Category: Autumn Nations Series

473 : Ireland v South Africa preview

Our guest : HUGO GORDON

IRELAND :15. Mack Hansen 14. Tommy O’Brien 13. Garry Ringrose 12. Bundee Aki 11. James Lowe 10. Sam Prendergast 9. Jamison Gibson-Park

1. Andrew Porter 2. Dan Sheehan 3. Tadhg Furlong 4. James Ryan 5. Tadhg Beirne 6. Ryan Baird 7. Josh van der Flier 8. Caelan Doris (c)

16. Rónan Kelleher 17. Paddy McCarthy 18. Finlay Bealham 19. Cian Prendergast 20. Jack Conan 21. Craig Casey 22. Jack Crowley 23. Tom Farrell

SOUTH AFRICA : 15 Damian Willemse 14 Canan Moodie 13 Jesse Kriel 12 Damian de Allende 11 Cheslin Kolbe 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu 9 Cobus Reinach 

1 Boan Enter 2 Malcolm Marx 3 Thomas du Toit 4 Eben Etzebeth 5 Ruan Nortje 6 Siya Kolisi (c) 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit 8 Jasper Wiese

16 Johan Grobbelaar 17 Gerhard Steenekamp 18 Wilco Louw 19 RG Snyman 20 Kwagga Smith 21 Andre Esterhuizen 22 Grant Williams 23 Manie Libbok

Quilter Nations Series – Round 4

Saturday, November 22, 2025

Aviva Stadium, Dublin

KO 5:40pm

Live on : RTÉ2, TNT Sports 1

Referee: Matthew Carley (Eng)

AR1: Karl Dickson (Eng)

AR2: Christophe Ridley (Eng)

TMO: Andrew Jackson (Eng)

FPRO: Dan Jones (Eng)

472 : IRELAND V AUSTRALIA wrap

2025 Quilter Nations Series, Aviva Stadium, Dublin 15/11/2025Ireland vs AustraliaIrelands Mack Hansen scores his sides third try of the match despite Australias James O’ConnorMandatory Credit ©INPHO/Gary Carr

🏉 Full-Mack at 15 

🏉 Options galore

🏉 Baird The Poacher

🏉 Smart decisions

🏉 Think inside the Boks

THIS WEEK’S GUEST

No guest this week, flying solo

FULL TIME TAKES

Kevin Kelehan

Questioned in recent weeks, accused of being a team in serious decline, players being told in the media they were past their sell by date, line out coach and best lock in Irish history told he was shyte at his job. Then we get the best Irish performance since RWC 2023 and one as unpredicted as smashing France in Marseilles in 2024. Australia absolutely failed to deal with the weather conditions and coughed up a lot of easy possession in the red zone but this was the Irish team giving Andy Farrell and Paul O’Connell a performance they’ve been owed for a while. Despite the absence of lions Joe McCarthy, Van Der Flier, Ringrose and Keenan the team was rejigged into a cohesive unit and its clear there is more depth in the squad than has been thought for a couple of years, players like Henshaw and Hansen look reinvented whilst McCloskey looks to be the most unlucky player in recent history in only getting short stints. Hopefully the team can match this performance again next week and hopefully the BOK evolution hasn’t moved on too much since last summer’s drawn series.

Adrian Hickey

Australia still in shock after the Lynagh/Ioane show last week I reckon. When our very sick, reintroduced fb Mack can help himself to a hattrick out of position says quite a bit. Ronan not cutting the mustard the last bit. Gus on bench at hooker next week to back up Dano or he has to do 80. Kudos to Sambo for the drop btw

Bert McLoughlin

A lot more cohesive this week and apart from poor discipline in the 1st half we should have kept their score lower

Kettlebell Padawen

Sam’s best game in green. Australia were shocking

David Ryle

Sam should have shut his detractors up but no they’re still nit picking his performance.

‪Rob Gardner‬ (via BlueSky)

JPG could give anywhere between 1-15 a good go.

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NOVEMBER SERIES WRAP

ITALY 14-32 SOUTH AFRICA

PORTUGAL 58-12 HONG KONG

ENGLAND V NEW ZEALAND

GEORGIA 38-17 CANADA

ROMANIA 18-26 USA

WALES 24-23 JAPAN

IRELAND 46-19 AUSTRALIA

FRANCE 34-21 FIJI

SCOTLAND 24-33 ARGENTINA

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471 : Ireland v Australia preview

ALSO AVAILABLE AS A PODCAST

Our guest : NEIL “KEEGO” KEEGAN

www.keegolaughs.com

Apologies Up Front on Apple Podcasts

IRELAND : 15. Mack Hansen 14. Tommy O’Brien 13. Robbie Henshaw 12. Stuart McCloskey 11. James Lowe 10. Sam Prendergast 9. Jamison Gibson-Park 

1. Paddy McCarthy 2. Dan Sheehan 3. Tadhg Furlong 4. James Ryan 5. Tadhg Beirne 6. Ryan Baird 7. Caelan Doris (c) 8. Jack Conan 

16. Rónan Kelleher 17. Andrew Porter 18. Thomas Clarkson 19. Nick Timoney 20. Cian Prendergast 21. Craig Casey 22. Jack Crowley 23. Bundee Aki

AUSTRALIA : 15. Max Jorgensen 14. Filipo Daugunu 13. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii 12. Len Ikitau 11. Harry Potter 10. James O’Connor 9. Jake Gordon

1. Angus Bell 2. Matt Faessler 3. Allan Alaalatoa 4. Jeremy Williams 5. Tom Hooper 6. Rob Valetini 7. Fraser McReight 8. Harry Wilson (c)

16. Billy Pollard 17. Tom Robertson 18. Zane Nonggorr 19. Nick Frost 20. Carlo Tizzano 21. Ryan Lonergan 22. Tane Edmed

Quilter Nations Series – Round 3

Saturday, November 15, 2025

Aviva Stadium, Dublin

KO 8:10pm

Live on : RTÉ2, TNT Sports 1

Referee: Karl Dickson (Eng)

AR1: Pierre Brousset (Fra)

AR2: Adam Leal (Eng)

TMO: Ian Tempest (Eng)

FPRO: Dan Jones (Eng)

ALSO AVAILABLE AS A PODCAST

Our guest : NEIL “KEEGO” KEEGAN

www.keegolaughs.com

Apologies Up Front on Apple Podcasts

IRELAND : 15. Jamie Osborne 14. Tommy O’Brien 13. Tom Farrell 12. Robbie Henshaw 11. Jacob Stockdale 10. Jack Crowley 9. Craig Casey

1. Andrew Porter 2. Rónan Kelleher 3. Thomas Clarkson 4. James Ryan 5. Tadhg Beirne 6. Ryan Baird 7. Nick Timoney 8. Caelan Doris (c)

16. Gus McCarthy 17. Paddy McCarthy 18. Finlay Bealham 19. Cian Prendergast 20. Jack Conan 21. Caolin Blade 22. Sam Prendergast 23. Jimmy O’Brien

JAPAN : 15. Yoshitaka Yazaki 14. Kippei Ishida 13. Dylan Riley 12. Charlie Lawrence  11. Tomoki Osada  10. Seungsin Lee 9. Naoto Saito  

1. Kenta Kobayashi 2. Kenji Sato 3. Shuhei Takeuchi  4. Epineri Uluiviti  5. Warner Dearns  6. Ben Gunter   7. Kanji Shimokawa   8. Faulua Makisi 

16. Shodai Hirao  17. Ryosuke Iwaihara  18. Keijiro Tamefusa  19. Jack Cornelsen  20. Michael Leitch  21. Shinobu Fujiwara  22. Shinya Komura  23. Yuya Hirose 

Quilter Nations Series – Round 2

Saturday, November 8, 2025

Aviva Stadium, Dublin

KO 12:40pm

Live on : RTÉ2, TNT Sports 3

Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Ita)

AR1: Andrea Piardi (Ita)

AR2: Federico Vedovelli (Ita)

TMO: Matteo Liperini (Ita)

FPRO: Eric Gauzins (Fra)

ALSO

SPAIN V IRELAND XV

Sat Nov 8, 4pm, Rugbypass.tv 

IRELAND XV : 15. Michael Lowry 14. Robert Baloucoune 13. Jude Postlethwaite 12. Dan Kelly 11. Shayne Bolton 10.Harry Byrne 9. Ben Murphy

1. Michael Milne 2. Tom Stewart (c) 3. Tom O’Toole 4. Evan O’Connell 5. Darragh Murray 6. Alex Soroka 7. Ruadhan Quinn 8. Paul Boyle

16. Lee Barron 17. Alex Usanov 18. Scott Wilson 19. Diarmuid Mangan 20. David McCann 21. Nathan Doak 22. Cathal Forde 23. Zac Ward

467 : Ireland v New Zealand preview

ALSO AVAILABLE AS A PODCAST

Our guest : JAY LONG

IRELAND : 15. Jamie Osborne 14. Tommy O’Brien 13. Garry Ringrose 12. Stuart McCloskey 11. James Lowe 10. Jack Crowley 9. Jamison Gibson-Park

1. Andrew Porter 2. Dan Sheehan (c) 3. Tadhg Furlong 4. James Ryan 5. Tadhg Beirne 6. Ryan Baird 7. Josh van der Flier 8. Jack Conan

16. Ronan Kelleher 17. Paddy McCarthy 18. Finlay Bealham 19. Iain Henderson

20. Caelan Doris 21. Craig Casey 22. Sam Prendergast 23. Bundee Aki

NEW ZEALAND : 15.  Will Jordan 14.  Leroy Carter 13. Quinn Tupaea 12. Jordie Barrett 11. Caleb Clarke 10. Beauden Barrett 9. Cam Roigard

1. Ethan de Groot 2. Codie Taylor 3. Fletcher Newell 4. Scott Barrett (c) 5. Fabian Holland 6. Simon Parker 7. Ardie Savea 8. Peter Lakai

16.  Samisoni Taukei’aho 17. Tamaiti Williams 18. Pasilio Tosi 19. Josh Lord 20.  Wallace Sititi 21. Cortez Ratima 22. Leicester Fainga’anuku 23.  Damian McKenzie

Gallagher Cup Test Match

Saturday, November 1, 2025

Soldier Field

KO 8:10pm Irish time  

Live on : Virgin Media One, TNT Sports 2

Referee: Pierre Brousset (FFR)

Assistant Referee 1: Karl Dickson (RFU)

Assistant Referee 2: Luc Ramos (FFR) 

TMO: Ian Tempest (RFU)

FRPO: Dan Jones (RFU)

390 : Ireland v Australia wrap

IRFU 150 Test Match, Aviva Stadium, Dublin 30/11/2024 Ireland vs Australia Ireland’s Cian Healy Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

🏉 Just not clicking

🏉 Schmidt tactics

🏉 Ten point swing

🏉 Back to adversity

🏉 Saved by the bench

THIS WEEK’S GUESTS

RICHARD MIFSUD

CIARÁN DUFFY

Post to Post Sport blog

FULL TIME TAKES

Cormac Mannion

I’m not too worried about the attack just yet. It took Catt a bit of time to sort that out when he took up the role so let’s hope Goodman makes improvements by the 6N.

However, our lineout is appalling and this is nothing new. Serious questions to be asked of O’Connell and what he’s doing there.

Big step up for Prendergast today and he’ll learn from it. Suddenly we now have options at 10 post Johnny. Crowley was really up for it when he came on too.

Another issue though seems to be the back row. We seem to get isolated an awful lot at the breakdown and giving away a lot of turnovers. Ruck clearance has definitely gone downhill this year.

Ronan McManus

I’m not sure that Prendergast’s more languid passing style helped us against the Aussie rush defence. They were in among us by the time the ball came into the centre.

Some real flashes of quality from him though.

Sort.out.the.lineout.

Kevin Kelehan

Bench was the difference between the sides, Dan Sheehan will be back once fit and Gus McCarthy should be on the bench, you need to win your own line outs, something that only happened once McCarthy came on. Jack Crowley also showed so much more accuracy and energy in his time, Prendergast just not up to the pace aged 21. Craig Casey also full of energy when introduced. Josh VDF also superb and was Doris as was Big Joe and Porter.

Sean MacDonnchadha

Can’t sweep this under the rug and say a win is a win and move on. That lazy mentality has only ever gotten us to the same QF exit in world cups. Lineout and attack are serious issues and can no longer be ignored – changes needed.

Jackie McEachern

Lineout needs to be sorted. Bench made a big impact (esp Crowley, Casey and McCarthy). Glad we got the win but that could easily have gone the other way.

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388 : Ireland v Australia preview

ALSO AVAILABLE AS A PODCAST

Our guest : NEIL “KEEGO” KEEGAN

www.keegolaughs.com

Apologies Up Front on Apple Podcasts

IRELAND : 15. Hugo Keenan 14. Mack Hansen 13. Robbie Henshaw 12. Bundee Aki 11. James Lowe 10. Sam Prendergast 9. Jamison Gibson-Park

1. Andrew Porter 2. Rónan Kelleher 3. Finlay Bealham 4. Joe McCarthy 5. James Ryan 6. Tadhg Beirne 7. Josh van der Flier 8. Caelan Doris (c)

16. Gus McCarthy 17. Cian Healy 18. Tom O’Toole 19. Iain Henderson 20. Peter O’Mahony 21. Craig Casey 22. Jack Crowley 23. Garry Ringrose

Wallabies : 15. Tom Wright 14. Andrew Kellaway 13. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii 12. Len Ikitau 11. Max Jorgensen 10. Noah Lolesio 9. Jake Gordon

1. James Slipper 2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa 3. Taniela Tupou 4. Nick Frost 5. Jeremy Williams 6. Rob Valetini 7. Fraser McReight 8. Harry Wilson (c)

16. Billy Pollard 17. Angus Bell 18. Allan Alaalatoa 19. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto 20. Langi Gleeson 21. Tate McDermott 22. Tane Edmed 23. Harry Potter

Autumn Nations Series 2024 Week 4

Saturday, November 30, 2024

KO 3:10pm  Aviva Stadium

Live on: Virgin Media 1, TNT Sports 1

Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR)

AR1: Nika Amashukeli (GRU)

AR2: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)

TMO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)

FPRO: Ian Tempest (RFU)

386 : Ireland v Fiji wrap

Autumn Nations Series, Aviva Stadium, Dublin 23/11/2024 Ireland vs Fiji
Ireland’s Sam Prendergast takes a kick Mandatory Credit
©INPHO/Ben Brady

🏉 Sam, Gus & Izzy

🏉 Attacking flow

🏉 Discipline

🏉 Awkward positions

🏉 Pecking orders

THIS WEEK’S GUESTS

CIAN O’MUILLEOIR

CIARÁN DUFFY

Post To Post Sport

FULL TIME TAKES

Hubert Gallagher

Sam P’s ability to pick out a late pass and put a player into a gap was otherworldly! Set up a number of clean breaks. Loved the fact he made a number of errors but the head didn’t do down and he just played on as if it didn’t matter. Great temperament.

Gus was also brilliant- another couple of games and he’ll be pushing Kelleher and of course Sheehan when he’s back! What a debut.

Lots of really good performances from more established players Henshaw, Aki, JVDF, Doris and loved Casey’s performances – much better then I’ve seen him play before.

Lastly a word for Frawley – he took some punishment and kept going and did very well!

Opposition was quite poor however and we need to keep that in mind.

Jackie McEachern

Bearing in mind that Fiji were poor, I think we can still take away positives. Great first time starts from Sam and Gus. And many of the veterns put in strong performances – Aki, Henshaw, Doris, VdF. I was also really impressed with Casey.

I think Crowley should definitely start next week and the #10 jersey is his. But I’m excited for what Sam will also bring as he matures and his skills grow.

Bert McLoughlin

Fijian discipline shocking. Gus McCarthy had a great debut 3 assists and a try👏. Sam had a mixed bag with the yellow and a few mistakes after he can back on, but his passing gains space for players around him and is definitely a playmaker 10.

Chris McDonnell

Casey played his best game, sam recovered from some silly mistakes and played well especially after frawley came on and took loads of the pressure off playing as a second play maker. Said before the game the balance on the bench with so many 12’s and no back 3 players was always going to go badly.

Eamon Saunders

A win is a win some great individual performances but for me Robbie Henshaw was back to his best but again great performances all over the pitch

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AUTUMN NATIONS SERIES WRAP

WEEK 3

FRANCE 37-23 ARGENTINA

IRELAND 52-17 FIJI

WALES 12-45 SOUTH AFRICA

ITALY 11-29 NEW ZEALAND

SCOTLAND 27-13 AUSTRALIA

ENGLAND 59-14 JAPAN

WEEK 4

SAT NOV 30

IRELAND V AUSTRALIA

@harpinonrugby

Could’ve been the first to get a yellow before kickoff! 😜

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385 : Ireland v Fiji preview

ALSO AVAILABLE AS A PODCAST

Our guest : NEIL “KEEGO” KEEGAN

www.keegolaughs.com

Apologies Up Front on Apple Podcasts

IRELAND : 15. Jamie Osborne 14. Mack Hansen 13. Robbie Henshaw 12. Bundee Aki 11. Jacob Stockdale 10. Sam Prendergast 9. Craig Casey

1. Andrew Porter 2. Gus McCarthy 3. Finlay Bealham 4. Joe McCarthy 5. Tadhg Beirne 6. Cormac Izuchukwu 7. Josh van der Flier 8. Caelan Doris (c)

Replacements: 16. Rónan Kelleher 17. Tom O’Toole 18. Thomas Clarkson 19. Iain Henderson 20. Cian Prendergast 21. Conor Murray 22. Ciaran Frawley 23. Stuart McCloskey

Fiji : 15 Vuate Karawalevu 14 Jiuta Wainiqolo 13 Waisea Nayacalevu (c) 12 Josua Tuisova 11 Ponepati Loganimasi 10 Caleb Muntz 9 Frank Lomani

1 Eroni Mawi 2 Tevita Ikanivere 3 Luke Tagi 4 Mesake Vocevoce 5 Temo Mayanavanua 6 Meli Derenalagi 7 Kitione Salawa 8 Elia Canakaivata.

16 Sam Matavesi 17 Haereiti Hetet 18 Samu Tawake 19 Setareki Turagacoke 20 Albert Tuisue 21 Peni Matawalu 22 Vilimoni Botitu 23 Sireli Maqala

Autumn Nations Series 2024 Week 3

Saturday, November 23, 2024

KO 3:10pm  Aviva Stadium

Live on: Virgin Media 1, TNT Sports 1

Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU)

AR1: Matthew Carley (RFU)

AR2: Sam Grove-White (SRU)

TMO: Mike Adamson (SRU)

FPRO: Andrew McMenemy (SRU)

384 : Ireland v Argentina wrap

Autumn Nations Series, Aviva Stadium, Dublin 15/11/2024
Ireland vs Argentina Ireland’s Joe McCarthy scores a try
Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Billy Stickland

🏉 Fast start

🏉 Foul play du jour

🏉 Dr Phil

🏉 More silly mistakes

🏉 Holding on

THIS WEEK’S GUESTS

JAY LONG

HUGO GORDON

FULL TIME TAKES

Lee O Farrell

Yes, there were some sloppy mistakes at times but I think people are underestimating this Pumas team. Their defence was incredible and this is the team that has beaten France, SA and NZ (in NZ) over the past few months.

A higher score would have been great but I’ll take the win, thanks!

Cormac Mannion

Argentina are a fine side. Their physicality is right up there with South Africa at their best. We seemed to be running into brick walls for large parts of the game. However, there is still something not at all right about Ireland. Hansen still looks off the pace, as does Lowe. Crowley needs time to develop and you can see how it’s coming together for him.

Our back row seems to be playing as individuals rather than a unit. Also, far too many sloppy penalties which could point to a lack of focus. We’ve looked off the boil since midway though the 6N.

Jackie McEachern

Too many penalties again – especially when we heard all week that discipline was going to be the focus. But am very happy they hung on to win against a strong side.

Kevin Kelehan

Got over the line against a huge Argentinian pack and very useful backline, Tom Clarkson and Sam Prendergast both came through very well. Jack Crowley was superb for most and a tough nut to get up without play acting after being cynically taken out illegally. The penalty count and line out remain a serious cause for concern, Kelliher is a great scrummager and a demon in the loose but he needs to spend the next month to sort out his darts.

Jamie Bermingham

Glad we got the win but once again the discipline was very poor. Our attack in the 2nd half was practically non existent. Still a lot to work on for the next two games

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AUTUMN NATIONS SERIES WRAP

WEEK 2

IRELAND 22-19 ARGENTINA

SCOTLAND 59-21 PORTUGAL

ENGLAND 20-29 SOUTH AFRICA

FRANCE 30-29 NEW ZEALAND

ITALY 20-17 GEORGIA

WALES 20-52 AUSTRALIA

WEEK 3

FRI NOV 22

FRANCE V ARGENTINA

SAT NOV 23

IRELAND V FIJI

WALES V SOUTH AFRICA

ITALY V NEW ZEALAND

SUN NOV 24

SCOTLAND V AUSTRALIA

ENGLAND V JAPAN

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