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Showing posts with label Ian Madigan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ian Madigan. Show all posts
Friday, 16 October 2015
Monday, 28 September 2015
Schmidt - RWC Starts Now in Earnest
Ireland's World Cup campaign "starts in earnest now" after Sunday's convincing bonus-point victory over Romania, according to coach Joe Schmidt.
The 44-10 win sees Ireland go top of Pool D and they can seal a quarter-final spot if they beat Italy at the Olympic Stadium next Sunday.
"Next week is the pivotal week. It's pressure for us and pressure for Italy," said Schmidt.
"That is why people come to a World Cup - they want to see how teams respond."
After facing Italy, Ireland complete their pool fixtures with a match against France on October 11.
"For us it starts in earnest now, because we know we can qualify if we win next weekend," added Schmidt.
"The game against France just decides who we play in the quarter-final if we can win next week.
"Italy, after a win and a loss, need to win to qualify. It becomes a last-16 game for us."
Ireland must wait to find out if Rob Kearney will be fit after he was injured in scoring the fifth try shortly after coming on as a substitute.
"Rob was involved in a high-speed play after coming on the pitch and just after scoring the try he's jarred himself," Schmidt added.
"We hope it is not too much but the next 24 to 48 hours will tell if he has done anything telling for next week."
Losing Kearney would be a setback for Ireland, but several players impressed in a dominant performance against Romania.
Schmidt made 12 changes with Italy and France in mind, but his altered line-up showed few signs of weakness, scoring six tries, including four in the second half.
Tommy Bowe and Keith Earls crossed the line twice each, before Kearney and Chris Henry added two more late on, and Simon Zebo also staked a claim with an impressive display at full-back.
"There were a number of players who performed really well and will create a big of selection headache for Italy," Schmidt said.
Saturday, 14 February 2015
Ireland v France - Preview
Ireland coach Joe Schmidt has recalled the Lions trio of Jonathan Sexton, Sean O'Brien and Jamie Heaslip for the game against France.
Hooker Rory Best has recovered from a concussion and has completed all the return-to-play protocols.
Another Lion, prop Cian Healy, is on the replacements bench following surgery on a hamstring injury.
France make just one change with prop Eddy Ben Arous replacing the injured Alexandre Menini.
Ireland: 15-Rob Kearney, 14-Tommy Bowe, 13-Jared Payne, 12-Robbie Henshaw, 11-Simon Zebo, 10-Jonathan Sexton, 9-Conor Murray; 1-Jack McGrath, 2-Rory Best, 3-Mike Ross, 4-Devin Toner, 5-Paul O'Connell (c), 6-Peter O'Mahony, 7-Sean O'Brien, 8-Jamie Heaslip
Replacements: 16-Sean Cronin, 17-Cian Healy, 18-Martin Moore, 19-Iain Henderson, 20-Jordi Murphy, 21-Isaac Boss, 22-Ian Madigan, 23-Felix Jones.
France: 15-Scott Spedding, 14-Yoann Huget, 13-Mathieu Bastareaud, 12-Wesley Fofana, 11-Teddy Thomas, 10-Camille Lopez, 9-Rory Kockott; 1-Eddy Ben Arous, 2-Guilhem Guirado, 3-Rabah Slimani, 4-Pascal Pape, 5-Yoann Maestri, 6-Thierry Dusautoir, 7-Bernard Le Roux, 8-Damien Chouly
Replacements: 16-Benjamin Kayser, 17-Uini Atonio, 18-Vincent Debaty, 19-Romain Taofifenua, 20-Loann Goujon, 21-Morgan Parra, 22-Remi Tales, 23-Remi Lamerat.
The performances by both France and Ireland in their opening matches of the 2015 Six Nations were described in their respective country's media in a mixture of unflattering terms such as: 'less than convincing', 'disjointed and lacklustre', 'little to please the eye' and 'battle of attrition'.
Despite them both winning, each side is under pressure to show a little more 'joie de vivre' at the Aviva.
This is a fixture that has been particularly tight in recent years with successive draws followed by a nerve-jangling Championship-clinching win in Paris for Ireland last year by just two points.
A win on Saturday for the Irish would carry greater significance than just being another step towards retaining their title as both these sides are in the same World Cup group. Winger Tommy Bowe says that beating the French would put them "psychologically in a great position"ahead of the tournament, having already seen off Italy, another Pool D opponent, last weekend.
The Irish are boosted for this game by the reappearance of three Lions to their starting line-up, with another on the bench. The player generating the most headlines on his return is Johnny Sexton. The scourge of the French last year is back at number 10 after an enforced three-month absence following four concussions in 2014.
France coach Philippe Saint-Andre went public this week with his plan to put an undercooked Sexton under pressure by saying they should "test him early on", given his last game was against Australia in November.
However, given the Racing Metro fly-half's knowledge of his French opponents, and 17 points at the Stade de France last year, he is unlikely to be fazed by an early French bombardment.
France looked rusty on their return from a three-month break of their own as they lumbered past Scotland. Old-fashioned forward power ground them out of trouble, but Saint-Andre will have spent this week concocting a plan of how to better release a dangerous back division that weren't given enough chances to shine.
He also spoke of the importance of finally winning away at a major team, something that leaves a yawning gap on his CV with Les Bleus.
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee : Wayne Barnes (ENG)
Touch judges : Nigel Owens (WAL) & Stuart Berry (RSA)
TV : Graham Hughes (ENG)
Wednesday, 21 January 2015
Jackson Out of 6 Nations
Ireland are likely to be without Ulster fly-half Paddy Jackson for the entire Six Nations tournament after he suffered a dislocated elbow.
The 23-year-old requires surgery which will keep him on the sidelines for 10 to 12 weeks after he was hurt during Ulster’s European Champions Cup defeat to Toulon on Saturday.
"Paddy Jackson suffered a dislocated elbow in Saturday's defeat to Toulon at Stade Mayol," said an Ulster statement.
"A scan on Monday revealed that he has an unstable joint and that he will require surgery. He is expected to be out of rugby for between 10 and 12 weeks."
Ireland will also be without Jonathan Sexton for their Six Nations opener against Italy on February 7, leaving Leinster’s Ian Madigan, who has played mostly at inside centre this season, as the most likely starter at No 10 in Rome, although Munster's Ian Keatley is another contender.
Sexton has been advised to rest for 12 weeks after being concussed for the fourth time in a year in November's win over Australia. He should be available to play against France in Dublin on February 14.
Ulster centre Stuart Olding, 22, is also expected to be out of action for a similar period to Jackson because of an elbow operation after he was injured against Toulon.
Meanwhile, Ireland's long-term absentees Sean O'Brien and Cian Healy are closing in on a return to action, but Leinster have ruled out either facing Wasps in the Champions Cup this weekend.
O'Brien is battling back from two consecutive shoulder operations, while prop Healy is nearing a return after a severe hamstring tear.
Leinster are hopeful they will be available to face the Dragons on February 15, but they may still struggle to feature for Ireland in the Six Nations.
Sunday, 6 April 2014
Toulon v Leinster - Preview
Leinster have made four changes for Sunday's Heineken Cup quarter-final against Toulon in France.
Prop Cian Healy (ankle) and flanker Rhys Ruddock (calf) return to the pack while wing Dave Kearney replaces Luke Fitzgerald after shaking off a knock.
The final change is in the half-backs, with Jimmy Gopperth selected at fly-half in place of Ian Madigan,
Jonny Wilkinson returns to lead the defending champions, with centre Matt Giteau also back in the side.
Healy makes a first start since Ireland's Six Nations triumph in Paris three weeks ago.
Devin Toner and Mike McCarthy are once again the second row combination with Leo Cullen held in reserve.
Ruddock is back in place of Kevin McLaughlin, with Shane Jennings and captain Jamie Heaslip completing the back row.
In the centre Gordon D'Arcy and Brian O'Driscoll continue their record-breaking partnership.
"This is a huge battle and we are under no illusions - going down to the Stade Felix Mayol is not for the faint hearted," said Leinster coach Matt O'Connor.
"We have huge respect for what they bring to the contest. They are the current Heineken Cup champions and rightly favourites.
"But we are ready for the battle. We have a fit squad that is relishing the enormity of the challenge that we face.
"This will be a squad effort and this squad has experience of big games and of grinding out big results when the odds are against them.
"Our squad is full of guys who understand the psychology of cup rugby and like our opponents have been to the summit of this amazing competition and want to revisit it."
Toulon: D Armitage; D Mitchell, M Bastareaud, M Giteau, D Smith; J Wilkinson (capt), S Tillous-Borde; X Chiocci, C Burden, C Hayman, D Rossouw, J Suta, J Smith, JF Lobbe, S Armitage.
Replacements: J-C Orioli, F Fresia, M Castrogiovanni, V Bruni, B Habana, M Mermoz, M Claassens, K Mikautadze.
Leinster: R Kearney, F McFadden, B O'Drsicoll, G D'Arcy, D Kearney, J Gopperth, E Reddan, C Healy, R Strauss, M Ross, D Toner, M McCarthy, R Ruddock, S Jennings, J Heaslip (capt).
Replacements: S Cronin, J McGrath, M Moore, L Cullen, J Murphy, I Boss, I Madigan, Z Kirchner.
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Saturday, 16 November 2013
Quade Runs Dublin Wallabies
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| Getty Images |
Australia ran in four tries on their way to a 32-15 victory over Ireland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
Livewire fly-half Quade Cooper claimed a try to pass 100 international points, Michael Hooper grabbing a brace and Nick Cummins completing the scoring.
Despite crossing the line twice, Joe Schmidt's Ireland were unable to conjure a try - and the new head coach will be furious with the defensive lapses that led to Hooper's first score and Cooper's soft finish.
Jonathan Sexton limped out with a hamstring injury, the distraught fly-half leaving the field at half-time with his head in his hands.
Cooper opened the scoring with a ninth-minute penalty, before Sexton levelled from the tee after a strong Ireland rolling maul.
Cooper then fluffed a straightforward penalty, but the Wallabies struck quickly.
Stephen Moore bisected the Ireland midfield before producing a scoring pass even Brian O'Driscoll himself would have savoured.
Cummins received Moore's pass, cut in off his left wing and outfoxed the remaining cover to notch his third Wallabies try.
Soon afterwards Tommy Bowe cleared loosely from his own 22 and straight into gleeful Australian clutches.
Cooper's whipped pass sent Folau to the line, Australia worked the ball back left and Fardy's back-handed offload put openside Hooper clear to run home for his first international score.
Ireland rallied immediately, with McFadden surging into the Australia 22. Peter O'Mahony knocked on after sustained phase play, but then Ireland won a free kick at the scrum.
Heaslip's break brought two tight sneaks towards the line, before Eoin Reddan failed to deliver the killer pass. After all the pressure, Sexton had to settle for a penalty.
McFadden's searing break yielded another penalty that Sexton knocked over with Hooper sent to the sin-bin.
Another fluent Irish attack brought Sexton's fourth penalty of the night, closing an engaging half missing only a home try.
Leinster's Ian Madigan replaced Sexton at half-time, with the Racing Metro star suffering that potential hamstring problem.
Another flat Cooper pass sent Cummins into the left corner from Australia's bright start, but Bowe did just enough to deny him his second try.
Australia turned Ireland over at the scrum though, and Cooper struck all too easily from the set-piece.
The wily outside-half claimed his seventh Australia try, ghosting between Madigan and Luke Marshall's wafer-thin resistance.
Cooper landed his second penalty after Rob Kearney's uncharacteristic high-ball spill.
Ireland's scrum power then brought a penalty, that Madigan duly converted.
Ireland punted a kickable penalty to the corner to launch the final quarter, only to knock on at the line-out when Australia sacked their maul at source.
The Wallabies took that cue to wrestle back control and quickly scored through a line-out drive of their own.
Flanker Hooper rose from the pile of bodies with the ball, to confirm his second try of the night.
Tevita Kuridrani was then sent off for a dangerous tackle on O'Mahony.
The Australia centre flipped the Munster flanker and planted him on his head, and could have no complaints with the decision ruled by TMO Warren.
Replacement Conor Murray thought he had scored from a penalty snipe, but referee Chris Pollock brought back the play, refusing to allow the quick tap.
In the final minute Sean Cronin powered over but the replacement hooker was denied his first Ireland try, with the TMO chalking it off due to a Murray knock-on in the build-up. That just about summed up Ireland's night.
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