Written By Unknown on Minggu, 30 November 2014 | 23.06
Updated: Sunday, 30 Nov 2014 15:55 | Comments
Sam Burgess in action for Bath against Harlequins
Stuart Lancaster has floated the possibility of Sam Burgess making his England debut for the Saxons against the Ireland Wolfhounds on 30 January.
Burgess' first taste of rugby union unfolded over 17 minutes as a second-half replacement in Bath's comprehensive Aviva Premiership victory over Harlequins on Friday.
The 25-year-old former rugby league star carried with intent and cleared out a ruck in a promising if unspectacular debut at the Recreation Ground.
England are desperate to fill their problematic inside centre position and Burgess will be a contender if he adapts quickly to the new code.
When asked if Burgess could make his RBS 6 Nations squad, Lancaster said: "That would be a big step, but who knows? We'll wait and see. If he plays well, there's a Saxons game in January.
"Sam is a player who will be of interest, without a doubt. It took about three Quins players to stop him.
"He's a powerful man and it will be nice to see him get a few more games and put his hand up."
Burgess will be involved in Bath's Champions Cup clash with Montpellier on Friday and is likely to be joined in that matchday squad by George Ford, who enjoyed a breakthrough autumn for England.
Ford built on his strong full debut against Samoa with another composed display in Saturday's 26-17 victory over Australia, and only a collapse in form would prevent him starting ahead of Owen Farrell against Wales on 6 February.
"I think George has done enough for a run in the team, but I'm sure Owen will have something to say about that in the next five or six weeks," head coach Lancaster said.
"There are four European games and four Premiership games until we meet again and Owen will want to get that shirt back.
"I didn't feel George really had the understanding of the mechanics of the team to throw him straight into that New Zealand game at the start of the autumn.
"I definitely had the confidence to start him against Samoa and it wasn't a difficult decision to start him against Australia.
"There was a bit of debate about whether he should kick or not. Well, he's an 82% goal-kicker this season and if we're going to give someone responsibility, we have to trust them to do the whole job."
Lieutenant Colonel ridden by Bryan Cooper comes home to win
Lieutenant Colonel gave Sandra Hughes her first Grade One triumph when winning a dramatic race for the Bar One Racing Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse.
Hughes, who took over the reins when her father Dessie died two weeks ago, had her fist winner on Saturday and enjoyed a popular and emotional success.
There was drama when the Willie Mullins-trained hot favourite Zaidpour fell, bringing down King Of The Picts at a flight around the halfway stage and hampering Jetson.
Little King Robin set out to make all the running but was stalked by both the remaining runners.
There was little to choose between the pair at the final flight but Lieutenant Colonel (7-2), owned by Gigginstown House Stud, produced the better turn of foot for Bryan Cooper to score by four lengths from Jetson.
The violence happened ahead of the Deportivo and Atletico Madrid game
A Deportivo La Coruna supporter has died following violent clashes between rival fans ahead of Sunday's Primera Division match between Atletico Madrid and Deportivo at the Vicente Calderon stadium, it has been confirmed.
The man, who has not been named officially, was still alive when firefighters pulled him out of the Manzanares river near Atletico's home ground.
In a critical condition, he was taken to the San Carlos Clinic in Madrid by ambulance but died shortly after.
"A patient, a male in his 40s, arrived at the hospital with cardiac arrest and suffering from hypothermia. Despite lengthy attempts to resuscitate him, he could not recover from the cardiac arrest and died," Isabel Diez, press officer at San Carlos Clinic, told Press Association Sport.
"We don't know the exact causes as only an autopsy can determine."
Trouble flared in the Madrid Rio public park, close to the stadium, ahead of a match that began at midday local time.
According to reports in Spain, groups of Atletico and Deportivo hooligans gathered at the site where the violence began at around 9am.
Spanish league authorities had wanted the match - which was won 2-0 by Atletico - to be postponed but said it was not possible.
Prior to confirmation that the supporter had died, the Liga de Futbol Profesional announced on its website: "The LFP condemns the incidents that took place on Sunday morning outside the Vicente Calderon stadium before the week 13 match in La Liga between Atletico Madrid and Deportivo La Coruna.
"The LFP has been firm in its intention to suspend the game but this was not possible. The association is working with Fans United, the national police, all the clubs and all the public limited sports companies to end violence, racism, xenophobia and intolerance in professional football."
Atletico issued their own statement, saying: "Atletico Madrid strongly condemns the incidents in the area of Madrid Rio in the hours before the match against Deportivo La Coruna.
"The values that promotes sport should prevail over any rivalry and together we must fight against the scourge of violence."
Yaya Toure and Frank Lampard's strikes took Manchester City up to second in the Barclays Premier League table and handed Southampton an ominous start to a daunting run of festive fixtures coming up.
Toure and Lampard provided the crucial calm finishes before Gael Clichy blasted home his first City goal in a 3-0 win at St Mary's which lifted the defending champions above Saints in the league standings.
The assured visitors even shrugged off referee Mike Jones denying Sergio Aguero a clear penalty in the first half, and also Jones' decision to show a red card to defender Eliaquim Mangala.
Referee Jones booked Aguero for diving despite the Argentina forward being clearly up-ended by Saints defender Jose Fonte.
City made light of that awful decision and Mangala's dismissal for a second booking to inflict Saints' first home defeat of the league campaign.
Southampton face a season-defining December, up against Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea amid seven games in 25 days.
Ronald Koeman's men battled hard against City but in the event Manuel Pellegrini's men possessed more than enough nous to prevail.
Hacked down by Fonte in the game's first significant act, Aguero scrambled to his knees expecting a penalty and the chance to add to his midweek Champions League hat-trick against Bayern Munich.
Referee Jones had other ideas however, booking the Argentina striker for diving.
The wretched decision shocked City to the point of whipping out the rug on their early momentum.
Victor Wanyama's harsh booking for hauling down Toure in full flight may just have played on official Jones' mind when he made the call on Fonte's challenge on Aguero.
Fonte was fortunate in the extreme to avoid any kind of censure, and on another day may well have been sent off.
Toure teed himself up for a trademark pitching-wedge chip as City continued to press, only to loft the ball too feebly and straight at Saints goalkeeper Fraser Forster.
Suitably aware just how far their luck had been stretched in a nervy first 15 minutes, Saints suddenly settled.
Wanyama fired a raking crossfield ball to Ryan Bertrand, and in a flash the game changed.
Graziano Pelle failed to connect with Dusan Tadic's cross, but Steven Davis collected the loose ball and blasted goalwards.
Joe Hart parried desperately into the box, but despite the danger City still managed to clear.
Referee Jones' muddled afternoon continued unabated when Mangala's harem-scarem rampage was halted with play brought back instead for a free-kick, with Saints ruled offside.
England man Nathaniel Clyne's bad defensive read then gifted City the chance of the half.
The Saints full-back raced out of the line only to realise far too late that Jesus Navas was hot favourite for the loose ball.
The Spaniard hustled onwards and sent Stevan Jovetic racing in on goal. The Montenegro striker then had the half's sole gilt-edged chance, but could only fire straight at Forster.
In the ensuing scramble Saints cleared the ball off the line, further frustrating City's efforts.
Sadio Mane's fine through-ball to Pelle indicated Saints' continued attacking intent, before Hart was forced into two weak punches that ultimately went unpunished.
Saints opened the second half with two long-range efforts, but neither could test Hart.
The hosts' ambition eventually caught them cold when a loose pass allowed Fernandinho to pick Clyne's pocket.
The astute Brazil midfielder continued to hustle, dispossessed Wanyama on the edge of Saints' area - and teed up Toure. The towering Ivorian picked his spot and slotted the ball past the helpless Forster, via a small deflection.
City emptied their bench in a bid to cement control, and Navas should have doubled the lead when dragging a shot wide of the target.
Mangala was then dismissed for a second yellow card, after taking out Shane Long when the Saints striker was about to edge through on goal.
Former Chelsea midfielder Lampard killed the clash with ten minutes to play; however, coolly driving home after sloppy Saints play invited City to counter.
Refusing to allow the game to meander to a close, Clichy capped another fine City raid, blasting high into Forster's net to rub salt into Saints' open wounds.
Benny Coulter looks on, dejected, at the end of the 2010 All-Ireland SFC final
Former Down star Benny Coulter, who announced his inter-county retirement last Monday, has spoken about his regrets about not having won any title with the county.
Long acknowledged as a talismanic figure for Down, Coulter nevertheless finished up without an Ulster or All-Ireland title, his time as a player coinciding with a lean spell for the Mourne men.
Coulter spoke openly to RTÉ Sport about the regrets of missing out on a medal.
"That's the worst thing about this retirement," Coulter said.
"I can't look back and say that I won anything with Down. Beaten in a few Ulster finals, beaten in an All-Ireland final. It's been a long 20 years since Down won the All-Ireland in 1994, and we haven't been successful since that.
"Down footballers and Down supporters have been through a barren spell, and it's just unfortunate that I was part of that time.
"It's probably devastating that we lost that All-Ireland final 2010, against Cork."
He stressed that he had "a great 15 years with Down football" but returned to the 2010 final, saying "We missed out big-time that year."
"It's probably devastating that we lost that All-Ireland final 2010, against Cork"
The Mayobridge clubman said there was "no doubt" that Martin Clarke was the best player he had played with for Down, hailing his influence on the Mourne men's 2010 campaign.
He said that although he did not know Clarke's plans for the season ahead, "Down need Marty Clarke back this year playing for them."
Looking back on 2010, Coulter was ready to take the positives from it and suggested it would serve as inspiration for younger footballers Down.
"We didn't win it, but there are players, the likes of [Kildare's] Johnny Doyle, who didn't get the experience to play in an All-Ireland final, whereas we got the whole experience.
"I ended up captaining the team that day because Ambrose [Rodgers] was injured. And the three weeks before it was amazing; the buzz around Down was just unheard of.
"I was only a young fella in 1994, so that was the first time I experienced it. A lot of other young fellas, young children about Down, that was their first experience of Down being in an All-Ireland final.
"Those memories will live with me forever. It's just very, very unfortunate that we didn't win the title."
Asked whether he felt Down let the title slip away from that year, Coulter said: "Honestly, I do. We had Cork for longs periods of that game, and probably the big factor was that they could bring on Nicholas Murphy and Graham Canty, whereas we were struggling to bring players on of that calibre.
"We had Big Dan [Gordon] in the full-back line, and maybe in hindsight, if had pulled Big Dan out to the middle of the field we could have made a change. And obviously big Ambrose got injured in a club game, and he missed the semi-final and final."
He said that Down had fielded their best 15, but hadn't been able to bring further big players in to influence the game. As a county, he suggested, Down had long struggled to produce bigger players.
"When you're looking against the likes of them Cork boys, even the Kerry lads, the Donegal boys, that's another thing that we struggled with for a while. Even, I think, we struggled last year with a bit of height in the forward line. We've very small forwards with the same sort of builds: Mark Poland, and Conor Lavery, boys like that.
"Down footballers: we need to get a wee bit bigger. I'm not sure how."
Coulter also opened up about how provincial glory also eluded him.
Reflecting on his lack of Ulster medals, he spoke about the 2003 final that Down lost to Tyrone, and contrasted his subsequent years with those of the Tyrone team.
"We were nine points up; we were a man down; but we still should have closed the game out," he said.
"Tyrone actually went on that year and won the All-Ireland and since then they've won three. They've '03, and 2005 and '08, and we haven't won anything since.
"It's a hard pill to swallow, but that's life, and that's football"
"From then, the likes of Sean Cavanagh, Owen Mulligan, them boys have gone on to win three All-Ireland titles since that game, whereas [I haven't] won anything. It's a hard pill to swallow, but that's life, and that's football."
Coulter said that "Down just didn't seem to be able to put three or four performances back to back" despite often recording noteable wins.
He said he had been "overwhelmed with the tributes" since he announced his retirement, from "ex-players or the players and a lot of people from within Down football."
However, he sounded a note of caution about the demands on modern inter-county players, and said a career as long as his would no longer be possible.
"I don't think it is [sustainable]," he said, when asked about the level of commitment involved in being an inter-county.
"If I was starting out my career now, I don't think I would last seven or eight years, because there's that much [commitment]. They're asking a lot of inter-county players."
Christy Fagan (l) celebrates his first goal in the FAI Cup final
St Patrick's Athletic striker Christy Fagan capped a memorable week by picking up the PFAI Player of the Year award.
The on-form forward, who scored both goals in the Saints' 2-0 FAI Cup win over Derry City last weekend, hit 21 league goals this season.
Dundalk boss Stephen Kenny won the Manager of the Year award as he led the Louth side to Premier Division glory, while Lilywhites winger Daryl Horgan was named Young Player of the Year.
David O'Sullivan, of newly-promoted Longford Town, won the First Division Player of the Year award.
Ireland begin the November series against South Africa, kick-off 5.30pmJamie Heaslip will be pivotal to Ireland's cause
Video
By Tadhg Peavoy
The world and his wife has backed the South Africans to come to Dublin 4 and defeat a heavily depleted Ireland team.
And why not? The southern hemisphere giants come into the tie in sizzling form, with a 27-25 victory over the All Blacks that ended the world champions' 22-match unbeaten run.
Given that Ireland are shorn of so much talent through injury, a win against a team that appears to be developing into Rugby World Cup contenders would rank as one of Ireland's greatest victories of recent years.
However, to suggest South Africa are an unstoppable force is perhaps wrong.
Yes, their momentous win over the All Blacks, and their previous 28-10 victory over Australia have them in good stead. But in the two previous Rugby Championship rounds they were defeated back-to-back by both New Zealand and Australia on an aggregate margin of 38-33.
Both defeats came away from home, and this serves to demonstrate that Heyneke Meyer's charges can be fragile when off their home patch.
Prior to that they narrowly beat Argentina twice, on an aggregate score of nine points.
These four results should give Ireland hope and no doubt video footage of those four games will have been used this week in Carton House in a bid to understand how to rattle and dismantle the South Africans.
Securing a good platform essential for Ireland
The nuts and bolts of beating any team, South Africa included, comes up front, where the scrum and line-out must function, in order to supply adequate possession out wide. Against the Boks this is even more evident. They pride themselves on their set-piece game and are rarely anything below superb in that department.
There is no weakness in their pack, with Tendai Mtawarira, Bismarck du Plessis and Jannie du Plessis a hugely formidable front row. In the engine room they have a quite superb combination of Eben Etzebeth and Victor Matfield.
Those two possess all the strength, agility and line-out nous to terrify any of the top teams in the world. In the back row, Duane Vermuelen is the complete all-round package for that position. He will be the main force the Boks use to gain ground in the loose, and Chris Henry and Jamie Heaslip will be charged with preventing him gaining crucial yardage that can damage Ireland in their red zone.
As for the second rows, Paul O'Connell and Matfield are regarded as two of the very best line-out practitioners in the world, and their ability to read and steal opposition ball makes them fierce opponents and very similar beasts.
Predicting who will get the upper hand in that department is hugely difficult. Both will have been studying each others' techniques this week in the hope of deciphering codes. Ireland could have an upper hand here.
South Africa's current line-out set-up is likely to be the same as that deployed in the very recent 2014 Rugby Championship, but Ireland's could – and is likely to be – subject to change since their Six Nations campaign, making it harder for South Africa to predict what their opponents are likely to try.
Springboks have expanded their game plan
In the backline, South Africa have begun to develop a more expansive game plan from their tried and trusted bish, bash, bosh, with Handre Pollard the key man in this regard. His ability to mix his game from boot to hand has been lauded from all circles and has given South Africa a far greater variation than the public is used to seeing from them.
But Ireland also have a man who can do similar at No 10, in the form of Johnny Sexton. His fitness has been a concern going into this one, as he has carried a tight thigh into the Ireland training camp. If he is fit, he is a match for Pollard and seeing the two of them go at it will be an opportunity to witness two of the most creative out-halves in the world pit their wits.
The key for Sexton is that he gets good ball from his pack. Against Australia in the Lions Test series in 2013, the steady and reliable ball his pack fed him allowed him to unleash the backline from a very high line, which he has deployed again this term, which allows him to bring the ball to the gain line early and create space and depth for his centres to exploit.
The Ireland pack must give him that same depth today – it's crucial to the game's outcome.
Ireland begin a new era in the centre
The new Ireland centre pairing is intriguing. The potential created by Robbie Henshaw's size and Jared Payne's quick feet and speed cannot be questioned. What can be questioned is whether they will be able to gel right from the off, or whether the pair will need two or three Tests to get a feel for playing off each other.
Again, it's an unknown, and the first 20 minutes will reveal how ready they are to play international rugby together.
Henshaw's size is perfect against a team like South Africa where physicality is the order of the day.
The space Sexton gives him will help him to get that extra power into contact and/or to offload out wide to Payne. Facing Jean de Villiers is a huge test for the Connacht man and another fascinating match-up.
Another key element here is Ian Madigan. He offers another option at centre and out-half, and in a tight game his creativity off the bench could prove invaluable.
Could the bench prove the deciding factor?
However, it's on the bench that Ireland's injury list is really felt. Schmidt's starting XV is almost first choice - bar injury absentees Cian Healy, Rory Best and Sean O'Brien - but the bench is badly hit.
Up front, Donnacha Ryan or Dan Tuohy's impact off the bench will be sorely missed. Jordi Murphy's ball-carrying ability likewise. Keith Earls' versatility to cover the back three is also a big loss.
South Africa have no such weakness from 16-23, with Adrian Strauss, Bakkies Botha, Schalk Burger, Pat Lambie and JP Pieterson a phenomenal group of replacements.
If Ireland can put a good lead on the Boks then they may be able to withhold a late onslaught as Meyer empties the bench.
But if it's close then South Africa may just have that little bit more firepower in the endgame.
Verdict: South Africa by three.
@TPeavoy
Watch live coverage of Ireland vs South Africa on RTÉ2 from 1630 on Saturday. Kick-off 1730.
Ireland: Rob Kearney; Tommy Bowe, Jared Payne, Robbie Henshaw, Simon Zebo; Jonathan Sexton, Conor Murray; Jamie Heaslip, Chris Henry, Peter O'Mahony; Paul O'Connell (captain), Devin Toner; Mike Ross, Sean Cronin, Jack McGrath.
Replacements: Richardt Strauss, Dave Kilcoyne, Rodney Ah You, Mike McCarthy, Rhys Ruddock, Eoin Reddan, Ian Madigan, Felix Jones.
South Africa: Willie le Roux; Cornal Hendricks, Jan Serfontein, Jean de Villiers (captain), Bryan Habana; Handre Pollard, Francois Hougaard; Duane Vermeulen, Teboho Mohoje, Marcell Coetzee; Victor Matfield, Eben Etzebeth; Jannie du Plessis, Bismarck du Plessis, Tendai Mtawarira.
James McClean came on as substitute for Wigan against Bolton
James McClean has explained why he was not prepared to wear a poppy-embroidered shirt like the rest of his Wigan team-mates at Bolton last night.
This weekend's round of fixtures will see clubs up and down the country wear poppies on their jerseys to commemorate Remembrance Sunday on the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War.
However, Derry-born Republic of Ireland international McClean, 25, took the personal decision not to wear a shirt emblazoned with a poppy at the Macron Stadium.
Latics' official website published a letter from McClean addressed to Wigan chairman Dave Whelan before kick-off in last night's 3-1 defeat in which the winger, who came on as a second-half sub, clarified his stance.
In that letter, McClean said: "I have complete respect for those who fought and died in both World Wars - many I know were Irish-born. I have been told that your own grandfather Paddy Whelan, from Tipperary, was one of those.
"I mourn their deaths like every other decent person and if the poppy was a symbol only for the lost souls of World War One and Two I would wear one; I want to make that 100% clear. You must understand this.
"But the poppy is used to remember victims of other conflicts since 1945 and this is where the problem starts for me.
"For people from the North of Ireland such as myself, and specifically those in Derry, scene of the 1972 Bloody Sunday massacre, the poppy has come to mean something very different.
"Please understand, Mr Whelan, that when you come from Creggan like myself or the Bogside, Brandywell or the majority of places in Derry, every person still lives in the shadow of one of the darkest days in Ireland's history - even if, like me, you were born nearly 20 years after the event. It is just a part of who we are, ingrained into us from birth.
"For me to wear a poppy would be as much a gesture of disrespect for the innocent people who lost their lives in the Troubles"
"Mr Whelan, for me to wear a poppy would be as much a gesture of disrespect for the innocent people who lost their lives in the Troubles - and Bloody Sunday especially - as I have in the past been accused of disrespecting the victims of WWI and WWII.
"It would be seen as an act of disrespect to those people; to my people.
"I am not a war monger, or anti-British, or a terrorist or any of the accusations levelled at me in the past. I am a peaceful guy, I believe everyone should live side by side, whatever their religious or political beliefs which I respect and ask for people to respect mine in return. Since last year I am a father and I want my daughter to grow up in a peaceful world, like any parent.
"I am very proud of where I come from and I just cannot do something that I believe is wrong. In life, if you're a man you should stand up for what you believe in."
Diego Costa got Chelsea's second in the 67th minute
Liverpool 1-2 Chelsea
Diego Costa's 10th goal of the season maintained Premier League leaders Chelsea's unbeaten record and inflicted yet more pain on Liverpool at Anfield.
Back in April their win on Merseyside signalled the beginning of the end of the Reds' title dream and while this 2-1 victory was not as heartbreaking or damaging for the home side it was just as frustrating.
Midfielder Emre Can's first goal since his summer move from Bayer Leverkusen had given Liverpool an early lead but it has not been a situation they have been comfortable with all season.
Gary Cahill's scrambled 13th-minute effort via the goal decision system ensured Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho could have no complaints and he would have been positively overjoyed with Costa's clinical first-time effort midway through the second half.
While Mourinho is sitting pretty at the top of the table, his former protege Brendan Rodgers finds himself under more scrutiny having placed particular emphasis on this game by making seven changes for the midweek Champions League defeat at Real Madrid.
The likes of Steven Gerrard, Raheem Sterling and - somewhat surprisingly considering Kolo Toure's performance at the Bernabeu - centre-back Dejan Lovren were recalled with Can the only alteration to the team which lost at Newcastle last weekend.
Having put in a shift on Tuesday the Germany Under-21 international was tasked with adding some solidity to the midfield but what he also did was put himself about.
Only 30 seconds in, his long-range shot was deflected wide by John Terry but the Chelsea captain's centre-back partner Cahill was not as fortunate as in the ninth minute when Can let fly from distance again and his shot ricocheted off the England defender to leave goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois stranded.
While a first goal in three matches was celebrated with unbridled joy at Anfield most in the crowd understood one would not be enough considering their defensive problems and Chelsea's considerable attacking prowess led by Costa.
Gerrard's slip in this fixture last April to present Demba Ba with the opening goal was the beginning of the end for the club's title hopes but when the Liverpool captain was caught in possession by Costa this time he escaped by conceding a corner, which he himself dived to head clear.
Unsurprisingly a set-piece was again to prove Liverpool's undoing as Chelsea's aerial supremacy saw Costa flick Fabregas' corner on to Terry who was denied by a brilliant save by Simon Mignolet only for the Belgium goalkeeper to carry the ball over the line from Cahill's follow-up.
Technology intervened and a goal was awarded.
Sterling and Philippe Coutinho both looked like troubling Chelsea's defence with driving runs but the visitors soon took control with a spell of pressure which instilled almost panic among Liverpool's ranks but failed to bring a second goal.
Costa, whose running battle with Martin Skrtel was a continuation of their spat in last month's Croatia versus Spain international, hooked an overhead kick into the Anfield Road end early in the second half with Sterling forcing Courtois into a low save after cutting in from the left.
A succession of niggly fouls and personal confrontations saw the match descend into a spell of scrappiness but that was broken by a turn of pace from Cesar Azpilicueta, back in the side after a three-match ban, and a touch of quality from Costa in the 66th minute.
As the Chelsea left-back burst past Coutinho on the touchline there was a suspicion the ball could have gone out of play but the Spain international continued to drill in a cross which Mignolet could touch to Costa who lashed the ball into the net first time.
Liverpool responded with Jordan Henderson's well-timed volley taking a double deflection off Azpilicueta and Nemanja Matic while Gerrard felt he should have had a penalty when his left-footed shot hit the arm of the ubiquitous Cahill late on.
Even the introduction of Rickie Lambert for Mario Balotelli, who had a first-half effort ruled out for offside but offered little threat otherwise, failed to produce an equaliser despite a slightly more direct approach.
Criquette Head-Maarek won the Criterium de Saint-Cloud on three previous occasions with Poliglote (1994), Special Quest (1997) and Full Of Gold (2007)
Ireland and Britain struck out in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud as Criquette Head-Maarek's Epicuris comfortably secured Group One honours at the Parisian circuit.
Winning jockey Thiery Thulliez took the brave approach from the head of affairs on the 9-10 favourite, with Big Blue second for a long way.
Palang, by contrast, was towards the rear for most of the mile-and-a-quarter journey, but he arrived strongly inside the final furlong.
Epicuris, owned by Khalid Abdullah, was not prepared to surrender his unbeaten record and showed plenty of fight to deny the German challenger with authority.
Head-Maarek said of her talented juvenile: "Epicuris is a really good horse and I never had the impression he was going to be beaten. He'll be even better as a three-year-old."
Tony Martin's Clonard Street, who ran a fine second to Ol' Man River at the Curragh in September, finished last.
The Richard Hannon-trained Crafty Choice claimed fourth, having briefly threatened a few furlongs from home.
Written By Unknown on Jumat, 07 November 2014 | 23.06
Updated: Friday, 07 Nov 2014 15:49 | Comments
Jose Mourinho and his Chelsea side frustrated Liverpool and shattered their title dreams
Jose Mourinho believes the football authorities wanted Chelsea to lose at Anfield last April to hand Liverpool a first championship in 24 years.
Mourinho was frustrated that Chelsea's request to bring the Premier League match forward from the Sunday preceding their Champions League semi-final second leg with Atletico Madrid, which the Blues lost, was rejected.
"I felt that day was a day that was ready for their celebration," Mourinho told Gary Neville last month in a Telegraph interview. "They want us to be the clowns in the circus. The circus is here. Liverpool are to be champions."
Speaking on the eve of Chelsea's trip to Anfield, Mourinho was asked who the "clowns" were that he was referring to.
"Not Liverpool. I was talking about the situation," Mourinho said. "When people make the decision to make us play on Sunday when we had to play the Champions League semi-final second leg two days later it's because they don't want you to compete, they want you to go and lose.
"Liverpool did what they had to do (in not moving the fixture). Try to have the easiest possible game to be champions. Everybody knows if they draw that game they're champions.
"We went there, we gave everything, but we did that against Liverpool. We would do the same (against other opposition).
"We were the pros. We did what we had to do. I don't think the people that made the decision to make us play that day did a professional job."
Mourinho's perception was that the game had the feel of a coronation, with bunting present on an emotionally-charged occasion close to the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough tragedy.
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard's slip allowed Demba Ba to race clear and score and Willian scored a late second as Chelsea won 2-0.
Asked specifically about Gerrard's error, Mourinho said: "It gave the title to Man City. It's as simple as that.
"Liverpool, with a point in that match, are champions and because they lost that match they lost the title.
"Liverpool, with a point in that match, are champions and because they lost that match they lost the title."
"It meant nothing to us after our defeat against Sunderland. Our position was third position.
"That match meant just the professional pride - you have to go to every match and try to win."
Liverpool are 12 points behind Chelsea after 10 games of the current season having endured a challenging start following the sale of talismanic striker Luis Suarez.
Mourinho, who has a fully-fit squad to choose from and plans to start Diego Costa despite the striker's exclusion from the Spain squad, thinks Brendan Rodgers' men should not dwell on the past.
"I think they have not to think about last season, they have enough motivations for this season," Mourinho added. "If I was in their position I would go back to last season for the good memories. (But) it's up to them."
Despite the points gap between the two clubs, Mourinho insists Rodgers' side remain title rivals.
He added: "They are fighting for the title, the same as we are. "Last season when we played them we were not fighting for the title because we had a surprise the match before, (losing) against Sunderland that stopped us going to Anfield to discuss the title. This moment is different because both teams are fighting."
Mourinho was critical of the Stamford Bridge atmosphere following Chelsea's 2-1 win over QPR last week.
He does not believe his team will be cowed by the intensity of a big match at Anfield, but hinted that in his view referees sometimes got caught up in it too easily.
He added: "I like to play there, but I have to say that some people feel the atmosphere in a negative way, affecting the performance. That's not my case.
"I don't think it affects my players' performances either. (But) in the past we have clear examples of it affecting others - goals that are not goals, penalties that are not given.
"It's a fantastic atmosphere for all of us to enjoy and try to enjoy a beautiful game."
Chelsea's tactics last term - a suffocating defence and lethal counter-attack - were criticised by Rodgers.
The Blues have more attacking verve this season with Costa and Cesc Fabregas flourishing in the top flight and as a partnership.
Mourinho added: "Our intention is to win. Our intention is when we have the ball we want to try to score goals and when Liverpool have the ball we have to try to stop them from scoring.
"Sometimes some people pretend to be clever (but) this is the ABC of football. I did this since I am a coach and I'm going to do this till my last day."
Costa will miss Spain's Euro 2016 qualifying match with Belarus and friendly with World Cup winners Germany later this month.
Mourinho will play Costa, scorer of nine goals in eight league games, at Liverpool, before enforcing rest to allow him to recover from his persistent hamstring problems.
"He starts the game," Mourinho said. "The plan is immediately after the match to have a period of complete rest. No training, no treatment."
Mourinho insisted he did not intervene to request Spain boss Vicente del Bosque would not call on Costa.
Mourinho said: "I want to make it very, very clear that I did nothing for that to happen.
"It's very good news for him, for us and also for the national team. Now he has to go in the right direction. It's good for Spain to have a good Diego and not a so-so Diego."
Robbie Henshaw (L) and Jared Payne (R) start at centre for Ireland against South Africa
Donncha O'Callaghan believes Ireland's new-look centre partnership of Robbie Henshaw and Jared Payne could actually improve the side's defence, despite the fact that they have never played together.
Henshaw (21) will make his second Ireland start at 12 for Saturday's Test against South Africa (Live on RTE2 from 1630) with Payne (29) making his debut in the famed 13 shirt.
O'Callaghan, who has played 94 times for Ireland, highlighted the height and weight advantage Henshaw (6'3) and Payne (6'2) have over the classic Irish pairing of retired Brian O'Driscoll (5'10) and the injured Gordon D'Arcy (5'11), which he believes will be vital against the physical challenge posed by the Springboks.
"I think our centres are ideal for the type of game that's going to be played against them," O'Callaghan told RTÉ Sport.
"Whereas Drico and Darce were kind of chop tackle and the other one would get in and poach the ball like a seven, these guys can really affect the advantage line and knock fellas back over it. They're both massive strong men.
"South Africa and Italy are the ones that really stand out for physicality. You know exactly where they're coming.
"Especially against South Africa. We know they're going to come down that channel and I'd be excited to see what these guys can do.
"The team we've picked is big and won't step back and they're the exact same. We know they're going to take us on physically. It'll be war out there."
O'Callaghan cautioned that Henshaw and Payne will take time to forge a partnership at centre but the Munster lock, who hasn't played for Ireland since the Six Nations draw with France in 2013, believes head coach Joe Schmidt and defence coach Les Kiss can improve their game.
"It really is a combination there and we've been lucky that we've had Drico and Darce over the years who really play well together.
"I think that they could really hit form. They need a bit of buy-in for each other, not to [just] go out and look after their own back but to really put in a big performance. They're both very capable of that.
"They won't be thrown into it, not under Joe Schmidt. They'll get incredible guidance on what they have to do, especially under Les Kiss in defence. I think they can actually add something to our defence.
"Johnny [Sexton] is a massive presence there, to run the show and guide them through because your first cap is over like that, and that's what it'll feel like to those lads. But I think they're well able."
Simon Zebo is also in the starting line-up after a try-scoring performance in Ireland's June series victory over Argentina and four tries in seven games for Munster this season.
The 24-year-old was a controversial omission from Schmidt's Ireland squad throughout the victorious 2014 Six Nations campaign but O'Callaghan thinks that rather than mope, the Cork man has responded admirably to the disappointment and is well placed to establish himself on the wing.
"The selection is fair," said O'Callaghan.
"The best team always goes out. Simon will know that.
"He has massive talent. What we see in [Munster] training, I don't know has he totally reflected it yet on the international stage, he has a bit on the provincial stage.
"He's in a massively competitive position. We're blessed with wingers, and he's got a great opportunity and I think he's more than willing to take it up.
"He's addressed it in the right manner and played really well and that's all you can do. Keep knocking at the door and keep putting in big performances and playing well.
"The only thing I would say about him is that he has terrible taste in music!"
Louis van Gaal: 'United's start has not not good enough'
Louis van Gaal says he feels "lousy" about Manchester United's poor start to the season.
Van Gaal's appointment was greeted with great fanfare at Old Trafford, but after 10 matches United are 10th in the Barclays Premier League.
"It's not good enough," the United boss said when asked to evaluate his team's start to the season. "I feel lousy."
Van Gaal has garnered just 13 points so far even though United had a favourable run of fixtures at the start of the season.
His predecessor David Moyes, who lasted just 10 months in the job, had 17 points at this stage last season.
Van Gaal added: "I feel, myself, very lousy for the fans firstly, but also for the board because they have a great belief in me and my players and my staff and when you have 13 points out of 10 matches you are not doing well."
And Van Gaal has warned concerned United fans it may take a long time before he finds a winning formula with his squad.
"We are in a process and that process shall take more than one year," said the Dutchman, who was given a three-year contract this summer.
"It shall take three years, I hope, because that is always dependable from a lot of aspects, but I think it shall be and we shall make it happen that we shall win a lot of matches in a row."
"We are in a process and that process shall take more than one year."
Van Gaal's mood has soured further after his injury list lengthened last weekend.
Marcos Rojo, a £16million buy from Sporting Lisbon, dislocated his left shoulder in the 1-0 defeat to Manchester City.
And the Argentina international could now be out for a number of weeks.
Two specialists have assessed Rojo's injury this week. If all goes well with the defender's recovery he will be out for six weeks. But if not, he could be out until the last week of January.
And even when he returns, there is a chance his shoulder could dislocate easily again.
"We don't need to operate on him, which is a relief," Van Gaal said.
"But with this injury it is very difficult that it shall not happen again. And that is the problem.
"Yesterday evening a specialist said a conservative way to heal it is maybe best. We have always a risk that it happens again.
"Conservatively, it can be less than six weeks. If we have to operate, 12 weeks."
The injury could not have come at a worse time for the United manager.
Chris Smalling (above) is suspended for this Saturday's game against Crystal Palace (1500) because of his silly dismissal in the derby.
Jonny Evans and Phil Jones are also unavailable because of their respective ankle and shin injuries.
Van Gaal was giving little away about the potential make up of his back line for Saturday's game, but it is likely that Michael Carrick will have to play at centre-back alongside teenager Paddy McNair or the equally inexperienced Tyler Blackett.
"Smalling is not playing and Evans and Jones are still injured," Van Gaal added. "I have to decide who is playing there but who is playing there I don't want to say.
"Maybe I will train (with Carrick at centre-back) today also and I can change my mind, I have to solve that problem."
When asked whether he would enter the transfer market for a defender in January, Van Gaal, who has been linked with Aston Villa's centre-back Ron Vlaar, said: "It is clear that a lot of things happen and you can judge better in good times than you can in bad times.
"Maybe you are right (about buying in January) but we have to see that."
Van Gaal also has injury problems up front. Radamel Falcao has missed the last two games after receiving a kick in training and he looks set to miss the Palace game on Saturday too, much to his manager's dismay.
But the Dutchman is refusing to get too downbeat about the Colombian, who has scored just one goal since his dramatic deadline day loan move from Monaco.
Paul O'Connell believes "the best lineout forward in the world" Victor Matfield is better now than when he quit rugby for two years in 2011.
Ireland captain O'Connell hailed Springboks stalwart Matfield for adding extra steel to the South African ranks that had been missing during his temporary retirement.
The oldest Springbok of all time at 37, Matfield quit the game entirely after Rugby World Cup 2011, only to be enticed back to both the Super 15 and Test arenas.
Matfield praised O'Connell as "the best player I've played against" earlier this week, ahead of Ireland hosting South Africa in Dublin on Saturday.
Munster talisman O'Connell said no amount of love-ins will detract from the brutal task facing Joe Schmidt's Ireland side in the Aviva Stadium Test.
"I think he's the best lineout forward in the world and has been for a long time," said O'Connell.
"To be able to take two years out, come back and be as good as if not better than he ever was is an incredible achievement.
"He still seems to be using pretty much the same system he has used for seven, eight, nine years, the same lineouts, and teams just can't come near him on his ball.
"You see in that New Zealand game the amount of lineouts that South Africa upset all across the board, not just Victor Matfield, but Vermeulen as well.
"I think it contributed massively to the result: if you can't be sure of your own ball when you go to the touch, to start plays or exit from your half of the pitch, it's a really tough way to play the game.
"I think it's probably something South Africa have been missing in recent years, and he's brought it back with abundance.
"He has a fantastic record as well, having beaten us on the Lions tour in 2009, having won a World Cup in 2007, his record in the Super 15 too, he's a fantastic player.
"I was delighted with the compliment he gave me, but it's all irrelevant come tomorrow afternoon."
"But the way they've been playing with ball in hand recently, I just think they've an extra string to their bow that they maybe didn't have when they won the World Cup"
South Africa edged past New Zealand in Johannesburg 27-25 last month, inflicting just the All Blacks' second defeat since claiming the World Cup on home soil in 2011.
Young fly-half Handre Pollard has been credited with helping coach Heyneke Meyer add an expansive attacking edge to the Springboks' naturally-aggressive tight play.
Munster's 35-year-old lock O'Connell has warned Ireland to steel themselves for one of their toughest physical assaults yet, despite South Africa's improved wide threat.
"They are different in a better way, so many of the things they do I recognise from a few years ago," said O'Connell.
"They still have an excellent maul, they score numerous tries from that.
"It's very effective for them in terms of exiting as well.
"They are very good at the back of the lineout and putting their centres and wingers into midfield, and putting teams under pressure that way.
"So you recognise that from the past, and they are still strong there.
"But the way they've been playing with ball in hand recently, I just think they've an extra string to their bow that they maybe didn't have when they won the World Cup, or they didn't maybe use then or in 2009.
Craig Breen in action during the 2014 Circuit of Ireland Rally
The Circuit of Ireland Rally has secured its place on the 2015 European Rally Championship, the second consecutive year Ireland will feature in the prestigious championship.
The Irish event will be the third of ten rounds in the ERC schedule, the first asphalt race in the tournament and the only Ireland and UK-based event in the Championship.
The event keeps its traditional Easter slot and will run from Thursday 2 April to Saturday 4 April 2015.
The 2015 Circuit will also count as rounds of the 2015 Irish Tarmac Championship and the Northern Ireland Rally Championship.
This year's highly successful Circuit of Ireland was won by Finland's Esapekka Lappi in a Skoda Fabia S2000.
Circuit of Ireland director Bobby Willis said: "It is our goal to make it even bigger and better next year. We've already started talks with teams and individuals interested in competing and I'm confident that the quality of the line-up will be exceptional.
"The Circuit of Ireland is firmly back at the premium end of the international rally arena and we are really looking forward to an exciting Championship programme."
Meanwhile, Craig Breen's miserable run of bad luck continues with the Ulsterman retiring from today's first leg of the Rally of Corsica after his Peugeot 208 developed a transmission problem.
Solwhit (right) en route to landing the World Hurdle at the 2013 Cheltenham Festival
Charles Byrnes' multiple Grade One winner and Cheltenham Festival hero Solwhit has been put down after breaking his shoulder in a schooling fall at Tipperary.
The 10-year-old struck at the highest level on eight occasions during a stellar career, most recently claiming the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at last year's Cheltenham Festival and the Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree a month later.
Solwhit missed the entirety of last season, the second lengthy absence of his career, but was due to return to action later this year before tragedy struck earlier today, resulting in him having to be put down.
Byrnes said: "It happened around midday. He was schooling over hurdles in Tipperary and unfortunately he tipped over and broke his shoulder.
"It's very sad and we'd been delighted with him during the week.
"He's the best horse I've trained by a very long way. He won eight Grade Ones and we had a great day with him in Cheltenham.
"He's been a very special horse for all of us."
Solwhit won 15 of his 28 starts and was placed on a further nine occasions, amassing over €1,200,000 in win and place prize-money.
As well as his eight Grade One wins, he also chased home the brilliant Hurricane Fly in a number of memorable clashes.
Written By Unknown on Kamis, 06 November 2014 | 23.06
Updated: Thursday, 06 Nov 2014 15:27 | Comments
Aaron Devlin in action for Derry during the 2014 Allianz Football League semi-final against Mayo
Ballinderry Shamrocks players Aaron Devlin, Michael Conlan and Gareth McKinless have been suspended for 48 weeks each following the tempestuous recent Derry county final.
Inter-county player Devlin has been banned for a subsequent derogatory tweet (since deleted) about the match officials, who awarded a disputed late goal that was enough for Slaughtneil to claim the title on a 1-08 to 0-09 scoreline.
Ballinderry believed the ball hadn't crossed the line and officials were jostled by supporters.
A melee followed after the match was restarted.
It is believed to be the first time that the GAA has handed out a ban for comments made on social media, a regular practice in other sports.
In addition to the suspensions, Ballinderry's pitch was ordered to be closed to adult games for a year,
"The club co-operated fully with Derry GAA and regret and apologise for scenes around the county final," Ballinderry chairman Stephen McGeehan told BBC Sport Northern Ireland on Wednesday.
"The sanctions seem very severe but no decision will be taken until the executive committee meets on Wednesday night."
Graeme McDowell was left to rue a poor finish despite setting the clubhouse target in the first round of the WGC-HSBC Champions event in Shanghai.
McDowell played his first 12 holes in seven under par at Sheshan International but dropped two shots in the last six to card an opening 67 in the second event of the European Tour's Final Series.
Starting from the 10th, the Ryder Cup star birdied his opening hole and picked up further shots on the 13th, 14th, 16th and 17th to race to the turn in 31, before birdies at the second and third took him well clear of a star-studded field featuring 40 of the world's top 50.
However, the former US Open champion dropped his first shot of the day on the fourth and paid the price for missing his only fairway of the round on the 603-yard eighth hole, a par-five which had so far given up just two birdies.
Shane Lowry is the only other Irishman in action in China, but the Offaly man had a disappointing start, hitting six over in his opening round.
At five under par, McDowell enjoys a two-shot lead over Ryder Cup opponent Rickie Fowler and fellow Americans Chris Kirk and Brandt Snedeker.
American Dustin Johnson claimed the title 12 months ago with a winning total of 24 under par, but Justin Rose - who was fifth last year - had correctly predicted heavier rough and firmer greens would make scoring more difficult.
Rose, who was fourth in the BMW Masters on Sunday, was level par, while the winner at Lake Malaren - Germany's Marcel Siem - was also even for his round.
Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez, who took 13 on the ninth hole during his final round last week, struggled to an opening 78, while FedEx Cup winner Billy Horschel managed just one birdie in a round of 80.
Dan Carter won't be risked as the out-half continues his recovery from injury
Dan Carter has missed out on a place in New Zealand's match-day 23 for the clash against England at Twickenham on Saturday.
The superstar fly-half made his return from serious injury with a 30-minute appearance during New Zealand's 74-6 victory over the United States in Chicago last weekend.
But All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen has decided to take no chances on Carter in a game of such magnitude, with Aaron Cruden wearing the number 10 shirt and Beauden Barrett providing bench cover.
Cruden, full-back Israel Dagg, centre Sonny Bill Williams and number eight Kieran Read are the only players retained on starting duty from five days ago.
Hansen's team and replacements boast a combined total of more than 1,000 caps.
Among those who return to the starting XV are prolific try-scoring wing Julian Savea, centre Conrad Smith, lock Sam Whitelock and skipper Richie McCaw.
"This Test match is a great opportunity to once again experience the atmosphere of Twickenham and to lay down a marker of where we are currently at in relation to our opponents, England," Hansen said.
"We are extremely excited about this challenge and looking forward to it immensely.
"Having played England already three times this year, at the beginning of our season, and again having the opportunity to play them at the end of season, will tell us a lot about how much our game has progressed."
England suffered a 3-0 Test series defeat in New Zealand earlier this year, but they beat the All Blacks 38-21 at Twickenham two years ago after second-half tries from Brad Barritt, Chris Ashton and Manu Tuilagi secured a famous victory.
New Zealand: I Dagg; B Smith, C Smith, S B Williams, J Savea; A Cruden, A Smith; W Crockett, D Coles, O Franks, B Retallick, S Whitelock, J Kaino, R McCaw (capt), K Read.
Replacements: K Mealamu, B Franks, C Faumuina, P Tuiipulotu, L Messam, T J Perenara, B Barrett, R Crotty
Jared Payne has been touted as a long-term replacement for Brian O'Driscoll
Ulster's Jared Payne will make his Ireland debut in a new centre partnership with Robbie Henshaw against South Africa on Saturday (Live on RTE2, from 1630).
The New Zealand-born back has qualified to represent Joe Schmidt's side through residency after three years with the province and will wear the number 13 jersey with Henshaw starting at inside centre.
Ireland boss Schmidt said circumstance led him to pair Henshaw and Payne in midfield - but challenged the duo to match their physicality with the kind of iron will O'Driscoll and D'Arcy exuded for a generation.
While D'Arcy has returned to full fitness, Schmidt claimed the Leinster centre had not been ready early enough in the week to complete match-level preparation.
"It was what was available to us at the start of the week," said Schmidt.
"Robbie Henshaw's flexibility to play 12 or 13 is similar to Jared Payne, but that's the way they trained last week, so we've decided to go with that.
"Gordon was injured last week: he's probably back to full fitness now but we weren't absolutely sure of that at the beginning of the week.
"We have very small windows of preparation so we just felt we were partway along a pathway that was looking reasonably positive.
"To be fair to Gordon D'Arcy he has helped immeasurably: he's been a really good mentor for Robbie and Jared this week.
"We thought Gordon would be fit, he probably has made it to be fair to him, but we hadn't had any time with the combinations.
"It was going to be a new pairing no matter what, so we just decided to go with what had been working together.
"To be honest I didn't tell the centres in advance, I just named the team.
"It wasn't too much of a surprise to them because they'd been running in there together.
"I did speak to Gordon beforehand, and he's very much team-orientated as always.
"He's been a massive asset to those two in training.
"Ireland have been blessed with a centre pairing for a huge length of time that have not necessarily been the biggest but been as physical as the best.
"Physicality is sometimes determined by the will rather than the size.
"Hopefully on Saturday we'll get a bit of both from our centre pairing."
Paul O'Connell captains the side and is joined in the engine room by Devin Toner.
The backrow is made up of Jamie Heaslip, Chris Henry and Peter O'Mahony while the front row sees Jack McGrath and Mike Ross pack down either side of their provincial team-mate Sean Cronin.
Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton are re-united at half-back and Tommy Bowe returns to the back three for the first time since last year's November internationals and lines out alongside Simon Zebo and Rob Kearney.
There is plenty of impact on the bench with Richardt Strauss, Dave Kilcoyne, Rodney Ah You, Mike McCarthy and Rhys Ruddock providing cover for the pack and Eoin Reddan, Ian Madigan and Felix Jones covering the outfield.
Ireland are missing a host of regulars through injury, such as D'Arcy, Cian Healy, Rory Best, Sean O'Brien and Andrew Trimble.
South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer has remained loyal to the players who beat New Zealand last month by naming an unchanged starting line-up for the opening match of their northern hemisphere tour in Dublin.
Ireland XV (v South Africa): Rob Kearney; Tommy Bowe, Jared Payne, Robbie Henshaw, Simon Zebo; Jonathan Sexton, Conor Murray; Jamie Heaslip, Chris Henry, Peter O'Mahony; Paul O'Connell, Devin Toner; Mike Ross, Sean Cronin, Jack McGrath.
Replacements: Richardt Strauss, Dave Kilcoyne, Rodney Ah You, Mike McCarthy, Rhys Ruddock.
Dublin haven't played a championship game outside of Croke Park since 2006
Dublin's footballers will play all their Leinster SFC games at Croke Park next season, following a Leinster Council meeting last night.
Dublin, who regularly attract the province's biggest attendances, have not played outside the capital since 2006 but there had been speculation they might travel to the winners of Offaly v Longford for their quarter-final meeting.
That game has now been confirmed as part of a double-header with the Dublin hurlers' Leinster quarter-final against Galway at Croke Park on Sunday 31 May however.
Meanwhile, delegates voted against a proposal allowing Galway's minor and under 21 hurling teams to join their senior counterparts in the Leinster hurling championship.
The Tribesmen currently enter the underage grades at the All-Ireland semi-final (U21) and quarter-final (minor) stages.
Written By Unknown on Rabu, 05 November 2014 | 23.06
Updated: Wednesday, 05 Nov 2014 14:30 | Comments
Gordon Strachan in action during Scotland's 1-0 loss to Ireland in a Euro '88 qualification game in February 1987Scotland-born Ray Houghton in action for Ireland in the same game
Gordon Strachan admits Scotland's forthcoming joust with traditional rivals England at Celtic Park will play second fiddle to their European Championship qualifying clash with Republic of Ireland four days earlier.
For a century and more, the annual meeting with the Auld Enemy was the highlight of the international football calendar for many of the Tartan Army.
It was disbanded for various reasons in 1989, since then the teams have met at Euro 1996 and in a two-legged European Championship play-off in 1999, with the fixture then resurrected last year in the shape of a challenge match at Wembley and the reciprocal game arranged for 18 November at Parkhead.
However, the Scotland boss believes the match against the Irish at the same venue is "absolutely" the most important.
Speaking at Celtic Park, where his 27-man squad for both games was announced - Rangers' 20-year-old midfielder Lewis Macleod was given his first call-up - Strachan said: "Six or seven months ago, we were speaking about tickets for the England game.
"It's not happened that way in the last couple of months. It's all been about Republic of Ireland.
"I really didn't know I had that many friends in the Republic - it's wonderful. Thanks for your enquiries - but no.
"Everybody enjoyed the occasion (Wembley). Even the English people I work with (in the media) thought it was fantastic. They work in big games, Champions League games, but they thought it was terrific.
"The players enjoyed it too. It is not a friendly and it is something we look forward to.
"Fortunately, or unfortunately, the Republic game has overshadowed it in a way, which is great because it means there are things going on here.
"Sometimes if you just hang on to the Scotland v England game that is all you have to look forward to.
"But it is not. It is one of these big games we play, which is good."
"I really didn't know I had that many friends in the Republic - it's wonderful"
But that is not to say the former Scotland midfielder is disregarding the game against Roy Hodgson's side totally.
Asked if he would take a "tanking" against England in return for three points against the Irish, he replied: "No."
The meeting with fellow former Celtic boss Martin O'Neill, though, is taking precedence, and he believes the backing of the Scotland fans makes his side a match for anyone.
"I think we are all looking forward to the atmosphere," he said. "I think the atmosphere at Ibrox (for the Georgia game) was terrific - it definitely helped us.
"It is going to be great here as well.
"The performance is helped by our fans. Between us we can beat anybody.
"I am sure Martin is looking forward to it as well. We have been back to manage an all-star selects with 60,000 people here so that was good."
O'Neill's side are behind Group D leaders Poland on goal difference with seven points from three games, while the Scots are in fourth place behind Germany with both teams on four points.
However, Strachan was reluctant to indulge in arithmetical gymnastics.
"You never know when the big points come along," he said. "All you can do is put in a performance.
"If we can get three points that's great. We probably think we should have had more points, but look at Germany - I think they have had about 80 attempts at goal in three games so they can count themselves unlucky."
Derval O'Rourke won the World Indoor 60m hurdle title in 2006
Former Olympic athlete and World Indoor champion Derval O'Rourke has taken up the role of player development manager with Munster.
The position is run by the Irish Rugby Union Players Association, the representative body for professional rugby players in Ireland.
O'Rourke, who met with the Munster squad for the first time on Monday, will be based in Cork – where the 33-year-old lives – and also in Limerick.
The IRUPA employ four player development managers, one in each of the four provinces, and O'Rourke's position in Munster was previously held by former international player Marcus Horan.
O'Rourke retired from competitive athletics in June after a 14-year international career during which she won two European championship silver medals in the 100 metres hurdles, and also a World Indoor title in the 60m hurdles in 2006.
O'Rourke also competed at three Olympic Games, in 2004 in Athens, Beijing 2008 and London 2012.
The IRUPA player development managers, who work part-time, are responsible for a range of player issues including personal development, career advice and general player well-being.
Padraig Harrington will continue his bid to stop his slide down the world rankings in the Sanderson Farms Championship in Mississippi this week.
While 40 of the world's top 50 players are contesting the WGC-HSBC Champions event in Shanghai, world number 340 Harrington is one of nine former major champions in the field at Jackson Country Club.
Harrington, who reached a career-high third in the world six months after winning his third major title in the 2008 US PGA Championship, will partner fellow major winners Lucas Glover and David Toms in the opening two rounds of the $4million event.
Glover has also plummeted down the rankings since winning the US Open in 2009 and is now a lowly 556th, while 2001 US PGA champion Toms is ranked 173rd.
John Daly, YE Yang, Trevor Immelman, Ben Curtis, Chad Campbell and David Duval are the other major winners in the field, which also features rising Australian star Cameron Smith.
Smith finished tied fifth on his PGA Tour debut in the CIMB Classic in Malaysia last week to secure his place, the 21-year-old becoming the first player since Alistair Presnell (2010 WGC-Cadillac Championship) to finish in the top 10 in his first PGA Tour start.
American Woody Austin won the event when it was last held in 2013 - albeit at a different venue - but since turning 50 in January has been splitting his time between the PGA Tour and Champions Tour, finishing 12th in their Tour Championship on Sunday.
"It's been a busy schedule here at the end," Austin told a pre-tournament press conference. "I've played more than I wanted to. This will be five weeks in a row, which is way too much.
"But when I started playing the Champions Tour during the FedEx play-offs, I didn't know that I would make it to the Schwab Cup, so the fact that I had a shot to get in the top 30, I went ahead and took that opportunity and played in San Antonio a couple of weeks ago instead of The McGladrey Classic, and played really well.
"So it got me into the Tour Championship. So I played again last week, which was going to be a week off. So it's been a bit of a long stretch. This will be it for the year."
South Africa stick to same XV that beat world champions New Zealand
South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer has named the same team that beat world champions New Zealand last month for Saturday's clash against Ireland in Dublin.
The only change is on the bench, where injured prop Marcel van der Merwe is replaced by Coenie Oosthuizen.
"It's only the fifth time in what will be the 34th Test since I was appointed as Springbok coach that we've been able to select an unchanged starting line-up," Meyer said.
"In this day and age, not making changes to teams is pretty much unheard of, but this is a great position we are in.
"However, we need to make it count against a very tough Irish side on Saturday.
"Although we won our last Test, the challenge this week is to make another step up. It's imperative that we improve in all facets of our play."
After facing Joe Schmidt's charges at the Aviva Stadium, South Africa will go on to play England and Italy before ending their European tour against Wales in Cardiff on 29 November.
South Africa (v Ireland): W le Roux; C Hendricks, J Serfontein, J de Villiers (capt), B Habana; H Pollard, F Hougaard; T Mtawarira, B du Plessis, J du Plessis, E Etzebeth, V Matfield, M Coetzee, T Mohoje, D Vermeulen.
Replacements: A Strauss, T Nyakane, C Oosthuizen, B Botha, S Burger, C Reinach, P Lambie, J P Pietersen.
Brian Meade in action for Meath in the 2014 Leinster final
Brian Meade and Eoghan Harrington have retired from inter-county duty with Meath.
Meade made his debut for the Royal County in 2008, winning a Leinster title in 2010.
The midfielder was named the county's Player of the Year in 2013 but a cruciate ligament injury sustained in a club game that August restricted his playing time last season.
Defender Harrington made his debut in 2007, also winning a Leinster title, along with a Division 2 Allianz Football League title.
Mick O'Dowd also lost stalwart Seamus Kenny to retirement in August.
Rory Best has been ruled out of Saturday's fixture
Rory Best has been ruled out of Ireland's match with South Africa at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.
Following a medical review yesterday evening, the decision was taken by the Ireland management team not not to risk Best for the opening clash of the Autumn series.
Best's calf strain has been slower to heal than expected.
He is partaking in modified training but will not feature on Saturday and his progress will continue to be monitored.
Leinster forward Sean Cronin is now likely to start after 32-year-old Best became Ireland's latest front-row injury casualty following props Cian Healy, Martyn Moore and Nathan White.
Tighthead prop Mike Ross, meanwhile, is battling to be fit after a month out with groin trouble, although he returned to training on Tuesday.
"Following a medical review yesterday evening, Rory has been ruled out of selection for the game against South Africa," the Irish Rugby Football Union said in a statement.
"His calf strain has been slower to heal than expected.
"He is partaking in modified training, but a decision has been made not to risk him this weekend, and his progress will continue to be monitored."
Written By Unknown on Selasa, 04 November 2014 | 23.06
Updated: Tuesday, 04 Nov 2014 15:50 | Comments
Devin Toner, Conor Murray, Peter O'Mahony, Rory Best and Mike Ross are all in Bernard Jackman's team
By Bernard Jackman
Joe Schmidt has a reputation for being a meticulous planner and for bringing huge attention to detail to any team he coaches.
While Joe will speak about the importance of the next match and having a short-term focus, you can be sure that his thought processes will be influenced this month and into the Six Nations by the Rugby World Cup.
Player selection is always a very personal thing and the criteria varies from coach to coach.
This was highlighted again for me when speaking with Ronan O'Gara on RTÉ Radio's 'Game On' during a discussion on Racing Metro's decision to let Dan Lydiate return to Wales with more than a season-and-a-half left on his contract.
Fundamentally, it turned on the fact that he is an excellent player who simply didn't fit into what the club is trying to do.
Lydiate's main strength is his defence and he always has a high tackle-count and excellent tackle-success rate, but the philosophy at Racing is based on having three lineout jumpers with the ability to carry the ball well in the back-row. For that reason, through no fault of Lydiate's own, his face never really fitted and for the sake of his career he has had to move on.
Things are slightly different at international level, not least because that option to move on is not there and players have to adapt. But fundamentally, that criteria of picking a team based on a core philosophy underpins everything.
With their provinces, the Irish players will be looking to do the things that Joe has told them he wants to see.
The left wing, where Simon Zebo and Andrew Trimble are the current leading contenders, is a great example of how it works.
In my view, Zebo has more natural talent but Trimble has obviously taken the feedback from the Irish coaching staff and shown what they want to see.
Remember that he was left out of the Ireland squad 12 months ago. Since then, he has convinced the Irish selectors he is a better bet to deliver consistently and gone on to play a hugely important role Ireland's Six Nations win.
That is just one position but across the board there are a number of fundamentals that Joe looks for in every player.
First and foremost, he values players who can implement the game plan he designs for each match. Rugby intelligence is hugely important.
He is also very collision focused and will try to have as many powerful ball carriers in his team as possible.
Thirdly, he will want a massively high work-rate across the team and his players will need to be incredibly fit.
Also and this is maybe an area that Joe is a little unique, he places huge emphasis on on-field discipline. That isn't totally unusual but what differentiates Joe is that he looks for 'outlaws' in every game he analyses.
'Outlaws' is the term he uses to describe the penalty offences that are not picked up by match officials but could be, especially in a Test match.
To him, the stray hand in the ruck or offside in midfield not penalised at provincial level is just as important as the one that is and frequent offenders end up with a question mark hanging over them.
In general terms, the goal over the next 12 months will be to continue to build the momentum and confidence that comes from winning Test matches.
Right now, Ireland are the Six Nations champions and are in a strong place and while our injury profile is not great, it is better to have these problems in November than at Six Nations time.
It means there is scope for continued experimentation on the back of what was an intense summer tour with a high workload for the squad. Hopefully, someone will use the opportunity to step up and stake a claim.
At this moment, these are the 15 players that I see being the first choice going into the biggest games at the Rugby World Cup a year from now.
1) In terms of depth, this is probably Ireland's strongest position. Cian Healy is the front-runner. A freak in the gym, he is able to transfer that power to the pitch and is a good scrummager, an excellent lifter, a solid defender and a brilliant ball carrier. For me, he would be a contender for any World XV. Jack McGrath, James Cronin and David Kilcoyne are all also capable of playing and being more than solid. Selection: Cian Healy
2) Rory Best offers a good set piece and is a very important leader in the group. He is like an extra back-row at the breakdown, though not as dynamic with the ball as Sean Cronin or, to a lesser extent, Richard Strauss. I know that Duncan Casey missed out on selection for this month's squad but he is building his experience and reputation steadily and could be a dark horse for the 30-man selection, as will Mike Sherry if he regains his fitness and form. Selection: Rory Best
3) I think this is one of the tightest calls. It is Mike Ross right now but Martin Moore could mount a major challenge over the next 12 months. In the end, I think Ross will get the nod. The scrum is vital to Ireland's backline attack and his expertise and experience will be crucial here. Ross is also better starting than coming off the bench. Connacht's Nathan White will give us another experienced option in the front row and I think he will edge out Stephen Archer and Rodney Ah You. Selection: Mike Ross
4) Joe Schmidt has overseen the development of Devin Toner from a player with potential into an international class lock. Toner is under pressure from Dave Foley, who has been excellent for Munster and, in truth, this is a position that the Irish management will be worried about. Behind him you are also looking at Iain Henderson, Donnacha Ryan, Dan Tuohy, Mike McCarthy and Mick Kearney. Selection: Devin Toner
5) All going well, Paul O'Connell will captain Ireland at the Rugby World Cup and is playing as well as ever. Having experienced disappointments at previous tournaments, he will leave no stone unturned in looking to be successful in what will be his last World Cup. Selection: Paul O'Connell
6) Peter O'Mahony brings the type of physicality and hard edge that every team needs and is a good lineout option who showed in last year's Six Nations that he can steal opposition ball at the ruck consistently. Rhys Ruddock is a strong man and good ball carrier and Robbie Diack is also a contender but if O'Mahony doesn't make it I think Sean O'Brien would move to six with Chris Henry going in at seven. Selection: Peter O'Mahony
7) Sean O'Brien is the complete package as a back-row and can play 6, 7 or 8. He is not the out-and-out ball winner on the deck that some teams like to have but is world class as a line-breaker and support player. The Irish back-row has a nice balance which sees Heaslip and O'Mahony do more of the dirty work, allowing Sean to carry. He is crucial to Ireland's chances but, if ruled out, Chris Henry is a different type of player and a decent alternative. Selection: Sean O'Brien
8) Jamie Heaslip is Mr Consistency and a certain starter if fit. He doesn't run over people but uses good footwork late to break defensive lines or find soft shoulders and get over the gain line and is a strong leader in the team also. Two players to watch out for as probable international eights in future are Leinster's Jack Conan and Munster's Jack O'Donoghue but their time will come post RWC 2015 I think. Selection: Jamie Heaslip
9) One player is head and shoulders above the others on current form: Conor Murray. He has a strong kicking game and is a threat as a runner close to the ruck, which holds space for Ireland's strike runners wider out. Eoin Reddan and Kieran Marmion will be the back ups. Selection: Conor Murray
10) Jonathan Sexton has committed his long-term future to Ireland and is the stand out ten available. He enjoys working under Schmidt and his drive and talent on and off the pitch are enormous. The back-up call is a tight one. Ian Keatley's game management has improved immensely this season but Ian Madigan's skills set always suited the way Leinster played under Schmidt and if Ireland start to play that type of rugby then he will be the second choice. Madigans goal kicking at the moment is a little more assured also. Selection: Jonathan Sexton
11) As I said above, Andrew Trimble is the player who has taken feedback and made himself one of those players who when a coach reviews that statistics post match is always high on actions and low on errors. Simon Zebo is definitely more talented and also has a big left-foot kicking game to offer. Zebo' s ability to create things from unorthodox situations is incredible but he can only challenge for a place of he ups his capacity to do all of the orthodox things well. Selection: Andrew Trimble
12) Gordon D'Arcy will be 35 when RWC 2015 rolls around. I think he is still the form centre despite his age and is the ideal man to help a new outside centre adapt and integrate. His understanding with Sexton is huge both in attack and defence and his health is crucial to Ireland's chances. Luke Marshall, Stuart Olding, Madigan and Noel Reid are other possibilities if Darcy was injured or forced into the 13 shirt. Selection: Gordon D'Arcy
13) This November will tell us a lot about Robbie Henshaw's ability to replace Brian O'Driscoll. He has been learning the role with Connacht and in my opinion has been playing better that Jared Payne. Robbie is a very physical player and is more direct than Payne and I think he has attributes that Schmidt will use very effectively. A dark horse is Grenoble's Chris Farrell, who is playing very well for us in the 13 jersey and if he continues to develop post Christmas he could be a bolter. Selection: Robbie Henshaw
14) Tommy Bowe is a top class finisher and footballer who has always produced his best rugby in the big games. Dave Kearney, Fergus McFadden Andrew Conway and Craig Gilroy are the other contenders. Selection: Tommy Bowe
15) Rob Kearney is a vital cog in this team with his big left boot giving balance to the kicking game and his ability under the high ball and on the counter also vital. If Jared Payne doesn't get the nod at 13 then he would be my preference as back up to Kearney at fullback. Simon Zebo and Felix Jones are capable of filling in here to as is Madigan though he would probably be called in off the bench. Selection: Rob Kearney
Bernard Jackman's Ireland Rugby World Cup 2015 XV
1) Cian Healy 2) Rory Best 3) Mike Ross 4) Devin Toner 5) Paul O'Connell 6) Peter O'Mahony 7) Sean O'Brien 8) Jamie Heaslip 9) Conor Murray 10) Jonathan Sexton 11) Andrew Trimble 12) Gordon D'Arcy 13) Robbie Henshaw 14) Tommy Bowe 15) Rob Kearney
The Tullow Tank made an impressive return from a lengthy layoff as he claimed the Fairyhouse Membership 2015 On Sale Now Beginners Chase on his fencing bow at Fairyhouse.
A dual Grade One winner over hurdles last term, he had not run since being edged out by subsequent Cheltenham and Punchestown scorer Vautour at Leopardstown back in February.
Owner Barry Connell opted not to run the six-year-old at Cheltenham in March as former trainer Philip Fenton faced court action over the alleged possession of illegal animal remedies, and he has now switched to the care of Dessie Hughes.
Partnered for the first time by Connell's new retained rider Adrian Heskin, The Tullow Tank turned in a flawless round of jumping, sitting on the heels of early leader Azorian before beginning to assert after jumping the third-last.
The 4-7 favourite firmly stamped his authority on the contest running to the penultimate fence and Heskin just had to keep him up to his work to see off the useful Mala Beach, with Azorian in third as the leading trio outclassed the four other runners.
Bookmakers immediately offered 6-1 from 10s about The Tullow Tank for next year's JLT Novices' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
Hughes' was represented by his daughter, Sandra, who said: "He was clever and he's as good as we thought he'd be. All going well he'll come back here for the Drinmore."
Hughes' son, champion jockey Richard, was also on hand to watch the stable's leading novice hope in action and he was impressed with what he saw.
He said: "He had a right good blow afterwards so it was a perfect introduction.
"There's a slight inkling he prefers going right handed, so this place is ideal for him
"We'll see over time (where he goes), we'll get his novices done. I'm not saying he won't go left-handed, but we know he's happy going right-handed."
Heskin was also more than satisfied with the gelding's efforts and expects him to progress for the experience.
He said: "Everything went without a hitch. The horse was very good and well behaved - you couldn't ask for a better start. Fair play to Dessie and all the team, they had him spot on today.
"There wasn't much pace early and it suited to get a lead. When I wanted him, he was plenty brave enough.
"All he'll do is improve, there was plenty there left to work with and that will knock the freshness out of him.
"He was very professional about it today so we'll just pick and choose his races from here."
