The Irish Times

Ronan O’Gara focused on ‘writing a new page of history’ for La Rochelle

Champions Cup: semi-final between Racing and La Rochelle looks like being a close affair

Sat May 14 2022 - 06:00

Gerry Thornley’s Six Nations Team of the Tournament (and more)

Five Irish players included, nine from the winning French team, and Maro Itoje

Tue Mar 22 2022 - 06:00

Grand Slam-chasing France ready to stake their claim as nation’s greatest

Galthié’s enviably balanced young side puts some illustrious names in the shade

Sat Mar 19 2022 - 06:00

Owen Doyle: Full ramifications of uncontested scrum law an accident waiting to happen

To have anything written into law which reduces a team to 13 for one red card is daft

Tue Mar 01 2022 - 06:00

Classy France stay on course for Grand Slam with six-try win over Scotland

Damian Penaud goes over for two tries in the second-half to help secure bonus-point win

Sat Feb 26 2022 - 16:45

Matt Williams: France match at the mercy of the mischievous rugby gods

Attack god has looked kindly on Andy Farrell on his path down rugby’s road to Damascus

Sat Feb 12 2022 - 06:00

Matt Williams: Every great outhalf requires a proper consigliere to really shine

The role of the inside centre is letting the No 10 flourish is one of the game’s key combinations

Sat Feb 05 2022 - 06:00

Leinster trio in the mix for European Player of the Year award

Caelan Doris, Jimmy O’Brien and Josh van der Flier included on longlist

Tue Feb 01 2022 - 17:03

Finn Russell’s cunnning and craft sets up big Racing win in Northampton

Scottish outhalf provides the telling pass for four of the five tries in bonus-point win

Fri Dec 10 2021 - 22:26

Richie Mo’unga one of seven changes for New Zealand’s clash with France

Beauden Barrett fails to recover from head knock he suffered in defeat to Ireland

Thu Nov 18 2021 - 18:25

Six Nations 2021: Gerry Thornley’s highs and lows

Our rugby correspondent looks back on this year’s tournament

Tue Mar 23 2021 - 06:00

Six Nations 2021: Gerry Thornley’s team of the tournament

Ireland’s strong end to the tournament reflected in selection

Tue Mar 23 2021 - 06:00

Rugby Stats: Decision on Ireland’s 13 jersey could be pivotal

More ball-in-hand width at higher tempo needed or identity of centres won’t matter

Thu Mar 18 2021 - 06:00

Six Nations miscellany: Elliot Daly and Jamie George lose ‘untouchables’ tag

Louis Rees-Zammit’s sleepless nights; when Wales ended the Grand Slam wait in 2005

Sat Mar 13 2021 - 06:00

England need controlled aggression against title-chasing France

Henry Slade insists his side have been working on discipline ahead of Le Crunch

Sat Mar 13 2021 - 06:00

Ireland’s outhalf dilemma: Is Jack Carty the forgotten man?

28-year-old is Connacht’s leading points scorer but hasn’t been seen for Ireland since 2019

Sat Feb 20 2021 - 05:00

Rugby stats: Too often Irish players didn’t look and therefore didn’t see

Ireland need to encourage players to unscramble the pictures, to look and see

Thu Feb 18 2021 - 06:00

Gordon D’Arcy: This could become Ireland's worst ever Six Nations

A bulked-up pack and heads-up rugby can lead to a statement win in Italy

Wed Feb 17 2021 - 07:10

Gerry Thornley: French lesson in offloading is one Ireland must take on board

The way the modern game is going means the offload must be central to attacking strategy

Tue Feb 16 2021 - 06:00

Iain Henderson fills Ireland’s leadership void as he fronts up to France defeat

Secondrow’s words carry weight as he rues missed chances in narrow Six Nations loss

Sun Feb 14 2021 - 19:35

France drop Teddy Thomas for Ireland game

Fabien Galthie makes two changes for clash in Dublin

Fri Feb 12 2021 - 12:47

Antoine Dupont enjoys genius trait of thinking quickly but never being in a rush

Rugby Stats: The gifted France No 9 showed the vast array of his skills against Italy

Thu Feb 11 2021 - 06:00

Antoine Dupont and France lay down early Six Nations marker

Les Bleus were ruthless in Rome but there was enough to give Ireland encouragement

Mon Feb 08 2021 - 06:00

France make explosive start with 50 points in Italy

Italy kicked of their 2021 campaign by suffering a 28th consecutive Six Nations defeat

Sat Feb 06 2021 - 16:45

Six Nations: England very short-priced favourites to retain their crown

Bookies rate France as second favourites to win with Ireland third most likely winners

Thu Feb 04 2021 - 01:00

Gordon D’Arcy: Fans would benefit from a peek behind the iron curtain

Behind the scenes access is important as it helps create and keep a new fan base

Wed Dec 09 2020 - 06:00

Twickenham test likely to prove a little too severe again for Ireland

Improved performance from February defeat could prove vital come next year’s Six Nations

Sat Nov 21 2020 - 06:00

Jacob Stockdale confident he can put Paris performance behind him

Fullback fully aware that magnifying glass of Test rugby will remain on him

Thu Nov 05 2020 - 06:00

Owen Doyle: Ireland should have been awarded penalty try for Bouthier bat

Barnes got most things right in Paris but Keenan would have scored without intervention

Tue Nov 03 2020 - 06:55

Gerry Thornley’s Six Nations team of the tournament

Our rugby correspondent looks at the players who impressed in this year’s fractured tournament

Mon Nov 02 2020 - 19:00

Clinical France make the most of Ireland’s shortcomings

Farrell’s men had ample opportunities before game plan eventually unravelled

Mon Nov 02 2020 - 01:30

Ireland fall short against France as England win Six Nations title

Les Bleus show attacking brilliance as Andy Farrell’s side fade after half-time in Paris

Sat Oct 31 2020 - 22:38

Matt Williams: Let’s see if Andy Farrell has what it takes as head coach

Ireland don’t have to silence the crowd, but they need to be wary of Antoine Dupont

Sat Oct 31 2020 - 08:00

Gaël Fickou’s switch to wing a nod to what France expect from Ireland

Fabien Galthié expects a kicking game come Saturday night’s showdown in Paris

Thu Oct 29 2020 - 21:22