A deep dive on Munster's attack 🔴 McMillans preferred style 🔴 Missing pieces 🔴 Attack data compared to URC teams 🔴 Attacking strengths 🔴 Improvements needed 🔴 Building for the future overthehillprop.wixsite.com/website/post...

What's important for Saracens from a legal perspective is they get this statement out because tapping up a player or coach more than 12 months before their contract ends leads to fines and suspensions - if proven. World Rugby Regulation 4.9

New ✍️ Ireland v England Analysis ☘️ "Maybe a rising tide does lift all boats… time will tell" As Ireland celebrate an historic win; I tried to rate, analyse and discuss a potential turning point in team's trajectory (or so I hope)

Superb signing by Munster. Will really fit into the scheme McMillan is building with Munster this season and along with the other expected signings should make a solid impact next season.

Really hard to understand the changes. Sam out of the 24 just goes to show how poor the man mgmt of the 10 has been since about 2020. No Edogbo or Izuchukwu and Conan to the bench means a real lack of power for the scrum, lineout and heavy carriers. TOB in because of Ringrose knock?

Rumoured Ireland team has Prendergast out of the 23 altogether. Farrells handling of the 10 situation pre and post 2023 has been absolutely shocking.

1. Bernard Jackman mentioned in passing on Against the Head that James Lowes contract was taking some time to resolve. I wonder if it's a situation similar to Peter O'Mahonys. Lowe isnt on a central deal but is likely to be on a PONI deal at present.

Tom O'Toole to loosehead Now talk of Andrew Porter back to TH?

A long read on how Ireland got to this point, why we look like malfunctioning robots and why the new rugby looks so far out of our natural game. www.patreon.com/posts/150197...

Farrell and the IRFU seem to have different views on Bundee. Will be interesting to see what the outcome of the internal IRFU inquiry will be which is separate to the URC disciplinary committee and if there will be an additional ban.

Ahead of tomorrows clash with Glasgow have a read about the rebuild Clayton McMillan is undertaking at Munster, why culture and philosophy matter, the tactics he wants his team to play and where he is likely to strengthen the squad for next season. overthehillprop.wixsite.com/website/post...

An in-depth look at Clayton McMillan, his tactics, philosophy, the rebuild project at Munster and what changes to the squad we can expect for next season. overthehillprop.wixsite.com/website/post...

THE BIG RIG This was a standout performance from Edwin Edogbo. Size, power and an increasing ability in the tight exchanges. #SUAF

New Article for @allthingsrugbybs.bsky.social ✍️ The Irish Eye "It’s the season of goodwill, meeting family and friends and tearing lumps out of your interprovincial rivals." Positives for three, less so for one; here's my takeaways from the weekend. Enjoy! 🏉 www.allthingsrugby.com/news/the-iri...

Jackman: Cullen's Zebo dig borne out of Frawley blow (✍️@RTErugby) #Rugby #BernardJackman #LeoCullen

A look at how the game of rugby has changed due to law tweaks, how Irelands tactics have changed since the last RWC and why Irelands development pathways and selection policy at national level have made its set piece extremely vulnerable. overthehillprop.wixsite.com/website/post...

Ireland - State of the Nation. A deep dive on Ireland post autumn series, going through the numbers, the problems and the potential solutions as they face into the 6 Nations and look ahead to the RWC in 2027. overthehillprop.wixsite.com/website/post...

My thoughts on Leinster v Munster overthehillprop.wixsite.com/website/post...

1. Leinster getting overpowered and losing in SA isn't something to overly worry about but some of the underlying causes will be of concern. Prendergast kicked really well but when your set piece can't function the advantages gained from his kicks is absolutely minimal.

They say a dog takes on the traits of its owner. My dog likes to sleep a lot, eat snacks and isn't very social. So there's that.

Lions stats Tour wins vs Oz, 8 wins from 10 tours, 80% win rate vs SA, 4 wins from 19 tours, 28.5% win rate vs NZ, 1 win from 12, 8.3% win rate Tests wins vs Oz, 19 wins from 25 games, 76% vs SA, 18 wins from 49 games, 36.7% vs NZ, 7 wins from 41 games, 17%

If anyone has 2 seated tickets for Lewis Capaldi in Dublin hit me up. Can swap for 2 tickets to Benson Boone if that works. #ticketfairy

1. Aussies missing some big bodies in the forwards. I reckon if the Lions play direct and limit their passing game to when they've earnt the right to go wide they can overpower that Aussie side.

A short personal announcement from me: Looking ahead to the incoming season, I would love to provide a publication/TV company with analysis on upcoming fixtures. Can do it in English or as Gaeilge; whichever suits. Have done so for Tuairisc and TG4 in the past. Shares welcome.

1. The Lions was, and generally still is, seen as the best of the best moulded together. Gatland and Farrell moved away from that with the Geography 6 and the Not the Geography 6. They are going with players they know to fit systems or players close to solve a short term problem

Andy Farrell: I'm afraid that Finn Smith has suffered an injury. Finn Smith: No, I haven't. Farrell: So I've called up Sam Prendergast as cover. Smith: I'm honestly fine. I don't know- *Single gunshot* Farrell: We wish Finn a speedy recovery.

The focus at the moment for the Lions is on Farrell calling up guys who know "the system" despite those players struggling to make the starting 23 for their club. Maybe the media should start asking the questions about why Farrell and co struggle to coach the system to non Leinster players?

This is from Sam Warburton's book on the Geography 6. Will be interesting to hear the reaction to Farrell's call ups on this Lions tour when it's all over. Winning the test series may cover up a lot of stuff but probably not everything. Lose and most of the dirty laundry gets washed in public.

We go live to Hugh Cooney.......

1. Delighted for Osborne on a personal level but overall the optics on this are bad from a Lions point of view. Farrell is making a Geography 6 type call up for a guy who isn't first choice for either his club or country & has to fly him in from Portugal to be a training panelist

Munster have had a different player captain a Lions team in each of the last 5 Lions tours 2025 - Beirne 2021 - Murray 2017 - POM 2013 - POC 2009 - DOC

Front five, centres, half backs, Lowe and Conan just guaranteed their spots for the first test. Scrum looks impressive (level of opposition taken into account) but maul D looks soft. Chessum doing well but feel Beirne is a safety blanket for Farrell. 2 back 3 spots fairly open.

+ Paul De Wet

Well the Bulls might not have a head coach but they ain't holding back on the recruitment - Marvin Orie - Jan Serfontein - Nico Janse van Rensburg Along with Handre Pollard.

Who I think Farrell will go with for the 1st test. Genge Sheehan Furlong Itjoe McCarthy Beirne VDF Conan Gibson Park Russell Lowe Aki Ringrose Freeman Kinghorn Kelleher Porter Bealham Chessum Pollock Mitchell Farrell Earl/Hansen Team Cohesion.

Ireland U20s attack playbook Lineout launch - Smith crash ball - ruck - kick contestable Scrum launch - Murphy pick and go - ruck - kick contestable Phase play - pod - ruck - big carrier - kick contestable Variation - give to Wood to kick.

The difference between this and Nazi propaganda against Jews is that this is AI-generated.

A few rumours floating around that Neinaber might be leaving Leinster ahead of the World Cup. Not sure how true or false those rumours are, but I saw this bit by Derek Foley in the Mirror - I know, I know - where a "rugby insider" didn't realise that the IRFU pay Neinaber, not Leinster.

Communication guys gonna communicate ✅ Deanta

My hot take for the URC final: Wilco Louw is the rugby equivalent of wet weather tyres

Did Elon learn nothing from Heaslip ?

New episode out now. Puffins, small talk, lies told to children, cool animals to be bitten by, winks and cramp ,URC QF review, Lancaster in Galway, Ireland summer squad and much more. open.spotify.com/episode/1YYE...

1. 🧵Hard not to disagree with Gerry's opinion that Leinster are the most likely to break the French hold on the Champions Cup given Leinsters track record of near misses over the last few years but I think his numbers are somewhat off

Glasgow go after the same weakness Saints exploited in the semi final. They wait until Prendergast looks to transition to the backfield. He signals JOB and Hastings spots the space and kicks for the grass. Keenan does well to cover but it's a nice net gain for Glasgow.

Was at the Munster Benetton game last night and was really impressed by the mixed ability rugby game at half time. First time seeing it played and it was fantastic to watch. The inclusivity of the game was brilliant and the standard was much higher than I expected.

Connacht announce signing of Sam Gilbert from Highlanders (✍️@rugby_ie) #Connacht #SamGilbert #Highlanders

@thelooseh.bsky.social @threeredkings.bsky.social

New PSOM out now with added Hunt for Red October references. Tom and Owen dissect the tactical brilliance of Saints win over Leinster. A preview of this weeks URC games and a late surprise visit from the best concrete sweeper in Ireland. open.spotify.com/episode/22kU...