Match wrapup – Page 5 – HARPIN' ON RUGBY

412 : Wales v Ireland wrap

2025 Guinness Six Nations Round 3, Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales 22/2/2025Wales vs Ireland Ireland’s Jamie Osborne scores a try despite Tom Rogers of WalesMandatory Credit ©INPHO/Ben Brady

🏉 Solid start
🏉 Welsh purple patch
🏉 Ringer Red
🏉 Bundee Bloody Bundee
🏉 Crowning glory

THIS WEEK’S GUEST

FULL TIME TAKES

Kevin Kelehan

Wales were so much better today, played with width and offloaded really accurately. Doris certainly missed and Ringrose’s mistimed tackle didn’t help. Likely France only 3 points behind us after this weekend which makes a win essential in 2 weeks time.

Peggy Sibbald

Well done Ireland..but hats of to Wales they played a massive game of Rugby 👏👏👏

Craig Grehan

That was an epic battle. Sloppy but epic. I think it will stand to us better than if we’d gone out and hammered them. Not that it was gonna happen. Fair play Wales. But fair play Ireland for sticking it out and showing the grit between the teeth

Michelle Tobin

Scrum was an unmitigated disaster. We were lucky not to concede a yellow for the repeated penalties. So many players will watch that performance back and be embarrassed. Some dreadful stuff. A few bright sparks, Osborne, Lowe, Conan and Beirne but plenty of others sub-par.

Greg Kelly

Ireland were poor but did the job when needed. In fairness had we played well for 60 mins of that game we would have won comfortably and I think we allowed Wales to play well. Was surprised Ringrose was upgraded to red but there was some really bizzare interactions between referee and TMO in that game 🤷‍♂️

Jackie McEachern

Grateful for the win. We missed Doris, hoping he’s back for France and also hoping Conan’s injury isn’t serious. I thought it was a little strange that Crowley wasn’t brought on until so late in the game.

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

MEN’S 6N WRAP

NEXT HARPIN’ – LIGHTER BLUE

TUESDAY

BONUS POD – “WOMEN’S 6N PREVIEW”

WEDNESDAY

80+ COLUMN INCLUDING FRONT 5 VIDEO

410 : Ospreys v Leinster wrap

14 February 2025; Rabah Slimani of Leinster is congratulated by teammates after scoring his side’s third try during the United Rugby Championship match between Ospreys and Leinster at Swansea.com Stadium in Swansea, Wales. Photo by Chris Fairweather/Sportsfile

🏉 You’ve been Slimani-ed

🏉 Cobbled cohesion

🏉 Ospreys weapons

🏉 Staying ahead

🏉 Late scare

THIS WEEK’S GUESTS

RICHARD MIFSUD

CIARÁN DUFFY

Post to Post blog

FULL TIME TAKES

Brian Corr

Just shows what experience brings, Tipuric was a menace and a pain in the arse from the 1st minute, got right in the Leinster faces and bullied them and all behind the refs back(or the ref just didn’t care).

McGraths try was brilliant for once in the game passes stuck and defenders were beaten.

MOTM Harri Deaves was also a menace & seemed to get a semi when Snyman came on giving him lots of lip and trying to belittle him, Snyman for his part looked to love it and was all smiles, a real valentines vibe going on.

Great win for a real second team and good for Frawley, O’Brien, Osbourne and the Irish squad members to get a run to dust off some cobwebs, which there was a lot of, but if they get a run against Wales it will stand to them.

Some over the top comments on here about playing bad when the team was cobbled together and most haven’t played in 3 weeks but as the saying goes winning ugly is still winning.

Sandra Seery

Was really hoping for a bonus point but happy with the win.

Bert McLoughlin

Sloppy handling when in good positions cost us a few scores from good positions but just about got over the line. It’s not often an opposition backrow play better than the Leinster backrow, Tipuric still going strong as the elder statesman

Jackie McEachern

I think this is mostly one to forget but glad we got the win.

Warren Doyle

A win is a win but not a great performance. Second string players will not have learned anything from that. Too much up & under & very little continuity. Better to come, hopefully.

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

NEXT HARPIN’

TUESDAY

BONUS CLIP ON YOUTUBE CHANNEL :

WEDNESDAY

80+ COLUMN INCLUDING FRONT 5 VIDEO

408 : Scotland v Ireland wrap

2025 Guinness Six Nations Championship Round 2, Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh, Scotland 9/2/2025 Scotland vs Ireland Leinster’s Sam Prendergast Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

🏉 Super Sam
🏉 DVDM good & bad
🏉 HIAs
🏉 Mini comeback
🏉 Quaich retained

THIS WEEK’S GUESTS

TOM COLEMAN

CONOR CRONIN

FULL TIME TAKES

Sarah Lennon

Decent performance but we need to get out of the habit of coughing up late scores, this could come down to points difference

Colin McConaghie

Thought JGP was outstanding again and Hugo looks back to his best. Worried about our centres who aren’t hitting the heights.

Not sure about persisting with POM with other longer term options available. Conan stepped it up when he came on.

Cormac Mannion

No head-slapping, whooping and screaming in the opposition’s faces from the Scotland players today. Good enough for them.

Overall, a solid performance. We were very sloppy at times though, particularly from 35mins to 50mins and then the last Scotland score.but we were well on top for most of it. Lineout wasn’t great but we tried a few new things and hopefully Furlong and McCarthy will be back for Wales.

David Ryle

I feel Sam has shut his detractors up but they won’t.

Kevin Kelehan

Scotland played very well for phases but the loss of Russell and Graham means we never saw the full test that was expected. Ireland were really professional in using their power and patience to get their scores. Conan is definitely back to his absolute best as Prendergast raises the bar at 10 higher game after game.

Jackie McEachern

Really happy overall with the performance and bonus point win. I thought Prendergast, Beirne, JGP and Keenan were all excellent. Always things to work on but two 5 point wins from the first two 6N matches is excellent.

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

MEN’S 6N WRAP

NEXT HARPIN’

TUESDAY

BONUS CLIP ON YOUTUBE CHANNEL :

WEDNESDAY

80+ COLUMN INCLUDING FRONT 5 VIDEO

THURSDAY

OSPREYS V LEINSTER PREVIEW SHOW

406 : Ireland v England wrap

2025 Guinness Six Nations Championship Round 1, Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland 1/2/2025Ireland vs EnglandIrelands Jamison Gibson-Park scores their first tryMandatory Credit ©INPHO/Billy Stickland

🏉 Early worries

🏉 23 lineouts

🏉 That JGP step

🏉 Weary defenders

🏉 Bench impress

THIS WEEK’S GUESTS

CIAN O’MUILLEOIR

HUGO GORDON

FULL TIME TAKES

Kevin Kelehan

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

in Leinster & Ireland matches on our Facebook page

MEN’S SIX NATIONS WRAP

NEXT HARPIN’

TUESDAY

BONUS CLIP ON YOUTUBE CHANNEL : “JACK OR SAM (OR TRUST?)”

WEDNESDAY

80+ COLUMN INCLUDING FRONT 5 VIDEO

404 : Leinster v Stormers wrap

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

also available on Apple and most major platforms

🏉 The Ross Byrne All-Stars

🏉 Skipper Dan

🏉 Missing cards

🏉 Stormer tears

🏉 Monkey off back

THIS WEEK’S GUESTS

CIARÁN DUFFY

Post To Post Sport blog

JAY LONG

FULL TIME TAKES

Jackie McEachern

Great to get the 5 points and see Lowe and Sheehan looking strong on their returns from injury.

Eamon Saunders

Good win and great to see some young lads get their chance and as usual great to see a couple of Wexford lads on the field

Josephine Boyd

Great win for our boys in blue and and to see our young future players getting there chance.👏👍👕💪🏈💙

Bernie Cunningham

Grt win and grt to see our future looks good with young players 💙💙

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

NEXT HARPIN’

TUESDAY JAN 28

BONUS CLIP ON YOUTUBE CHANNEL : “IRISH 23 V ENGLAND”

WEDNESDAY JAN 29

80+ COLUMN INCLUDING FRONT 5 VIDEO (ALSO ON YOUTUBE)

402 : Leinster v Bath wrap

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

🏉 Ringer the winger?

🏉 Bath early

🏉 Super Slimani

🏉 Early bath

🏉 Mission accomplished

THIS WEEK’S GUESTS

RICHARD MIFSUD

DAVID CORDIAL

FULL TIME TAKES

Denise O’Brien

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

in Leinster & Ireland matches on our Facebook page

CHAMPIONS CUP WRAP

400 : La Rochelle v Leinster wrap

12 January 2025; Jamie Osborne of Leinster offloads to teammate Joe McCarthy before he runs through to score his side’s first try during the Investec Champions Cup Pool 2 match between Stade Rochelais and Leinster at Stade Marcel Deflandre in La Rochelle, France. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

also available on Apple and most major platforms

🏉 80-minute D

🏉 The Porter Protocol

🏉 Jamie spin, Joe score

🏉 Missed kicks

🏉 Frantic finish

THIS WEEK’S GUESTS

TOM COLEMAN

CIAN O’MUILLEOIR

FULL TIME TAKES

John Hyland

Botia was a nuisance when he came on. Leinster were very physical and really ripped into them in the first half but lost a bit of intensity after the substitutions. Both sides need to improve their place kicking.

Gavin Hegarty

Ok let’s not call a spade a shovel here. We won but it was far from satisfactory. So many schoolboy errors that a better side would have hugely punished us on. Our lineout is an utter sham, I don’t get how a pro team can have one so bad. I think some of the subs, like Byrne and McGrath, happened to early, prendergast was doing very well.

On a side note that TMO should be fired for raising the Doris tackle with the ref and for wasting everyone’s time reviewing it. I think he was aiming for the world’s first back to head penalty.

Jackie McEachern

Happy for the win away. Amazing defence and still lots to work on in attack. We can’t miss kicks like the one Byrne missed in games at this level. The kick Barrett missed was much more difficult and maybe we should have gone to the corner then?

For me MOTM was between JVDF and Doris.

Greg Kelly

We turned the tables on them. We had them running into brick walls and numerous times their sustained phase attack was driven 20-30m backwards. They did that to us in our 1st few encounters.

Ross Byrnes missed kick again I think will be another paving stone on his road out of the club. In a game like that you can’t miss those kicks

Kevin Kelehan

O’Gara had La Rochelle pumped, the crowd was extremely partisan. Leinster made mistakes but had the winning mentality, did not make it easy for themselves but did the hard work without the ball.

John Jones

Amazing defensive performance and we looked in control for the middle part of the game. Thought we really lost our shape once all the subs were on though and there were far too many players out of position- need a more balanced bench selection I think. Also, Ross is a great servant but Frawley has to be the back up 10 in these games i think. I just don’t trust Byrne in clutch games and that penalty miss was pretty unforgivable I think. Also wasn’t it very similar to the penalty that Frawley came off the bench and nailed in the same fixture last year?

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

CHAMPIONS CUP WRAP

398 : Munster v Leinster wrap

27 December 2024; Luke McGrath of Leinster scores his side’s first try during the United Rugby Championship match between Munster and Leinster at Thomond Park in Limerick. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

NOTE : this week we posted the ‘Final Thoughts’ portion separately on our YouTube channel

🏉 Vanishing pillar

🏉 Set piece revival

🏉 Steady Sam

🏉 Ahern SUAF

🏉 Through the Ringer

THIS WEEK’S GUESTS

CONOR CRONIN

CIARÁN DUFFY

Post To Post Sport – blog

FULL TIME TAKES

Chris McDonnell

I am not a McGrath fan but he was good tonight. Credit where its due. Munster’s refusal to take points when they are on offer is just daft against a defence as good as Leinster’s. Lineout was better and the scrum was good mostly.

Gavin Hegarty

Let’s not get carried away here, that was a terrible Munster team. They need to rebuild from the ground up.

Adrian Hickey

Being cautious with Super Sam is key. No Jordie or RG was a killer blow to a real soft Munster outfit imo. No real reason to egg them on

Jackie McEachern

Happy to see the lineout functioning better. Thought VdF was excellent again. Really happy to get the BP win. Still lots to work on but lots of positives too.

Kevin Kelehan

11 points clear of the pack, selecting a stronger squad to tour South Africa in March is vital, now the meat of the season kicks off, La Rochelle away, Bath home and the Six Nations title defence

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

396 : Leinster v Connacht wrap

21 December 2024; RG Snyman of Leinster makes a break past Josh Murphy of Connacht during the United Rugby Championship match between Leinster and Connacht at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

🏉 Makeshift?

🏉 Ref communication

🏉 Well taken tries

🏉 Holding on

🏉 Mackgate

THIS WEEK’S GUESTS

TOM COLEMAN

HUGO GORDON

FULL TIME TAKES

Lorcán Murphy

Changes and early injuries proved very disruptive. Came out the right side of a dogfight two weeks running. Better than cakewalks and nothing to show at the end of the season

Eamon Saunders

Not a great game but as I always say a win is a win. Great to see 2 Wexford men on the field Charlie Tector and Brian Deeny

Andrew Bailey

On paper a very strong Connacht team nullified. Just find a Lineout and we could be comfortable

David Ryle

Some dodgy decisions on both sides.

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

***no 80+ column this week so we’ll include the latest comp updates here***

Irish Shield

Celtic Challenge

All Ireland Leagues

WOMEN’S AIL

MEN’S AIL

SVNS

NEXT ROUND : PERTH JAN 24-26, 202

Premiership

🔝🐱🐴

ProD2

Japan League One

Harpin Prediction League

THIS SEASON THE HPL IS ADDING A NEW KNOCKOUT COMPETITION

CALLED “THE HARPIN MUG”

(BECAUSE THE PRIZE IS AN ACTUAL MUG SO WE COULDN’T CALL IT A ‘CUP’)

THE SEEDINGS ARE DETERMINED BY THE STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 6

AND YOU CAN SEE THE FULL BRACKET BELOW

394 : Leinster v Clérmont wrap

14 December 2024; Andrew Porter of Leinster is tackled by Pierre Fouyssac of ASM Clermont Auvergne during the Champions Cup Pool 2 match between Leinster and ASM Clermont Auvergne at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

🏉 Lineout shambles

🏉 Wraparound Sam

🏉 Tries left behind

🏉 Misty second half

🏉 Peak Porter

THIS WEEK’S GUESTS

CONOR CRONIN

DAVID CORDIAL

FULL TIME TAKES

Cormac Mannion

I can’t actually remember a worse Leinster lineout performance in over 20 years. Some of the handling was also atrocious.

Again, similar to some of Ireland’s performances recently, our players seem to constantly get isolated at the breakdown.

We also appeared to unnecessarily overcomplicate a lot of our handling and passing when being a bit more direct would have been the wiser choice.

Some worrying flaws from Ireland that have seeped into Leinster’s performances.

Kevin Kelehan

Line out is dysfunctional, I know Dan Sheehan is out but without him it has been a disaster, making sure he is fully fit has to be the number 1 objective for Leinster, the throwing today was so bad you’d nearly have JVdF throwing in and Kelliher/McCarthy in for scrummaging and loose play. Fix that problem and there are so many positives from today. The signings of Barrett, Snyman and Slimani are all hits, Sam Prenddergast was outstanding, his tactical kicking, distance to touch off penalties and passing were all really great. Henshaw and Ringrose both superb and Jimmy O’Brien looking close to his best again. A point dropped today but equally 4 points won against a slumbering European giant that was awake today.

Paul Lacey

Will we ever find another Andrew porter. He has to be burnt out .clarkson is playing brilliant rugby. Jvd & Morris need a break..

David Ryle

Scrappy game but a win is a win.

Colette Caddle

An amazing game, two excellent sides but Leinster line outs need a lot of work.

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