Slow Lions build-up finally culminates in Test week
The Counter Ruck podcast: What, if anything, did we learn about an Irish side which scored 100+ points against a poor Portuguese side?
Paul O'Connell
With the Lions away in Australia, Ireland debutants have real chance to shine against Portugal
Opportunity in summer Test in Lisbon not lost on Paul O’Connell’s men as Andy Farrell keeps watch from afar
Patient Thomas Clarkson ready to put his hand up for Ireland
Leinster prop to earn his eighth cap against Portugal in Lisbon
Paul O’Connell shakes up Ireland starting XV for Portugal as Jamie Osborne leaves for the Lions
Leinster back had been named to start on Saturday but has since been replaced with Hugh Gavin
The All Blacks have become patchy while France and Ireland build
Several players have made strong cases for starting berths for the British and Irish Lions, while France impressed in New Zealand
Ireland forwards coach Cullie Tucker explains how squad fix scrum problems on the fly
Connacht coach praises Darragh Murray’s debut performance against Georgia
Jacob Stockdale ruled out of Ireland’s game against Portugal
Ireland winger will see specialist to see if he requires surgery on a shoulder injury picked up against Georgia
Paul O’Connell impressed by Ireland’s ability to adapt to conditions in seeing off Georgia
Sam Prendergast secures flawless 14 points from the tee as six players make Ireland debuts in Tbilisi
New Irish blood primed for more than a battle in Georgia
Leinster’s Tommy O’Brien and Connacht’s secondrow Darragh Murray are set to earn their first senior caps in Tbilisi
Paul O’Connell excited to see how Irish players react to Georgia pressure
Tommy O’Brien and Darragh Murray will win first caps, while others are poised to do so from the bench
No animals were harmed in the making of this interview with Stuart McCloskey
The experienced Ulster centre is one of the big beasts on tour with Ireland in Georgia
Scott Wilson added to Ireland squad for Georgia and Portugal tour
‘Improving’ Gavin Coombes encouraged to take chance to impress
Denis Walsh: Why Paul O’Connell thinks a sports psychologist will help Ireland get ahead
Having worked successfully with many athletes, Caroline Currid is expected to make an important contribution on Ireland’s summer tour
Tommy O’Brien: ‘It was awesome to get Jordie Barrett’s opinions on things’
The Leinster winger hopes to make his long-awaited senior Ireland debut against Georgia or Portugal
Which Ireland players will step up for the summer squad while the Lions are away?
The Counter Ruck Podcast
Craig Casey to captain Ireland for summer Tests against Georgia and Portugal
Interim head coach Paul O’Connell names 32-man squad for July games in Tbilisi and Lisbon
Ireland casting its net broad and wide to land winning squad for Tbilisi and Lisbon
With 15 Irish players in the Lions squad, and three centurions retiring, upcoming Tests could see many players get first cap
Paul O’Connell’s Ireland coaching team confirmed for summer Tests with Georgia and Portugal
O’Connell is joined by former Munster colleagues Denis Leamy and Mike Prendergast as well as Connacht scrum coach Colm Tucker
Malachy Clerkin: Paul O’Connell deserves better than the hospital pass thrown to him by the Lions
Ireland have been generous in waving their coaching staff off to Australia, leaving the interim boss with a critical summer assignment
Lions Tour 2025: Is Andy Farrell’s coaching selection a bad thing for Ireland?
The Counter Ruck Podcast
Paul O’Connell confirmed as Ireland’s interim head coach for summer’s Tests
Simon Easterby has been co-opted onto the British and Irish Lions coaching ticket for the summer tour to Australia
Lions tour: Ireland coaches Simon Easterby, John Fogarty and Andrew Goodman to join coaching ticket
Paul O’Connell to take charge of Ireland’s summer tour in absence of Farrell and Easterby
Simon Easterby and John Fogarty set to be confirmed as British & Irish Lions coaches
Ulster snatch late win as Munster, Leinster and Connacht suffer defeats, with Pete Wilkins on sick leave
Paul O’Connell set to be Ireland interim head coach for summer Tests
Simon Easterby understood to have accepted place on Lions coaching ticket
Paul O’Connell pays tribute to departing Ireland trio of former team-mates
Ireland forwards coach says the trio’s attitudes have been exemplary and a great help to younger players
Steve Borthwick starts Curry twins in England backrow against Ireland
The 26-year-old Sale duo will play together at international level for the first time in Dublin
Paul O’Connell happy for warm weather training as Six Nations build-up given Storm Éowyn
Forwards coach says nothing is ever easy against England ahead of first game of championship
Ireland report clean bill of health ahead of Six Nations clash with England
Paul O’Connell says it is business as usual from the training camp in Quinta do Lago, Portugal
Paul O’Connell rules himself out of the Munster running in the ‘short-term’
Forwards coach played under Schmidt at a World Cup and still uses some of the ideas the Kiwi and former Ireland coach introduced
What next for Munster? Mike Prendergast the most likely solution
Munster's current attack coach has already made a significant impact on the province
Obsessed. The Autobiography by Johnny Sexton: One of the best Irish sports books ever written
Paul Howard hails a frank and revealing book that achieves the rare feat of being worthy of the brilliant career that preceded it
Crosswords & Puzzles
Crosswords & puzzles to keep you challenged and entertained
Common Ground
How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands
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