- Jack O’Donoghue is top turnover king after round two
- ‘Saints’ relegated, Newcastle West can yet lift the MJL1 title
- AIL defeats for Shannon, ‘Munsters’, Bruff and Thomond
- Terrific wins for UL Bohemian and Old Crescent tonight in AIL2A
- Bonus point win as Munster prove too strong for the Southern Kings in Cork
- Kings will need to be in regal form to deprive Munster of home victory
- Important games for Limerick clubs as the AIL resumes action this week-end
- Tension mounts as local clubs feature in second last fence of Munster Junior League 1
- Impressive win for Clonmel on UL pitch keeps them on title target
- Will Joe Schmidt ring the changes for the Scottish game?
- Cancellations a-plenty as Munster Junior Cup gathers momentum
- Henshaw at full-back not really a gamble as Ireland name their team
- Ian excited about exploring new horizons as he plans two moves
- Nine local clubs in Bank of Ireland Munster Junior Cup action this week-end
- UL Bohemian and Thomond advance in the Bank of Ireland Munster Junior Cup
- Abbeyfeale lift the Transfield Cup for the first time since 1977
- Young Munster facing battle to avoid the drop
- Munster fight hard for victory in Rodney Parade
- Bonus point for Garryowen as Shannon fail to build on recent form
- AIL: Shannon win, Young Munster and Garryowen lose today in 1A
- AIL wins tonight for Old Crescent in 2A and Thomond in 2C
- John Ryan for Archer the only change on the Munster team
- Key Euro games for referees Neville, Clancy, Brace and Lacey
- Frank Quinn’s review of the final pools games of Heineken Cup
- Decent Munster representation on Ireland Six Nations squad
- English clubs’ wretched record at Thomond Park: 21 defeats, 2 wins
- A Newcastle view as their side fails to get winning bonus point
- Is the Transfield Cup final to take place in the Markets Field?
- Defeat for Richmond today dents their junior league title hopes
- Brave Garryowen’s late strike gives them ticket to Bateman decider
- Munster march on towards another home Heineken Cup quarter final
- Munster and Gloucester announce their teams for to-morrow night’s game
- All to play for as Munster Junior League division one hots up
- Garryowen keen to avoid their third successive cup defeat
- Munster’s Ian Keatley seems set to join Benetton Treviso
- Leinster are still the favourites to retain the Champions Cup
- Thomond and Bruff advance in cup: Newcastle drop league points
- Munster superb as they hold on for bonus point victory
- Munster’s away form will again be tested in the Showgrounds
- Munster Senior Cup retains its magic as Garryowen seek more glory
- Leinster’s winger James Lowe is suspended for two weeks
- Local referees are included in Guinness PRO14 week-end fixtures list
- St Mary’s, Thomond, Newcastle West, Bruff in league and cup action
- Brilliant Earls try seals victory over Leinster
- Young Munster romp home with comfortable Charity Cup win
- 12 changes as Munster prepare for another Thomond Park epic
- Frank Murphy to referee Munster v Leinster PRO14 fixture
- Full house for Munster and Leinster showdown at Thomond Park
- Christmas 2018 marks a record year for Limerick Rugby website
- Ulster happy with home win while Munster settle for single point
Munster on a high as they prepare for Zebre visit on Saturday
- Updated: 07/02/2018
By Aidan Corr
THE press day at the University of Limerick this Monday was a jolly place to be. The atmosphere was laced with a mixture of achievement and anticipation with a home quarter final safely achieved, a place in the PRO14 almost assured and the prospect of another home victory next Saturday when Italian side Zebres come through the iron gates of Thomond Park more than a possibility.
Happy days for Munster Rugby but when it came down to business the attending media threatened to sully the mood by throwing a few googlies: “What is your view on taking two South African18-year-olds into the Munster Academy. Is there a chance that local players of the same age group may see this in a negative way as regards their chances of getting into the group? Head coach. Johaan Graan deals with the question with a straight bat: “That decision was made before I arrived here.”
Next up is a query about another South African, second-row Gerbrandt Grobler: “Will he be in the frame for a start on Saturday against Zebre?”.Once again the reply is cautious from Johaan: “He is fit again and ready to go so we will see later on in the week. Simon Zebo, of course, is also available for this next game.”
Niall Scannell (pictured) spoke on the changes in the role of the hooker at the scrum and how Keith Wood had come into the training sessions some years ago to assist when Niall was playing schools rugby: “I’ve got two injuries at the wrong time in regard to Ireland caps, one in November and the other for the Six Nations. I’m now trying to stay positive and get some game time. Hopefully I’ll show a bit of form against Zebre. We do a lot of scrummaging in training, it’s a bit of a speciality of mine and I take a bit of leadership at these sessions.”
After decades of attendances at Munster press days, the one thing I should have learned was not to mention ‘the winning bonus point’ under any circumstances coming into league or cup games. Not for the first time temptation got the better of me and I spluttered out the unmentionable when Duncan Williams joined us for a few words: “Coming into games like these there is always a focus on the bonus point, will that be ye’re aim?,” I asked. The answer was predictably short: “We won’t be thinking of the bonus point we will just want to win this game. Obviously with the internationals away there is a chance for a few lads to get a run so we want to just get out there and get a result. This time of the season is always a good time to give younger members of the squad a chance to put their hands up for places. It will be my 150th Munster cap if I play against Zebre so that is a bit of a milestone for me. I had a bit of an injury but the body is good at the moment and I’m ready to go.
“Zebre are a good attacking team, they have the ‘most defenders beaten’in the competition, they are a good attacking team and they don’t kick the ball away as much as before. I haven’t started a game now for a few weeks so hopefully I’ll get out there on Saturday and get some game time.”
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