3 years ago Irish men’s rugby won a GS, were world #1, won u20s GS, made u20 WC final, our 7s team made World Series Final, Munster won a URC, Leinster made a European final, 4 provinces were in the Champions Cup we beat SA at a WC (and ultimately fell short to NZ)
What changed?
What changed?
February 8, 2026 at 8:30 AM
3 years ago Irish men’s rugby won a GS, were world #1, won u20s GS, made u20 WC final, our 7s team made World Series Final, Munster won a URC, Leinster made a European final, 4 provinces were in the Champions Cup we beat SA at a WC (and ultimately fell short to NZ)
What changed?
What changed?
One freezing cold morning a couple of years ago, I wore a scarf to a minor football match. A neighbour dropped this in for me the next day, just so I never lose the run of myself again… send on your address there bud, you need it more than me 🤣
February 3, 2026 at 3:27 PM
One freezing cold morning a couple of years ago, I wore a scarf to a minor football match. A neighbour dropped this in for me the next day, just so I never lose the run of myself again… send on your address there bud, you need it more than me 🤣
Ireland’s #1 issue in the Autumn was an inability to win collisions, attacks routinely broke down when carriers were knocked backwards. We’ve lost significant ability to win collisions at prop, but chosen not to try to replace that anywhere else.
February 3, 2026 at 8:22 AM
Ireland’s #1 issue in the Autumn was an inability to win collisions, attacks routinely broke down when carriers were knocked backwards. We’ve lost significant ability to win collisions at prop, but chosen not to try to replace that anywhere else.
A bank holiday team announcement from the Irish Times, at least Edogbo has broken in:
February 2, 2026 at 9:50 AM
A bank holiday team announcement from the Irish Times, at least Edogbo has broken in:
For no particular reason I find myself reminiscing on that interview that Rassie gave where he repeatedly denied he was leaving Munster for South Africa. That would never happen again, would it?
January 14, 2026 at 9:38 PM
For no particular reason I find myself reminiscing on that interview that Rassie gave where he repeatedly denied he was leaving Munster for South Africa. That would never happen again, would it?
Wilson: has completely changed his game this season, gone are the signature barnstorming runs and constant scrum pens, reduced scrum pens/80 by about 50% on last season, still shows good punch in the tight carry game with most defenders beaten and offloads of all TH’s. A coming force.
January 7, 2026 at 7:02 PM
Wilson: has completely changed his game this season, gone are the signature barnstorming runs and constant scrum pens, reduced scrum pens/80 by about 50% on last season, still shows good punch in the tight carry game with most defenders beaten and offloads of all TH’s. A coming force.
O’Toole: has had a tough 18 months, the LH experiment is over. Has the worst record for scrum pens conceded of all TH’s, but has improved in the past month, carrying has improved to 3rd most effective, 2nd best defensive stats in the group.
January 7, 2026 at 7:02 PM
O’Toole: has had a tough 18 months, the LH experiment is over. Has the worst record for scrum pens conceded of all TH’s, but has improved in the past month, carrying has improved to 3rd most effective, 2nd best defensive stats in the group.
Furlong: hasn’t conceded a single scrum pen! Joint most effective carrier but an uncharacteristically low tackle completion rate this season 81%. Sets the standard for the rest to follow, latest injury news a concern. Should have been moved to 10 when both OH’s were binned v the Boks!!
January 7, 2026 at 7:01 PM
Furlong: hasn’t conceded a single scrum pen! Joint most effective carrier but an uncharacteristically low tackle completion rate this season 81%. Sets the standard for the rest to follow, latest injury news a concern. Should have been moved to 10 when both OH’s were binned v the Boks!!
Clarkson: Joint most effective carrier (with Furlong), dominant defender leads all THs for all defensive metrics, 2nd lowest scrum pens conceded per 80 (behind Furlong and well ahead of the rest). By any measurement, comfortably the 2nd best TH in Ireland.
January 7, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Clarkson: Joint most effective carrier (with Furlong), dominant defender leads all THs for all defensive metrics, 2nd lowest scrum pens conceded per 80 (behind Furlong and well ahead of the rest). By any measurement, comfortably the 2nd best TH in Ireland.
Bealham: hasn’t actually played much this season, roughly half the mins of competitors, 3rd for scrum pens/80, carrying which is a persistent weak point, ranks last of all THs, average in terms of defensive stats.
January 7, 2026 at 6:59 PM
Bealham: hasn’t actually played much this season, roughly half the mins of competitors, 3rd for scrum pens/80, carrying which is a persistent weak point, ranks last of all THs, average in terms of defensive stats.
Which Tight Heads will be in the Irish squad for the 6N?
Incumbents: Furlong, Bealham, Clarkson
Contenders: O’Toole
Outsiders: Wilson,
Not considered: Jager
Incumbents: Furlong, Bealham, Clarkson
Contenders: O’Toole
Outsiders: Wilson,
Not considered: Jager
January 7, 2026 at 6:58 PM
Which Tight Heads will be in the Irish squad for the 6N?
Incumbents: Furlong, Bealham, Clarkson
Contenders: O’Toole
Outsiders: Wilson,
Not considered: Jager
Incumbents: Furlong, Bealham, Clarkson
Contenders: O’Toole
Outsiders: Wilson,
Not considered: Jager
Stewart: Ireland’s best carrying tight forward, top2 amongst all forwards for defenders beaten, line breaks, offloads & tries scored. Top3 hooker for all defensive metrics, somewhat undermined by his unorthodox lineout throwing 83%. Central to Ulsters revival this season.
January 6, 2026 at 8:21 PM
Stewart: Ireland’s best carrying tight forward, top2 amongst all forwards for defenders beaten, line breaks, offloads & tries scored. Top3 hooker for all defensive metrics, somewhat undermined by his unorthodox lineout throwing 83%. Central to Ulsters revival this season.
Sheehan: Ireland best hooker, one of the world’s best hookers but not playing like it… lineout 91%, 3rd best carrier this season, average defensive stats. Will start in Paris, still Ireland’s best hooker, but this isn’t anywhere close to the dominant Dan Sheehan of the past.
January 6, 2026 at 8:20 PM
Sheehan: Ireland best hooker, one of the world’s best hookers but not playing like it… lineout 91%, 3rd best carrier this season, average defensive stats. Will start in Paris, still Ireland’s best hooker, but this isn’t anywhere close to the dominant Dan Sheehan of the past.
McCarthy: has played 140mins in the last 3 months whilst fit, lineout improved this year to 88%, carrying middle of the pack, workrate 2nd only to L Barron.
January 6, 2026 at 8:19 PM
McCarthy: has played 140mins in the last 3 months whilst fit, lineout improved this year to 88%, carrying middle of the pack, workrate 2nd only to L Barron.
Kelleher: regarded as the strongest scrummager (not my dept), lineout @ 91% which has been a weakness in the past, lowest workrate of all hooker, carrying improved on prior years but often non existent for Ireland. Needs to play better.
January 6, 2026 at 8:19 PM
Kelleher: regarded as the strongest scrummager (not my dept), lineout @ 91% which has been a weakness in the past, lowest workrate of all hooker, carrying improved on prior years but often non existent for Ireland. Needs to play better.
Heffernan: most people wouldn’t consider the 34yo a viable candidate but he is. Physically dominant, a powerful scrummager, 2nd most impactful carrier in the group. Age and his lineout work 69% will rule him out, which is a shame.
January 6, 2026 at 8:17 PM
Heffernan: most people wouldn’t consider the 34yo a viable candidate but he is. Physically dominant, a powerful scrummager, 2nd most impactful carrier in the group. Age and his lineout work 69% will rule him out, which is a shame.
L Barron: Lineout @ 91%, best defensive stats of all hookers, 3rd highest workrate, improving quickly. Seems to have benefited from his namesake’s misfortune and is now the Munster starter. His case is undermined by his carrying, least impactful carrying hooker and this needs to improve.
January 6, 2026 at 8:16 PM
L Barron: Lineout @ 91%, best defensive stats of all hookers, 3rd highest workrate, improving quickly. Seems to have benefited from his namesake’s misfortune and is now the Munster starter. His case is undermined by his carrying, least impactful carrying hooker and this needs to improve.
D Barron: Lineout throwing 84%, 2nd least impactful carrying hooker (ahead of Lee B). Unfortunately has been badly impacted by a horror day in Bath, lost 5 of the first 6 lineouts and was given his wings in the scrum, subbed after 40mins and seems to have been demoted at Munster since.
January 6, 2026 at 8:16 PM
D Barron: Lineout throwing 84%, 2nd least impactful carrying hooker (ahead of Lee B). Unfortunately has been badly impacted by a horror day in Bath, lost 5 of the first 6 lineouts and was given his wings in the scrum, subbed after 40mins and seems to have been demoted at Munster since.
Who will get selected at Hooker in the 6N?
Incumbents: Sheehan, Kelleher, G McCarthy
Contenders: Stewart, D Barron
Outsiders: L Barron, Heffernan
Incumbents: Sheehan, Kelleher, G McCarthy
Contenders: Stewart, D Barron
Outsiders: L Barron, Heffernan
January 6, 2026 at 8:14 PM
Who will get selected at Hooker in the 6N?
Incumbents: Sheehan, Kelleher, G McCarthy
Contenders: Stewart, D Barron
Outsiders: L Barron, Heffernan
Incumbents: Sheehan, Kelleher, G McCarthy
Contenders: Stewart, D Barron
Outsiders: L Barron, Heffernan
Porter: obviously a poor season to date, the SA game was awful for him, followed by an injury. He has conceded the 2nd highest number of scrum pens/80 (ahead of Loughman), has won the most scum pens of all LHs and is the 3rd best carrier. Leinster & Ireland need more from him.
January 5, 2026 at 4:14 PM
Porter: obviously a poor season to date, the SA game was awful for him, followed by an injury. He has conceded the 2nd highest number of scrum pens/80 (ahead of Loughman), has won the most scum pens of all LHs and is the 3rd best carrier. Leinster & Ireland need more from him.
McCarthy: Ireland’s best prop this season, McCarthy concedes the fewest scrum pens/80 of any Irish LH, he’s the 2nd most dominant carrier (behind Boyle and a long way ahead of the rest), the best defensive LH (tackle 96% & dominant hits), 2nd only to Tadhg Beirne for turnovers in Irish rugby. Nuts!!
January 5, 2026 at 4:12 PM
McCarthy: Ireland’s best prop this season, McCarthy concedes the fewest scrum pens/80 of any Irish LH, he’s the 2nd most dominant carrier (behind Boyle and a long way ahead of the rest), the best defensive LH (tackle 96% & dominant hits), 2nd only to Tadhg Beirne for turnovers in Irish rugby. Nuts!!
Milne: has fallen from 2nd best to 2nd worst carrying loosehead this season after an impressive start at Munster. 4th best LH in terms of pens conceded/80, hardest working prop around leading in involvements per 80 (tackle + carry + ruck hit).
January 5, 2026 at 4:10 PM
Milne: has fallen from 2nd best to 2nd worst carrying loosehead this season after an impressive start at Munster. 4th best LH in terms of pens conceded/80, hardest working prop around leading in involvements per 80 (tackle + carry + ruck hit).
Loughman: Mr consistency, high workrate, behind only Milne in terms of involvements per 80, ruck expert 94% effective. Has conceded more pens than any LH this season & most scrum pens per 80. Carrying stats well behind those in the squad (<1m/carry v 2.5/3m), underpowered versus what is required.
January 5, 2026 at 4:09 PM
Loughman: Mr consistency, high workrate, behind only Milne in terms of involvements per 80, ruck expert 94% effective. Has conceded more pens than any LH this season & most scrum pens per 80. Carrying stats well behind those in the squad (<1m/carry v 2.5/3m), underpowered versus what is required.
Sam Crean: Low key having a great season. Obviously Angus Bell is Uslter’s #1, but Crean is proving a quality option. 3rd fewest scrum pens conceded of all LH’s, high defensive workrate (on a par with leading contenders), won’t be considered due to poor carrying, but a coming man.
January 5, 2026 at 4:07 PM
Sam Crean: Low key having a great season. Obviously Angus Bell is Uslter’s #1, but Crean is proving a quality option. 3rd fewest scrum pens conceded of all LH’s, high defensive workrate (on a par with leading contenders), won’t be considered due to poor carrying, but a coming man.
Boyle: a dominant collision winner, Ireland’s 2nd best carrying, tight forward (behind Stewart), 2nd lowest scrum pens/80, defensively on a par with other contenders. Concedes too many pens around the park and workrate needs to increase slightly.
January 5, 2026 at 4:06 PM
Boyle: a dominant collision winner, Ireland’s 2nd best carrying, tight forward (behind Stewart), 2nd lowest scrum pens/80, defensively on a par with other contenders. Concedes too many pens around the park and workrate needs to increase slightly.