WHILE THERE WAS no Guinness Pro14 or Aviva Premiership action this weekend, there were still several Irishmen in action in France and England.
Here, we round up the Irish involvement in the Top 14, Anglo-Welsh Cup, Pro D2 and Championship in recent days.
Top 14
Montpellier’s win over Clermont yesterday saw them remain at the top of the French league, but Racing 92 and La Rochelle are keeping the heat on them, with both clubs just a point behind.
Racing had a hard-fought 18-13 win away to fourth-placed Castres on Saturday, with Donnacha Ryan instrumental as his fine form continued.
While the former Ireland and Munster lock provided his usual level of work rate and impact in the tight exchanges, his footballing skills also shone as Ryan provided a delicate kick ahead for wing Juan Imhoff to run onto for a crucial first-half try.
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Ryan will not be involved in the Six Nations with Ireland, but the 34-year-old has shown his class for Racing since recovering from a neck injury that ruined the first few months of his time with the French club.
Meanwhile, former Munster tighthead Dave Ryan was part of an Agen squad that suffered a 71-17 defeat away to Lyon, conceding 10 tries in the process.
Agen remain 13th in the Top 14 and though they are just a point behind 12th-placed Brive, they will need to produce far better performances than they did on Saturday if they are to remain in the top flight next season.
There was a better outcome for Pau and their openside Sean Dougall, another former Munster player, on Sunday as they convincingly beat Stade Français 40-5 away from home.
Dougall was making his 13th start of the season for Simon Mannix’s side, who moved up to eighth in the table with this victory. Dave Foley and Paddy Butler are currently on Pau’s injury list, but both are nearing a return to action.
Bottom club Oyonnax, for whom Mike Prendergast is attack coach, lost 37-15 away to Toulouse, while Bordeaux, who employ Jeremy Davidson as their forwards coach, were beaten 36-12 on the road against Toulon.
Pro D2
Ex-Munster academy man Steven McMahon was at fullback for Carcassonne on Friday night as they secured a 24-13 win over Soyaux-Angouleme that moves them off the bottom of the Pro D2.
Former Dungarvan RFC man McMahon made his 13th appearance of the season for Carcassonne, having also played on the wing since his move to France.
John Madigan, the imposing former Munster lock, was in the second row for Massy as they lost 27-17 to Dax.
23-year-old Madigan is enjoying a fine season, with 15 starts and a further three appearances off the bench, and is understood to have recently signed a two-year extension to his contract with Massy.
Greene King IPA Championship
Bristol’s dominant season in England’s second tier continued with an 18-13 victory over a solid Bedford Blues side yesterday.
The victory means Pat Lam’s men have won all 14 of their 14 games this season, securing 12 bonus points in the process.
Top scorer Ian Madigan kicked two penalties and a conversion against Bedford as his strong season continued, former Leinster and Connacht man Jason Harris-Wright was at hooker, and ex-Ireland U20 lock Joe Joyce - a product of the Exiles system – was in Bristol’s second row.
With no play-offs in the Championship this year, Bristol should soon be able to confirm their promotion to the Premiership next season.
Second-placed Ealing Trailfinders maintained their own strong season on Saturday with a 25-3 win away to London Scottish.
Ex-Stade Français fullback Peter Lydon was in Ealing’s 15 shirt again, his 10th start of the campaign, while former Ireland U19 international back Piers O’Conor was among the replacements.
Ex-Ireland U20s back Charlie Ingall was on the wing for the beaten London Scottish team.
Former Ulster hooker Johnny Murphy started for Rotherham Titans as the bottom side won for the first time this season, a 27-24 victory over the Cornish Pirates, who included former Ireland U20 wing Alex O’Meara on their bench.
Jersey enjoyed a 10-9 success against Richmond, with Jerry Sexton, Conor Joyce and Mark Best all starting.
Sexton – the younger brother of Ireland out-half Johnny – has had a good season since joining from London Irish, starting every league game so far, while former Ulster men Joyce and Best have also been key players for sixth-placed Jersey.
Ex-Ulster prop Craig Trenier was among the replacements for the defeated Richmond.
Ian Costello‘s Nottingham had a bad day at the office yesterday as they lost 27-6 at home to Doncaster.
Their ex-Munster contingent of fullback Sean Scanlon, inside centre Gearoid Lyons, tighthead Rory Burke, openside flanker Jordan Coghlan and number eight Shane Buckley, as well as former Connacht lock Danny Qualter, all started the defeat.
On the winning Doncaster side, former Ulster scrum-half Michael Heaney started again, while ex-Munster out-half Declan Cusack was used off the bench.
Anglo-Welsh Cup
Former Ulster loosehead prop Paddy McAllister came off the bench for Gloucester in a 43-20 win over the Ospreys on Friday night, his eighth appearance of the season in all competitions.
Ex-Munster and Ireland second row Donncha O’Callaghan, who will retire at the end of the season, was captain in Worcester’s 31-21 victory over Exeter on Saturday.
Former Leinster second row Mark Flanagan, who had a loan spell at Munster this season, started for Mark McCall‘s Saracens in a 40-21 win over Bernard Jackman‘s Dragons.
Former Ireland U20s hooker Tadgh McElroy made his second appearance of the season for Saracens as a replacement.
Ex-Leinster man Brendan Macken was at outside centre for Wasps on a tough day as they were beaten 66-7 by London Irish.
Campionato di Eccellenza
Ireland 7s international and former Connacht ‘A’ man Ed O’Keefe was part of the Viadana squad that beat Lazio 32-6.
The42 has just published its first book, Behind The Lines, a collection of some of the year’s best sports stories. Pick up your copy in Eason’s, or order it here today (€10):
Our two form second rows at present are Ryan and Byrnie, neither of whom are in the squad, I understand Ryan can not be picked. However second row is week at the moment and if Tonner gets injured we are in trouble, we are also hoping Henderson rediscovers his undoubted talent. It is the weakest area of the squad and for this reason I would like to see Byrnie brought in.
@ktsiwot: I think Schmidt hinted at Byrnie being brought in to camp, but is unlikely to get game time due to the fact he’s already played a huge amount this season and he would have to be left back to Scarlet’s for the rest weeks. Still would be good to see him getting time in camp to get used to the people/systems
@ktsiwot: This needs to stop. Schmidt gave a number of very good reasons why Beirne was not picked, let it go.
@ktsiwot: you may have missed this long and heated ongoing debate, but it has been addressed by Schmidt. Beirne is being flown in a number of times over the course of the 6 Nations to get familiar with the set up. He is currently on mandatory rest days so would have been unable to join the squad in Spain last week. He would also have to be made available to Scarelets during the fallow weeks while everybody else is resting and training togethwr appropriately. Further, because his time is not controlled by the IRFU, he has played way more hours than any of the other locks you mentioned. If something happens to the match day 3 of Toner, Henderson,and James Ryan, I am sure he will be considered. But at present his situation is not favourable.
@ktsiwot:
Go back to sleep and by the way a lot has happened since you were last awake.
Japan has surrendered
@Conor Paddington: The reason I bring it up is as we speak I feel it is a position of weakness, I understand he is not controled by the IRFU, I just feel we are very dependent on Tonner and an Injury to him or Henderson leaves us very exposed at second row, it is also a competition that is there for the taking, it is just an opinion.
@Mark Smith: Troll, usually people who have an opinion discuss it in a manner that is not insulting, people that have an opinion and know the game do, sadly instead of discussing an issue in a civil way a troll like you just uses social media to insult it must be sad to be bitter and twisted.
@ktsiwot: you’re not wrong. And I don’t think anyone would be upset if he were included, nobody doubts the merits of his inclusion. But the present situation makes the most sense all things considered. And it had been discussed to death. But of course that doesn’t mean it’s resolved.
@Conor Paddington: Not necessarily. The attrition rate in rugby is such that Beirne next match, any match and he could be injured for the rest of the season. It is simply nonsensical to have Irish players who are either still in the country or coming back and are in form but are not picked for the Six Nations. In the last RWC look at the squad attrition rate. POC and POM injured, nevermind the rest. The decision to leave out players who are in form and are playing or coming back to play in Ireland flies in the face of developing depth in the squad.
@Christiaan Theron: you lost me at “nonsensical”. There is a lot of sense to it, I totally understand your agreement, but it makes sense. Whatever of attrition, Schmidt plays an incredibly complex game plan. Beirne doesn’t know the systems, he would have to come in a week late having missed intermittent training camps, and then he would be plucked out for a week in two weeks and another week a week after that. It is not nonsensical not to include him.
@Christiaan Theron: all the locks in the squad are in good form. Henderson maybe a tiny bit short of his best but he’s still playing very well. If we were stuck I’d say fair enough but this way when he does come in he’s going to have to fight for a shirt. Also he was released from Leinster because he was injury prone, he’s now playing more rugby than he ever did maybe not adding to that when we don’t have to is the best way to go.
@ktsiwot: by the same argument you should be calling for Sean Dougall to be included too
@ktsiwot:
Oh dear are we feeling a little bit hurt and offended because someone had the temerity to tell you to move on from a subject that everybody other than you is sick of discussing.
It’s done and dusted, move on
Ryan is away and Beirne is not here yet
@Conor Paddington: Schmidt can only play the players that are not injured. Injuries are the single deciding factor on whether a player can be included in squads or not. Only Leinster fans look at Schmidt as having a complex game plan. Quite frankly Ireland’s performance at the RWC against Argentina he was completely outplayed. Let’s face it the last tour to SA should have been a win given what the SARU think of Coetzee. It is nonsensical to not include players on their way back or still in Ireland. Because a coach never knows when a player will go down. Who would have thought Heaslip would be out for so long. There are players who have broken down in the warm up. The reality is Schmidt will play those players that he needs to no matter where they are and that will depend on injuries.
@Chris Mc: No harm but Scarlets aren’t concerned about how much rugby he is playing. They are only concerned about his form. If he had been chosen in the squad then Scarlets would be more concerned. Hindsight will be of no use if he gets injured and Toner or Henderson get injured.
On one hand, I’m delighted Ryan is getting to show what a top class lock he is. Between injuries and spending so long behind POC and DOC, I don’t think he was ever properly appreciated until he was gone.
On the other hand, I’m absolutely sickened Ireland and Munster can’t avail of his talents. Just imagining a Ryan/Beirne combo at the moment in red and green. They would take all challengers in Europe at the moment.
The cheeky grubber from Ryan! He’d be shot if he did that in Ireland. Good to see he’s dabbling in a bit of French flair.
@EK: ball spills out in loose play, goes in behind attacking team with no cover, jumping on it won’t guarantee possession, kicking it will guarantee territory. I don’t think there’s any system that would punish that decision!
@Conor Paddington: Maybe. It’s definitely unorthodox though!
What the hell was Nucifora thinking…..
@Paul O’Connor: I know right?! Madigan never shouldve been let go
@Paul O’Connor: I think he was thinking “god, I’d really love to keep this guy, I wish we could afford him and he didn’t have a thirst to play in top flight French rugby before the end of his career. How disappointing, but credit to him for pursuing his dreams”. You know, something like that.
@Rudiger McMonihan: Agreed, he should have been redirected to Ulster like Murphy.
@Christiaan Theron: Id prefer to see him in connacht and have mcphillips get more game time.
@Christiaan Theron: ulster had paddy when Madigan left. Fingers crossed he’s back in white soon enough
@Paul O’Connor: No, he disrespected our best second row by not offering him a central co tract leaving him with no option but to move. But yeah, let’s see who’s regretting it in Japan next year.
@Paul O’Connor: Henderson is our best lock. Beirne is next. Then Toner. Donnacha Ryan comes in after them when he’s healthy enough to play. He missed half of this season through injury and spent most of his IRFU central contract out injured as well.
@Rudiger McMonihan: this is a prime example of how provincial bias continues the country down.
@Rudiger McMonihan: The Crystal Meth takes hold… it’s sad really.
@Paul O’Connor: “Toner?? LOL ….. Beirne has fine international pedigree alright….
@Paul O’Connor: Provincial rivalry? I chose an Ulster player 1st, followed by a player on his way to Munster 2nd and a Leinster player 3rd…
4 Irish players lined out for Justin FitzPatrick’s Houston Hurricanes v Canada’s James Bay on Saturday night in an MLR preseason game. Jamie Dever, Westport, Adam Macklin Belfast, Justin Allen Wexford and Paul Mullen Aran Islands.
I hope Tadgh McElroy doesnt get too comfy over in England, as he has massive potential in an area we’re light in.
@Aidan Prior: He appears to be developing his market value.