59-33 on Saturday to lock up fifth spot on the standings. Rennie has presided over steady improvement at the Kansai-based club since he joined two years ago, with Saturday's success earning Kobe a shot at the post-season for the first time since their last title seven years ago. One of the teams standing in Kobe's way is also coached by a former Wallaby boss in Robbie Deans, whose Saitama Wild Knights remain top of the table despite a valiant effort from Black Rams Tokyo, with All Black scrumhalf TJ Perenara scoring two tries in their 27-21 loss. Spears Funabashi Bay, who play the Wild Knights in a box-office clash next weekend, remain second after coming from behind at halftime to beat Mie Heat 39-20. Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx scored twice, after former Wallaby flyhalf Bernard Foley scored the Spear's opening try. Kobe's likely opponents in the playoffs, Shizuoka BlueRevs, were led by another length-of-the-field try from former NRL winger Valynce Te Whare, as they came back from 0-21 down to beat Yokohama Eagles 38-28 on Sunday. The 24-year-old's sixth try of the season, and second in three weeks, was part of a period where the BlueRevs scored 31 unanswered points to seal a win that could have ended the chances of Wallaby Mathew Philips' Eagles making the playoffs. Yokohama trail Tokyo Sungoliath by six points with two games remaining after ex-All Black skipper Sam Cane scored twice in Sunday's 45-28 win over Verblitz. Steve Hansen's side remain in relegation peril ahead of next week's clash with the Heat, who are one place below, with the losers likely to join Urayasu D-Rocks in the end-of-season promotion/relegation series. Samu Kerevi's ninth try from his past eight appearances couldn't prevent D-Rocks slumping to their 13th defeat of a wretched season, after the league's bottom-placed side were outclassed 61-19 by champions Brave Lupus Tokyo on Friday night.
