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Thursday 23 March 2023 Dublin: 7°C

# Analysis

Last year
2022
# Looking Back
Top scorer? Most appearances? Analysing Ireland's last 8 games under Stephen Kenny
The Boys in Green have had some mixed results in recent times.
# Analysis
How 23 seconds of apathy was catalyst for a fragile Ireland meltdown
Examining the build-up to a reckless two-minute spell that has raised yet more questions about this side.
# Analysis
Analysis: How Jason Jenkins has made an immediate impact at Leinster
Much of the towering lock’s best rugby comes in the darker corners of games: mauls, scrums and rucks.
# Analysis
Ireland lose initiative with no room for error to avoid relegation
There is no time to sulk – Ireland need to deliver a performance and a win against Armenia.
# Analysis
'Historic' shift for Northern Ireland but what do the Census findings tell us about its future?
The concept of a Protestant State for a Protestant people has ‘evaporated’, one expert said.
# Analysis
Munster's biggest frustrations and what's their best centre pairing?
Eoin Toolan and Murray Kinsella did a deep dive on Munster’s defeat to Cardiff on The42 Rugby Weekly Extra.
Voices
Tom Clonan: Putin has made another strategic blunder but this is a dangerous moment
The security analyst looks at the Russian president’s latest move and the level of threat he now poses.
Voices
From the energy crisis to the never-ending Brexit saga - the challenges facing the new UK PM
Christina McSorley of the BBC’s politics Westminster team on what lies in store for the new occupant of Number 10 Downing Street.
# Analysis
Casey on Boxing: The duality of Anthony Joshua, and his exciting-looking third act
Gavan Casey explores what might be next for Joshua following back-to-back defeats to Usyk.
# Analysis
Analysis: Ireland's promising young guns show instinctive skills in Japan
Dannah O’Brien, Méabh Deely, Aoife Dalton, and Natasja Behan all started the big win over Japan.
# Royals Rule
Meath Magic, Kerry patches and what's next? - All-Ireland final talking points
Eamonn Murray’s side lifted the Brendan Martin Cup for the second year running yesterday.
# Analysis
Analysis: The endgame said it all for Ireland against the All Blacks
Murray Kinsella breaks down the final stages of Ireland’s third Test victory.
Analysis: POC's pack give perfect platform for Irish attack to shred the Kiwis
Josh van der Flier, Hugo Keenan, Robbie Henshaw, and Rob Herring all dotted down for Ireland.
# big game player
Tadhg Beirne went to a phenomenal place to help Ireland seal the series
The Munster man delivered some massive moments in the endgame.
# Analysis
Analysis: Peter O'Mahony's tour de force against the All Blacks
Murray Kinsella reviews every single involvement O’Mahony had in the second Test in Dunedin.
# Analysis
Beirne's break, Sexton's subtle touches, and Ireland's shape key to superb start
Ireland delivered 156 seconds of excellent rugby to send themselves on the way to making history.
Tomorrow is a huge day for Paul O'Connell and his Irish forwards
Scrum coach John Fogarty and his pack also need to show they have found solutions.
# Analysis
Analysis: What Ireland can learn from their near misses in the first Test
Ireland came up agonisingly short on more than one occasion in Auckland last Saturday.
# Analysis
Analysis: Aaron Smith's passing masterclass picks Ireland apart
Murray Kinsella breaks down Saturday’s performance by the best passer in world rugby.
# Game Over
Analysis: 15 minutes where everything fell apart for Ireland
The All Blacks scored three tries in a whirlwind passage of pain for Andy Farrell’s side.
# influencers
MEPs, assemble: Could Ireland's MEPs do more to influence Europe?
How do we punch above our weight on the European stage? Get into groupings, get specialised and stick around, writes CJ McKinney.
# Analysis
Irish people largely support staying in EU - but many unsure how it works
Extensive survey by The Good Information Project / Ireland Thinks shows Fine Gael supporters most likely to be uncritical of EU.
Major survey finds older Irish people much more supportive of EU than those in other European states.
Number of Eurosceptics is small but many in general population worry about sovereignty and fisheries.
Generational gap on issues is wide as 65+ cohort worries about immigration and young about climate action.
# talking point
Ireland's man of the match wants more
21-year-old Nathan Collins shone in his side’s draw with Ukraine.
Voices
What to expect next from this UK government? A lot of noise and not much competence
Expect Johnson to do what he’s always done – pick fights with the EU in a bid to keep power, former UK/EU negotiatior Sydney Nash writes.
# Analysis
The simple reasons why Ireland finally got it so right against Scotland
Stephen Kenny’s side ended a 12-game winless run in the Nations League.
# Analysis
Changing Ireland's identity was never going to be easy
The Boys in Green fell to a disappointing defeat against Ukraine in the Nations League last night.
# Analysis
The biggest failing of the Kenny era once again apparent in demoralising Armenia loss
Ireland have now drawn a blank in 11 of their 23 matches under the manager.
# Analysis
Not quite normal: Airport chaos mirrors post-Covid economy struggling to find its level
The airport isn’t the only business that hasn’t been able to cater for rapid increased demand.
# expert view
Analysis: Cork’s body language and tackle count, Waterford's counter-attack, Tipp's response
A huge day ahead in the Munster hurling championship.
Voices
Tom Clonan: A turning point has been reached in the invasion of Ukraine
The security analyst looks at the past few days of activity and peace talks and what that tells us about the future.
# Analysis
How Russia is using fake fact-checks to spread disinformation about Ukraine
One of the tools used against false news online is being weaponised to spread the very thing it was designed to fight against.
Russian website are increasingly using the fact-check and debunk format to sow doubt about what's happening in Ukraine, Brianna Parkins writes.
Social media feeds have recently featured red stamps declaring things as 'fake' that are actually real.
Experts suggest that traditional fact-check formats will have to adapt to combat the problem.
The Journal FactCheck joins Irish alliance to detect and respond to disinformation
Disinformation, Ukraine and the war of words on social media
# Analysis
Why Stephen Kenny's Ireland are making a mockery of football's conventional wisdom
The Boys in Green’s deserved draw with Belgium shows they are capable of exceeding expectations.
# talking point
The patronising commentary around Roy Keane needs to stop
The Corkonian made headlines again for his criticisms of Man United after their defeat by City.
# Analysis
Analysis: Defence Commission report sets out stark reality of Ireland's military incapacity
The Commission report is a study in accepting the modernisation of a long neglected force, writes Niall O’Connor.
# Analysis
How Ireland cleverly turned Wales' box-kick plan against them
Tadhg Beirne’s smart intervention helped to produce the turnover that led to Garry Ringrose’s try.
# Analysis
Furlong's stunning pass and Beirne's sleight of hand show point of difference
The multi-skilled Ireland forwards picked up where they left off in November.
# Analysis
What will next week's Russian manoeuvres off Ireland look like and what's the overall strategy?
Security expert Declan Power equates the Russian exercise to a burglar testing the windows of a house.
# Breakdown
Tactics Board: Rashford and Greenwood fail to capitalise as Rangnick restores width
Man United came away with a 1-0 victory over Aston Villa in the FA Cup last night, but they were fortunate to do so.
All time
# The42 Reads
Why Ireland's Tadhg Furlong is the best tighthead prop in the world
The Wexford man finished a strong 2021 with outstanding performances for Ireland in November.
# Pressure
Can Steven Gerrard become a great manager?
The Liverpool legend makes his return to Anfield as Aston Villa manager this weekend.