
Football
Share
Published 11:09 13 Jan 2019 GMT
Explore more on these topics:
Around the same time, up the M1 at Kingspan Stadium, Ulster were withdrawing John Cooney from their starting XV. The goal-kicking scrum-half was included on the matchday team-sheets but he pulled up with back issues and Ulster drafted in Dave Shanahan.
Kieran Marmion, who started the November Tests against Argentina and New Zealand, went for ankle surgery six weeks ago and is not back in full training. That leaves Ireland with just one Test-capped No.9 fit at present, Conor Murray.
Blade has played ever interpro for Connacht this season and he has struck up an exciting partnership with Jack Carty. Against Ulster and Leinster, the pair ripped through the opposition defences with great lines and wonderfully timed passes.
Blade scored two tries and had another couple of assists then put in another solid performance against Munster, last weekend. Even before the injuries to Cooney and McGrath, the Galway native was being talked up as an Ireland prospect.
Joe Schmidt is set to name his wider Ireland squad for the Six Nations midweek and the inclusion of Blade would be a welcome sight.
Caolin Blade has fully merited a summons to Carton House at the end of the month.
Jack Willis speaks out on switching allegiances to Ireland
There has been lots of speculation! It is widely agreed upon that the best openside flanker currently playing in Europe is Jack Willis. The Toulouse man, however, has been absent from the international scene since togging out for England at the 2027 Rugby World Cup, given his contract in France. There has been much discussion […]
Football
1 day ago
Ref mic picks up risky backchat from annoyed Munster captain Beirne
He was not at all pleased…. As expected, a strong Munster outfit put a big score against a seriously depleted Ulster team, beating them 41-14 at Thomond Park on Saturday. The result puts Munster up to fifth in the URC, after a hugely tumultuous few weeks, while Ulster are down to eighth, and just three […]
Football
2 days ago
Football
Wales winger hits back at South Africa fans after cheap shot on rival
Football