Leinster’s kids are alright
After a winter of discontent there is cause to be optimistic once again for Irish rugby and for Leinster, after the province’s young guns were pivotal in masterminding last weekend’s 25-11 Champions Cup victory over Bath at the RDS.
Leo Cullen's side were winless and already out of the competition after a dismal campaign but in his column today Gerry Thornley suggests the performance of a number of academy stars in what was seemingly a dead rubber will have breathed life back into Leinster.
He writes: “But new players in any team tick a number of boxes. It galvanises older, more established players when they see how much pulling the jersey on means to likely lads.
“In Leinster’s case last Saturday, not only did the enthusiasm and workrate of Peter Dooley, Tracy, Tadhg Furlong, Ross Molony, van der Flier and Ringrose energise home team and supporters alike, but their skill levels and positivity on the ball did so as well.”
Captaincy would be an honour: O’Brien
Ireland boss Joe Schmidt is set to name his extended squad for the Six Nations on Wednesday, and Sean O'Brien has responded to suggestions he could be named as captain, he said: "It would certainly be something you would embrace, a huge honour if you were asked. I have not actually thought about it that much though."
Swans out of bottom three
In the Premier League last night struggling Swansea City dragged themselves out of the bottom three with a 1-0 win at home to Watford thanks to Ashley Williams' first half header.
McIlroy and Spieth to renew rivalry
With all four Majors, the Ryder Cup and the Olympics to play for, 2016 could be a defining year in the rivalry between Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth, and that rivalry will be renewed in this week's Abu Dhabi Championship as four-time Major winner McIlroy makes his first foray back out on tour.
Nadal knocked out in Melbourne
Rafael Nadal has been knocked out of the Australian Open, losing a five-set epic 7-6, 4-6, 3-6, 7-6, 6-2 to Fernando Verdasco. On the opening day there were wins for Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer as ATP officials rejected claimes of a match-fixing cover-up.
Can Faugheen emulate Hurricane Fly?
Faugheen may be the odds-on favourite to take Sunday's Irish Champion Hurdle but the eight-year-old has a long way to go to emulate the heroics of Hurricane Fly who won the race five times in a row and scored a perfect 10 out of 10 at Leopardstown.
What to watch out for:
Tennis
The first round of the Australian Open tennis continues in Melbourne. (Eurosport 12am-1pm)
