482 : Leinster v Ulster wrap

19 December 2025; Rieko Ioane of Leinster dives over to score his side’s first try despite the tackle of Rob Baloucoune, bottom, and Jacob Stockdale of Ulster during the United Rugby Championship match between Leinster and Ulster at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile


🏉 Self inflicted shit

🏉 Game management

🏉 Why we complain

🏉 Bench inflicted grit

🏉 The McCarthys

🏉[40:21 – bonus chat on Gibraltar Rugby]


RICHARD MIFSUD


FULL TIME TAKES

Tom Clarke

I could copy and paste my comment from last week. But I’ll ask the question again. How are the current coaching ticket bringing these players to the next level?

Gavin Little

Our basic skills used to be second to none, but now every phase feels like a risk. Confidence seems through the floor. Strangers playing with each other.

There used to be complaints that we’d peak too early, and maybe we will come good when it matters. At the moment that seems like a far way off.

John Jones

Still time to build into the season but something not working at the moment. I don’t know if it is just the lack of a proper pre-season together, or if there really is something off in the coaching/current coaching ticket? Still wouldn’t put it past them to put in a big performance Vs Munster though and kick on from there…

Kevin Kelehan

Very happy with Leinster reeling in a quality side last night, the fans expecting Leinster to go out week after week and put 50 points up and concede little more than a consolation try are unrealistic. A lot of credit to Richie Murphy who is getting a lot out of a side with few internationals but lots of guts and effort. I thought James Ryan was very unlucky to be carded for what looked like a fairly standard clear out. On to another game that can be lost in Thomond next week.

Johnny McGovern

I like the look of the Leinster winger Kenny . Stood up physically and has a sense of class about him . May be a bit inexperienced positionally at this level but he has Gaz and will only get better . Unfortunately Tector is not a centre ! Slipped off too many tackles . Gunne should have been brought on at half time too. Ritchie Murphy doing a great job up in Ulster clearly. With a bit more composure second half Ulster would have beaten Leinster . McCloskey and Steward had huge games .

Christy O’Connor

The only good thing lately is that we are winning games. However we cannot keep winning ugly and expect to win a trophy playing like this. Some serious damage is being done to the brand/style of Leinster and the longer it goes on the harder it will be to reverse it.

Craig Grehan

Ulster snatched a loss from the jaws of victory. Leinster very lucky.

3 out halves on the pitch throughout the whole game and we looked flat as feck. Ulster were solid, can’t take that from them.

Have we any centres?

Lineout looked sharper thank god.

How is Ryan not getting to grips with ruck entry?

We’ve also learned Harry byrne is in fact the better 10.

Eamon Saunders

I’m fed up at this stage of saying another poor performance but a win ,maybe I’m wrong but good teams win playing poor but a good performance is what we need

Gavin Hegarty

Dire.

Just dire.

How did we go from niling Glasgow and Quinns with huge scores in Europe and winning the URC last year to this type of performance? Confidence seems shit squad wide.

So many little mistakes. Unforced knock ons, losing every high ball, sliced kicks.

Techtor is a great player but was so far off his own pace. Penny was anonymous all game. Sam’s passing seemed to take an age to wind up.

Something needs to happen to salvage this season, we really didn’t deserve a win tonight.

Chris McDonnell

Dreadful kicking especially from mcgrath, pendergasts confidence is shot. Gunne was very good when he came on. Joe is a monster. Soroka was excellent, lowe is not playing well at all. Tectors first bad game. Less and less people are going to pay to see this brand of rugby. Boxkick after boxkick. Its an expensive hobby to watch leinster the least they can do is try to play good rugby

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URC WRAP

NEXT HARPIN’

TUESDAY

80+ COLUMN – limited version (SUBSTACK)

FRIDAY

MUNSTER V LEINSTER PREVIEW SHOW (YOUTUBE)


481: Leinster v Ulster preview

ALSO AVAILABLE AS A PODCAST


LEINSTER :

15. Ciarán Frawley 14. Joshua Kenny 13. Rieko Ioane

12. Charlie Tector 11. James Lowe 10. Sam Prendergast 9. Luke McGrath

1. Jack Boyle 2. Gus McCarthy 3. Rabah Slimani4. Brian Deeny

5. James Ryan 6. Alex Soroka 7. Scott Penny 8. Jack Conan (c)

16. Dan Sheehan 17. Paddy McCarthy 18. Tadhg Furlong 19. Joe McCarthy

20. Max Deegan 21. Fintan Gunne 22. Harry Byrne 23. Ruben Moloney


ULSTER

15. Jacob Stockdale 14. Rob Baloucoune 13. Jude Postlethwaite

12. Stuart McCloskey 11. Werner Kok 10. Jack Murphy 9. Nathan Doak

1. Angus Bell  2. Tom Stewart 3. Tom O’Toole 4. Harry Sheridan

5. Charlie Irvine 6. David McCann 7. Nick Timoney (c) 8. Juarno Augustus 

16. John Andrew 17. Sam Crean 18. Scott Wilson 19. Joe Hopes

20. Bryn Ward 21. Conor McKee 22. Jake Flannery 23. Ethan McIlroy


BKT United Rugby Championship 25/26 – Round 2

Friday, December 19, 2025

Aviva Stadium

KO 7:45pm

Live on : TG4, Premier Sports 1 & URC.tv


Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)

AR 1: Andrew Fogarty (IRFU)

AR 2: Tomás O’Sullivan (IRFU)

TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)

429 : Leinster v Ulster wrap

19 April 2025; Tommy O’Brien of Leinster evades the tackle of on his way to scoring his side’s first try during the United Rugby Championship match between Leinster and Ulster at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile


🏉  Late late change

🏉  Terrific TOB

🏉  Coach killers

🏉  Defensive stands

🏉  Triple Dan


DAVID CORDIAL


FULL TIME TAKES

Christy O’Connor

Tommy is flying, definitely in with a great shout to be playing in the cup games. Will definitely be on the irish summer tour

Greg Kelly

Tommy O’Brien looking like the real deal these days

Michael Branagan

Great result. Porter needs to be “seen to be in control”. He’s throwing penalties away, 50:50 calls, that are damaging us and his reputation. I do think it’s harsh on a number of fronts but he has to “ease back” as it were. For a little while.

William Andrew

Ulster had a lot go against them, but still hung in there.

Some unfortunate, some self inflected.

Leinster were good but you can see some players are not quite the standard of the 1st squad.

Others are pushing on. Highlights were the chip to Dan and Gunn delaying his pass to Dan.

Smart play

Warren Doyle

Right person won man of the match. Class act. Well done Tommy O’Brien.

John Peeters

Only one comment; is RG ok?



URC WRAP


NEXT HARPIN’

TUESDAY

BONUS CHAT : “LEINSTER PLAYER PROFILES PT 1”

WEDNESDAY

80+ COLUMN INCLUDING FRONT 5 VIDEO

THURSDAY

THROWBACK THURSDAY


428 : Leinster v Ulster preview

ALSO AVAILABLE AS A PODCAST

LEINSTER : 15. Jamie Osborne 14. Tommy O’Brien 13. Garry Ringrose 12. Robbie Henshaw 11. Jimmy O’Brien 10. Ciarán Frawley 9. Luke McGrath (c)

1. Jack Boyle 2. Gus McCarthy 3. Thomas Clarkson 4. Joe McCarthy 5. Diarmuid Mangan 6. Alex Soroka 7. Scott Penny 8. James Culhane

16. Dan Sheehan 17. Andrew Porter 18. Tadhg Furlong 19. RG Snyman 20. Max Deegan 21. Fintan Gunne 22. Sam Prendergast 23. Liam Turner


ULSTER : 15. Michael Lowry 14. Zac Ward 13. Jude Postlethwaite 12. Stuart McCloskey 11. Jacob Stockdale 10. Jack Murphy 9. Nathan Doak

1. Andrew Warwick 2. Rob Herring 3. Tom O’Toole 4. Alan O’Connor (c) 5. Cormac Izuchukwu 6. James McNabney 7. Nick Timoney 8. David McCann

16. Tom Stewart 17. Callum Reid 18. Scott Wilson 19. Matthew Dalton 20. Kieran Treadwell 21. John Cooney 22. Stewart Moore 23. Matty Rea


BKT United Rugby Championship 24/25 Round 15

Saturday, April 20, 2025

KO 7:35pm  Aviva Stadium

Live on : TG4, Premier Sports 1 & URC.tv


Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)

AR 1: Andrew Fogarty (IRFU)

AR 2: Tómas O’Sullivan (IRFU)

TMO: Stefano Penne (FIR)

389 : Ulster v Leinster wrap

29 November 2024; Jordan Larmour of Leinster scores his side’s second try during the United Rugby Championship match between Ulster and Leinster at Kingspan Stadium in Belfast. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile


🏉 Scrum’s the word

🏉 HIAs & injuries

🏉 Tactical changes

🏉 Jimmy & Jordan

🏉 Unexpected bonus



FULL TIME TAKES

Jackie McEachern

After last year, I’m so happy to get 5 points in Belfast. But it’s frustrating that Byrne’s conversion misses wind up meaning Ulster get the LBP. JOB was great.

Gordy Graham (Ulster fan)

Amazing that Ulster got anything from that game considering the state of our scrum. Both sides had an error strewn first half, both a bit better the second but Leinster, as they often are, were clinical enough to get the win.

Sean MacDonnchadha

Slimani brought in for nights like these. A rock of solidity with the first line front rowers away. Built our win around scrum power 💪🏼 Also great to see Larmour perform so well. A leaders performance by Jack with a great steal at the end to seal the win.

Kevin Kelehan

5 points for Leinster, decent progress report for Ulster who could have been a lot further in front at half time if they converted better

Colin Mcconaghie (Ulster fan)

Hate to criticise officials but that was so poor. Reffed both teams differently


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URC WRAP


@harpinonrugby

The first of our two wrap pods from the weekend is now up on Apple, Spotify, etc #rugbytiktok #urc #irishrugby #leinsterrugby

♬ original sound – Harpinonrugby.com – Harpinonrugby.com

387 : Ulster v Leinster preview

ALSO AVAILABLE AS A PODCAST

Our guest : MARK JACKSON


LEINSTER : 15. Jimmy O’Brien 14. Jordan Larmour 13. Liam Turner 12. Charlie Tector 11. Andrew Osborne 10. Ross Byrne 9. Luke McGrath

1. Jack Boyle 2. John McKee 3. Rabah Slimani 4. Diarmuid Mangan 5. Brian Deeny 6. Max Deegan 7. Will Connors 8. Jack Conan (c)

16. Lee Barron 17. Michael Milne 18. Rory McGuire 19. RG Snyman 20. James Culhane 21. Fintan Gunne 22. Harry Byrne 23. Scott Penny


Ulster : 15 Stewart Moore, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Ben Carson, 12 Jude Postlethwaite, 11 Michael Lowry, 10 Aidan Morgan, 9 Nathan Doak

1 Eric O’Sullivan, 2 James McCormick, 3 Scott Wilson, 4 Alan O’Connor (C), 5 Kieran Treadwell, 6 James McNabney, 7 Nick Timoney, 8 David McCann;

16 Tom Stewart, 17 Andrew Warwick, 18 Corrie Barrett, 19 Harry Sheridan, 20 Marcus Rea, 21 John Cooney, 22 James Humphreys, 23 Ben Moxham


United Rugby Championship 24/25 Round 7

Friday, November 29, 2024

KO 7:35pm  Kingspan Stadium

Live on: BBC 2 NI, RTÉ Player, Premier Sports 1 & URC.tv


Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU)

AR 1: Andrew Cole (IRFU)

AR 2: Andrew Fogarty (IRFU)

TMO: Leo Colgan (IRFU)

354 : Leinster v Ulster wrap

8 June 2024; Jordan Larmour of Leinster evades the tackle of Ethan McIlroy of Ulster on his way to scoring his side’s fourth try during the United Rugby Championship quarter-final match between Leinster and Ulster at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

🏉 Slow start

🏉 Misleading margins

🏉 Soccer skills

🏉 Marvellous McCarthy

🏉 Southern soujourn

@harpinonrugby

Our Leinster v Ulster wrap pod is now available on Apple, Spotify, etc, with a bonus clip on our YouTube channel

♬ original sound – Harpinonrugby.com – Harpinonrugby.com

FULL TIME TAKES

Cuan Mulligan

Ross while having some good moments, is too predictable, and offers little variety in attack…. Sam tried some outrageous moves , came off, granted they won’t always but means teams are unsure what to expect…

Greg Kelly

Watched the game on SuperSport and I get the impression the Saffas don’t watch Leinster in detail because they’re a bit worried 😂

It’s nice to see Leinster going full guns in the league for the first time in a while. It was a high quality game that Leinster managed well.

Strangely enough I wonder if Prendergast being in the squad and then coming in and showing some good touches means he’s not going anywhere next season. Personally I think they have to look to make him the solid number 2 next year with an eye to him getting the starting shirt if performances warrant it.

Brian Corr

I’m almost afraid to say anything because of the backlash of you’re arrogant and typical Leinster, but with almost the full squad available it’s hard to see how Ulster would have really threatened Leinster, particularly without their captain and next best second row out.

Ulster came out flying but could not get over the line, a couple of tries some would call lucky and they were buried by 1/2 time. Lucky translates into the harder I work the more luck I get.

While Ulster never went away, they conceded within minutes of scoring their first tries.

For Leinster it was great to get a comprehensive win and a fairly hard fought one which will stand to them next week.

Osbourne and Henshaw were everywhere, though it was a full team performance, I don’t know if anyone had a bad game.

Robert Webster

Good win by Leinster but thought score flattered them a little. Next week should be a good game but would expect Leinster to have too much for the Bulls, who will need to up their performance from today to have any chance. Would add that I thought it was a pretty disappointing crowd for a knock out derby.

Gordy Graham

Ultimately I’m a disappointed Ulster fan again but the boys gave it everything today and it was always going to be a big ask after losing four second rows. Murphy has had a big impact at Ulster and there’s a bit of positivity about the place now which is nice!

From an impartial view point I can’t understand Leinster’s continued obsession with Byrne, he seems to have lost his confidence and offers very little in the way of attacking threat. I think that’s why Leinster’s attack as a whole has slowed down.

Colin Mcconaghie

Massively depleted Ulster team gave their all. Not to be against a very strong Leinster.

Proud of our young lads after being written off all season.


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URC WRAP

QUARTERFINALS

MUNSTER V OSPREYS8

BULLS V BENETTON

LEINSTER 43-20 ULSTER

GLASGOW WARRIOR V STORMERS

SEMIFINALS

SAT JUNE 15

BULLS V LEINSTER

MUNSTER V GLASGOW



353 : Leinster v Ulster Preview

also available as a podcast

LEINSTER : 15. Jimmy O’Brien 14. Jordan Larmour 13. Robbie Henshaw 12. Jamie Osborne 11. James Lowe 10. Ross Byrne 9. Jamison Gibson-Park

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

16. Rónan Kelleher 17. Cian Healy 18. Michael Ala’alatoa 19. Ross Molony 20. Max Deegan 21. Luke McGrath 22. Sam Prendergast 23. Ciarán Frawley 


ULSTER : 15 Stewart Moore, 14 Mike Lowry, 13 Will Addison, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Jacob Stockdale, 10 Billy Burns, 9 John Cooney;

1 Eric O’Sullivan, 2 Rob Herring (C), 3 Tom O’Toole, 4 Harry Sheridan, 5 Cormac Izuchukwu, 6 Matty Rea, 7 David McCann, 8 Nick Timoney.

16 Tom Stewart, 17 Andy Warwick, 18 Scott Wilson, 19 Greg Jones, 20 Dave Ewers, 21 Nathan Doak, 22 Ethan McIlroy, 23 Jude Postlethwaite.


BKT United Rugby Championship 2023/24 Quarterfinal

Saturday, June 8, 2024

KO 5pm Aviva Stadium

Live on: TG4, Premier Sports, URC.tv


Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)

AR1: Craig Evans (WRU)

AR2: Eoghan Cross (IRFU)

TMO: Brain MacNeice (IRFU)

348 : Ulster v Leinster wrap

18 May 2024; Charlie Ngatai of Leinster evades the tackle of Rob Herring of Ulster on his way to scoring his side’s first try during the United Rugby Championship match between Ulster and Leinster at Kingspan Stadium in Belfast. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

🏉 Disjointed

🏉 Somehow ahead

🏉 Much butchering

🏉 Take the three

🏉 Cool Cooney


@harpinonrugby

CHeck out our latest wrap pod on Apple, Spotify and other major platforms rugbytiktok LeinsterRugby URC

♬ original sound – Harpinonrugby.com – Harpinonrugby.com

FULL TIME TAKES

Paul Smith

Whoever made the call to kick to the line when we are 1 point ahead with 10 minutes to go and straight in front of the posts probably cost us the chance to top the table. A win and we were top and had it totally in our own hands but for sone reason I still can’t fathom we decided to completely f**k it up. Totally sickened right now. Not to take anything away from Ulster who completely deserved the victory tonight but its very rarely you can be so outplayed and still have the chance to come away with a win. We need to see a completely different mindset from Leinster next weekend if we are finally going to get our hands on star number 5.

William Andrew

A dreadful lack of nous to lose that game. Continually kicking the ball away with 5 mins on the clock hoping to make ten meters is not great. A 30 meter through kick to force a Ulster line out in their 22 would have burned a min at least. Plus they are now in danger of conceding a penalty.

Several generations of former Leinster 10s and 9s must be shaking their heads.

Berchmans Gannon

From the sideline the box kicking is not the way to go.

Chasing a bonus point ahead of a win is questionable.

Shit happens! I will still support Leinster without the need for a slaughter of Managment.

Kevin Kelehan

Decent game that could have gone either way, the losing bonus point will get Leinster at least a home QF, the win will guarantee Ulster top tier cup rugby next season.

Colin Mehigan

Another uninspiring performance if I’m honest….our high profile coaching ticket need to rethink strategy


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URC WRAP

ROUND 17

ZEBRE 18-32 SCARLETS

EDINBURGH 26-29 MUNSTER

BULLS 56-35 BENETTON

OSPREYS 26-13 DRAGONS

LIONS 44-21 GLASGOW

CONNACHT 12-16 STORMERS

SHARKS 14-36 CARDIFF

ULSTER 23-21 LEINSTER



ROUND 18 [final round]

FRI MAY 31

LEINSTER V CONNACHT

GLASGOW V ZEBRE

SAT JUNE 1

STORMERS V LIONS

BENETTON V EDINBURGH

SCARLETS V DRAGONS

SHARKS V BULLS

MUNSTER V ULSTER

CARDIFF V OSPREYS



347 : Ulster v Leinster preview

also available as a podcast


LEINSTER : 15. Hugo Keenan 14. Tommy O’Brien 13. Jimmy O’Brien 12. Charlie Ngatai 11. Rob Russell 10. Harry Byrne 9. Cormac Foley

1. Cian Healy 2. Rónan Kelleher 3. Michael Ala’alatoa 4. James Ryan (c) 5. Brian Deeny 6. Max Deegan 7. Will Connors 8. Jack Conan

16. John McKee 17. Michael Milne 18. Thomas Clarkson 19. Ross Molony 20. Scott Penny 21. Luke McGrath 22. Sam Prendergast 23. Ben Brownlee


ULSTER :  15 Ethan McIlroy, 14 Mike Lowry, 13 Will Addison, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Jacob Stockdale, 10 Billy Burns, 9 John Cooney;

1 Eric O’Sullivan, 2 Rob Herring, 3 Tom O’Toole, 4 Kieran Treadwell, 5 Alan O’Connor (C), 6 Cormac Izuchukwu, 7 David McCann, 8 Nick Timoney.

16 Tom Stewart, 17 Andy Warwick, 18 Scott Wilson, 19 Harry Sheridan, 20 Matty Rea, 21 Nathan Doak, 22 Stewart Moore, 23 Jude Postlethwaite.


BKT United Rugby Championship 2023/24 Round 17

Saturday, May 18, 2024

KO 7:35pm Kingspan Stadium 

Live on: TG4, Premier Sports 1, URC.tv


Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)

AR1: Robbie Jenkinson (Ireland) 

AR2: Keane Davison (Ireland)

TMO: Leo Colgan (Ireland)