# Six Nations 2012

All time

# Early Doors

The Morning Score: Wednesday

Here’s your daily round-up of the morning’s news. You aren’t giving up sport for Lent, are you?

532

Feb 22nd 2012, 8:59 AM

# Italian Job

We're ready to put our bodies on the line, insists O'Connell

Ireland’s Six Nations skipper is expecting the toughest physical challenge of the tournament against the Italian this weekend.

1.7k

Feb 22nd 2012, 7:00 AM

# Six Nations 2012

Same faces but a whole new ball game, warns Kidney

“We’re just going full throttle for this one,” Ireland’s coach Declan Kidney says ahead of Saturday’s Six Nations game against Italy.

2.0k

Feb 21st 2012, 3:43 PM

# Six Nations 2012

Steady as she goes: Kidney names unchanged side to face Italy

The Ireland XV which never had a chance to perform in the Stade de France will face Italy this Saturday.

1.6k

Feb 21st 2012, 1:20 PM

# Six Nations

It's back: but will Kidney make any tweaks at all?

If ROG is going to start any game in this tournament, it will be this one.

990

Feb 21st 2012, 11:29 AM

# Six Nations

Mythbusters: do Ireland need a 'real 7' and bigger centres?

“These myths are reactionary, after recent Irish defeats – both to Wales, as it happens,” Whiff of Cordite writes.

1.6k

Feb 20th 2012, 5:27 PM

# cliches aside

'We’ve got a job to do' - Kidney pushing troops beyond Paris

Ireland’s coach is disappointed for short-changed supporters who wanted to see Ireland play in Paris but now insists the team is focused solely on Italy.

814

Feb 16th 2012, 11:55 AM

# Cash Money

Forget Paris: Here's how you can get a refund on that Stade de France ticket

“While the timelines are not ideal for supporters, we have pushed hard to get this undertaking from the French.”

807

Feb 15th 2012, 7:03 PM

# discommoded

Rumbling on: IRFU not happy with timing of Paris return

The union is ‘disappointed’ that Irish considerations were not heeded in the reorganisation.

1.6k

Feb 15th 2012, 10:07 AM

# thawing out

Cian Healy: time to get over French farce

After a few days of uncertainty in the Irish camp, the Leinster man says it’s time to get back to business.

473

Feb 15th 2012, 8:53 AM

# do over

It's official: Ireland to face France in Paris on 4 March

Tournament officials met this afternoon to decide on details for the fixture and resisted French calls to push it out until September.

4.4k

Feb 14th 2012, 4:30 PM

# Le Farce

French federation backs calls to play Ireland next season - reports

FFR president Pierre Camou concedes that their request to have Saturday’s abandoned Six Nations match deferred is unlikely to be granted.

5.8k

Feb 14th 2012, 12:05 PM

# pent up

Healy: Four weeks in a row 'no problem' for Ireland

After a frustratingly uneventful night in Paris, the Irish loose-head is confident that the squad are in ideal condition to tackle test rugby for four consecutive weeks.

3.1k

Feb 13th 2012, 7:39 PM

# Six Nations 2012

France v Ireland won’t be played this weekend, organisers confirm

Six Nations organisers have not reached a decision on when France v Ireland will be played, with further meetings scheduled for tomorrow.

3.2k

Feb 13th 2012, 5:03 PM

# First XV

Six Nations: Team of the week

We’ve controversially omitted all of the Irish and French players, despite Paul O’Connell braving the cold in his smalls.

983

Feb 13th 2012, 12:44 PM

# on ice

Updated: New France-Ireland date expected Monday, IRB back Pearson

The Six Nations committee will decide tomorrow on when to rearrange last night’s delayed Six Nations clash. Plus: Why the Stade de France doesn’t have undersoil heating…

13.9k

Feb 12th 2012, 6:31 PM

AS IT HAPPENED

Frozen pitch forces France v Ireland to be postponed

We attempted to liveblog this evening’s Six Nations match in Paris, but we didn’t get very far. Here’s the evening’s news.

19.0k

Feb 11th 2012, 7:40 PM

# Early Thoughts

Open thread: how do you think Ireland will do in Paris tonight?

It’s a big night for the Irish rugby team – and for coach Declan Kidney. Join our open thread for a bit of pre-match chatter on tonight’s Six Nations game.

2.8k

Feb 11th 2012, 10:20 AM

# Nostalgia

Memory lane: five classic clashes with the French

We’ve had our ups and downs with les Bleus over the years. More downs if truth be told, but it’s always compulsive viewing.

389

Feb 11th 2012, 9:34 AM

# Six Nations 2012

Worry: Sexton strain provokes Wallace call-up

The Ulster centre was gearing up to start for his province until Jonathan Sexton complained of ‘stiffness’ in his thigh.

1.0k

Feb 10th 2012, 9:36 PM

# Breaking views

Here's what the French media are saying ahead of Saturday's game

The country’s journalists assess the Ireland team, or ‘the little green men’ as they are referred to in certain papers.

1.3k

Feb 10th 2012, 6:14 PM

# Six Nations 2012

Rugby bosses back Barnes on Ferris penalty

The IRB and Six Nations say that they support Wayne Barnes’ decision to award Wales a last-minute penalty on Sunday.

4.1k

Feb 10th 2012, 1:56 PM

# menage a trois

Six Nations: three key battles in Paris

Here are three little skirmishes (amongst many others) that Ireland must win to keep any hopes of silverware alive.

395

Feb 10th 2012, 1:52 PM

# Six Nations

'It brings out the best in you' - Jamie Heaslip looking forward to Paris trip

Ireland lost their opening Six Nations Championship game against Wales in Dublin last Sunday afternoon and face a daunting task to get their challenge back on track.

350

Feb 10th 2012, 9:30 AM

# Reaction

Same again: Just not good enough

Kidney’s unchanged line up shows no competition for places and no ambition. It could be a long night in the Stade de France.

545

Feb 9th 2012, 6:21 PM

# Six Nations 2012

‘Smart’ Ireland can right Welsh wrongs on Saturday, says Kidney

Declan Kidney is confident that work on Ireland’s kicking game and in defence will pay dividends against a powerful French side in Paris this weekend.

1.7k

Feb 9th 2012, 2:52 PM

# Six Nations 2012

Earls returns for Ireland's trip to Paris

Keith Earls will start alongside Gordon D’Arcy in midfield when Ireland take on France in the Stade de France this Saturday.

2.5k

Feb 9th 2012, 1:20 PM

# Sick note

Bad back: Yachvili ruled out of Saturday's match

Morgan Parra comes into the French side at scrum-half in place of the injured Dimitri Yachvili.

249

Feb 9th 2012, 11:42 AM

# Team Talk

Back to the start as Kidney prepares to name team for France

Keith Earls looks set to be the only change when Declan Kidney names his team for Saturday’s trip to the Stade de France later this afternoon.

1.5k

Feb 9th 2012, 10:56 AM

# Six Nations

Opinion: Ireland must broaden horizons to pass French test

It’s time to change it up if Ireland are to get their Six Nations campaign back on track in Paris.

583

Feb 9th 2012, 9:46 AM

# Ice to see you

Frosty welcome: Clerc warns that Stade de France pitch could be unplayable

Scared, Vincent?

952

Feb 8th 2012, 4:46 PM

# Save Ferris

'Happy man': Ferris cleared by Six Nations disciplinary committee

“Thank goodness that is all over,” Stephen Ferris tweets after he is cleared of citing charge.

4.8k

Feb 8th 2012, 3:39 PM

# Six Nations

Back to the drawing board: Ireland squad train ahead of Paris trip

Declan Kidney’s men look to get their Six Nations campaign back on track with against Les Blues on Saturday night at the Stade de France.

554

Feb 8th 2012, 3:13 PM

# Banned

Game over: Bradley Davies banned for the rest of the Six Nations

The Welsh lock has been hit with a seven-week ban for his “tip tackle” on Ireland’s Donnacha Ryan.

3.8k

Feb 8th 2012, 2:17 PM

# Team news

France make four changes for Ireland's visit

Philippe Saint-Andre has looked to freshen things up in the pack after naming his starting XV for Saturday’s game.

353

Feb 7th 2012, 12:47 PM

# blogosphere

Six Nations: Sergeant Deccie's Lonely Hearts Committee

Friend of The Score, Whiff of Cordite, snaps on the latex gloves for the autopsy on Ireland’s defeat to Wales.

546

Feb 7th 2012, 12:28 PM

# Six Nations

Wales lock Bradley Davies has been cited.... but so has Stephen Ferris

Ferris was adjudged to have infringed in the final minute resulting in visiting full-back Leigh Halfpenny kicking the late, winning penalty.

2.6k

Feb 7th 2012, 11:39 AM

# all change?

Opinion: Kidney must dig deep to turn this around

Declan Kidney may be a conservative coach, but he has had some success before. He needs to look within himself to rediscover the courage of his convictions.

697

Feb 6th 2012, 7:19 PM