This weekend will see Saracens take on Clermont Auvergne in Murrayfield in the Champions Cup Final. Saracens are looking to win a second straight title after defeating Racing 92 in last year’s Final. They will be well set to try and defend the title they won last season after their 26-10 win over Munster in the Semi Final on April 22^nd in Dublin.

They have improved from last season and have expanded their game plan and look far more comfortable when they attack. They have a settled squad with players like Schalk Burger introduced to add an extra dimension to an already impressive squad.  

Mark Mc Call has done some terrific work with this team and although they have been caught cold a few times in the Aviva Premiership , in Europe they have gone strength to strength and will fancy denying Clermont Auvergne a first European title. Maro Itoje is one player who has grown over the past 18 months from a dominant player who captained his country at the Under 20 World Championship. He is really starting to show that he will captain his club and maybe his country very soon.

It will be a very tight final and they won’t be any quarter given and Clermont Auvergne have been to this stage in Europe a few times with no success , people feel Munster have had all the hard luck stories in the Champions/Heineken Cup but Clermont have had just as many near misses although they did manage to win a French Championship in 2010.

Since then they have added players like Remi Lamerat and Camille Lopez to the squad and these additions in particular have helped keep Clermont Auvergne in a strong position in the Top 14 and get to the Champions Cup Final , they were last here in 2013 where faced a Toulon side inspired by Jonny Wilkinson.

Looking to this weekend , players like Camille Lopez and the English pair of Nick Abendanon and David Strettle will need to be firing on all cylinders to help Clermont wrestle the Champions Cup trophy away from the men from Allianz Park.  

In Ireland earlier this year , we got to see some of the Clermont Auvergne squad up close and personal when Michael Murphy Donegal Footballer spent a week in Clermont-Ferrand getting to know the club and city  a bit better.

It was a good programme to give you an insight into how the club is run and the love the players have for the club and how they hope they can achieve big things while playing for the side.

Looking to the test they face this weekend , they have the players to beat Saracens but the one thing Saracens do have is previous experience of winning in European Finals whereas Clermont haven’t managed to get over the line but maybe just maybe this Saturday could be the day they change that fact !!

By

Cian Mc Gibney

08/05/2017

Darkness Into Light 2017

This coming Saturday will see the Darkness Into Light walk will take place at a number of locations throughout Ireland in support of Pieta House and to show those who may be struggling at this moment in time that there is support there for them if they need it.

As many of you know I suffered a huge loss last September when my Mam passed away suddenly and in those moments, you feel lost and may have nowhere to turn but thankfully a place like Pieta House is now in existence and you can go to them for support if you feel you can’t go to a close friend or family member to tell them how you are feeling.

On three different occasions in the past few years I have been very close to committing suicide over a range of issues that I have now got under control and with the help of a counsellor over the past few months I have been able to work my way through several issues. I can now say that I am in a far better place for the experience with a counsellor.

The one thing I would say to anyone who is feeling low at this point in time is do not bottle up those feelings and please do not be afraid to come forward and speak to somebody and tell them how you are feeling.

I would for many years have been the one who said “I’ll deal with this myself and It will all be alright “ but as experience has now thought me you do need to speak up from time to time and make yourself heard and don’t stop talking and asking for help until someone offers support.

As life has taught me since last September, everyone needs help now and then and it certainly isn’t a sign of weakness to ask for help.

Take it from a person who has come back from the brink three different times, Suicide isn’t the answer to what may be troubling you. I have learned that since 2014 and with the support of family and friends I have been able to see that life is worth living and what’s done is done and there is no point in going back over old ground.

The Darkness into Light walk takes place this weekend on Saturday morning at 4.15am in Listowel and in other places around Kerry and across the Country. Come out and support this worthy cause.

By

Cian Mc Gibney

04/05/2017

European Semi Final Preview

So Saracens and Clermont Auvergne will face each other on May 13^th in Murrayfield after they defeated Munster and Leinster in this weekend’s Semi Finals in Dublin and Lyon. Saracens proved once more why they are so hard to beat in Europe , they are 17 unbeaten now and will really fancy their chances of retaining the title they won in May 2016.

Munster will know that they were well beaten by a team that are now well used to winning tight games at home and in Europe. They lost the set piece battle at scrum and line out and also they were beaten in the tactical kicking battle where Williams and Bleyendaal faced Owen Farrell and Richard Wigglesworth. Munster did dominate possession and territory and even when Jackson Wray was sin binned Munster still could not find a way to unlock the Saracens defence.

It took Saracens 10 minutes to find a way around the Munster defence where only for a Richard Wigglesworth knock on Saracens would have found an early try , then for the majority of the first half both sides kicked away possession and even when Munster did have the ball and kept it in hand they struggled to get any go forward ball , Jaco Taute and Rory Scannell who have been really important in terms of leading the defence and also the attack found  it very hard to force home the supremacy that Munster had and Saracens for their part  had no real trouble in trying to deal with a fairly blunt Munster attack.

What Saturday really proved to people in how crucial Conor Murray has become for both Munster and Ireland in the past few seasons. Although Duncan Williams has done an adequate job in covering the scrum half position, Conor Murray was really missed and his steady influence at the base of every ruck and scrum was really missed. He has developed into probably the best scrum half in Europe and this summer he will hopefully face Aaron Smith to see who the best scrum half in world rugby is !!

Back to Saturday and Munster will feel extremely disappointed that they didn’t turn pressure into points and make more of the 10 minutes where Saracens had only 14 men on the field. Saracens did very well to disrupt Munster at scrum time and the line out.  Maro Itoje and George Kruis defiantly got the better of the Munster pairing Billy Holland and Donnacha Ryan.  Saracens scored tries through Mako Vunipola and Chris Wyles.

So after a very workmanlike performance , Saracens found a the winning formula and won the game 26-10 , Munster managed a late consolation try through CJ Stander. Saracens will head to Edinburgh full of confidence after winning away from home in the Semi Final and won’t have any fears of facing Clermont Auvergne on May 13^th.

Leinster took on Clermont Auvergne in Lyon yesterday and Clermont made another Final after an extremely close second half where Leinster had to produce another stirring comeback this time from 15-3 down , Clermont started very fast and led 15-0 after 17 minutes also Isa Nacewa was sin binned and it wasn’t until after half time that Leinster managed to mount a comeback , they had a try chalked off when Dan Leavy was found to have not released tackled player and even though he finished the move off , match referee Nigel Owens referred it to the TMO and the try was ruled out.

Gary Ringrose underlined his class by scoring a solo try , it was very much in the mould of his predecessor in the Leinster number 13 shirt Brian O Driscoll. Unfortunately for Leinster the 17 points from the boot of Jonathan Sexton and the Ringrose try weren’t enough to get Leinster into the Final. The performances of Rhys Ruddock and Jack Conan had a major influence in the Leinster fight back.

Ireland did have two teams in the Semi Finals and won’t have any team in the Final but what has been achieved this season can’t be forgotten and after a few campaigns where Ireland couldn’t manage to make the breakthrough but this season has been a watershed for the Pro 12 and I hope they can continue what they started this season next year….

By

Cian Mc Gibney

24/04/2017

Lions 2017 – Revealed

After months of waiting and dummy squads and the haves and have-nots for the 2017 Lions squad , all of us were put out of our misery when a 12 noon today the 41 men that will take the hopes of four countries under the British and Irish Lions banner will face the mighty New Zealand this summer in three Tests. They will also face several New Zealand’s Super Rugby Teams in the games leading to the three Test Matches.

Now that the squad has been named we can finally begin to focus on Tour that starts on June 3^rd. There are several players that will not tour from the start but they could get a belated call up due to any injuries that players may pick up between now and when the Squad sets off.

For all the players who missed out on selection they may still be needed because if the last few Tours have taught players anything it is that other players will get hurt and then there time will come and in that case they will need to come in if they get the call and hit the ground running.

This Tour will be the most difficult Tour since 2005 when they last headed for New Zealand because since then New Zealand have won two World Cups in 2011 and 2015 and even though they have lost several key cogs they will be hell bent on making sure The Lions won’t be winning a first Series since the John Dawes captained side of 71.

Warren Gatland will also be very hopeful that his captain Sam Warburton will be fit and firing to lead The Lions on June 3^rd. If you look through this selection it is littered with Club captains like Peter O Mahony , Ken Owens and Rory Best.

This squad is also full of first time Lions but it is also sprinkled with guys that have been on multiple Tours like Alun Wyn Jones who will tour for a third time and Owen Farrell who will head away with The Lions for a 2^nd time.

Having won the Test Series 2-1 in 2013 in Australia at least this Tour will have positive memories unlike other times like the 2005 Tour where The Lions were whitewashed 3-0 and Dan Carter announced his name on the World Stage. Like 2005 , New Zealand will have the best 10 in World Rugby at their disposal in Beauden Barrett and they may will also face his brother Jordie when they face the Hurricanes in between Tests 1 and 2. Who knows he may be in a Black Jersey by the time The Lions come calling to play the Test games.

Whatever way you look at the squad selection , you can’t argue with the way he has selected the squad although they players that have been left out  might argue the other way. He has gone for a number of big ball carriers in his forward selections with the Vunipola brothers , Sean O Brien , Jack Mc Grath and Joe Marler all selected to do some heavy duty carrying. All of the 41 players will be asked to play multiple games and will each get game time in the hope of pushing their case for Test inclusion.

Going on the 2013 Tour, don’t be one bit surprised if he goes against the grain in each of his Team selections because as his decision in 2013 to leave Brian O Driscoll out of the third Test proves he isn’t one bit afraid to make the tough calls like it or not !!

There are big calls in the 41 , with combinations like , Ben Youngs , Jonathan Sexton and Owen Farrell all included they all toured in 2013 , You also have Conor Murray , Jonathan Sexton , Robbie Henshaw , Jared Payne , four men that were in a team that beat the All Blacks in Chicago in November 2016. Look to Wales and you have Webb , Biggar , North , Jonathan Davies , Liam Williams and Leigh Halfpenny , all players that toured New Zealand last June and impressed down in the land of the long white cloud. One thing Gatland can’t be accused of is not selecting combinations and he has a number of ways he can mix and match this talented bunch.  Whatever way you want to cut it , This tour is shaping up to be really special one and here’s hoping the feel good factor of the 2013 win in Oz can be built upon.

For now though , It’s time Gatland settled back and watched his squad do battle on the European front and also domestically. June 3^rd can’t come fast enough but we will have to wait another few weeks before battle will commence. Huge Congratulations to all 41 players in particular the 11 Irish Lions , including CJ Stander , Peter O Mahony and Conor Murray.

By

Cian Mc Gibney

19/04/2017  

European Champions Cup Semi Final Preview

So Ireland has teams back at the top table of European Rugby with Munster facing Saracens and Leinster taking on Clermont Auvergne in the Semi Finals of the Champions Cup in Dublin and Lyon respectively. Munster are first into action on Saturday at 3.15 where they face Saracens last season’s winners for a place in the showpiece Final in Murrayfield on May 13^th.

Munster are hoping to make a first European Final since they took on Toulouse in 2008 in Cardiff.  Ever since Anthony Foley passed away Munster have been on a quest to do his memory justice and by making the Pro 12 Semi Finals and now facing into a European Semi Final. Having secured a home quarter final and defeating Toulouse has set them up nicely for a crack at Saracens at the Aviva Stadium.

Munster may be missing Conor Murray through injury but may have CJ Stander back from an ankle complainant that has kept him side-lined since the win over Toulouse. Munster have shown this season that will stay going for 80 minutes and that quality will be crucial this Saturday against a team that have shown a real ability to go for 80 in the last two weeks against Northampton Saints and Harlequins.

Munster have shown great strength of character at different moments this season and it will be a real test of that character against Saracens this weekend. Rassie Erasmus and Jaques Nienber have worked extremely well to continue the work that Anthony Foley started a couple of seasons ago.  

Both Felix Jones and Jerry Flannery have also flourished under Erasmus and there work at the set piece and back play is plain to see and has been a major factor in how far Munster have been able to go this year.

The squad itself has grown as the season has gone on and with a water tight defence they have been able to grind out results when it matters most. This game on Saturday is crucial to see have they learned the lessons of past games Vs Saracens and they will need every aspect of the game plan to go smoothly if they stand any hope of turning over a much fancied and much vaunted Saracens team led by Ulster man Mark Mc Call.

This game is extremely close to call and with Munster having home advantage they will fancy their chances even if they do not have Conor Murray at 9. If he is rules out a lot of pressure will be on his deputy Duncan Williams to perform and help to try and guide Munster to the Final.

Leinster take on familiar foes Clermont Auvergne this coming Sunday in France and like Munster have had a very good season where some of their younger players have stood up and taken responsibility at certain points this year when the more senior players like Sexton and O Brien has been missing through injury or other reasons.

Players like Gary Ringrose , Robbie Henshaw , Luke Mc Grath and Ross Byrne have come of age and have added that youthful spark that was missing last season although the hard lessons of last seasons have been learned from with Leinster reclaiming a place in the Pro 12 Semi Finals and a Semi Final spot in Europe as well by seeing off Wasps in Dublin in the quarter final a few weeks ago.

 The time is now for both Munster and Leinster to strike a blow for the Celtic nations and also the Pro 12 in the battle for European supremacy. All the fun and games kick off at 3.15 this Saturday.

By

Cian Mc Gibney 17/04/2017