Category: URC

249 : Leinster v Sharks wrap 

6 May 2023; Michael Milne of Leinster celebrates after scoring his side’s second try during the United Rugby Championship Quarter-Final between Leinster and Cell C Sharks at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

THIS WEEK’S GUESTS

NEIL ‘KEEGO’ KEEGAN & CIAN ‘RUGBY KINO’ O’MUILLEOIR

www.keegolaughs.com

Apologies Up Front on Apple Podcasts

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Christy O’Connor

Another very comfortable game, a slight scare at the start when Sharks got their try, but in the end it was too easy.

Don’t see Munster causing any trouble after watching their game against 14 man Glasgow. Still need to show Munster respect though. Don’t want to put out all the academy players again thinking we will walk it.

Andrew Byrne

Time to rethink the quarterfinals stage? That wasn’t a proper match, Sharks seemed to turn up with a one dimensional game plan, only wishing to front up at the scrum and then return home as quickly as possible. No fight in them to have a shot at Leinster with a proper game plan. Knockout rugby gives you a chance to take down the top teams, Sharks just didn’t look interested in anything other than taking scrums.

Hubert Gallagher

(Munster semifinal will be) a derby – passions will be high, physicality intense, we cannot afford to be as generous as Glasgow yesterday and spurn the chances they did. Otherwise Munster will grow into the game and it will become a dogfight and the outcome less certain!

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Koochulainn  I thought (the Sharks) would be more dangerous, particularly against an unorthodox centre partnership (which I thought didn’t gel early on)  I thought McGrath was and has been fantastic over the last while

FRONT FIVE ARTICLES

  1. Joe Schmidt likely to be on IRFU’s radar as union target ‘world-class’ successor to David Nucifora | Independent.ie [Rúaidhrí O’Connor]
  2. Terenure earn record-breaking All-Ireland final win over Clontarf (the42.ie)  [Dave Mervyn] 
  3. Stormers stride into home semi (sarugbymag.co.za)
  4. Ulster were second best in URC Quarter-Final against hungry Connacht, admits Dan McFarland | BelfastTelegraph.co.uk [Jonathan Bradley]
  5. Munster grind out victory over Glasgow in bruising Scotstoun affair (irishexaminer.com) [Simon Lewis]

URC QUARTERFINAL WRAP

URC QUARTERFINALS

ULS 10-15 CON

STO 33-21 BUL

LEI 35-3 SHA

GLA 5-14 MUN

SEMIFINALS

SAT MAY 13

STO V CON 3PM

LEI V MUN 5:30PM

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248 : Harpin Preview Show – Leinster v Sharks

OUR GUESTS : NEIL “KEEGO” KEEGAN & CIAN “RUGBY KINO” O’MUILLEOIR

Leinster :  15. Hugo Keenan 14. Jordan Larmour 13. Ciarán Frawley 12. Charlie Ngatai 11. Dave Kearney 10. Harry Byrne 9. Luke McGrath > CAPTAIN

1. Michael Milne 2. Dan Sheehan 3. Tadhg Furlong 4. Ryan Baird 5. Jason Jenkins 6. Max Deegan 7. Scott Penny 8. Caelan Doris

16. John McKee 17. Andrew Porter 18. Cian Healy 19. Joe McCarthy 20. Jack Conan 21. Jamison Gibson-Park 22. Ross Byrne 23. Liam Turner

Cell C Sharks : 15 Aphelele Fassi 14 Marnus Potgieter 13 Lukhanyo Am (c) 12 Ben Tapuai 11 Makazole Mapimpi 10 Boeta Chamberlain 9 Grant Williams 

1 Ox Nche 2 Bongi Mbonambi 3 Thomas du Toit 4 Corne Rahl 5 Gerbrandt Grobler 6 James Venter 7 Vincent Tshituka 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe

16 Fez Mbatha 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu 18 Carlu Sadie 19 Jeandre Labuschagne 20 Phepsi Buthelezi 21 Cameron Wright 22 Nevaldo Fleurs 23 Rohan Janse van Rensburg 

BKT United Rugby Championship 2022/23

Quarterfinal

Sat May 6 KO 5pm

Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Referee: Craig Evans (WRU)

AR 1: Sam Grove-White (SRU) 

AR 2: Hollie Davidson (SRU)

TMO: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)

Live on: RTÉ2, Viaplay/Premier Sports, URC.tv

245 : Bulls v Leinster & URC Rds 1-18 wrap

22 April 2023; Leinster players huddle during the United Rugby Championship match between Vodacom Bulls and Leinster at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, South Africa. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

THIS WEEK’S GUESTS

CONOR CRONIN & NATHAN JOHNS

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Gerald Williamson The Bulls getting the 5pts is immaterial in the last league match. What was important for Leinster was to be able to blood new young players and get the experience of playing against a fully loaded Bulls team. This will stand to the Leinster boys.

Andrew Potts My goodness it was still a masterclass of support play and off loading by Bulls. Hopefully Leinster learn from it, because sometimes you learn more from you failures than your victories

Christy O’Connor Wasn’t expecting us to win but also wasn’t expecting such a spanking. I thought Clarkson and Soroka put in a good shift. We definitely learned more in this game than the bulls did. Roll on Toulouse.

Greg Kelly Hardly good for the competition or if you are Connacht or Munster to see the Bulls get 5 points against Leinsters 4ths and leapfrog you in the playoffs when you had to play against the 1sts. I understand giving the young guns a run but there has to be integrity in both the competition and the jersey and that was lacking today.

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FRONT FIVE ARTICLES

  1. AIL round-up: Deja vu for Clontarf and Terenure (rte.ie) 
  2. Ulster secure home advantage in URC play-offs after battling win over Edinburgh at Ravenhill | BelfastTelegraph.co.uk [Jonathan Bradley]
  3. Munster secure trip to Glasgow in URC quarters after dramatic Durban recovery (irishexaminer.com) [Craig Ray]
  4. Ireland show plenty of character and courage despite being outclassed by England – The Irish Times [John O’Sullivan]
  5. Connacht fail to maintain winning run · The42 [John Fallon]

URC ROUND 18 WRAP

ROUND 18

STO 38-22 BEN

ULS 28-14 EDI

LIO 50-35 ZEB

DRA 31-14 SCA

BUL 62-7 LEI

SHA 22-22 MUN

OSP 21-38 CAR

GLA 29-27 CON

QUARTERFINALS (WEEKEND MAY 5/6/7)

LEINSTER V SHARKS

ULSTER V CONNACHT

STORMERS V BULLS

GLASGOW V MUNSTER

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Harpin’ Preview Show : Bulls v Leinster

Our guest : MARK JACKSON

Leinster : 15. Chris Cosgrave 14. Tommy O’Brien 13. Liam Turner 12. Ben Brownlee 11. Dave Kearney 10. Sam Prendergast 9. Nick McCarthy

1. Ed Byrne > CAPTAIN 2. Tadgh McElroy 3. Thomas Clarkson 4. Alex Soroka 5. Brian Deeny 6. James Culhane 7. Will Connors 8. Max Deegan

16. Lee Barron 17. Michael Milne 18. Temi Lasisi 19. Conor O’Tighearnaigh 20. Liam Molony 21. Ben Murphy 22. Charlie Tector 23. Rob Russell

Vodacom Bulls : 15 K-L Arendse 14 C Moodie 13 S Gans 12 H Vorster 11 D Kreil 10 J Goosen 9 E Papier

1 G Steenkamp 2 J Grobelaar 3 M Smith 4 R Vermaak 5 R Nortje (c) 6 M van Staden 7 C Brink 8 E Louw

16 B du Plessis 17 D Smith 18 F Klopper 19 J Swanpoel 20 WJ Steenkamp 21 K Johannes 22 C Smith 23 C Hendricks

BKT United Rugby Championship 2022/23

Round 18

Sat Apr 22 KO 3:05pm

Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

Referee: Craig Evans  (WRU)  

AR 1: Adriaan Jacobs (SARU)

AR 2: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SARU)  

TMO: Jon Mason (WRU)

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

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

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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

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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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242 : Harpin Preview Show – #LIOvLEI

apologies for issues with Tom’s video

Our guest : TOM COLEMAN

Leinster : 15. Chris Cosgrave 14. Tommy O’Brien 13. Liam Turner 12. Ben Brownlee 11. Dave Kearney 10. Sam Prendergast 9. Nick McCarthy

1. Michael Milne 2. Lee Barron 3. Vakhtang Abdaladze 4. Brian Deeny 5. Jason Jenkins 6. Rhys Ruddock > CAPTAIN7. Will Connors 8. Max Deegan

16. Tadgh McElroy 17. Ed Byrne 18. Thomas Clarkson 19. Alex Soroka 20. James Culhane 21. Ben Murphy 22. Charlie Tector 23. Rob Russell

Lions : 15 Q Horn 14 S Pienaar 13 M Raas 12 M Louw (c) 11 E vd Merwe 10 G Lombard 9 S Nohamba

1 R Runsburger 2 PJ Botha 3 A Ntlabakanye 4 W Alberts 5 R Schoeman 6 J Kriel 7 R Delport 8 F Horn

16 M Brandon 17 JP Smith 18 R Dreyer 19 DL Landsberg 20 T Gordon 21 M vd Berg 22 R Jonker 23 A Coetzee

BKT United Rugby Championship 2022/23

Round 17

Sat Apr 15 KO 3pm

Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg

Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)

AR 1: Morne Ferreira (SARU)

AR 2: Stephan Geldenhuys (SARU)

TMO: David Sutherland (SRU)

Live on: RTÉ, Viaplay, Premier Sports & URC.tv

USE CODE “HARPIN” ON THE DOOR FOR DISCOUNT

237 : Leinster v Stormers wrap

THIS WEEK’S GUESTS

TOM COLEMAN & CIARÁN DUFFY*

click here to support Ciarán’s autism fundraiser

* = also helped with production

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Conor Cronin We’re still undefeated, but I feel we could’ve won that.

It’s easy to blame certain factors, the weather being one, but you have to play what’s out there. We tried an offloading game in the first half that wasn’t suitable to those conditions. That’s inexperience.

The other major inexperienced person it they’re was the ref imo. He needs to trócaire his interpretation of the ruck, in from the side and the offside line. I would also argue that leinster avoiding s try before half time wasn’t a reason nor to yellow the cynical behaviour within 5m leading up to that try.

We take 3 points from that game to their 2, and are guaranteed to spot in the league. We were given a challenge greater than any we’ve faced so far this season. We were pushed in a way that forced the players out there to show more and dig deep. It might be a draw on the score board but its a win for me.

Greg Kelly Winning is a habit but so is not losing. To be fair though we left that game out there. Byrnes missed kicks were the difference. 3rd string team against a much more experienced Stormers outfit and we draw with a 3-2 match point win. Perhaps an indication that the SA teams are not as strong relatively speaking as the competition needs them to be. 

Alan Murphy Physical game. The wind and the rain probably balanced each half. 17-5 to each team in each half. A bonus point draw for us is probably more than we expected before the game against a fully loaded Stormers team. Well done Leinster. 

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Rich Mifsud Given the respective lineups, getting 3 match points from this match is nothing short of awesome. Well played both teams in seriously rubbish conditions. Haven’t been this happy about drawing at home..ever 🤣. Credit to our @leinsterrugby boys especially the young guns for that comeback against a very strong @thestormers team. Great match and a credit to the @urcofficial 

Dominic Doyle really good game. Stormers will fancy coming back to RDS again in better weather later in the season and will have no fear. Shame our first team don’t get this test. Much needed for the serious battles ahead.

Brian Nisbet Spent the match surrounded by a very jolly French barristers rugby team. They were very much up for Leinster and we were all rewarded by a great match. The Stormers came to win and they went away with a 22-22 draw and lacked the try BP that Leinster got. Result. 

FRONT FIVE ARTICLES

  1. ‘Ireland is the new New Zealand’: Top dogs and proud of it, the emerald isle is locked in passionate embrace of rugby (theroar.com.au) [Harry Jones]
  2. Welsh first half sets up bonus point win | Scrum Queens [John Birch – via Irish Rugby]
  3. Hat-trick hero Blade inspires Connacht to bonus-point win over Edinburgh (the42.ie) [John Fallon]
  4. Too little, too late as Munster fightback falls short against dominant Glasgow (irishexaminer.com) [Simon Lewis]
  5. Ulster storm back to down Bulls in second half | SuperSport [Brendan Nel]

URC ROUND 16 WRAP

ROUND 16 (UNITY ROUND)

ZEB 30-34 CAR

LEI 22-22 STO

BEN 28-32 LIO

OSP 37-18 DRA

CON 41-26 EDI

SCA 32-20 SHA

MUN 26-38 GLA

ULS 32-23 BUL

ROUND 17

FRI APR 14

SHA V BEN

GLA V SCA

ULS V DRA

SAT APR 15

LIO V LEI

BUL V ZEB

STO V MUN

CON V CAR

EDI V OSP

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236 : Harpin’ Preview Show #LEIvSTO

OUR GUEST : CONOR CRONIN

Leinster : 15. Jordan Larmour 14. Rob Russell 13. Liam Turner 12. Ciarán Frawley 11. Dave Kearney 10. Harry Byrne 9. Luke McGrath

1. Michael Milne 2. John McKee 3. Michael Ala’alatoa 4. Ross Molony 5. Jason Jenkins 6. Rhys Ruddock > CAPTAIN 7. Scott Penny 8. Max Deegan

16. Lee Barron 17. Ed Byrne 18. Vakhtang Abdaladze 19. Brian Deeny 20. Will Connors 21. Nick McCarthy 22. Charlie Tector 23. Ben Brownlee

DHL Stormers: 15 Clayton Blommetjies 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg 13 Dan du Plessis 12 Damian Willemse 11 Seabelo Senatla 10 Manie Libbok 9 Paul de Wet

1 Steven Kitshoff (capt) 2 Joseph Dweba 3 Frans Malherbe 4 Ruben van Heerden 5 Marvin Orie 6 Deon Fourie 7 Ben-Jason Dixon 8 Hacjivah Dayimani,

16 JJ Kotze 17 Brok Harris 18 Neethling Fouche 19 Ernst van Rhyn 20 Willie Engelbrecht 21 Marcel Theunissen 22 Herschel Jantjies 23 Jean-Luc du Plessis

BKT United Rugby Championship 2022/23

Round 16

Fri Mar 24 KO 7:35pm

RDS Arena, Dublin

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

Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU)

AR 1: Peter Martin (IRFU)

AR 2: Keane Davison (IRFU)

TMO: Andrew McMenemy (SRU)

229 : Edinburgh v Leinster wrap

4 March 2023; Michael Ala’alatoa of Leinster scores his side’s sixth try as teammates including Michael Milne celebrate during the United Rugby Championship match between Edinburgh and Leinster at The Dam Health Stadium in Edinburgh, Scotland. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

THIS WEEK’S GUESTS

MARK JACKSON & CIARÁN DUFFY

Click here for info on Ciarán’s fundraiser

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Peter Murphy Sad to see so many doubters before the game

Kevin Kelehan The machine keeps delivering

Chris McDonnell Seriously good

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MASTODON

RichardMifsud Poor start but credit Edinburgh for that. Good response from the boys very clinical in their 22. Absorbed the lessons and adapted. Once we did they were found out because our D was on point and allowed us to kick on. Great 9/10/12/13 interplay and Ciarán F added quality as required. Surprised by Edinburgh’s capitulation after 50” or so. Scott P worthy POTM but Harry B was thereabouts

BrianClontarf Best performance by Harry Byrne for some time. He’s growing into it.

FRONT FIVE ARTICLES

  1. Leo Cullen Signs New Contract To Stay At Leinster Rugby (sportsnewsireland.com) [Jonah McBride]
  2. Irish Rugby | Energia All-Ireland League Men’s Division 1A: Round 15 Review
  3. Rowntree relieved to leave with bonus after challenging week (irishexaminer.com) [Simon Lewis]
  4. Dragons 20-22 Connacht: 14-men Dragons fail to sign off at home for season with win after late missed drop-goals – Wales Online [Ben James]
  5. Ulster hit Cardiff for six as they continue top-two bid with bonus-point win in Wales | BelfastTelegraph.co.uk [Jonathan Bradley]

URC ROUND 15 WRAP

ROUND 15

GLA 50-8 ZEB

MUN 49-42 SCA

STO 29-23 SHA

BUL 25-29 LIO

EDI 27-47 LEI

OSP 20-21 BEN

DRA 20-22 CON

CAR 20-42 ULS

ROUND 16

MAR 24

ZEB V CAR

LEI V STO

MAR 25

BEN V LIO

OSP V DRA

CON V EDI

SCA V SHA

MUN V GLA

ULS V BUL

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228 : Harpin Preview Show – #EDIvLEI

OUR GUEST : NEIL “KEEGO” KEEGAN

www.keegolaughs.com

Apologies Up Front on Apple Podcasts

Leinster : 15. Ciarán Frawley 14. Jordan Larmour 13. Liam Turner 12. Jamie Osborne 11. Dave Kearney 10. Harry Byrne 9. Luke McGrath

1. Michael Milne 2. John McKee 3. Michael Ala’alatoa 4. Ross Molony 5. Jason Jenkins 6. Rhys Ruddock > CAPTAIN 7. Scott Penny 8. Max Deegan

16. Lee Barron 17. Jack Boyle 18. Thomas Clarkson 19. Brian Deeny 20. Will Connors 21. Nick McCarthy 22. Charlie Tector 23. Rob Russell.

Edinburgh : 15. Emiliano Boffelli 14. Damien Hoyland 13. Mark Bennett 12. James Lang 11. Wes Goosen 10. Charlie Savala 9. Ben Vellacott

1. Boan Venter 2. Stuart McInally 3. Lee-Roy Atalifo 4. Marshall Sykes 5. Sam Skinner 6. Luke Crosbie > CAPTAIN 7. Hamish Watson 8. Viliame Mata

16. Dave Cherry 17. Jamie Jack 18. Elliot Millar-Mills 19. Jamie Hodgson 20. Nick Haining 21. Charlie Shiel 22. Jaco van der Walt 23. Chris Dean.

BKT United Rugby Championship 2022/23

Round 15

Sat Mar 4 KO 5:05pm

DAM Health Stadium

Live on: TG4, Viaplay/Premier Sports, URC.tv

Referee: Craig Evans (Wales)

AR1: Sam Grove-White

AR2: Ian Kenny 

TMO: Jon Mason