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...

Damian Penaud ankle injury update: not as bad as first feared, and he *might* be back for Bordeaux's #ChampionsCup final against Northampton, Rugbyrama reports www.rugbyrama.fr/2025/05/05/c...

Just seen reports that Doris's injury is expected to rule him out of any of Leinster's remaining games. Puts his Lions tour in doubt which is a real shame.

At 28 seconds on the video clip from Brett you can see Finn Smith actually spot the discrepancy in numbers on Leinsters left wing. He sees Prendergast drop out of the backfield going to the right side and bringing TOB up, but Smith overloads the Saints attack on the blindside to score.

Jean knows her stuff...

1. Saints tactics were superb. They took the early lead and forced Leinster to play more on ball than they wanted. Saints then played more off ball, only going 3 or 4 phases and then kicking long.

1. Lions 🧵 Today's result has the potential to impact the Lions selection massively. Farrell as seen with his coaching team planned to go Ireland/Leinster heavy. But the style/tactical changes didn't work over the autumn or 6 nations.

Leinster need more control from their half backs and they need to get a platform from their set piece. A lot of players haven't stepped up, Doris, Snyman etc who will need a big 2nd half. Barrett should be seen early in the 2nd half.

Leinster winning gain line but Saints holding on at the moment. Saints putting pressure on Prendergast off the ball and when Saints kick they are seeking him in the back field so he has to run it back or if he kicks he is the one chasing.

Saints have lost too many in the pack. Leinster added a better scrummaging TH and two other world class NIQs. That's before the injury difference between the sides this weekend. Leinster by 25+ and likely more questions about the integrity of the competition to come.

Latest episode is out now. We talk Champions Cup semi finals, what could be done to save the euro comps, salary caps, union spending and of course the weekly Moana discourse. open.spotify.com/episode/3TrE...

This piece by @charliemorgan.bsky.social in the Telegraph on the budget gap between Leinster and Northampton this weekend is... staggering. A must-read. www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/...

Massive rugby news coming out of Japan which could see even capped japanese internationals left without a club - the proposal is that at least 8 players on the pitch per side must have ‘japanese blood’

Farrell can choose whichever pope that he wants to. It will probably be one based in Leinster or his son, though.

Bulls the better team and deserved their win. But the incompetence from the entire officiating team this evening should result in a stand down period for all involved. Not a good look for the URC and the apology letters from Tappe Henning mean fuck all when problems continue to reappear.

Whatever about the rights and wrongs about this, it looks very much like Andy Farrell didn't fancy announcing Sexton with all the rest of the coaches for some reason, so he's slipping him in after the fact.

Great sport is about jeopardy, storylines and overcoming adversity. Rory winning the Masters had it all and makes unmissable TV.