The new stadium at Lansdowne Road will be officially known as the Aviva Stadium upon its completion. The London based insurance company agreed a 10 year deal worth up to 40 million Euros for the IRFU and FAI. With the 2011 UEFA final already confirmed to be be played at the new stadium it is also hoped that the 2011 Heineken Cup final will also be played at the new Lansdowne.
Key Facts:
Capacity: 50,000
Cost: 365 million Euros
Completion Date: April 2010
Posted in Featured Post, Lansdowne
After last week’s performance Kidney has kept the starting line-up identical to the team who played against France. Undoubtly we can expect Italy to put up a challenge, after their defeat against England they will be looking to cause an upset.
Ireland:
R Kearney; Bowe, B O’Driscoll (capt), P Wallace, Fitzgerald; O’Gara, O’Leary; Horan, Flannery, Hayes, O’Callaghan, O’Connell, Ferris, D Wallace, Heaslip.
Replacements: R Best, Court, O’Kelly, Leamy, Stringer, D’Arcy, G Murphy.
Posted in Featured Post, Six Nations
Outstanding performance by Ireland, made for a very enjoyable game of rugby. Amazing to see French resilience overcome by Irish pride in the dying minutes of the game. Hopefully a sign of things to come.
Posted in Featured Post, Six Nations
Here we go again! Hope everyone is ready for the roller coaster ride that is the Six Nations.
Ireland have announced their team with Kidney making a few new tweaks in the form of Wallace at centre. An interesting choice especially against the French – this is no warm up game. Kearney, who has been on crutches this weak after a training incident, should be fit for Saturday taking up his preferred position of full-back.
The team is as follows:
Ireland: R Kearney; T Bowe, B O’Driscoll, capt, P Wallace, L Fitzgerald; R O’Gara, T O’Leary; M Horan, J Flannery, J Hayes, D O’Callaghan, P O’Connell, S Ferris, D Wallace, J Heaslip.
Replacements: R Best, T Court, M O’Kelly, D Leamy, P Stringer, G D’Arcy, G Murphy.
Posted in Featured Post, Six Nations
Ireland have secured their position as 8th in the rugby playing world, this all important position and result now means that Ireland will be better positioned when the 2011 rugby world cup pools are announced in December.
It certainly wasn’t Ireland at their best but a significant improvement from the New Zealand game. Critically Ireland kept their cool against an Argentinian side who was willing to rile a packed Croke Park with late challenges and swinging knuckles against the home side.
The forwards exerted enough pressure to control the pumas pack with Paul O’Connell leading the charge on numerous occasions. Defensively Ireland looked strong down the middle however did seem to lack a touch of creativity to break the Argentinian line.
We now look forward to France and the Six Nations on the 7th February.
Team:
G Murphy; T Bowe, B O’Driscoll, L Fitzgerald, R Kearney; R O’Gara, T O’Leary; M Horan, J Flannery (R Best 14), J Hayes, D O’Callaghan,P O’Connell, S Ferris, D Wallace (D Ryan 77), J Heaslip.
Posted in Featured Post, Match Post
What a game, what an atmosphere. It certainly reminded us how great Irish rugby can be after Ireland’s poor performance against the Kiwis last week.
If you missed the game or want to relive the best bits watch the video below.
Posted in Featured Post, Match Post, Munster
