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Can Nienaber break Leinster’s La Rochelle hoodoo?

Katie McCabe and co aim for England upset while Michael Murphy gives his verdict on Monaghan’s defeat to Cavan

Leinster’s latest meeting with their old buddies La Rochelle, the back-to-back Champions Cup winners, at the Aviva Stadium might just be tricky. Photograph: Ben Brady/Inpho

Mary Hannigan's face
Mary Hannigan
Tue Apr 9 2024 - 11:07

Here’s a stat, courtesy of Gerry Thornley, that might just give the Leinster faithful a sleepless night or two in the run-up to Saturday: “There have been 23 knockout ties in the last two seasons of the Champions Cup, and only two of them have been won by away sides. In both instances, La Rochelle were the winners.” In other words, Leinster’s latest meeting with their old buddies, the back-to-back Champions Cup winners, at the Aviva Stadium might just be tricky. Can Jacques Nienaber’s addition to the Leinster coaching team since Ronan O’Gara’s crew left Dublin last May with the trophy change their fortunes? We’ll see. Whatever happens, a strong refereeing performance will be required, Owen Doyle not overly impressed by some of the officiating last weekend.

In Gaelic games, Michael Murphy, now that he’s hung up his Donegal boots, was on spectating duty in Clones on Sunday for Cavan’s triumph over Monaghan, a result he wasn’t anticipating. And the only result that is being anticipated when Meath take on Dublin next weekend is, well, you know. It’s “The Derby That Died,” writes Gordon Manning. “The Meath and Dublin rivalry – remember that? Anybody?”

In golf, Philip Reid looks at Shane Lowry’s prospects at this week’s Masters, the Offaly man insisting that he won’t be there just to “make up the numbers”. Quite right too – “only three players have had top-25s in each of the last four Masters. One is Scottie Scheffler. Another is Hideki Matsuyama. The other is Lowry.”

The Republic of Ireland’s women’s team will hope to do more than make up the numbers when they meet England at the Aviva Stadium this evening in their Euro 2025 qualifying game. Captain Katie McCabe insists it’s “just another game for us”, but you’ve a notion it means significantly more than that.

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Speaking of numbers. Brian O’Connor brings news that, once again, the Irish will have “massive numerical superiority” in Saturday’s Aintree Grand National, Gordon Elliott alone having nine contenders for the 34-strong field which will be finalised on Thursday. “It is,” says Brian, “another overwhelming show of Irish strength.”

TV Watch: The Republic of Ireland meet England for the first time in 37 years in tonight’s Euro 2025 qualifying game in Dublin (RTÉ 2 and UTV, 7.30pm). And in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals, Arsenal host Bayern Munich (TNT Sports 1, 8pm) and Real Madrid take on Manchester City (RTÉ News channel and TNT Sports 2, 8pm).