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Gerry Thornley

Gerry Thornley

Rugby Correspondent

Gerry Thorney is rugby correspondent with The Irish Times.

Former All Black outhalf Andrew Mehrtens, right, with Ireland and Leinster out-half during the Irupa Rugby Player Awards 2013. Photograph: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
‘I think so much talent is wasted in France’ – Mehrtens

After more than five years playing and coaching in the country, the former All Black outhalf feels French sides play more as indi(...)

Rob Kearney leaps in to score the third of Leinster four tries against Stade Francais. Photograph: Inpho
Clinical Leinster show smothers Stade’s Amlin challenge

Schmidt’s men outscore visitors four tries to one as Sexton kicks perfectly to help secure silverware

Jonny Wilkinson: will be a pivotal figure for Toulon.
Clermont to keep their 100 per cent record in Heineken Cup

Nothing between the two French sides in today’s Aviva Stadium final

The two captains, Leinster’s Jamie Heaslip and Stade Francais’ Sergio Parisse, pose before the decider.
Leinster can take another French scalp but Stade Francais will be no pushovers

O’Driscoll’s back injury rules him out of Amlin final as he decides to play another year

Clermont captain Aurelien Rougerie is expected to be fit for the final.
Huge invasion by Clermont’s Yellow Army expected for final

Leinster and Munster fans likely to row in behind them as well

Jerome Porical in action during the semi-final win over Perpignan. Photograph: Inpho
Stade Francais, given the right mood, have a sting in their tail

Hopefully, they won’t pick Leinster game to deliver a big performance on the road

Leinster’s Brian O’Driscoll is expected to be fit for final.
Leinster hopeful trio with make Amlin final

Easterby ‘confident’ O’Driscoll will be fit

Doug Howlett and Munster coach Rob Penney. Photograph: Cathal Noonan/Inpho
Howlett retirement yet another blow for Munster

Munster and former All Blacks player to hang up boots at the end of this season

Kurtley Beale will likely miss the Lions tour for discipline reasons. Photograph: Scott Barbour/Getty Images
Despite Kurtley Beale’s likely absence, Wallabies will pack quite a punch

In comparison to the Lions, Australia look to have more invention and game-breakers

More articles

Rabo Pro 12

Team P W D L F A BP Pts
Ulster 22 17 1 4 577 348 11 81
Leinster 22 17 0 5 585 386 10 78
Glasgow 22 16 0 6 541 324 12 76
Scarlets 22 15 0 7 436 406 6 66
Ospreys 22 14 1 7 471 342 4 62
Munster 22 11 1 10 442 384 8 54
Treviso 22 10 2 10 414 450 6 51
Connacht 22 8 1 13 358 422 4 38
Cardiff 21 8 0 13 335 450 6 38
Edinburgh 22 7 0 15 499 504 8 36
Dragons 22 6 0 16 358 589 4 28
Zebre 22 0 0 22 288 573 10 10

 

Our Writers

Keith Duggan Keith Duggan - Chief Sports Writer

Becks takes a hint and follows Mugsy and O’Hara off centre stage

Liam Toland Liam Toland - Rugby Analyst

A quality passing team like Leinster can score tries against Stade Francais

Emmet Riordan Emmet Riordan - Cricket Correspondent

Ireland must repay Pakistan when the time is right

Alan Quinlan Alan Quinlan -

Money talks in the big-budget Heineken Cup final between Clermont and Toulon

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