Category: Richard Mifsud

13 pod, 12 overall on HoR.net

312 : Leicester Tigers v Leinster wrap

20 January 2024; Joe McCarthy of Leinster celebrates after scoring his side’s first try during the Investec Champions Cup Pool 4 Round 4 match between Leicester Tigers and Leinster at Mattioli Woods Welford Road in Leicester, England. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

🏉 Discipline issues

🏉 Accuracy found

🏉 Harry > Handré

🏉 Evil D

🏉 Fat lady sings

@harpinonrugby

Our Leicester v Leinster wrap pod is now available on Apple, Spotify and most major platforms.

♬ original sound – Harpinonrugby.com – Harpinonrugby.com

THIS WEEK’S GUESTS

RICH MIFSUD & JAY LONG

FULL TIME TAKES

Joe Sheppard

At this rate, Caelan Doris will be getting World Rugby Player of the Year…… Unbelievable in all aspects of his game currently. ☘️💪🏉👏

Jamie Bermingham

Good win and great going getting the BP at the end. We really seem at times to be pushing the physical game this season, as a way to show we can deal with it

Eamon Phelan

Good win harry byrne struggled in forts 10 mins when Leicester were on top after that class . Very good team with loads of options from a jealous Munster fan

Andrew Byrne

I can’t be the only person who is this excited to see just how high the ceiling is for Joe McCarthy…still just 22 years old and he’s playing like an old master. I feel like we are witnessing the start of something special here.

Michaela Monaghan

Can’t believe we’re playing Leicester again In round 16!!

Brian Corr

I thought they showed great determination to chase the bonus point, in the past they’ve kicked out on 80 mins happy with what they got, fair play to Leicester for also trying to get the losing bonus and the ref for not blowing up straight after their knock on.

Leinsters big squad is showing its true value and they’ve shown players stepping in and out doesn’t make much difference

Kevin OCeallaigh

The first time in a long time that I’ve seen true grit, determination and old-school grind by a Leinster side to get that bonus point on 85 minutes. Lowe was imperious in the air. Henshaw looked to be back to where we know he can be, and McCarthy just gets better and better. What a great game!

Bernie Cunningham

Great performance 27 unanswered points after going behind by 10. Lads were brill

I had to head out the door the second Doris got his iconic BP try and couldn’t tweet at the FT whistle like I normally do but Whiff of Cordite pretty much said what I would have…

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CHAMPIONS CUP WRAP

ROUND 4

GLASGOW 29-5 TOULON

CONNACHT 27-10 BRISTOL

HARLEQUINS 47-19 ULSTER

BULLS 46-40 BORDEAUX

RACING 92 48-26 CARDIFF

LEICESTER 10-27 LEINSTER

MUNSTER 23-26 NORTHAMPTON

STADE FRANCAIS 20-24 STORMERS

SARACENS 39-24 LYON

SALE SHARKS 24-37 LA ROCHELLE

TOULOUSE 31-19 BATH

BAYONNE 40-17 EXETER

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302: La Rochelle v Leinster wrap

10 December 2023; Ciarán Frawley of Leinster kicks a penalty during the Investec Champions Cup match between La Rochelle and Leinster at Stade Marcel Deflandre in La Rochelle, France. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
@harpinonrugby

Our LARvLEI wrap now available on Apple, Spotify, etc #rugbytiktoks🏉 #irishtiktok #LeinsterRugby

♬ original sound – Harpinonrugby.com – Harpinonrugby.com

🏉 Il pleut beaucoup

🏉 Carley & CoCaptains

🏉 A Battle Of Wills

🏉 LAR leadership vacuum

🏉 Frawley’s Buzzer Beaters

THIS WEEK’S GUESTS

RICH MIFSUD & TOM COLEMAN

FULL TIME TAKES

Conor Cronin

Away in France to the reigning champs and we finally get it right! I couldn’t be happier to see the team finally figure out how to get the better of them. Delighted to see the only try scored is Larmour, he’s had a tough couple of years.

No trick plays, no bounce off the ball stuff, and no situation where the ref was clearly biased towards us. We beat them fair and square.

The future is bright at 10, the squad will take a lot from this and fingers crossed no major injury concerns as we prepare for Saturday

Chris McDonnell

Fantastic result, can’t fault anything on the pitch. Onwards and upwards.

Greg Kelly

Really well fought win. I seem to remember LAR struggling in similar conditions last year against Ulster. Byrne was pretty solid in what he did and Frawley fronted up well on a difficult night. Certainly a big weekend in the post Johnny period in blue and green.

Bert McLoughlin

What was best about today’s performance was the hunger to make dominant tackles and be physical in poor conditions. That hunger will make us strong contenders this season. No signs of a wc hangover

Gavin Hegarty

To me Byrne stood up when asked and frawley did the same. We’re good @10 for a few years!

Hats off to connors, he delivered and then some. Epic performance.

We had some unleinster mistakes but we’ll learn as the game evolves. Porter was constantly talking to the ref, this I like.

I did not like the ref telling ringer he won’t talk to Ryan but fear this is a result of ‘co’ captains. We need to sort thst.

William Andrew

Appalling display by the Ref, looked like he was been coached by LR. Said it twice to them but still did nothing to shut them up.

Honestly Refs need to realise a big scrum can actually bring a scrum down and play the odds like they play the red zone odds.

Jamie Donohoe

Very proud of that very courageous performance in those conditions. And i thought the Ref handled the game well too

Get in the conversation yourself by leaving 

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FRONT FIVE ARTICLES

[this week’s Front Five segment is over on our YouTube channel]

1  Bath 37-14 Ulster: Bath come from behind to secure bonus-point win in pool opener – BBC Sport [Matt Gault]

2  Heffernan: Connacht didn’t deliver against Bordeaux (rte.ie) [Michael Glennon]

3  Jackman Hits On Munster Issue Exposed In Disappointing Bayonne Draw | Balls.ie [Colman Stanley]

4  ‘You appreciate you’re a person first, not a rugby player first’ – Ryan Baird (the42.ie) [Rebecca Dollard] 

5  Irish Rugby | Parsons Shines As Ireland Women Claim Seventh Spot In Cape Town

CHAMPIONS CUP WRAP

ROUND 1

CONNACHT 5-41 BORDEAUX

GLASGOW 19-28 NORTHAMPTON

TOULON 18-19 EXETER

TOULOUSE 52-7 CARDIFF

BATH 37-14 ULSTER

BULLS 27-16 SARACENS

MUNSTER 17-17 BAYONNE

BRISTOL 36-34 LYON

SALE SHARKS 28-5 STADE FRANCAIS

LEICESTER TIGERS 35-26 STORMERS

LA ROCHELLE 9-16 LEINSTER

RACING 92 28-31 HARLEQUINS

ROUND 2

FRI DEC 15

NORTHAMPTON V TOULON

BAYONNE V GLASGOW WARRIORS

SAT DEC 16

SARACENS V CONNACHT

STORMERS V LA ROCHELLE

BORDEAUX V BRISTOL BEARS

LYON V BULLS

LEINSTER V SALE SHARKS

CARDIFF V BATH

ULSTER V RACING 92

SUN DEC 17

EXETER CHIEFS V MUNSTER

HARLEQUINS V TOULOUSE

STADE FRANCAIS V LEICESTER TIGERS

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294 : Leinster v Scarlets wrap

18 November 2023; Sam Prendergast of Leinster scores his side’s first try during the United Rugby Championship match between Leinster and Scarlets at the RDS Arena in Dublin. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
@harpinonrugby

Our Leinster v Scarlets wrap is now available on Spotify, Apple and most major platforms #rugbytiktoks🏉 #irishtiktok #irelandtiktok

♬ original sound – Harpinonrugby.com – Harpinonrugby.com

🏉 Scarlet shortcomings

🏉 Defensive changes

🏉 Jamie at 12

🏉 Ross milestones

🏉 Keenan eager

THIS WEEK’S GUESTS

TOM COLEMAN & RICH MIFSUD

FULL TIME TAKES

Gavin Hegarty

A good win but still a little disappointing. A good place to be when we’re disappointed to concede 5 to the Scarlets.

Prendergast did well but he’s too light in defence, he’d need more back row cover going forward.

Well done to Ross Byrne on his 150th cap.

Joe Mc was unreal again, he’s a fine future in front of him

(reply to Gavin) Peter Tracey

I’m glad they weren’t great. Loads to work on for next week and Jack will be in place.

Agree about Prendergast but that will come so not too worried.

Could Ross be top points scorer in the future? The only thing is if he’s in Ireland squads.

Joe is going to have a big season. I liked Gunne’s passing when he came on. Looked good for Ireland u20s.

We need to start bringing through a few 9s and props which we are.

Brian Corr

I enjoyed the game, I think it’s funny though that I have to remind myself as do many others that a 54-5 win is an excellent result.

It’s great to see Osbourne in particular doing so well, and the more Prendergast and Gunne get opportunities, the better Leinster will do.

The international contingent had a mixed bag, overall good and funnily enough Furlong looked very sharp.

Delighted for Keenan to get POTM, brilliant as usual.

Kevin Kelehan

Dominant and top of the table

Warren Doyle

God almighty we won👏👏👏👏

Jamie Donohoe

Jimmy O Brien had a superb game

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FRONT FIVE ARTICLES

1  Defensive excellence key as Munster record another win over Stormers (irishexaminer.com) [Simon Lewis]

2  Ulster fight back to secure victory over Lions at rain-swept Ravenhill | BelfastTelegraph.co.uk [Jonathan Bradley]

3  Connacht pile the pain on winless Sharks (sarugbymag.co.za)

4  Taine Basham: Dragons flanker suspended for four matches after Leinster red card – BBC Sport

5  [no English language article available for Netherlands’ U20 victories over Portugal & Belgium]

URC WRAP

ROUND 5

EDI 31-23 BUL

ULS 24-17 LIO

ZEB 22-22 CAR

SHA 12-13 CON

DRA 20-5 OSP

MUN 10-3 STO

GLA 26-12 BEN

LEI 54-5 SCA

ROUND 6

FRI NOV 24

CARDIFF V STORMERS

EDINBURGH V BENETTON

SAT NOV 25

LIONS V ZEBRE

BULLS V CONNACHT

SHARKS V DRAGONS

LEINSTER V SCARLETS

GLASGOW V ULSTER

SUN NOV 26

OSPREYS V SCARLETS

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288 : Portugal, Nations League & RE Super Cup with Francisco Isaac

this is the full version of our Nations Cup discussion

Our bonus midweek pods are back and here we welcome friend of the pod Francisco Isaac and myself & regular Harpin contributor Rich Mifsud talk to him about Portugal’s success at RWC2023, the Nations Cup as proposed by World Rugby, and the 2023 RE Super Cup which kicks off this weekend.

Our guests

FRANCISCO ISAAC

RICH MIFSUD

285 : Glasgow v Leinster wrap

22 January 2023; Tommy O’Brien of Leinster in action against George Horne of Glasgow Warriors during the United Rugby Championship match between Glasgow Warriors and Leinster at Scotstoun Stadium in Glasgow, Scotland. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
@harpinonrugby

Our #GLAvLEI wrap pod is now available on Spotify and most major platforms

♬ original sound – Harpinonrugby.com – Harpinonrugby.com

🏉  Yin/yang RWC SFs

🏉  WXV update

🏉  Experience over prospects

🏉  100,000 replays

🏉  Leadership clarity

THIS WEEK’S GUESTS

RICH MIFSUD & JAY LONG

FULL TIME TAKES

Christy O’Connor

Hard to make anything of this with such young team that was put out. It’s a learning curve, more than anything. Glasgow deserved the win

Dave Murray

Lots of soft scores leaked. Can only get better as the weeks go on 🤞🤞🤞

Craig Grehan

Lack of ruthlessness and aggression.

Frawley should’ve been at 10.

Or Prendergast …

We didn’t use the backs enough when we hit the 5m line and got punished by sloppy rucking.

Tackles were soft at times.

Chris McDonnell

Cant play rugby with a 10, 12, 13 and not a single one prepared to make a tackle. We created very little with the ball and how many times do we have to lose scores from boxkicking. Lineout was good, scrum was awful.

Bert McLoughlin

We were well outplayed at times but not giving a try without conclusive evidence was a turning point

Jamie Donohoe

Evans the Referee was absolutely shocking & completely incompetent.

That said Leinster leaked a lot of soft scores

Jamie Bermingham

Defence was very poor today and we had a number of chances on the Glasgow try line and let them slip. The decision to not allow Turners try was shocking as there was no solid evidence he was in touch, in fact it looked like the Glasgow player was keeping him in play

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FRONT FIVE ARTICLES

1  Argentina 6-44 New Zealand in woeful World Cup Semi-Final (sportsnewsireland.com) [Joe Naughton]

2 Rugby World Cup: England suffer agonising defeat thanks to South Africa’s gutsy call | The Independent [Harry Latham-Coyle]

3 WXV3: Second big Ireland win | Scrum Queens [John Birch]

4  Carbery and Munster ‘stick to guns’ in impressive opening win over Sharks (irishexaminer.com) [Kevin Fallon]

5  Ospreys produce stirring comeback but go down to Connacht in season opener – Wales Online [Robert Harries]

URC WRAP

ROUND 1

ZEB 36-40 ULS

CON 34-26 OSP

LIO 33-35 STO

DRA 17-22 EDI

MUN 34-21 SHA

CAR 22-23 BEN

BUL 63-21 SCA

GLA 43-25 LEI

ROUND 2

SAT OCT 28

OSP V ZEB

CON V GLA

STO V SCA

LEI V SHA

EDI V LIO

SUN OCT 29

BEN V MUN

DRA V CAR

ULS V BUL

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276 : Ireland v Tonga wrap

2023 Rugby World Cup Pool B, Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes, France 16/9/2023 Ireland vs Tonga Ireland’s Jonathan Sexton Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

Our guests…

CONOR CRONIN & RICH MIFSUD

with reports from CIAN O’MUILLEOIR & “FUTURE JEFF”

🏉 Minnows Minimized

🏉 “Future Jeff” reports

🏉 MH > 7

🏉 Record Breaker

🏉 The Bundee Minutes

FRONT FIVE LINKS

1  France overcome impressive Uruguay for second World Cup win (therugbypaper.co.uk) [Nick Powell]

2  All Blacks v Namibia: Cam Roigard sends statement to New Zealand selectors in maiden test start – NZ Herald [Liam Napier]

3  England use lucky break to beat Japan but bonus-point win marred by boos | Rugby World Cup 2023 | The Guardian [Robert Kitson]

4  Match Centre: Rugby World Cup Pool C: Australia 15-22 Fiji (talkingrugbyunion.co.uk) [Frank Nickson]

5  South Africa 76-0 Romania: Cobus Reinach scores second-fastest World Cup hat-trick – BBC Sport

@harpinonrugby

Bundee PotM, Sexton breaks the record, and more Irish tries raining in…we particularly liked this one. #RWC2023 #ShoulderToShoulder

♬ Juliana Hyper Techno Rave Mystical – Beat Charger

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266 : Ireland v Italy wrap

Bank of Ireland Nations Series, Aviva Stadium, Dublin 5/8/2023 Ireland vs Italy Ireland’s Caelan Doris scores a try Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Evan Treacy

OUR GUESTS : CONOR CRONIN & RICH MIFSUD

FRONT FIVE LINKS

  1. Wallabies coach Eddie Jones says Wallabies ‘will win the World Cup’ after narrow loss to All Blacks | Stuff.co.nz
  2. Springboks overcome scrappy first half to beat Argentina 24-13 | Reuters
  3. USA Men’s Eagles ride high with big win in Romania | Latest Rugby News | USA Eagles
  4. Scotland fight back but win over second-string France could prove costly (the42.ie)
  5. Match Centre: Wales 20-9 England (talkingrugbyunion.co.uk)
BONUS CLIP
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251 – Leinster v Munster wrap

THIS WEEK’S GUESTS

TOM COLEMAN & RICH MIFSUD

FULL TIME TAKES

FACEBOOK

Conor Cronin

This is a game I’ll need to watch back.

In the stand, if you believe the boos, comments here, comments all over the Internet etc we can only blame one person but I blame the urc. How did they put that referee in the position that he can be blamed? It’s outrageous that he be put in that position. Any other ref could be chosen so that the “he played” nonsense wouldn’t be am issue.

Regardless, you play the decisions, and adapt.

Well done munster, good luck on the 27th.

Craig Grehan

As an out & out leinster fan. We disrespected munster in cup rugby by not selecting our best team.

A team that does that, does it at their peril. We took the gamble and lost to the MUCH better team on the day.

Andrew Potts

A disappointing day for Leinster fond the demands of a month of weekly knock out rugby a step to far today.

Could have won it but Munster could had a few tries.

Frank Murphy did nothing today but enhance his reputation as a very flawed Ref and biased against Leinster.

In the first minute a player leaves the field unconscious. The result of a high tackle.

I thought three questions had to be answered by the Ref

Was there contact with the head?

Was force applied?

Any mitigation ?

It’s a card but only what colour.

The sanctions must have changed.

The length of time Leinster were defending under advantage was ridiculous, certainly he was a factor.

John Hyland

Munster were the better side today. For right or for wrong, Leo has prioritised the fifth star. This was always going to be a tight game. Let’s hope Munster can do the biz in SA.

TWITTER

MASTODON

Koochulainn  Munster were up for it… Can’t complain we weren’t clinical enough 😦

FRONT FIVE ARTICLES

  1. Ireland women sevens qualify for Olympics (rte.ie) 
  2. Terenure Centre Says Provinces Should Give Young AIL Players A Chance | Balls.ie [Colman Stanley]
  3. European Professional Club Rugby | Dublin Heineken Champions Cup final confirmed as sell-out (epcrugby.com)
  4.  Premiership: George Ford boots Sale Sharks past Leicester Tigers to final : PlanetRugby 
  5. Magical Manie sends Stormers to URC final (sarugbymag.co.za)

URC SEMIFINAL WRAP

URC SEMIFINALS
STO 43-25 CON
LEI 15-16 MUN

URC FINAL
SAT MAY 27
STO V MUN

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243 : Lions v Leinster wrap

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1HPTtRKNBNe729a2k2kyXQ?si=ljUOnBcMRLqv_WX26a_0jA

THIS WEEK’S GUESTS

RICH MIFSUD & JOE SHEPPARD

Click here for Joe’s site Three BOD Rugby

FULL TIME TAKES

FACEBOOK

Greg Kelly From the first scrum the Lions looked uneasy. They looked like they expected the young guns to have a crack but to fall away. However they didn’t. Lions lived off Leinster errors and a lack of cohesion.

Up the ladders and age grades Leinster lose very few games and sometimes that shows. Players that are not used to losing generally don’t fall away.

Christy O’Connor Lot of pressure on Prendergast, I originally thought it was a mistake to start him but after a bit of a shaky first half he got more into the game and made the difference in the end.

Big statement to come from behind when down to 13 men and we were nowhere near full strength

Andrew Potts Any win in SA is to be respected, fantastic result for young players and praise also for Ruddock and Deegan for keeping the lads focused when it could have gone South

TWITTER

https://twitter.com/canice_clooney/status/1647269417745633280?s=20

MASTODON

FRONT FIVE ARTICLES

  1. Irish rugby likened to ‘old boys club’ with sexism commonplace (telegraph.co.uk) [Fiona Thomas]
  2. Leinster Rugby | Jacques Nienaber to Join Leinster Rugby [Marcus Ó Buachalla]
  3. Ulster increase strain on Stormers by knocking down Dragons | Belfast News Letter [Ciaran Donaghy]
  4. Huge win as Munster end Stormers’ two-year home streak in Cape Town (irishexaminer.com) [Craig Ray]
  5. Connacht give departing figures the perfect home send-off with bonus-point win (the42.ie) [John Fallon]

URC ROUND 17 WRAP

ROUND 17

SHA 43-33 BEN

GLA 12-9 SCA

ULS 40-19 DRA

BUL 78-12 ZEB

LIO 36-39 LEI

STO 24-26 MUN

EDI 45-21 OSP

CON 38-19 CAR

ROUND 18

FRI APR 21

STO V BEN

ULS V EDI

SAT SPR 22

LIO V ZEB

DRA V SCA

BUL V LEI

SHA V MUN

OSP V CAR

GLA V CON

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232 : SCOTLAND v IRELAND WRAP

THIS WEEK’S GUEST

RICHARD MIFSUD

FULL TIME TAKES

FACEBOOK

Conor Cronin The wins in the previous 3 rounds with a big injury list, outdone by getting through that game in spite of the injuries.

We allowed the scots to dictate big parts of that game but once we took charge we’d 2 quick tries and that was it. raging for James Ryan not to get the score or the assist with that fine supporting run, and not to have got the BP.

Players really stood up and were counted, and while there were mistakes it’s the attitude of getting up and getting the next phase right that is the core of this team right now.

James Griffin What a very special group of men! To play through so much adversity and win is why they have the ranking they have. Speedy recovery to the injured.

Mark Jackson Think that covers most contingencies ..struggling to come up w new ones ..maybe Hugo Keenan as a LO jumper…Jukebox finally kicking for goal.

Kevin Kelehan Dogged in the extreme, not much more could have gone against them, the disallowed first try, the smashing of Doris in the air in the line out and no sanction, then Sheehan and then Henderson so early in the game. Today was proof that even a much improved Scotland with tails up in front of a noisy crowd could not derail Ireland seriously discommoded by injuries. Time to nail Farrell and Catt down for a contract extension before the World Cup!

Lee O Farrell They always talk about the rub of the green but the lads today made their own luck.

An incredible performance. One of the things that sets this group apart from previous Irish teams is the headspace. And these lads have it in spades!

Andrew Potts Every benefit of the doubt was given to Scotland by the Ref.

Even the fact he was joking around when Ringrose was being attended to for a serious injury was completely tone deaf.

TWITTER

MASTODON

Brian Nisbet Grand Slam still very much on. 7-22 in Edinburgh. Very scrappy match and concerning injuries, but still, it’s a win and any issues will be forgotten after the fifth win next weekend.

Marc Fritsche The players will be in nothing but ice baths for the week, that was extremely physical

FRONT FIVE ARTICLES

  1. Portugal and Georgia to contest REC 23 Grand Final (rugbyeurope.eu) 
  2. Blackrock set up schools cup final rematch with Gonzaga after edging St Michael’s in thrilling finale – Independent.ie [Des Berry]
  3. Ireland close in on U20 Grand Slam defence after 75-point demolition of Scotland (the42.ie) [Lewis Stuart]
  4. Wales finally win a Six Nations match as old face returns to make difference – Wales Online [Steffan Thomas]
  5. Shambolic England given a France masterclass (lastwordonsports.com) [Charlie Inglefield]

SIX NATIONS ROUND 4 WRAP

ROUND 4

ITA 17-29 WAL

ENG 10-53 FRA

SCO 7-22 IRE

ROUND 5

SAT MAR 18

SCO V ITA

FRA V WAL

IRE V ENG

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