Hello and welcome to our latest 80+ column where I generally harp on things not so Leinster-and-or-Ireland-men’s-team-related.
I think it was as far back as last August when Mrs P told me about a wedding to which we had been invited, not immediate family by any stretch rather the daughter of her work colleague. It’s almost an instinct for me to check the date at times like this to see if there’s a clash with a major sporting event and sure enough there was a head-on collision with the opening match of the Six Nations against the old enemy no less.
“Just don’t go” was the response of more than one friend I told about this in the meantime, but we couldn’t do that for several reasons, and when it came to the big day we certainly weren’t the only ones who we first reluctant to leave the hotel bar having watched the first 15m of the match and then had our phones out on the table as the various courses were being served! Judging from the cheers rings out across the room at the same time Bundee Aki got his try, either loads were watching the match or this was the best wedding soup ever served!!!!
Anyway, thankfully Kino and Hugo were able to watch in a more conventional fashion and when it came time to record I think they did an excellent job going back over the match. ICYMI click here to check it out on Spotify or you’ll also find us on Apple and most major platforms.
FRONT FIVE
A selection of eye-catching egg-chasing quotes & links from around the rugby media landscape
GETTING YOUR KICKS
BLOODGATE 2
HE’S WHAT NOW???
MOANA RETURN
ULTRA MARATHON MAN
HARPIN ON…JACK OR SAM (OR TRUST?)
For our bonus chat this week, our panel looked at ‘the Jack v Sam debate’…is that the only way to discuss the Irish 10 jersey?
Here’s the lead-in question…
“On Feb 21 2020 the Irish Under 20s defeated England 39-21 at Franklins Gardens with a young lad named Jack Crowley at outhalf. On Mar 19 2023 the Irish Under 20s also defeated England, by a similar scoreline 36-24 only this time it was at Musgrave Park in Cork and wearing green 10 that day was a certain Mr Sam Prendergast. Unless you’re an Irish rugby fan who lives under a rock you’ll know that both players are currently vying for the national 10 jersey and they both featured in Saturday’s bonus point win at the Aviva. Naturally the Irish rugby media won’t shy away from stirring the debate over who should be starting, so we might as well throw our few euro cents in, but I’d like a slightly different angle…is it important to harp on who should be starting or should we have faith in the coaches’ decisions, especially while the team is actually winning?”
IRELAND SQUAD UPDATE
My logic behind selecting this 23 is simple…going by the language in the update, Tadhg & Joe won’t be available while Finlay and Mack will, so assuming the intent is to keep as much continuity as possible, the only changes I’d make would be swapping from started to bench at 2 and 6. I’m sure that makes me blue-goggled, so be it.
Munster’s Thomas Ahern and Connacht’s Shayne Bolton have been added to the squad this week.
Finlay Bealham and Mack Hansen will be monitored over the coming days after receiving treatment for leg injuries during Saturday’s win over England and it is hoped that both players will be available.
Tadhg Furlong (calf) and Joe McCarthy (concussion) have both stepped up their rehabilitation programmes and a decision on their availability will be made later this week.
The Ireland team will be named on Friday morning.
TROLL PATROL
Now it’s time for Troll Patrol where we ‘detain’ a social media commentator and charge them with gaslightery and general online mayhem.
This week’s detainee is something I call “good trolling”. The media-fuelled online Jack v Sam debate was annoying not just because it was ridiculous but also because it was so predictable. Thankfully some were happy to have a bit of fun with it, along with others on hand to fact-check…
U20 Six Nations
Celtic Challenge
All Ireland Leagues
WOMEN’S AIL
MEN’S AIL 1A
MEN’S AIL 1B
LEINSTER SCHOOLS SENIOR CUP
Super Rugby Pacific
Premiership
🔝🐱🐴
ProD2
RWC2027 QUALIFIERS
The RWC2027 tournament has expanded to 24 nations so with four extra spots up for grabs it makes for a fascinating qualifying process.
Rather than post the latest results and fixtures here however, I’d like to defer to the excellent work of frequent Harpin’ contributor Ciarán Duffy who has been keeping close tabs on the qualifying process over at his own site Post to Post Sport.
Follow this link to see how the Road to Australia is progressing.
Japan League One
Major League Rugby
Harpin Prediction League
This is the 4th season of our Superbru prediction league among Harpin’ pod contributors.
Kristian is the reigning champion, but the real competition is in avoiding finishing last, which means you must wear The Jersey of Shame. I had to wear it the first year, while Keego has had the honour the past two seasons. As you can see our resident stats expert Rugby Kino is leading the way but we’re only reaching the halfway stage, and we’ve also added a Cup (or Mug) competition to make things interesting.
For this coming weekend, we have the first of the Harpin’ Mug quarterfinals, and it’s me up against Jay Long. My Superbru score this weekend will be put up against his for a spot in the semifinals.
NEXT BATCH OF HARPIN’
Fri 7th
Scotland v Ireland preview featuring Keego
Dublin South 93.9FM Harpin’ slot right after 5pm news
Sun 9th
Leave comments on our Facebook page at full time after SCOvIRE
Bench was the difference, Conan was clinical, Dan was Dan as only Dan can be Dan, Tom Clarkson stood up to Ellis Genge who is technically intimidating and Jack Crowley kept it simple and flowing. England were value for their lead on 10 mins but their persistent cynical fouling caught up with them. Ireland got out with 5 points, England very lucky to get 1
Hubert Gallagher
Really really good second half except for allowing the last 2 tries. Huge impact from bench. Conan made an immediate impact. Crowley was excellent as well. And Sheehan….was he ever away?
James Lowe has a knack of making something out of nothing so often. Recognise JGPs performance but Lowe must have been very close to MOTM!!
Discipline excellent and mental toughness to the fore.
Onwards to Scotland – they’ll fancy turning us over and it’s never a gimme in Murrayfield. We need to be even tougher there. Will be a very different game – they’re unlike to kick as much ball away and will challenge our defence our wide.
Jackie McEachern
Lineout and discipline much improved from Autumn Internationals. England getting the LBP is disappointing but getting 5 points from an England match is always a great feeling.
Gavin Macarthur
This kind of championship game should be a platform for developing new players, instead of allowing some of the older players to continue their international careers as ‘game-closers’. There are a few players in that category and they need to be cut loose. Anyone who is over the age of 35 is not really going to figure in the next world cup, so why continue to play them?
That said, it was a good test match, giving the squad an opportunity to put their systems and leadership under pressure.
David Ryle
Turning point was their winger not allowing the ball go dead resulting in an Ireland 5m scrum at 44 mins.
Dave Murray
Great second half (except letting England back in for the bonus point) and Dan Sheehan what an impact again along with Lowe back from their injuries.
Get in the conversation yourself by leaving
your own thoughts each week after the full time whistle
Hello and welcome to our latest 80+ column where I generally harp on things not so Leinster-and-or-Ireland-men’s-team-related.
It may have been pod episode 404 but there were no errors to be heard from Ciarán and Jay as they summed up the win over the Stormers. ICYMI click here to check it out on Spotify or you’ll also find us on Apple and most major platforms.
FRONT FIVE
A selection of eye-catching egg-chasing quotes & links from around the rugby media landscape
6N PAYWALL
UPDATE SINCE RECORDING VIDEO 👇👇👇👇
SAM V JACK
JOHNNY COME LATELY
CURRIES FAVOURED
SCHOOL TIES
HARPIN ON…IRISH 23 V ENGLAND
For this week’s bonus chat the panel looked at a possible matchday squad for Ireland against England. We each took a portion of the team, Jay the pack, Ciarán the backs and myself the bench.
For my part I wanted to make a point about the complaints over Leinster players getting into the team more because of where they come from rather than how they are playing so I included Ian Henderson and Peter O’Mahony on my bench, not because I necessarily want them there, rather because I reckon they have a decent shout of making it and if they do, nobody will complain because it would be at the expense of the likes of Jack Conan and Ryan Baird.
A similar point that I didn’t make in the video is about Max Deegan…like Thomas Ahern he can consider himself unlucky to be in the squad but because he plays for Leinster, you won’t hear a peep from anyone about it in the general discourse.
This bonus topic also replaces our usual “Leinster squad update” which will return ahead of the Ospreys match in a couple of weeks.
TROLL PATROL
Now it’s time for Troll Patrol where we ‘detain’ a social media commentator and charge them with gaslightery and general online mayhem.
This week’s trolling is A Tale Of Two Tweets – we had failed to beat the Stormers in three attempts so you could hardly blame Captain Springbok for his hubris ahead of Saturday’s match. As you can see he had very much changed his tune by the 74m mark…
URC BY THE NUMBERS
In real terms the only stat that matters as far as Leinster is concerned is 11, namely the number of points clear we are at the top. Ideally we’d like to keep that margin where it is before we travel to South Africa after the Six Nations, although Glasgow Warriors may have something to say about that in the next two rounds, not to mention our opponents Ospreys and Cardiff!!!
Still I thought it was interesting to share these stat leaders at the end of January. Not many Leinster leaders although Max Deegan on the lineout steals plus a joint first in “turnovers won” do draw the eye.
Overall Top Players After R10
Carries: 152 Geronimo Prisciantelli (Zebre Parma)
Defenders Beaten: 40 Tom Farrell (Munster)
Kicks in Play: 113 Gareth Davies (Scarlets)
Lineout Steals: 8 Max Deegan (Leinster)
Lineouts Won: 47 Teddy Williams (Cardiff Rugby)
Metres: 596 Mike Haley (Munster)
Passes: 541 Gareth Davies (Scarlets)
Tackles: 158 Teddy Williams (Cardiff Rugby)
Tries: 7 Johnny Matthews (Glasgow Warriors)
Turnover Won: 13 Manuel Zuliani (Benetton)
Overall Top Team Season Totals
Carries: 1437 Connacht
Defenders Beaten: 258 Connacht
Kicks in Play: 297 Dragons RFC
Metres: 4315 Munster
Points: 296 Leinster
Tackles: 1676 Cardiff Rugby
Tries: 43 Leinster
Turnover Won: 75 Leinster / Scarlets
Visits To 22: 119 Leinster
Celtic Challenge
All Ireland Leagues
WOMEN’S AIL
MEN’S AIL
LEINSTER SCHOOLS SENIOR CUP
SVNS
CHALLENGE CUP
Premiership
🔝🐱🐴
ProD2
Japan League One
Harpin Prediction League
This is the 4th season of our Superbru prediction league among Harpin’ pod contributors.
Kristian is the reigning champion, but the real competition is in avoiding finishing last, which means you must wear The Jersey of Shame. I had to wear it the first year, while Keego has had the honour the past two seasons. As you can see our resident stats expert Rugby Kino is leading the way but there’s still a way to go, and we’ve also added a Cup (or Mug) competition to make things interesting.
With an extra URC match still to forecast, I have a narrow enough lead over Jay in my quarterfinal but that could all change if we pick different winners between the Stormers and the Bulls on Feb 8.
NEXT BATCH OF HARPIN’
Fri 30th
Ireland v England preview featuring Keego
Dublin South 93.9FM Harpin’ slot right after 5pm news
Sat 1st
Leave comments on our Facebook page at full time after IREvENG
Sun 2nd
Our wrap pod featuring Cian O’Muilleoir & Hugo Gordon
25 January 2025; Jordie Barrett of Leinster scores his side’s third try during the United Rugby Championship match between Leinster and DHL Stormers at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
Hello and welcome to our latest 80+ column where I generally harp on things not so Leinster-and-or-Ireland-men’s-team-related.
Many thanks to both Rich Mifsud and David Cordial for helping me wrap the victory over Bath at the weekend. Unfortunately I had audio issues halfway through but sure yiz don’t need to be listening to little ol’ me anyway, the lads were more than enough to harp on the match!!!
A selection of eye-catching egg-chasing quotes & links from around the rugby media landscape
ANTI-SOCIAL MEDIA
TRIPLE THREAT
ENGLAND CALL UPS
WOUNDED WARRIOR
ITV’S JONES-ING
HARPIN ON…THE ROAD TO CARDIFF
For this week’s bonus chat the panel took a quick look at the brackets for the European competitions to see how the road ahead looks for the Irish provinces as well as other leading contenders.
My apologies for my audio issues here, consequence of self-producing! Zoom stopped recognising my mic halfway through the wrap pod recording and I didn’t realise so it switched to the laptop one.
LEINSTER SQUAD UPDATE
Tougher than usual 23 to call this week. The mystery over Ciarán Frawley’s exclusion plus Tommy O’Brien’s curious omission from the injury update are just two obstacles. But the unavailability of the Six Nations squad members is pretty much nailed on, except for those returning from a spell on the sidelines who need game time.
For the second week in a row I’m going to have Fraley at 10 in my lineup with the assumption that “he has to start” but obviously that comes with no guarantees.
Although we can’t play anywhere near our full squad, this is a fixture we really should be targeting whatever our standing in the URC as the Stormers are the only team in the competition we have never beated, with two away defeats plus a 22-22 draw right after Ireland’s 2023 Grand Slam.
HARPIN’ POSSIBLE MATCHDAY 23 V STORMERS
J Osborne, A Osbourne, Tector, Barrett, Lowe, Frawley, McGrath
G McCarthy, Healy, Slimani, O’Tighearnaigh, Soroka, Gunne, R Byrne, Cooney
caveat : I have no “ITK” a la Thornley
AVAILABLE FOR SELECTION:
Will Connors, Dan Sheehan and James Lowe: are all available for selection this week after returning to full training last week.
FURTHER ASSESSMENT REQUIRED:
Liam Turner: is due to step up his rehabilitation further this week and will be further assessed as the week progresses before a final decision is made on availability.
James Culhane: is due to step up his rehabilitation further this week and will be further assessed as the week progresses before a final decision is made on availability.
NO FURTHER UPDATES ON:
Rob Russell, Michael Milne and Jordan Larmour.
TROLL PATROL
Now it’s time for Troll Patrol where we ‘detain’ a social media commentator and charge them with gaslightery and general online mayhem.
I really really wish I could say this guy was joking with his reply here, and in fact you’d almost wonder maybe he had the point about some kind of conspiracy against Munster by the “IRFU-minati” but hang on….THERE’S A MUNSTER PLAYER IN THE SHOT.
Much like Marcus O’B as I mention in the above Front 5 video, fair play to the “mother ship” for addressing it so quickly, and also fair play to Harpin contributors/Troll Patrol Officers Tom Coleman & ConorCronin for identifying this week’s Troll Patrol detainee.
EPCR ANNOUNCE WHENS & WHERES
As I’m putting this column together the EPCR have released the times for the Round of 16 in the two competitions. No surprise that the two Sunday matches are both in France. Leinster are the first province in action and it was confirmed that the venue will be Croke Park. Not much doubt that La ROGelle v Munster is the tie of the round.
There’s just one wrinkle in this announcement was highlighted on X by frequent Harpin commenter Craig Williamson as you can see I replied with my own thoughts…
Irish Shield
Celtic Challenge
All Ireland Leagues
WOMEN’S AIL
MEN’S AIL
SVNS
CHALLENGE CUP
Premiership
🔝🐱🐴
ProD2
Japan League One
Harpin Prediction League
This is the 4th season of our Superbru prediction league among Harpin’ pod contributors.
Kristian is the reigning champion, but the real competition is in avoiding finishing last, which means you must wear The Jersey of Shame. I had to wear it the first year, while Keego has had the honour the past two seasons. As you can see our resident stats expert Rugby Kino is leading the way but we’re only reaching the halfway stage, and we’ve also added a Cup (or Mug) competition to make things interesting.
For this coming weekend, we have the first of the Harpin’ Mug quarterfinals, and it’s me up against Jay Long. My Superbru score this weekend will be put up against his for a spot in the semifinals.
NEXT BATCH OF HARPIN’
Fri 24th
Leinster v Bath preview featuring Keego
Dublin South 93.9FM Harpin’ slot right after 5pm news
Sat 25th
Leave comments on our Facebook page at full time after LEIvSTO
18 January 2025; Jack Conan of Leinster on his way to scoring his side’s third try despite the attention of Finn Russell of Bath during the Investec Champions Cup Pool 2 match between Leinster and Bath at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Only just getting my breath back 🤣 Osborne, Henshaw, Slimani outstanding. All subs made an impact – great to see the attack firing against a team who are scoring so many points in the Prem!
David Ryle
Starting to get the balance between attack and defense.
Kevin Kelehan
Superb atmosphere at the Aviva, even 0-14 the crowd weren’t phased. Leinster were superb in the set piece, line out looks fixed, they won 4 or 5 scrum penalties, the development of Jamie Osborne is a joy to watch as was seeing Jack Conan back close to his best, RG Snyman continues to astonish in his ability to recycle out of contact and Doris and Van Der Flier are certifiable nuisances. Get those tickets for Cardiff
John Jones
Happy with the win but I’m not getting as excited as some people on here re: the attack. It only really started to flow once Bath had the red card. That was at 60mins and it was only 26-21 at that point. I think we still need to improve loads and I’m not convinced yet about playing that many players out of position
Greg Kelly
Have to wonder where the hallowed Premiership is left now? Their high flyers hammered by a team that was playing at max 70% only 50% of the game. I think Bath knew Leinster were going to unload on them with nasty hooks and body shots in the last 15-20 mins. Evidenced by them time wasting on 44 mins.
Jackie McEachern
I was really nervous through the first half but bench had a great impact in the second half. It’s the best I’ve seen our attack look in a long time! Here’s hoping it’s all starting to come together.
Get in the conversation yourself by leaving
your own thoughts each week after the full time whistle
HARPIN' ON RUGBY 