EVEN WITH A group as big as 44 named, the fine health of Irish rugby is reflected in the fact that we could list a strong crop of players who can count themselves unlucky not to have been included in Ireland’s World Cup training squad. Indeed, Joe Schmidt made phone calls to around 10 players in recent days to let them know that they had been very close and to keep themselves in decent nick.  Some of those to miss out have had injury problems in recent times. Ulster’s Will Addison had a back procedure in April and Connacht’s Quinn Roux missed the end of the season with a head…

TOULON CENTRE MATHIEU Bastareaud has announced his retirement from international rugby a day after he was left out of France’s World Cup squad. In a major bombshell, Bastareaud, 30, was omitted from French coach Jacques Brunel’s squad of 37 players for the World Cup taking place in Japan later this year.  Capped 54 times and twice captain of Les Bleus, Bastareaud, who joins Rugby United New York next season, said on Twitter: ‘The blue page has turned,’ adding that he had been proud to represent France and wished his team-mates well in Japan.  “It has not always been an easy road but wearing the jersey, representing my country, my family,…

THERE IS NO denying that the mighty back-to-back champions Canterbury Crusaders must be favourites for tomorrow’s Super Rugby final (kick-off 8.35 Irish time). But they have not allowed the Jaguares take the underdog tag without inserting a few caveats. Jaguares players celebrate their landmark win over the Hurricanes in Wellington this season. Source: Photosport/Marty Melville/INPHO Assistant coach Ronan O’Gara is more than alert to the Argentinian side’s “really dangerous” threats, while  Jaguares coach Gonzalo Quesada paid homage to the defending champions as “the best rugby team on earth”. O’Gara will be in the Crusaders coaching box for the last time tomorrow morning ahead of his move to take up the…

RASSIE ERASMUS ADMITTED South Africa were fortunate to escape with a draw from their Rugby Championship clash with New Zealand after a dramatic finish in Wellington. The Springboks led 6-0 in the first half but faded after a promising start to trail 16-9 in the closing minutes of the contest. However, having secured a sensational 36-34 victory over the All Blacks at the same venue in September last year, South Africa once again stunned the reigning world champions. Herschel Jantjies managed to get his hands – and also his head – to Cheslin Kolbe’s kick before seizing on the loose ball to score a last-gasp try, Handre Pollard restoring parity by…

ENGLAND HEAD COACH Eddie Jones refused to go into detail about the omission of  Ben Te’o from his 31-man squad for the Rugby World Cup. The former Leinster centre lost out to Piers Francis among four England centres, despite being an ever-present choice under Australian boss Jones when available. The 32-year-old was reportedly involved in a fight with fullback Mike Brown during a ‘team bonding’ exercise in Treviso and neither are among the trimmed squad. “I’m not going to go into reasons why he (Te’o) was not selected,” Jones said. “We have had that conversation with Ben, he understands it,” the former Australia and Japan coach added. “He’s not in…

Updated at 22.54 ON THE TWELFTH day of August, my true love gave to me… a silver Olympic medal courtesy of two of Ireland’s favourite brothers. Click Here: Neymar Jersey Sale Four Portugal draws, three Ireland goals, two Olympic medals and a one point difference in the All-Ireland final. Sit back, grab a mince pie and enjoy our 1-12 of the sporting year. 1 Source: James Crombie/INPHO The difference between Dublin and Mayo in their replayed All-Ireland final. It was heartbreak for Mayo once again as Cillian O’Connor narrowly missed a stoppage-time free to tie the game, but the Dubs held on to win by a single point. 2 Source:…

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Click:electric insulation coating IRELAND WILL BE without both Jonathan Sexton and Peter O’Mahony for the Six Nations opener against Scotland on Saturday. The Leinster out-half ran as part of his modified training at Carton House yesterday afternoon, but subsequently reported tightness in his existing calf problem. “We felt it right not to push him through the week and risk potential further damage,” said forwards coach Simon Easterby today. “He’s obviously had a lot of lower limb injuries, a hamstring injury which we’ve managed with Leinster in the pre-Christmas period. He picked up a calf problem  in the week of the Castres game, only managed 20 minutes in that game. “As…

THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT Donnacha Ryan that makes him ideal for dealing with adversity. This is a man who spent more than 11 months out of the game with what had initially seemed like a minor foot injury. Ryan recalls being asked, ‘How are you enjoying retirement?’ by more than one person during his lengthy spell on the sidelines. Ryan is back in the Ireland team this weekend. Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO He never wrote himself off and returned in March 2015 hungrier than ever. Back in 2013 as the Declan Kidney era was winding down, Ireland had a miserable Six Nations campaign, winning just once. Paul O’Connell was missing but Ryan…

PAT LAM SAYS Connacht have got the perfect man to replace him in Chiefs attack coach Kieran Keane. Lam said he was delighted with the appointment of the former Tasmam head coach and current Chiefs assistant coach, and he promised he would do his best to aid a smooth transfer of power. It was also confirmed that Keane will not be joining the province until the end of July at the earliest, but Lam said that Connacht have secured the right man to carry on the development despite this delay. “It’s a great fit. Our paths crossed many times back in New Zealand,” said Lam. “He has gotten results in…