
'Orrible Punt gives PR his predictions for the Super Rugby weekend, here!

We give you an ideal tool to compare all the Super Rugby team announcements.

Can you solve the Missing Men? Today, Ulster's class of 2005 versus Leinster.

This week covers Australia, planning and a curious coaching situation.

All of the latest news surrounding the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia.
Sorry, this story is unavailable
| Fixture | Details |
|---|---|
| All times are local | |
| RaboDirect PRO12 | |
| Saturday , May 25 | |
| Ulster vs Leinster | ![]() |
| More RaboDirect PRO12 fixtures | |
| Fixture | Details |
|---|---|
| All times are local | |
| Amlin Challenge Cup | |
| Friday , May 17 | |
| Stade Francais 13 - 34 Leinster | ![]() |
| More Amlin Challenge Cup results | |
| RaboDirect PRO12 | |
| Saturday , May 11 | |
| Leinster 17 - 15 Glasgow | ![]() |
| Friday , May 3 | |
| Leinster 37 - 19 Ospreys | ![]() |
| More RaboDirect PRO12 results | |
| Amlin Challenge Cup | |
| Saturday , April 27 | |
| Leinster 44 - 16 Biarritz | |
| More Amlin Challenge Cup results | |
| RaboDirect PRO12 | |
| Sunday , April 21 | |
| Zebre 22 - 41 Leinster | |
| Saturday , April 13 | |
| Munster 16 - 22 Leinster | |
| More RaboDirect PRO12 results | |
| Amlin Challenge Cup | |
| Friday , April 5 | |
| Wasps 28 - 48 Leinster | |
| More Amlin Challenge Cup results | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clermont Auvergne | 6 | 28 |
| 2 | Leinster | 6 | 20 |
| 3 | Exeter | 6 | 9 |
| 4 | Scarlets | 6 | 2 |
Comments
J_HDK says...
Ferris out - injury. McLaughlin in.
I have a terrible feeling that Ferris is now going to go the way of Jerry Flannery :S
More and more injuries... longer and longer recovery times until a light breeze causes him an injury and he is forced to retire. I don't mean that to sound disrespectful.
Posted 00:43 27th May 2012
staph_glorious says...
rangdaddy,
He's injured. Not by method of Tonya Harding either.
Posted 13:41 26th May 2012
rangdaddy says...
Isaac Boss not selected? Why, because he's a kiwi?
Posted 21:10 25th May 2012
rangdaddy says...
This squad will not beat the All Blacks, let alone intimidate them. Why bring old players like ROG down here - he is crap - Irish rugby would be better served looking towards the future. How many times have Ireland beating the AB's - 0 - and it will be 27 wins at the end of this series. Ireland have to win a game against the AB's at some stage, but this squad just doesn't have it in them.
Posted 21:09 25th May 2012
staph_glorious says...
jonesy2,
There won't be any matches outside of the three-Test series.
IRFU statement - "It's for logistical as well as playing reasons. We would have had to move around to play the midweek games and we want to focus on the Test series." (Source: independent.ie)
Posted 23:10 24th May 2012
jonesy2 says...
i havent heard much on here about the tour, PR are ireland playing any S15 teams or the maoris?
Posted 05:01 24th May 2012
ciaran1792 says...
I know AVP1 but u asked a question i gave u what i think is the answer. Ryan Caldwell is a good player he just needs to get back to Ulster I think Johan Muller is leaving them so there will prob be a spot open if he goes now.
Posted 16:41 23rd May 2012
APV1 says...
@ swiwi - I think I've misunderstood the way the rankings work, then...
Posted 12:25 23rd May 2012
swiwi says...
@APV1 - not sure about that All the teams in the Pacific Cup are ranked lower than Ireland, so Tonga winning doesn't necessarily move them above Ireland. As pog_mahone says, if results go as expected, rankings don't tend to change much. On average NZ would be calculated statistically to beat Tonga by about 30+ points, so unless Ireland were to get 3 absolute hammerings, I don't see a 3-0 series loss as necessarily putting them at risk of dropping down (as you would expect NZ to beat Tonga 3-0). I might be wrong, but I suspect an uber-conservative selection from Kidney which on the one hand is likely to have a low-risk of an absolute massacre, but on the other hand is highly unlikely to get a victory. He could at least experiment in a couple of positions such as 12, the wings, and lock.
Posted 11:36 23rd May 2012
APV1 says...
@ Cabhan - as I stated, I'm not going to suggest that Caldwell is the best lock available, but a "headless chicken" he ain't. He's played very well this season, so perhaps Ulster weren't utilising him correctly, or coaching him effectively..?
Posted 11:31 23rd May 2012
DaveJ says...
blametheref - Mc Laughlin ahead of Heaslip at 8? good joke, I get jokes.
I do agree with you however about Kidneys conservatism, lack of tactical nous and all round being completely the wrong person to bring out the best in such a talented (deep) pool of players we now have in Ireland. Ok, that last part was my own.
Posted 11:10 23rd May 2012
tha_mai says...
pog_mahone - for what it's worth, the test refs ate Wales' Nigel Owen (1 & 2) and France's Romain Poite for the 3rd.
Ireland will be well-received in NZ, they were extremely popular and supported during their 2010 matches then last year's RWC. I went to the Wellington test in 2008 - the 'hypothermia game' sat in the stands with some tough Irish lads, jeans and no shirts! They said NZers didn't know what cold was.
Posted 10:54 23rd May 2012
APV1 says...
@ swiwi - if Ireland lose too many matches and Tonga win a few in the Pacific Nations cup, Tonga could overtake them in the IRB rankings. Agree with the formula or not, it is what it is. And the ranking drop from 8 to 9 will make a significant impact on Ireland's seeding for the 2015 RWC.
@ ciaran1792 - thanks. I think you're right with the answers, although they weren't specifically for you (just a poorly phrased post from me didn't make that clear). Does that mean that Caldwell will always be overloojked whilst he's "overseas", regardless of form? I'm not saying he would oust any of the incumbents, but isn't he worth considering? Cheers!
Posted 10:47 23rd May 2012
blametheref says...
One of those A.N. Others has to be Leinster's Kevin McLoughlin who is showing good form and the potential he has right now and is outshining Heaslip...In my opinion he is the future Irish No.8 and no matter what configuration one puts on the Irish back row, a back row of Ferris, O' Brien and Mc Loughlin with Heaslip on the bench would be a great balance, and a strong line out configuration.
Cave is a real talent and option in NZ for playing 12 or 13 or for BOD moving to 12, changes and selections like this are what is required to wrongfoot NZ, which any teams needs to do to have any chance.
Also, even apart from O' Connell's numerous recent injuries, Leo Cullen should be in this squad without doubt, crazy if Kidney overlooks him, as he has leadership qualities and a winning record that will be needed in NZ plus he's a better all round and more canny player than O' Callaghan who will be wound up by The All Blacks for sure. Kidney has treated Cullen badly on the international front, time for him to take the blinkers off, but will we see that? The answer if a firm NO, and we're going to be treated to Kidney's mad 9 and 10 set up along with his penchant to have to introduce ROG to "close out" the game in a conservative fashion in the last 15 minutes...Did leinster employ those negative tactics in the last 2 finals? No, that is why they have won 3 HC's in the past 4 years, but Kidney hasn't the tactical nous to implement that winning strategy into the Irish team and that is why he has failed and should be gone anyway.
Posted 10:40 23rd May 2012
Cabhan says...
There is an issue with centrally contracted players in Ireland. As far as I know, D'Arcy recently signed a 2 year extenstion to his Irish contract to take him to the end of the 13-14 season. There will be pressure to pick him in squads till that contract expires. In fairness to him, after a poor 6 Nations, hes looked a lot more settled with Leinster and is a form selection.
Fair enough bringing ROG, but why couldn't they push the squad out to 30 and bring Madigan as well? Who covers outhalf if Sexton or ROG get injured?
Toner was having a great season before Thorn arrived. He should have been given MOTM against Bath in the HC. Caldwell is a complete headless chicken. Ulster were happy to let him go for a reason. I guess DOC is seen as more of a scrummaging row than the rest. There is a bit of a lack of those in Ireland. Almost all our second rows are the more athletic type, but you do need someone with a bit of grunt in there too.
I still think we can pick a 15 from this squad thats good enough to give the ABs a real rattle in the first test. Don't think we'll have a chance after that though.
Posted 10:18 23rd May 2012
kennyisgay says...
@ pog_mahone, you can't blame Joubert for the previous 24 hidings you're had.
Posted 10:16 23rd May 2012
leinster_goy says...
Norm, i must say i'm awfully jealous of all this attention you're devoting to sextons_on_fire. i thought i was the only guy for you :(
Posted 09:56 23rd May 2012
pog_mahone says...
swiwi, you're talking a lot of sense there. I'm not sure of all the ins and outs of the ranking system, however, I do believe that you maninly gain by neating teams above you and drop by losing to teams below you. In light of that, we have nothing to lose by bringing up and coming players that we want to have in place for the next World Cup. ROG and DOC are top of my list for a break from rugby this summer.
Kiwikev and Jmangod - why doesn't it matter who we bring? Is Joubert signed up to referee all 3 tests?
Posted 08:50 23rd May 2012
corkoptimist says...
@ J_HDK
I'm not saying he should be starting, if POC isn't there I'd prefer Tuohy and Ryan but to be giving out so much that he's in the squad is really unfair to the man I think! Yes he gives away penalties and has occasional brain farts but what exactly has he "squandered"?! He's been on 2 lions tours and captained a midweek team he's made a hell of a career out of hard graft....just think he doesn't get the respect he deserves!
Posted 21:05 22nd May 2012
ciaran1792 says...
AVP1@ hahaha desperate man no competitive i like to win . as u said i apologized to the chap even though he questioned my literacy so i exploded it happens. Me in in a board room hardly u must be having a laugh I couldn't stand been in a office now i made points about rugby before i lashed out.All I want from Ireland is to reach there potential they haven't with kidney because he is to conservative.
OK in response to your 2 issues:
1 I am well aware of the RWC seeding, hence why players on form and not by reputations should be picked. That's the difference between the all blacks and us. They blood young guys who show form we don't. Look at poor Luke marshal left out in the cold for Connor Murray who hasn't had the best this year.
2 Ryan Caldwell dropped in the pecking order Tuhoy is now next in line at the moment his big mistake was leaving Ulster for Bath last year and its cost him dearly.
Posted 21:01 22nd May 2012