Chris Whitaker

8 results

Lest the IRFU forget, Leinster would never have won their first Champions Cup without Isa Nacewa, Chris Whitaker, Stan Wright and Rocky Elsom. Photograph: Dave Winter/Inpho
Gerry Thornley: Gap between French sides and the rest is a worrying trend

In the fallout from Sunday’s sobering events in La Rochelle we can’t forget Leinster’s excellent display in the laquarter-final win away to Exeter. To(...)

Isa Nacewa and Jordi Murphy lift the European Champions Cup trophy for Leinster in 2018, continuing a remarkable run of success for the Irish province. Photo: Billy Stickland/Inpho
Gerry Thornley: Stoppage could tip balance in favour of big money teams

About eight minutes into the 2014 final of what was then known as the Rabo Direct Pro12 between Leinster and Glasgow, Brian O’Driscoll’s farewell game(...)

Leinster’s Isa Nacewa gets past Ronan O’Gara Doug Howlett and Keith Earls of Munster during the 2009 Heineken Cup semi-final at Croke Park. Photograph: Dan Sheridan/Inpho
Quality of seminal Leinster-Munster semi-final clash still a cause of wonder

In the absence of all live sport, supporters of whatever hue have had no choice but to selectively choose from television’s various trips down memory (...)

Leinster’s Gordon D’Arcy celebrates his try as Johnny Sexton and Munster’s Ronan O’Gara exchange words in the Heineken Cup semi-final in 2009. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho
The game that marked a turning point in Leinster-Munster rivalry

When Irish rugby historians search for the biggest shift in the balance of power at provincial level they need look no further than May 2nd, 2009, and(...)

Rocky Elsom in action for Leinster: “We adopted an under-12s mentality in many games that season [2008-9]. Give the ball to the big fella and pile after him. It worked, especially against Munster at Croke Park.” Photograph: Graham Stuart/Inpho
Gordon D'Arcy: Foreign signings put Irish provinces on European map

There are several reasons for the continued success of the Irish provinces. Home grown talent will always matter. Some brilliant coaching tickets have(...)

Jamie Heaslip lifts the Heineken Cup after the win over Leicester at Murrayfield in May 2009. Photograph: Morgan Treacy/Inpho
No quarter given: Jamie Heaslip recalls Leinster's last-eight battles

Jamie Heaslip will walk on the pitch before Leinster v Saracens. “Mick Dawson told me this morning they are at just south of 50,000.” Imagine they b(...)

Seán Cronin and Rob Kearney raise their arms in truumph as Leinster overcome Clermont 19-15 in the Heineken Cup semi-final in 2012. Photograph: Dan Sheridan/Inpho
Leinster looking for game of their lives against Toulon

If there has been one outstanding high point in Leinster’s storied European Cup history, it is probably their epic semi-final win over Clermont in Bor(...)

Jamie Heaslip should be one of the few survivor from when Harlqeuins and Leisnetr last met in 2009. Photograph: Billy Stickland/Inpho
Five years on and all has changed utterly for Leinster and Harlequins

The Leinster team won’t be selected until Friday. But of the 15 players who started against Harlequins in the 2009 ‘Bloodgate’ quarter-final, probably(...)