As Gerry Thornley mentions, for ardent followers of Irish rugby, Twickenham represents the best and worst battlegrounds; capturing victory there is unparalleled, as is the pain of losing. This Saturday, under the leadership of Andy Farrell, the Irish team sets out to preserve their successive Grand Slam dreams at Twickenham. Surely, a part of Farrell’s game plan involves his players absorbing and thriving in the vibrant Twickenham ambiance. According to Farrell, arriving at the venue, engaging with supporters, and not being overwhelmed is an essential part of the process. Equally important is the morale and confidence of his team, as Thornley observes from their past triumphs at Twickenham, Forsyth Barr Stadium, the Sky Stadium, the Principality Stadium, Stadio Olimpico, Murrayfield, and the Stade Vélodrome. Their performance in these daunting arenas, as Farrell believes, has eliminated any doubts or intimidation that his team may harbor.
After their successful campaign against Wales, Farrell voiced his team’s readiness to face England’s fresh blitz defence strategy. But who pioneered this concept? Rugby analyst Nathan Johns is on the case. Additionally, John O’Sullivan provides a fitting preface to the Under-20 match between England and Ireland this evening. The crushing power of the English scrum presents a significant challenge to Ireland’s quest for a hat trick of Grand Slam titles.
In a somewhat uncomfortable moment, Johnny Watterson discusses The Enhanced Games, a 2025 event where athletes do not undergo drug tests. Yet, this summer’s Paris Games will have strict protocols in place. The attention now turns to Irish athlete Ciara Mageean, who is preparing for the Paris event after recovering from a hamstring injury picked up during a festive park run, sidelining her from the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow, remembered by Sonia O’Sullivan in her column.
On the football front, Gavin Cummiskey sheds light on the Irish women’s matches against England and Sweden as part of the Euro 2025 qualification rounds, as well as providing an outlook on the upcoming League of Ireland games. We also discuss the women’s Premier Division’s upcoming season competitors, set to kick off tomorrow.
In Gaelic sporting events, Seán Moran will guide us through the recent chronicles of the hurling clashes between Tipperary and Limerick, just before their upcoming league match. Meanwhile, Gordon Manning provides insight on the influence of two innovative rules that underwent trials in third-tier football last season.
When it comes to equestrian racing, Brian O’Connor suggests that the Cheltenham Festival “is falling prey to its own accomplishments”, largely influenced by the Jockey Club’s choice “to exhaust the festival’s business potential to its fullest”. The anticipation, he notes, “seems less spirited and more wearisome”.
On the TV front: Sky Sports Golf is broadcasting the second round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational today (12.30pm-11pm), where Shane Lowry is leading by a single shot. Concurrently, their F1 channel will cover the practice and qualification rounds for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix (starting at 1.10pm). This evening also sees a match between Ireland and England in the under-20 Six Nations championship (RTÉ 2, 7.15pm).
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