'You kind of forget what losing feels like. It’s a gut-wrenching feeling, it's horrible'
Tadhg Furlong is back in Ireland’s starting XV and desperate to rediscover that winning feeling in Melbourne.
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Tadhg Furlong is back in Ireland’s starting XV and desperate to rediscover that winning feeling in Melbourne.
The head coach has long viewed the Ulster man as an invaluable presence on the field, so his off-field presence will be more than welcome approaching the first Test against the Wallabies.
Wales face Rassie Erasmus’ Boks in Washington on Saturday.
Joe Schmidt’s 32-man squad features two uncapped players and a host of proven stars.
Mathieu Bastareaud’s responsibilities will be increased with captain Guilhem Guirado rested.
Michael Cheika’s first-choice scrum-half picked up a knee injury in the heavy loss to Ronan O’Gara’s Crusaders.
The 31-year-old expects to return for Leinster next week against Benetton.
The South African was due to be assistant referee for Ireland’s Grand Slam victory in Twickenham, but was replaced after his involvement in an England training
Simon Raiwalui helped Stade Francais claim their Bouclier in 2015 and is currently working with Biarritz.
Not content with sealing a record for himself, the Limerick man assisted five tries for five different scorers.
Ireland had some freedom to play in the US and Japan, but these men made the most of the chances.
It was far from the free-running rugby of the opening two Tests, but Ireland’s willingness to work was exemplified by their totemic lock.
We’ve got an early minute-by-minute in store for you as Ireland wrap up their season in Tokyo’s Ajinomoto Stadium.
The finale of a lengthy international campaign is your early-morning appetiser.
The Dubliner has been impressed by Japanese culture, but is wary of their Kiwi-esque style ahead of his final match of the season.
The Kildare man has been patient for province and country, but promises to grab any Test start opportunity with two hands.
The Munster wing says he was not consistent enough to earn international recognition before this year.
The back-row had to wait two years between his two Irish caps.
Ireland’s Rugby World Cup pool looks even more manageable after this morning’s seven-try rout.
Joe Schmidt’s side hit the 50-point mark for the second week running thanks to big displays from Earls and Jack Conan.
We’re getting in a pre-breakfast helping of international rugby. There’s plenty for everyone.
Cast your mind all the way back to 2005.
Experimentation has taken a back seat this week after five new caps were unleashed against the US.
Off the back of a comprehensive win over the US Eagles, Ireland face stiffer competition in Shizuoka on Saturday.
The flanker reckons it’s around 15 years since he played without headgear, but the heat in New Jersey and Japan has forced a change.
Wales’ meeting forms one half of a double header in Eden Park with the All Blacks meeting Samoa in the main event.
Staving off jet-lag is the first job for Joe Schmidt’s squad after arriving in Japan yesterday.
The centre landed a beauty from the sideline in New Jersey, but it won’t necessarily become a regular occurence.
All that was missing was a bit of aqua aerobics.
The out-half will be sidelined for four weeks with an ankle injury.
The Munster prop is one of the older members of the squad but Saturday’s game against USA was his first start in a green shirt.
We’re going minute-by-minute as Joe Schmidt’s young squad meet the USA in New Jersey.
The eastern European side are also likely to be part of Ireland’s pool at the next World Cup.
Joe Schmidt’s side face USA Eagles tomorrow night.
AJ MacGinty will come up against a few familiar faces in New Jersey tomorrow night as he continues his international adventure with USA.
Keith Earls is enjoying spending time with his former team-mate in New Jersey.
The Connacht scrum-half jokes that meeting JJ Watt was one the highlights of the last tour to the US as he was left out of both matchday squads.
Three backs-focused coaches are helping Ireland’s summer tour preparations, but Murphy feels caught between two stools as an Irishman in the English system.
Ulster’s Sean Reidy will replace the Munster man once the squad get to Japan for the second and third matches of their tour.
The 23-year-old understands that he must prove himself to Joe Schmidt at provincial level again.