A WEEKLY COLUMN LOOKING AT
TOPICS BEYOND THE SCOPE OF OUR
FEATURE MATCH OF THE WEEK
WRAP OF A WRAP
As pointed out in the social media posts leading readers here, this is the first of two 80+ columns to bookend a mini-break from content-producing here at Harpin Manor what with the URC taking this coming weekend off.
Our schedule was thrown out of whack by the holiday period but for the most part we gave Leinster’s interpros the full Harpin treatment although Keego swapped from the previews to the wraps with both Jay Long and Conor Cronin doing top work stepping in for the preview shows.
If you didn’t catch the Ulster wrap pod itself, here’s a link to Spotify and we’re also on Apple and most major platforms.
HARPIN’ ON…LOOKING AHEAD TO 2024
Last week’s bonus clip was a look back to 2023 so it made sense to switch to crystal ball mode for the year ahead this time around. Keego & myself offered suggestions as to what might happen as well as outlining what rugby is in store for both Leinster & Ireland.
LEINSTER INJURY UPDATE
It’s very possible we won’t get a new update until next week’s column but I will still have a go at selecting a team for the Stade match based on the info I have.
Harpin’ matchday 23 v Stade Francais
Keenan, O’Brien J, Ringrose, Henshaw (c), Lowe, Byrne H, Gibson-Park
Porter, Sheehan, Furlong, McCarthy, Ryan, Baird, van der Flier, Doris
Kelleher, Healy, Ala’alatoa, Molony, Conan, McGrath, Frawley, Connors
NB : the above matchday 23 is completely from my own mind, I’m certainly not suggesting I have any ITK a la Thornley
UPCOMING RUGBY ON IRISH TV
We normally do this as a separate post but like last week I’ll include it here. I can’t find any 🔝🐱🐴 , normally it’s on Premier Sports Ireland but they seem to be concentrating on the FA Cup – I’ll update if anything shows up.
FRIDAY JANUARY 5
7:45PM – SALE SHARKS V BRISTOL BEARS – PREMIERSHIP – TNT SPORTS 1
7:45PM – NEWCASTLE v HARLEQUINS – PREMIERSHIP – PR.TV*
SATURDAY JANUARY 6
2PM – EDINBURGH V WOLFHOUNDS – WOMEN’S CELTIC CHALLENGE – RUGBYPASS.TV
2:15PM – TERENURE V YOUNG MUNSTER – BATEMAN CUP FINAL – IRISH RUGBY YOUTUBE
2:30PM – CLOVERS V BRYTHON THUNDER – WOMEN’S CELTIC CHALLENGE – RUGBYPASS.TV
3PM – SHARKS V LIONS – URC – URC.TV*
3PM – EXETER V NORTHAMPTON – PREMIERSHIP – TNT SPORTS EXTRA
3:05PM – LEICESTER TIGERS V SARACENS – PREMIERSHIP – TNT SPORTS 1
SUNDAY, JANUARY 7
12:30PM – EXETER CHIEFS V EALING TRAILFINDERS – WOMEN’S PREM – TNT SPORTS 1
1:30PM – GWALIA LIGHTNING V GLASGOW WARRIORS – WOMEN’S CELTIC CHALLENGE – RUGBYPASS.TV
3PM – BATH V GLOUCESTER – PREMIERSHIP – TNT SPORTS 1
URC IRISH SHIELD UPDATE
Obviously Ulster’s win at the RDS threw the race for the shield wide open with the May 18 rematch in the Kingspan looking like it’s going to be the decider. I’m also still amazed how close all the matches have been – if it wasn’t for a last-gasp interception try at the Sportsground, all 8 matches so far will have been decided by 7pts or less.
NOV 4 CONNACHT 22-20 ULSTER
NOV 10 ULSTER 21-14 MUNSTER
NOV 25 LEINSTER 21-16 MUNSTER
DEC 2 CONNACHT 22-24 LEINSTER
DEC 22 ULSTER 20-19 CONNACHT
DEC 26 MUNSTER 3-9 LEINSTER
JAN 1 CONNACHT 22-9 MUNSTER
JAN 1 LEINSTER 21-22 ULSTER
MAY 11 MUNSTER V CONNACHT
MAY 18 ULSTER V LEINSTER
MAY 31 LEINSTER V CONNACHT
JUNE 1 MUNSTER V ULSTER
🔝🐱🐴 UPDATE
Racing slipped up getting just a losing BP at lowly Bayonne yet still remain top while Leinster’s next opposition Stade F came away from Toulon with nothing although despite being 5th they’re still within striking distance of their Parisian rivals. Meanwhile La Rochelle’s relatively comfortable dispatching of Toulouse had me wondering if the LAR>LEI>TLS>LAR cycle has finally been broken! ROGs lot can get even closer to the top six with a win at Pau in the next round.
Round 11
OYONNAX 34-13 PAU
CLÉRMONT 35-40 BORDEAUX
LYON 20-18 MONTPELLIER
BAYONNE 27-23 RACING 92
TOULON 19-5 STADE FRANCAIS
LA ROCHELLE 29-8 TOULOUSE
CASTRES 13-17 PERPIGNAN
Round 12
SAT JAN 6
PAU V LA ROCHELLE
PERPIGNAN V OYONNAX
BORDEAUX V BAYONNE
STADE FRANCAIS V CLÉRMONT
RACING 92 V CASTRES
TOULOUSE V LYON
SUN JAN 7
MONTPELLIER V TOULON
PREMIERSHIP UPDATE
Not often the top team in all three main Euro domestic leagues lose in the same weekend, however Sale were the only one to see themselves knocked off their perch as defeat to Northampton moved the Saints up to the summit with Exeter climbing to second. Leicester Tigers scoffed a decent home win over Bath although their schedule doesn’t get much easier with just the 9 Champions Cup between their next three opponents Saracens, La Rochelle and of course Leinster.
ROUND 10
BRISTOL 14-24 EXETER
SARACENS 37-19 NEWCASTLE
NORTHAMPTON 21-17 SALE SHARKS
HARLEQUINS 32-26 GLOUCESTER
LEICESTER TIGERS 35-22 BATH
ROUND 11
FRI JAN 5
SALE SHARKS V BRISTOL BEARS
NEWCASTLE FALCONS V HARLEQUINS
SAT JAN 6
EXETER V NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
LEICESTER TIGERS V SARACENS
SUN JAN 7
BATH V GLOUCESTER
AIL UPDATE
No action in the AIL but the women’s Celtic Challenge did kick off with the two newly-created Irish teams Wolfhounds & Clovers meeting at Musgrave Park. The Leinster/Ulster based side overturned a halftime deficit to finish on top, round 2 is this coming weekend all the matches will be streamed live on RugbyPass.tv the links are in the TV section further up the page.
#SupportYourLocalClub
WOMEN’S CELTIC CHALLENGE
ROUND 1
WOLFHOUNDS 21-15 CLOVERS
EDINBURGH 28-12 GLASGOW
BRYTHON THUNDER 5-20 GWALIA LIGHTNING
ROUND 2
SAT JAN 6
EDINBURGH V WOLFHOUNDS
CLOVERS V BRYTHON THUNDER
SUN JAN 7
GWALIA LIGHTNING V GLASGOW WARRIORS
WOMEN’S AIL
NO MATCHES LAST WEEKEND
Round 11
SAT FEB 10
SUTTONIANS V BALLINCOLLIG
COOKE V RAILWAY UNION
GALWEGIANS V UL BOHS
WICKLOW V BELVO
MEN’S AIL
NO MATCHES LAST WEEKEND
ROUND 10
FRI JAN 12
LANSDOWNE V UCD
SAT DEC 16
BALLYNAHINCH V CITY OF ARMAGH
SHANNON V CLONTARF
TERENURE V DUBLIN UNIV
CORK CON V YOUNG MUNSTER
HARPIN PREDICTION LEAGUE
The Welsh regions have been good to me in this round but still my lead at the top has been whittled down to just 1.5pts with a group forming right down to 6th ready to pounce. Round 9 is unusual as it includes two extra fixtures for the Lions in January so we’ll see how the lads get on remembering their picks! If they’re lucky I might even remind them in the WhatsApp group…
NEXT BATCH OF HARPIN’
We’re going to take full advantage of the URC off week here at Harpin Manor to do absolutely NOTHING content-related for a few days. The plan is to be back with another 80+ column which will be back on it’s regular day, which I guess means I’ll actually see you next Tuesday!!! 😜
As ever, be sure to enjoy your rugby wherever you are. JLP
HARPIN' ON RUGBY 