369 : Edinburgh v Leinster wrap

20 September 2024; Jamison Gibson-Park of Leinster scores his side’s fourth try during the United Rugby Championship match between Edinburgh and Leinster at Hive Stadium in Edinburgh, Scotland. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
also available on Apple & most major platforms

🏉 Mixed bag

🏉 Pro-Tector

🏉 Whiskey, neat

🏉 Bouncebackability

🏉 Two Healys

FULL TIME TAKES

Kevin Kelehan

JGP’s try was the catalyst that delivered that burst of scores that changed the game, lucky the Edinburgh butchered their kicks 5 minutes out but on balance a decent start to the season that needs to deliver silverware

Chris McDonnell

We handed over 5 tries to the second worst attack in the league. If we don’t send him back to SA it’d going to get worse. Good to see some of the attack and Sam and Charlie were very good.

Gavin Hegarty

First game, away, mainly young team v full Edinburgh. A lot of positives. Sam was sublime, techtor could be a great 12 with his new bulk.

Scott Penny is relentless.

Can we talk about Byrne’s reaction to his yellow? Pathetic and I think he’ll get scolded for it in the review.

William Andrew

Tector, was competent at 12, that might be a better fit for him considering the glut at 10. Prendergast was very effective too. Nicely timed passing constantly. Defence a bit leaky, but a good start

David Lawlor

Nice to banish the opening game yips we seem to have been suffering from. A joy to watch a Leinster 10 take the ball to the line and his passing was sublime too. The last minute try makes it seem closer than it really was and while it’s disappointing to concede five tries I think the defence will improve as the season goes on. Roll on Friday in the Aviva!


Get in the conversation yourself by leaving

your own thoughts each week after the full time whistle 

in Leinster & Ireland matches on our Facebook page


URC ROUND 1 WRAP


@harpinonrugby

Check out our first wrap pod of the season, available on Spotify, Apple and most major platforms.

♬ original sound – Harpinonrugby.com – Harpinonrugby.com

368 : Edinburgh v Leinster preview

also available as a podcast


LEINSTER : 15. Jamie Osborne 14. Tommy O’Brien 13. Garry Ringrose 12. Charlie Tector 11. Jordan Larmour 10. Sam Prendergast 9. Jamison Gibson-Park

1. Michael Milne 2. Gus McCarthy 3. Thomas Clarkson 4. Conor O’Tighearnaigh 5. James Ryan 6. Max Deegan 7. Scott Penny 8. Jack Conan (c)

16. John McKee 17. Cian Healy 18. Rabah Slimani 19. Brian Deeny 20. James Culhane 21. Luke McGrath 22. Ross Byrne 23. Rob Russell


EDINBURGH : 15 W Goosen 14 D Graham 13 M Tuipulotu 12 M Currie 11 D van der Merwe

10 R Thompson 9 A Price 1 P Schoeman 2 D Cherry 3 P Hill

4 M Sykes 5 G Cilchrist (c) 6 J Ritchie 7 H Watson 8 B Muncaster

16 E Ashman 17 B Venter 18 D Rae 19 J Hodgson

20 M Bradbury 21 Ben Vellacott 22 B Healy 23 E Boffelli


United Rugby Championship 24/25 Round 1

Friday, September 20, 2024

KO 7:35pm Hive Stadium

Live on: Premier Sports, TG4, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv


Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR)

AR 1: Jonny Perriam (SRU) 

AR 2: Michael Todd (SRU)

TMO: Stefano Roscini (FIR)

364 : RSAvIRE 2nd test wrap

Castle Lager Incoming Series Second Test, Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban, South Africa 13/7/2024 South Africa vs Ireland Ireland’s Ciaran Frawley Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

🏉 Osbourne catches
🏉 10-point leads
🏉 Croc rolls
🏉 3 by 3
🏉 Frawley time



FULL TIME TAKES

Alastair McDermott

One of the worst performances I’ve seen from South Africa in the first half and one of the worst performances I’ve seen from Ireland in the second. officials tried to screw us again but incredible finish

‪Dickson made quite a few 50-50 calls that always seemed to go in favour of the home team. From an Irish point of view, it felt almost endless. ‬

‪But this happens in every game to every away team, so I don’t think it’s any particular conspiracy, it’s just the nature of sport!

Kevin Kelehan

Delighted Frawley got the chance to exorcise the ghost of Tottenham, ugly game but Farrell has built some team, 6 first choice players missing today, 5 of them in the back line and still got it done. Farrell is 80:20 win rate, Boks are 20:80 against the green machine in recent years!!

Sean MacDonnchadha

Very lucky I feel. Springboks only able to force penalties. We should’ve buried them in the first half with the energy, territory and possession we had. All the same, some balls from frawley

Paul Smith

Despite SA cheating and a horrendous performance by Dickinson, Ireland fully deserved the win and I’m absolutely delighted for Frawley who buried the memories of the Champions Cup last minute not once but twice with 2 superb drop goals.

John Willie Conroy

Osborne was unbelievable fair play to Andy Farrell for blooding. Questions need to be asked regarding Frawly not being picked at 10 at Leinster he’s a quality ball player and is head and shoulders above the Byrne brothers.

Brian Corr

So happy, what Irish team in the past could lose their starting scrum half, starting fullback, starting hooker and go to the world champions and get a result. 8 years since they’ve lost in Durban.

Delighted for Frawley to get the chance to make such a huge impact with two fantastic drop goals.

It’s said that tries win matches and that was the difference today

Hope the lads have a great celebration


Get in the conversation yourself by leaving

your own thoughts each week after the full time whistle 

in Leinster & Ireland matches on our Facebook page

363 : #RSAvIRE 2nd test preview

also available as a podcast

Our guest : TOM COLEMAN


IRELAND : 15 J Osborne 14 C Nash 13 G Ringrose 12 R Henshaw 11 J Lowe 10 J Crowley 9 C Murray

1 A Porter 2 R Kelleher 3 T Furlong 4 J McCarthy 5 J Ryan

6 T Beirne 7 J vd Flier 8 C Doris (c)

16 R Herring 17 C Healy 18 F Bealham 19 R Baird 20 P O’Mahony 21 C Blade 22 C Frawley 23 S McCloskey


SOUTH AFRICA : 15 W le Roux 14 C Kolbe 13 J Kriel 12 D de Allende 11 K-L Arendse 10 H Pollard 9 F de Klerk

1 O Nche 2 B Mbonambi 3 F Malherbe 4 E Etzebeth 5 F Mostert 6 S Kolisi (c) 7 P-S du Toit 8 Kwagga Smith

16 M Marx 17 G Steenekamp 18 V Koch 19 S Moerat 20 RG Snyman 21 M van Staden 22 G Williams 23 S Feinberg-Mngomezulu


Castle Lager Incoming Series Second Test

Saturday, July 13, 2024

KO 4pm (Irish time) Kings Park Stadium

Live on: Sky Sports Main Event, Action


Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU)

Assistant Referee 1: Luke Pearce (RFU)

Assistant Referee 2: Craig Evans (WRU)

TMO: Ian Tempest (RFU)

362 : RSAvIRE 1st test wrap

Castle Lager Incoming Series First Test, Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria, South Africa 6/7/2024 South Africa vs Ireland Ireland’s Jamie Osborne Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

🏉 Shaky start

🏉 Punishing mistakes

🏉 TMO issues

🏉 Bomb squad

🏉 Frantic finish



FULL TIME TAKES

Brian Patrick Donnelly

They got the rub of the green, big time, but we probably didn’t do enough.

Reasonably confident we can win 2nd if “end of season-itis” doesn’t kick in.

Gav Heg

If it was reversed, we won and the ref treated SA like he did us, rassie would release a two hour analysis slating him. The officiating simply wasn’t good enough at this level. like how can they review and disallow Lowes try but not notice the neck roll on Kelleher? Penalties were given for far less in NZ v Eng. And how was Casey stretchered off without any review from Pearse? Nonsensical and inconsistent

Greg Kelly

Is the call by the TMO to disallow Lowes try wrong in law? No…

Is the game in an absolute state if this is where it is going? Absolutely!

You can be guaranteed that in the lead up to all the tries today there were infringements but the TMO didn’t come back to those?

Even after the turnover Lowe beats 3 defenders to score so the manner of the turnover is not the material issue. It’s a great individual try called back for a debatable TMO intervention. Furthermore once the TMO comes in to disallow the try he must commit 100% to catching EVERY breakdown infringement from there. What if he let’s one go and 3 phases later there’s a kickable penalty awarded to the offending team? Does he call the referee back?

PSDT is off his feet in the field of play when he holds up Doris’ grounding attempt. By the letter of the law it’s an illegal intervention. It happens in all games and is never penalised but if we are going into the detail we did for the Lowe try then it’s another incidence of a player off feet affecting the play and consistency demands it’s flagged by the TMO.

If this is where we’re going it’s going to be a sh1t show.

Kevin Kelehan

Half back pairing was not disrupted, got reasonable parity at the breakdown. Unlucky with a few ref decisions that were 50:50 calls, particular Kelliher being driven back. Lots of industry and effort but also lots of shooting themselves in the foot. The series remains alive at only 7 points down, that is very encouraging, dust themselves down and be more clinical next week.

Sean MacDonnchadha

Have to look inward and be honest. Otherwise we’re only fooling ourselves again. Lineout and scrum came back to bite us after being highlighted as potential weaknesses. Backline stuttering for most of the game and no real director at 9/10. Felt like we were having to react to everything instead of dictating play. Dorris and Bundee tireless efforts. Ryan and Baird impacted well off the bench – only ones who did really. Needing Porter and Furlong to do a full 80 if possible is a massive system failure. Boks can’t wait to unleash their bench, if we’re honest we fear what will happen when we do.

Cuan Mulligan

In the first half, Kolisi was tackled, in the breakdown the ball is coming back to us and he sweeps the ball back with his hand.. not hard to see yet no tmo call. It felt like they were going out of their way to not give us a call


Get in the conversation yourself by leaving

your own thoughts each week after the full time whistle 

in Leinster & Ireland matches on our Facebook page


361 : #RSAvIRE 1st test preview

also available as a podcast

Our guest : TOM COLEMAN


IRELAND : 15. Jamie Osborne 14. Calvin Nash 13. Robbie Henshaw 12. Bundee Aki 11. James Lowe 10. Jack Crowley 9. Craig Casey

1. Andrew Porter 2. Dan Sheehan 3. Tadhg Furlong 4. Joe McCarthy 5. Tadhg Beirne 6. Peter O’Mahony (C) 7. Josh van der Flier 8. Caelan Doris

16. Rónan Kelleher 17. Cian Healy 18. Finlay Bealham 19. James Ryan 20. Ryan Baird 21. Conor Murray 22. Ciaran Frawley 23. Garry Ringrose 


SOUTH AFRICA : 15 W le Roux 14 C Kolbe 13 J Kriel 12 D de Allende 11 K-L Arendse

10 H Pollard 9 F de Klerk 1 O Nche 2 B Mbonambi 3 F Malherbe

4 E Etzebeth 5 F Mostert 6 S Kolisi (c) 7 P-S du Toit 8 Kwagga Smith

16 M Marx 17 G Steenekamp 18 V Koch 19 S Moerat

20 RG Snyman 21 M van Staden 22 G Williams 23 S Feinberg-Mngomezulu


Castle Lager Incoming Series First Test

Saturday, July 6, 2024

KO 4pm (Irish time) Loftus Versfeld

Live on: Sky Sports Main Event, Action


359 :  Ireland’s tests in RSA – preview

Ireland Rugby Squad Training, St Peter’s College, Johannesburg, South Africa 28/6/2024Peter OMahonyMandatory Credit ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

🏉 Team Ireland v Team Provinces

🏉 The Never Ending Season

🏉 Who will step up?

🏉 The Boks’ approach

🏉 Series predictions

356 : Bulls v Leinster & 23/24 season wrap

15 June 2024; Joe McCarthy of Leinster, left, after his side’s defeat in the United Rugby Championship semi-final match between Vodacom Bulls and Leinster at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, South Africa. Photo by Shaun Roy/Sportsfile

🏉 Kicking game

🏉 Early conservation?

🏉 Predictability

🏉 Petersen chasing

🏉 Season review


@harpinonrugby

Pod now available on Apple, Spotify etc with bonus material on our YouTube channel throughout the week #LeinsterRugby #rugbytiktok

♬ original sound – Harpinonrugby.com – Harpinonrugby.com

FULL TIME TAKES

Brian Corr

Heartbreaking really, you could see players struggling in the conditions but Bulls were really up for it.

Some simple things going wrong don’t want to point out individuals but snappy passing failing us too many passes dropped taking away the momentum, a couple of kicks went awry as well, the Bulls kicking was exceptional for finding distance giving them a great home advantage.

I thought Joe Mc legally turned over the ball in the middle of the field but ref giving them a penalty seemed harsh, can someone explain why Donal on commentary was giving out about him, I’m perplexed.

Scrum a massive issue, now I’m really hoping Ireland go down and win both tests, anything else and we’re in for a torrid slagging 😂

Can someone explain why when Leinster score 87 tries second only to the Bulls on 88 everyone is saying Leinsters attack is terrible?

Lastly it’s not Bernard Jackman’s fault, based on the evidence Bulls weren’t all that, they just became all that today and fair play to them.

William Andrew

Leinster looked stale. They were moved around the park by a very clever Bulls side. It was obvious at half time Leinsters game was in trouble, its change it or lose it at that point.

Has Leinster improved this season? The answer is a resounding no.

Greg Kelly

Goodman took the best attack in world rugby and turned it into a toothless mess. Neinaber took the toothless mess and turned it into a leaky, depressing to watch toothless mess. The whole setup needs a shot of something heavy next season. Put Prendergast in at 10. Use Frawley as utility cover and Ross as the backup 10. Stop shitting on the shirt by offering the youngsters up as meat on a plate to SA teams away. Use the Academy players at home against the Dragons and Zebre and other weaker teams to build their confidence…not shatter it under a 50 point tonking.

The attitudes on the training ground build a season and clearly they are off

James Murphy

Some poor decisions from management during season

Definitely need a 10 for this level, and a second 9, McGrath was overwhelmed, also Larmar too small for this level.

Pack were bunched

Colin Mehigan

Not good enough…Tyler Bleyendaal can’t start soon enough…Nienaber’s lack of success at Munster is continuing at Leinster….does he have one year left on his contract? Sam P needs to be the starting 10 from the start of next season. Ridiculously long season. Players have been flogged into the ground. A season which will live short in the memory….yet again.

Sean MacDonnchadha

The organisation now has to be put under deserved pressure. A club side with the resources and depth of a world leading international side must expect more than consistent knockout performances becoming the new norm.Players trying their heart out and you can’t fault effort, but there is something technically wrong with their coaching and setup. If this were SA, England, France or NZ they would review with a cold mentality and introduce fresh changes. If we are serious about matching those nations then we need to do the same. Our RWC history is a clear and undeniable proof of this.

Cuan Mulligan

We were devoid of ideas in attack..Ross taking the ball with both feet planted 90% of the time.. one of the last plays and we’re looking at each other with not a clue what do to… huge fall from grace given the attacking threat we used to have. Take it on the chin; better team won… come on Munster… Ross to France please



Get in the conversation yourself by leaving

your own thoughts each week after the full time whistle 

in Leinster & Ireland matches on our Facebook page

URC WRAP

QUARTERFINALS

MUNSTER 23-7 OSPREYS

BULLS 30-23 BENETTON

LEINSTER 43-20 ULSTER

GLASGOW WARRIORS 27-10 STORMERS

SEMIFINALS

BULLS 25-20 LEINSTER

MUNSTER 10-17 GLASGOW

GRAND FINAL

SAT JUNE 22

BULLS V GLASGOW