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Here's the Ireland squad for the championships. Stand out name would be Paddy Jackson, who although he had a poor HEC final was very impressive in Ulster's semi final. Other than him there are maybe 6-7 players who've had Pro12 game time this year. The team finished 2nd in the 6-nations and...

I suppose their 3 options combination wise if he isn't there would be a 10, 12, 13 of: Farrell, Flood, Barritt Hodgson/Goode, Farrell, Barritt Farrell, Barritt, Turner-Hall For Lowe to get a run there would probably have to be another exclusion through injury or wholesale changes if England...

Manu Tuilagi has been cited for a tip tackle in the English Premiership final so it's possible he could miss this tour. Hearing will be tonight.

Isaac Boss is out of the Ireland tour due to a thigh injury. Paul O'Connell is still a doubt with a knee injury and we wont know until Friday if he will be going or not.

No citing would suggest that the tackles were deemed legal. I think with the head first one it may have been a combination of Matu'u springing up to tackle and Gerard's change of direction that lead to the head connecting with his chin. I don't think it was intentional to catch him with the...

Have a lot of respect for him coming out to say that he would be willing to take a step down for the good of the team. However I'm a big believer in a new head coach having the ability to put their own team in place. But I still believe Foley should be given more time as head coach but also...

How does the end of season in Super XV compare to the English Premiership? Is the motivation the same without the need to qualify for European comps (HEC or Amlin) or possibility of relegation? Have you noticed an increased profile for Rugby Union in Melbourne in the 2 seasons you've been...

Well done to the Ospreys who've just denied Leinster the double and won the Pro12 final. Shane Williams playing his last competitive game was outstanding, scored 2 tries and was dangerous throughout. The scrum was a mess and Leinster got 2 yellow cards because of it and the game ended with...

Agree RH, the Aus RU has enough bad planning and administration all on it's own without doing favours to make up for the poor planning of other unions.

Part of the reason for the poor opposition is that Scotland were not very orgainsed about their tour at all. Up to a few weeks ago the Fiji and Samoa games were still TBC. The Aus test was also a lastminute.com arrangement when they couldn't find any other Tier 1 opposition. Ireland, England &...

Tahs will have a very big say in who tops the Aus conference. If they manage to beat either the Brumbies or the Reds in their last 2 games it could decide the winner. It's looking like the Reds will go into the final game needing a win to have any chance to qualify. Also the NZ triangle...

Only things left for the Tahs to play for this season is finishing top of the also rans (10th on the ladder) and finishing 3rd in the Aus conference. It's worrying that cracks are beginning to appear in good aspects of the Tahs play such as their defence. Maybe the international window will give...

The results of their rivals couldn't have been much worse for the reds. They need someone to do them a favour next week while they have the by and then hope that the international window disrupts the rhythm of one of their rivals without affecting their own.

Stephen Ferris is ruled out of Ireland's touring squad due to a calf problem. That's a really big blow for us, Ferris has been really unlucky with injuries. Kevin McLaughlin takes his place in the squad.

I would say the performance of the Aus teams today has made picking the squad harder and not in a good way.

No not much quality out there but I would imagine the Force would take a win by any means at this stage.

Got your wish, he should have backed himself.

Btw has anyone had a good view of the biting incident? Website feed is a little hazy so couldn't see it clearly enough myself but from what was said in commentary CJ van der Linde could be in trouble.

Force need to turn their possession and territory into points before half time. This one doesn't look like being a high scoring affair and one break away try for the Lions and it might be too much for the Force to peg them back. Now that I've said that watch both of them end up with try bonus...

Hooper looked the better in the first half but got isolated a couple of times in the 2nd half when he ran away from support. Gill had more of an influence as the game went on and had a very good 2nd half. They were 2 of a very few players who could be proud of their performances in that game.