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Leinster v Ulster – Starting teams – Kick-off 7:35pm Saturday

We have the starting teams for the eagerly awaited clash between Ulster and Leinster at the Aviva Stadium, kick-off 7:35 pm Saturday. 

Ed Byrne will captain Leinster for the first time in a competitive fixture, starting in the front row with Irish internationals Seán Cronin and Michael Bent.

Carlow native Byrne made his debut in February 2014 against Zebre and will win his 54th Leinster cap tomorrow when he leads out his province for the first time.

Devin Toner starts in the second row with Ross Molony, while Josh Murphy, Will Connors, and Max Deegan complete the starting pack.

In the backs, Leo Cullen has selected a back three of Rob Kearney, Hugo Keenan, and Cian Kelleher.

Ciarán Frawley and Rory O’Loughlin is the centre partnership, while in the half-backs Jamison Gibson-Park wins his 90th cap for Leinster Rugby and is joined by Ross Byrne.

Leinster Rugby Academy player Tom Clarkson is in line to make his senior debut from the bench.

Leinster Rugby (caps in brackets)

15. Rob Kearney (218)
14. Hugo Keenan (14)
13. Rory O’Loughlin (67)
12. Ciarán Frawley (25)
11. Cian Kelleher (14)
10. Ross Byrne (85)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (89)
1. Ed Byrne (53) CAPTAIN
2. Seán Cronin (182)
3. Michael Bent (136)
4. Devin Toner (245)
5. Ross Molony (95)
6. Josh Murphy (32)
7. Will Connors (16)
8. Max Deegan (63)

16. James Tracy (108)
17. Michael Milne (8)
18. Tom Clarkson (0)
19. Rhys Ruddock (172)
20. Scott Penny (13)
21. Rowan Osborne (4)
22. Harry Byrne (9)
23. Jimmy O’Brien (17)

MUNSTER TEAM

Sam Carter will lead out the Ulster men for the first time, as they take on Leinster in the final round of the Guinness PRO14 regular season at Aviva Stadium on Saturday (kick-off 7.35pm).

Both Ulster and Leinster go into Saturday’s game having already confirmed their place in the PRO14 semi-finals, with Ulster looking forward to an away trip to Edinburgh next weekend.

Australia international Carter is also one of eight changes to the starting XV that faced Connacht in the return to rugby action last Sunday, and he will be partnered by Kieran Treadwell in the second row. It’s all-change in the front row, as Rob Herring returns to the side at hooker, with Eric O’Sullivan and Tom O’Toole taking up the starting loosehead and tighthead positions. Matthew Rea comes in at blindside, with Jordi Murphy once again starting at openside flanker and Marcell Coetzee at number eight.

Jacob Stockdale retains his starting berth at full-back and is joined in the back three by returning wingers Rob Lyttle and Matt Faddes. The midfield combination of Stuart McCloskey and James Hume remains in situ, while recent signing Ian Madigan will make his first start at fly-half for Ulster, linking up with John Cooney for up an all-Irish international half-back pairing.

In the replacements, John Andrew, Kyle McCall, Marty Moore, Alan O’Connor and Nick Timoney provide the forward bench options, and David Shanahan, Bill Johnston and Louis Ludik are the backline cover.

 

Ulster team to play Leinster, Guinness PRO14 Round 15, Saturday 29 August at Aviva Stadium (kick-off 7.35pm, live on Premier Sports & eir Sport):

(15-9) Jacob Stockdale, Matt Faddes, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Rob Lyttle, Ian Madigan, John Cooney;

(1-8) Eric O’Sullivan, Rob Herring, Tom O’Toole, Sam Carter (Capt.), Kieran Treadwell, Matthew Rea, Jordi Murphy, Marcell Coetzee.

Replacements: John Andrew, Kyle McCall, Marty Moore, Alan O’Connor, Nick Timoney, David Shanahan, Bill Johnston, Louis Ludik.

Connacht v Munster – Starting teams – Kick off time 3pm Sunday

We have the starting team for Sunday’s Pro14 clash between Connacht and Munster.

Connacht has named an experimental team, the Munster team looks very strong. The westerners have made 14 changes from the side that impressively saw off Ulster last weekend, with Andy Friend keen to give game-time to more players after a long absence due to COVID-19.

Among those starting is Sammy Arnold who makes his first Connacht appearance at outside-centre. The Irish international arrived in the summer and his debut comes against the side he joined from.

There’s also an inaugural start for powerful number 8 Abraham Papali’i. The New Zealander was signed from the Bay of Plenty and he forms a back row with Conor Oliver and Eoghan Masterson who is the only player retained from last week.

Quinn Roux captains the side having recovered from injury to take his place in the second row alongside Niall Murray, with Paddy McAllister, Shane Delahunt and Dominic Robertson-McCoy completing the pack.

Sunday’s half-back pairing consists of Caolin Blade and Conor Fitzgerald, while Arnold will be partnered in the centre by Tom Daly.

The experienced Tiernan O’Halloran and Matt Healy are included in the back three, while there’s also a first appearance for Colm de Buitléar since January 2019. The winger from Carraroe played four times during 2018/19 while in the Connacht Academy, but hasn’t featured since suffering a serious achilles injury in the 2019/20 pre-season.

Commenting on his team selection, Head Coach Andy Friend says:

“Our key objective in these two games has always been to give players some much needed game-time while putting in two positive performances which reflects the work they’ve put in as a squad these past few months. Thankfully we’ve so far managed to do that after last week’s excellent result. Now is an opportunity for a new group of players to impress so I’m looking forward to seeing them in action.”

Regarding the game itself, Friend added:

“Interpros against our neighbours Munster are always keenly contested and Sunday will be no different. They have a Guinness PRO14 semi-final to clinch but we’ll be looking to end our 2019/20 campaign on a high. We’ve also got two players making their Connacht debuts in Sammy Arnold and Abraham Papali’i so it’ll be a special occasion for them.”

The Munster team to face Connacht in Sunday afternoon’s crunch Guinness PRO14 clash at the Aviva Stadium has been named by Head Coach Johann van Graan.

A win will secure Munster’s place in the semi-finals and it is the first ever meeting of Munster and Connacht at the Aviva Stadium/Lansdowne Road, with a 3pm kick-off.

The Munster backline is unchanged with five players coming into the pack.

Jeremy Loughman, John Ryan, Fineen Wycherley, Tadhg Beirne and Chris Cloete are all drafted into the side.

Beirne is in line to make his first appearance since sustaining an ankle fracture away to Saracens in December.

Shane Daly starts at full-back with last week’s try-scorers Andrew Conway and Keith Earls on either flank.

Damian de Allende and Chris Farrell pair up in the centres for the second time with Conor Murray and JJ Hanrahan in the half-backs.

Loughman, Niall Scannell and Ryan pack down in the front row with Wycherley and Beirne starting in the engine room together for the first time.

Captain Peter O’Mahony, Cloete and CJ Stander complete the starting XV.

Kevin O’Byrne, Liam O’Connor, Jack O’Donoghue and Jack O’Sullivan are named among the replacements and set to make their first appearances since the restart.

O’Donoghue sustained a concussion at training last week but has completed the return to play protocols.

Head Coach Johann van Graan said: “We have training this afternoon and hopefully that goes well
and all players selected come through that.

“Connacht really played well last Sunday against Ulster and it’s always a big battle facing them, we expect a very good game on Sunday afternoon.”

STARTING TEAMS

CONNACHT – 15. Tiernan O’Halloran, 14. Colm de Buitléar, 13. Sammy Arnold, 12. Tom Daly, 11. Matt Healy
10. Conor Fitzgerald, 9. Caolin Blade, 1. Paddy McAllister, 2. Shane Delahunt, 3. Dominic Robertson-McCoy, 4. Niall Murray, 5. Quinn Roux (C), 6. Eoghan Masterson, 7. Conor Oliver, 8. Abraham Papali’i.

16. Jonny Murphy, 17. Conor Kenny, 18. Matthew Burke, 19. Ultan Dillane, 20. Seán Masterson
21. Stephen Kerins, 22. Peter Robb, 23. Conor Dean

Munster: Shane Daly; Andrew Conway, Chris Farrell, Damian de Allende, Keith Earls; JJ Hanrahan, Conor Murray; Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, John Ryan; Fineen Wycherley, Tadhg Beirne; Peter O’Mahony (C), Chris Cloete, CJ Stander.

Replacements: Kevin O’Byrne, Liam O’Connor, Stephen Archer, Billy Holland, Jack O’Donoghue, Craig Casey, Rory Scannell, Jack O’Sullivan.

Premier League Darts Results – Gurney Survives on Judgement Night

Premier League Darts Results  – Rob Cross was eliminated from the Unibet Premier League after a 7-4 defeat to Glen Durrant on Judgement Night in Milton Keynes as Glen Durrant maintained his lead at the top of the table.

2019 Premier League finalist Cross has endured a torrid time season, having won just one of his nine games, and a 7-4 reverse to Durrant was a third successive loss following the restart of action at the Marshall Arena.

He entered the night bottom of the table, and knew his fate was out of his own hands if Daryl Gurney earned a point or more against Peter Wright.

Fortunately for Cross, Gurney suffered a 7-4 defeat to the reigning World Champion to give the Hastings ace hope going into the final game of the night.

Cross produced arguably his performance of the season as he averaged over 103, but this came against the immovable force of table-topper Durrant who hit him back with some incredible darts.

Things got off to an awful start for Cross as Durrant fired a stunning 167 checkout on his way to establishing a 5-0 lead.

It was here that Cross finally started to find his rhythm, but needed to win all seven legs without response to keep his Premier League hopes alive.

Checkouts of 124, 81 and 90 gave him an unlikely lifeline, but Durrant chiselled away and found the required leg to seal Cross’ fate, before clinching a big win two legs later to move himself two points clear at the top of the table.

“Rob’s a World Champion and he acted like a champion tonight,” admitted Durrant. “I like Rob but I had to focus on myself and I’m really happy with the win.

“My belief is really coming through at the moment and I’m playing really well. It was a big thing for me to change my flights and it’s working well – I’m scoring well and finishing great.

“I’ve practised hard during the pandemic and I’m feeling relaxed on stage. The three days have gone perfect for me and it’s an exciting time.

“It’s down to the nitty gritty now and I’d love to finish in the top four – I’m not thinking of winning this tournament at the moment. It would be an amazing night to be in the Play-Offs.”

World Champion Wright has looked superb since the return to action, and pushed himself up to second in the table as he backed up his Night Eight win over Jeffrey de Zwaan with some more brilliant darts to beat Gurney.

It was another tense opening to the game as the pair shared the opening eight legs, with Gurney working hard to complete his Milton Keynes survival miracle.

However, Wright – who missed double 12 for a nine-dart finish – proved too strong with his finishing and doubling, breaking in the tenth leg before sealing victory in the 11th to further boost his Play-Off credentials.

“I felt really weird and I think I played rubbish tonight – I didn’t settle but I got away with the win,” said Wright. “Daryl wasn’t at his best but he had a lot of pressure on him tonight.

“There’s a long way to go still. It’s a nice position to be in but there are seven games left.”

He added: “The nine-darter would have been amazing but the dart at double 12 was awful – I was shaking! I’ll have to go and practice double 12!”

Gurney had been left with an anxious wait before Cross’ loss ensured his survival, although the Northern Irish ace had saved his season with wins over Chris Dobey and Nathan Aspinall on Tuesday and Wednesday.

“I’m very lucky,” said Gurney, a semi-finalist last year. “I put myself under so much pressure tonight and I didn’t perform, but thankfully I got four points on the other two nights.

“I struggled against Peter and I’m disappointed with how I played, but thank God for Glen Durrant!. Glen and Rob’s game was fantastic and Rob never gave up.

“I thought that if I could come here this and win five or six points I could give myself an opportunity, and I won two games. I had thrown my darts in the bin so I’ve had to get them back now!”

Gerwyn Price needed just one leg to ensure his safety going into Judgement Night, and secured his survival in style with a 7-0 thumping of Challenger Jermaine Wattimena.

The Welshman took just 11 minutes in his convincing demolition job, sealing things with some sensational ton-plus checkouts of 164 and 114 – following up his 7-1 defeat of Gary Anderson with a whitewash of the Dutchman.

“I never thought I’d go out today and it was going to be very unlucky for me not to go through, but after I won a leg I knew I was safe,” said Price. “I played a bit better today and I’m happy to win again.

“Jermaine was scoring okay in patches but was nowhere near his best, and I punished him. I felt good but it’s always easy when you’re scoring well and someone’s two or three darts behind.

“I took my chances and that’s all that matters. I’ve got a chance now to get into the top four and hopefully it keeps going in the right direction.”

Anderson heaped more misery on Michael van Gerwen as he ensured it was back-to-back defeats for the reigning champion with a brilliant 7-4 victory.

Two-time champion Anderson bounced back from his loss to Price in style to keep himself in Play-Off contention.

Van Gerwen started the brighter of the two, but couldn’t shake off Anderson who stuck with him during the opening six legs.

The Scotsman kicked on and crept his average to the 100 mark with some big power scoring and sharp finishing to put the pressure on Van Gerwen before closing out a 7-4 victory.

The defeat capped a disappointing two days for Van Gerwen, who has now dropped to fourth in the table following this defeat and his 7-3 loss to Durrant on Night Eight.

“There were some good parts and I’m happy to take the two points because the table is so tight this year,” said Anderson.

“Michael wasn’t at his best tonight and didn’t score like he can. I’m practising well but it’s still not as good as I want it to be when I get up on stage and I was a bit scratchy.”

Nathan Aspinall was the benefactor from double trouble for Michael Smith as he recovered from 5-3 down to win 7-5 in the opening game of the night.

Having moved 6-5 ahead and guaranteed a point, Aspinall watched on as Smith spurned eight chances to clinch a point, allowing the former UK Open champion to eventually take out 16 to clinch a valuable win.

“Maybe a draw would have been a fair result, but I’m happy to get the win and I’ll take it,” said Aspinall. “I feel like I’ve nicked a point from him but I’ve been in that position many times.

“It’s probably the game I’ve enjoyed most during the Premier League this season. It was a brilliant game to be involved in – we bring the best out of each other and it was another great game. He threw everything at me but I dug deep.

“At the end when he missed those doubles, but it shows that with or without a crowd, you still feel the pressure. I’m loving it though and I’ll take confidence from tonight.”

The remaining eight players will now compete in a further seven league nights from August 28-September 5 to battle for the four spots in October’s Play-Offs.

Friday’s Night Ten will see table-topper Durrant meet resurgent Price, before Scottish World Cup pair Wright and Anderson face off.

Reigning Premier League champion Van Gerwen then faces Aspinall, and Smith takes on Gurney.

The action will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK, on PDCTV for Rest of the World Subscribers and through the PDC’s worldwide broadcast partners including DAZN and RTL7.

Unibet Premier League

Judgement Night

Thursday August 27

Marshall Arena, Milton Keynes

Nathan Aspinall 7-5 Michael Smith

Michael van Gerwen 4-7 Gary Anderson

Jermaine Wattimena 0-7 Gerwyn Price

Peter Wright 7-4 Daryl Gurney

Glen Durrant 7-4 Rob Cross

League Table

After Judgement Night P W D L +/- LWAT Pts
Glen Durrant 9 6 2 1 +18 21 14
Peter Wright 9 5 2 2 +10 16 12
Nathan Aspinall 9 5 1 3 +5 15 11
Michael van Gerwen 9 5 0 4 +6 16 10
Gary Anderson 9 4 2 3 0 17 10
Gerwyn Price 9 3 3 3 +10 17 9
Michael Smith 9 4 1 4 +2 17 9
Daryl Gurney 9 2 2 5 -8 14 6
Rob Cross (E) 9 1 3 5 -14 17 5

Fixtures – Nights Ten-16

Night Ten

Friday August 28 (1900 BST)

Marshall Arena, Milton Keynes

Glen Durrant v Gerwyn Price

Peter Wright v Gary Anderson

Nathan Aspinall v Michael van Gerwen

Michael Smith v Daryl Gurney

Night 11

Saturday August 29 (1900 BST)

Marshall Arena, Milton Keynes

Daryl Gurney v Peter Wright

Michael Smith v Nathan Aspinall

Gary Anderson v Glen Durrant

Michael van Gerwen v Gerwyn Price

Night 12

Sunday August 30 (1900 BST)

Marshall Arena, Milton Keynes

Nathan Aspinall v Gary Anderson

Peter Wright v Gerwyn Price

Michael van Gerwen v Michael Smith

Glen Durrant v Daryl Gurney

Night 13

Wednesday September 2 (1900 BST)

Marshall Arena, Milton Keynes

Glen Durrant v Michael Smith

Daryl Gurney v Gary Anderson

Peter Wright v Michael van Gerwen

Gerwyn Price v Nathan Aspinall

Night 14

Thursday September 3 (1900 BST)

Marshall Arena, Milton Keynes

Gerwyn Price v Daryl Gurney

Gary Anderson v Michael Smith

Peter Wright v Nathan Aspinall

Glen Durrant v Michael van Gerwen

Night 15

Friday September 4 (1900 BST)

Marshall Arena, Milton Keynes

Daryl Gurney v Nathan Aspinall

Glen Durrant v Peter Wright

Gary Anderson v Michael van Gerwen

Michael Smith v Gerwyn Price

Night 16

Saturday September 5 (1900 BST)

Marshall Arena, Milton Keynes

Peter Wright v Michael Smith

Michael van Gerwen v Daryl Gurney

Nathan Aspinall v Glen Durant

Gerwyn Price v Gary Anderson

Republic of Ireland Woman’s squad for Germany test

UEFA Women’s EURO 2021 continues and the Republic of Ireland Woman’s squad for Germany test on September 19.

Vera Pauw’s team is unbeaten thus far in the qualifying campaign, which recommences following a postponement of games on the back of the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak.

Top of the group

Ireland lead Group I on 13 points after five games played but Germany are just a single point behind with a game in hand ahead of the first of two meetings between the teams.

Pauw, who recently renewed terms with the FAI, is excited to resume the qualifying campaign with a trip to Germany.

“It is great to be back preparing for international games again and to continue our goal of qualifying for the European Championships. We will travel to Germany knowing that we will face a difficult opponent, but that is part of competing at this level,” said Pauw.

“Germany are one of the best teams in world football and we’ve seen their club teams, particularly Wolfsburg, perform so well in the UEFA Women’s Champions League of late. So we know what to expect and we have to be ready to play our best game.

“With our players possibly coming from nine different countries, we remain mindful of the protocols in place to deal with COVID-19 and it’s important that we adhere to all medical advice around this game. This pandemic is not yet over and we must work together to fight it.”

New squad members of Ireland Woman’s squad

For this squad, there are first call-ups for midfielders Alli Murphy and Ellen Molloy, while Isibeal Atkinson is rewarded for her excellent start to the Women’s National League season with Shelbourne.

US-born Murphy, who qualifies through her grandparents, recently joined London City Lionesses and receives a first selection for any Ireland squad.

Kilkenny native Molloy is promoted from the Women’s Under-17s following a number of stand-out performances for James Scott’s team as well as an impressive breakthrough at club level with Wexford Youths.

The Ireland squad, which will be cut down to 23 players, will meet in Germany on Monday, September 14 to begin preparations for the game in Essen.

After the Germany game, Ireland will have two more group fixtures to complete with Ukraine away on October 23 and Germany at home on December 1.

The nine group winners and the three best runners-up (not counting results against the sixth-placed team) qualify directly for the final tournament, while the remaining six runners-up advance to the play-offs.

Republic of Ireland Woman’s squad
Goalkeepers: Marie Hourihan (SC Braga), Grace Moloney (Reading), Courtney Brosnan (West Ham United), Niamh Reid Burke (Peamount United)
Defenders: Harriet Scott (Birmingham City), Keeva Keenan (Celtic), Louise Quinn (Fiorentina), Diane Caldwell (SC Sand), Claire O’Riordan (MSV Duisburg), Claire Walsh (Peamount United), Aine O’Gorman (Peamount United), Isibeal Atkinson (Shelbourne)
Midfielders: Niamh Fahey (Liverpool), Jamie Finn (Shelbourne), Denise O’Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Alli Murphy (London City Lionesses), Niamh Farrelly (Peamount United), Megan Connolly (Brighton & Hove Albion), Hayley Nolan (London City Lionesses), Jessica Ziu (Shelbourne), Ruesha Littlejohn (Leicester City), Ellen Molloy (Wexford Youths), Stephanie Roche (Peamount United)
Forwards: Katie McCabe (Arsenal), Heather Payne (Florida State University), Leanne Kiernan (West Ham United), Amber Barrett (FC Koln), Rianna Jarrett (Brighton & Hove Albion), Julie-Ann Russell (Sydney University), Kyra Carusa (HB Hoge)

Match Details
Germany v Republic of Ireland
UEFA 2021 Women’s European Championship Qualifying – Group I
Saturday, September 19
Stadion Essen
KO 13:00 (Irish Time)
#GERIRL

Which players will make cut for British and Irish Lions’ in 2021 tour

Players are already jockeying for positions. Between now and next summer’s Lions’ Tour of South Africa there is a plethora of rugby to be played.

Push to make the squad

This is usually the time of year when club players make a push to get into their international teams for the November Test Series. This year that series has been canceled. Despite there being remaining fixtures in the 2020 6 Nations Tournament, the squads for these games are set. Instead, there is an opportunity for new players to feature in a proposed competition in November and December.

This tournament would feature 6 Nations teams along with two invited teams, likely to be Fiji and Japan. Split into two groups of four teams the competition would guarantee each team at least three games. Ample time for players to make an impression.

Firstly, to be played in 2020 are six rounds of the English Premiership. Secondly, one round and the semi-finals of the Pro14 looks set to feature three Irish sides. Thirdly, the quarter-finals of the Champions Cup where British and Irish players can be found across the remaining teams. This is all before the turn of the year when another 6 Nations comes around in February.

Gatland knows what it takes

With this in mind, Lions’ tour Head Coach Warren Gatland will have a close eye on proceedings and will be spoilt for choice when deciding where to look for potential players. Facing his fourth Lion’s Tour, third as Head Coach, Gatland will have a good idea of what he’s looking for. Undoubtedly, there will be a chance for players with little or no International experience to come to the fore at this time. However, it may be a Tour where the coach opts for experience over youth.
Physicality over Flare


The 2019 World Cup winners are known for their brute strength, which will have some players reminiscing of the 2009 Tour. Gatland will need a team to compete with such a side and this falls into certain player’s hand. Conor Murray is an obvious example.

Despite poor 2019 form and a World Cup hangover, Andy Farrell kept faith in the Munster man for the 6 Nations over the energetic options of John Cooney and Luke McGrath. This motivated by a desire from Farrell to keep Ireland’s most experienced as he transitioned the team into a new Age.

Can Conor Murray get his form back

Murray won’t be complaining though as it gives him time to return to form and prove to Gatland that he can replicate the performances he gave on the previous two Lions Tours. Standing at over six-foot, Murray is not the stereotypical scrumhalf and his physicality could be a huge asset in South Africa.

If all goes to plan, rugby fans will have no shortage of entertainment in the coming months. With so many games there will an abundance of talent, both familiar and fresh, and the oncoming Lions selection will only add to the players’ drive. One thing that can be certain is the headache Warren Gatland will have next spring deciding players for the Lions’ Tour 2021

How much are Bohemians set to profit from Doherty transfer?

Matt Doherty transfer looks set to join Spurs in a deal that would see Bohemians earn 10% of the transfer fee.

Doherty transfer to Spurs

The Irish international is close to securing an €18 million move away from Molineux. Jose Mourinho is seeking to bolster his right-back position. The 28-year-old joined Wolves in 2010 when Mick McCarthy invited him for a trial after being impressed in a pre-season friendly.

The gypsies only received about €75,000 at the time but will reap the rewards a decade later thanks to a sell-on clause. The deal is understood to be in the region of €18million which will land the Dublin based club a cool €1.8million. The transfer is being pushed along thanks to the link between Wolves and Arsenal wing-back Ainsley Maitland-Niles who would be a replacement for Doherty in Nuno Espirito Santo’s side.

3 wins in a week 3 clean sheets 🤪😛 6 games to go, rest up and we go again next week #wwfc 🧡🖤 @Wolves pic.twitter.com/QVSQvP2g44

— Matt Doherty (@mattdoherty20) June 27, 2020


What Prem-proven Doherty brings to Spurs 

Firstly, Doherty is Wolves’ longest-serving outfield player. Secondly, in the 19/20 Premier League season Doherty played 36 of his side’s 38 games and contributed 4 goals and 3 assists and 56 tackles. Thirdly, Tottenham have been looking for a suitable replacement after Kieran Trippier’s departure to Atletico Madrid.

As a result of already losing Kyle Walker-Peters to Southampton in this transfer window. Tottenham is looking for competition for Serge Aurier and Prem-proven Doherty will be a welcome sight for fans. Hailed for his crossing ability, aerial prowess, and marauding runs. In conclusion, Doherty will add to Aurier’s flare and offer solidity to Mourinho’s back-line.

Arsenal vs Liverpool: Community Shield Preview & Probable Starting Teams

Arsenal Liverpool Teams – This Saturday the traditional season-opener for English football returns. With just a four-week turnaround since the FA Cup Final.

This has been the swiftest break between seasons for teams in recent memory. However, the three-month postponement of professional football caused by the Coronavirus in March was a longer break than the standard interval between seasons in English football.

PRESEASON FRIENDLIES

With respect to both teams, it is Liverpool who has had the more time to prepare for the restart since their season ended with the completion of the Premier League in the last week of July. Arsenal meanwhile endured another week of a grueling season before their victory over Chelsea in the FA Cup Final. Although a single week may seem like nothing in terms of a break, it has allowed the Premier League champions to hold a pre-season training camp in Austria. As part of this they had two friendly games to dust off the cobwebs against VfB Stuttgart and Red Bull Salzburg, winning and drawing respectively.
Mikel Arteta’s team have not had the same luxury.

His core players who defeated Chelsea in the FA Cup Final only returned to training last weekend in London Colney. They have not been able to schedule friendlies like their Premier League rivals against foreign opposition and instead had to make do with a short trip to MK Dons on Tuesday night. Despite the 4-1 victory, they can expect to face a far tougher match in Wembley.


Probable Arsenal Liverpool Teams

Neither team has major injury concerns ahead of the game, but it is unlikely that we will see two full strength sides. Klopp dismissed a knock sustained to Van Dijk against Salzburg, saying it ‘will not be a problem’ after the game. Liverpool’s new signing Kostas Tsimikas could make a debut as well as Willian for Arsenal following his free transfer from London rivals Chelsea. One player who will be closely watched is young Arsenal defender William Saliba. The French center-back joined the club this summer despite being signed by Unai Emery in 2019 and is followed by high expectations.

The game is ultimately a great chance for these two sides to up the intensity of their pre-season schedules ahead of the league’s return on the 12th of September. Expect to see a lot of young players given a chance to impress the management. Even though people call it nothing more than a glorified friendly.

Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Leno; Saliba, Luiz, Tierney; Cedric, Willock, Xhaka, Saka; Willian, Nketiah, Aubameyang

Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Alisson; Williams, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Jones, Fabinho, Wijnaldum; Salah, Brewster, Mane

“We should be able to have a good shot in a lot of stages here” says Sam Bennett

Monaco resident Sam Bennett will cycle on roads very familiar to him when the 2020 Tour de France gets underway in Nice on Saturday.

The Flanders, Belgium-born Irish rider will head the Deceuninck – Quick Step team along with Frenchman Julian Alapjilippe, the man who lead the 2019 Tour de France until the last Friday of the race.

Twenty-nine-year-old Bennett admits that the local roads will pose a test for the participants, jokingly admitting:

“Normally I should be looking forward to the Tour but I know how hard the roads are so it’s going to be difficult, but yes it’s very nice to be racing on ‘home’ roads, well second-home roads.”

With Bennett returning to La Grande Boucle for the first time since 2016, the Irishman feels a sense of excitement with the opening stage quickly approaching:

“I’m excited and looking forward to the race beginning. I’m really excited to be back in the Tour de France especially to be here with this team Deceuninck – Quick Step.”

Along with Julian Alapjilippe, Bennett will be joined on the Belgian outfit by Danes Kasper Asgreen and Michael Mørkøv, Belgians Tim Declercq and Dries Devenyns, Bob Jungels of Luxembourg and Zdenek Štybar from the Czech Republic

With three stage wins in the 2018 Giro d’Italia and two in the 2019 Vuelta a Espana, both for his former team Bora-Hansgrohe, on his palmarès, Bennett is hopeful of adding one at cycling’s biggest event:

“I know we have a fantastic team for this race and we should be able to have a good shot in a lot of stages here.”

According to the team’s directeur sportif Tom Steels, Bennett will, as expected contest the sprints, with the Belgian former professional warning against too high expectations for the Irishman due to the nature of this year’s course.

“In Sam, we have a contender for the bunch sprints,” says Steels, but admits “(it) won’t be so straightforward as in the past, the route being one of the toughest in recent memory. I think there are maximum four clear stages for sprinters spread over the three weeks.”

Michael Mørkøv will act as Bennett’s lead-out man when those few sprinting opportunities will arise. Tim Declercq is expected to be visible to the front of the daily peloton. Dries Devenyns will operate as Alaphilippe’s trusted domestique, with Štybar, Jungels and Asgreen expected to assist the team’s main players as well as look for their opportunity to take a stage victory.

Bennett, who cycled with the An Post-Seán Kelly Cycling Team from 2011-13, has already shown some good form in this interrupted season. He began 2020 winning the inaugural Race Torquay in Australia and also sprinted to the opening stage of the Tour Down Under, in the process becoming the first Irishman to both win a stage and wear the leader’s jersey in the race.

He then won the 164km fourth stage of the Vuelta a Burgos in Spain before successfully completing his Tour de France preparations when claiming Stage 4 of the Tour de Wallonie on August 18.

Bennett will be one of three Irishmen competing in the 2020 edition of the Tour when he will be joined on the starting line in Nice this weekend by cousins Nicolas Roche of Team Sunweb and Dan Martin of Israel Start-Up Nation.

Irish entries for Melbourne and Caulfield Cups

Aidan O’Brien, Joseph O’Brien, Willie Mullins and England-based Fermoy, Co. Cork-born trainer David O’Meara are among the European handlers with entries among the 174 nominations for the 3,200m 2020 Lexus Melbourne Cup which were released this morning.

The O’Briens alone account for 16 of the 30 internationally trained entrants for the 160th Lexus Melbourne Cup, with 25 Group 1 winners among the entries for the AUD $8 million race.

Joseph O’Brien, who became the youngest person ever to train the winner of “the race that stops a nation” when triumphing with Rekindling in 2017, has entered seven horses, five of which are owned by top Australian owner Lloyd Williams.

The Carriganóg handler’s full list of nominations is Bolleville, Buckhurst, Degraves, Master Of Reality (second past the post last year only to be demoted to fourth following an objection), Patrick Sarsfield, Pondus, and Twilight Payment.

Numerically Aidan O’Brien accounts for most of the overseas entries, with 9 nominations. They include 2019 Investec Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck as well as the 2019 and 2020 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby victors Sovereign and Santiago. The Ballydoyle handler’s team is completed by Cormorant, Dawn Patrol, Mythical, Nobel Prize, Order Of Australia and Tiger Moth.

Ireland’s champion National Hunt trainer Willie Mullins has entered both last year’s VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner True Self and Lonsdale Cup runner-up Stratum, while former jockey and now successful trainer David O’Meara has one nomination in Eagles By Day.

English trainer Andrew Balding’s Dashing Willoughby and Fabrice Chappet’s Australian-owned San Huberto are expected to contest both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cup for the first time this year. They could be joined by horses recently acquired by Australian ownership groups: the former Ger Lyons-trained Nickajack Cave, now with Peter Moody, and former Ballydoyle inmates Sir Dragonet, now trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, and Delphi, now handled by Anthony Freedman.

Australian trainer Danny O’Brien, winner of the 2019 Lexus Melbourne Cup with Vow And Declare, has entered last year’s victor as well as his leading Cup fancy Northern Hemisphere three-year-old Russian Camelot, winner of the South Australian Derby under Cork-born jockey Johnny Allen.

International stables have entered 34 horses for the 143rd Caulfield Cup with 29 individual Group 1 winners among the 177 entries for the AUD $5.15 million Stella Artois-sponsored 2,400m race.

Aidan O’Brien has 13 entries in the Caulfield Cup including six-time Group 1 winner Magical, Japan, Magic Wand and 2019 Epsom Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck. His tranche of nominations is completed by Armory, Dawn Patrol, Mogul, Mythical, Nobel Prize, Order Of Australia, Santiago, Sovereign and Tiger Moth.

Joseph O’Brien has the same seven horses entered for the Lexus Caulfield Cup as he has for the Lexus Melbourne Cup, namely Bolleville, Buckhurst, Degraves, Master Of Reality, Patrick Sarsfield, Pondus andTwilight Payment.

The Willie Mullins pair Stratum and True Self are nominated for the Caulfield feature, as is David O’Meara’s Eagles By Day.

Danny O’Brien leads the Australian charge with a number of high-profile horses including Vow And Declare, South Australian Derby winner Russian Camelot, along with Adelaide Cup winner King of Leogrance and VRC Oaks heroine Miami Bound.

The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained partnership have the most entries in both races with 19 in the Melbourne Cup and 16 in the Caulfield Cup, with Sydney Cup winner Etah James among those to feature in both, while eight of the top 10 placed horses in the 2019 Caulfield Cup have been entered for a tilt at the race again this year.

Weights for both races will be released on Tuesday, 8 September, with first acceptances for the Caulfield Cup on Tuesday, 22 September and the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday, 29 September. Late entries for both races close on Thursday, 3 September.

Irish Rugby set to benefit from Pro 14 revamp

CHEETAH’S AND KINGS OUT.

And then there were twelve. The pro 14 will receive another makeover this season. The South African additions the Kings, and the Cheetah’s exiting the competition for the foreseeable future. 

The announcement that the 14, was heading back to 12 teams came as little surprise. The current global pandemic issues were an obvious stumbling block. 

The Southern Kings, in particular, looked badly out of their depth. They managed to win just four of their 55 fixtures. That coupled with sparsely attended fixtures meant their departure was certainly on the cards. The loss of the Bloemfontein based Cheetah’s is a huge blow to the competition. Their cavalier brand of rugby had been successful in helping them secure a  playoff spot.

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NEW FORMAT RETAINED

The competition will likely retain it’s a much-maligned new format. It is likely to feature six teams in two separate conferences. This is one fewer than the Pro 14  version which had seven in each section. 

The top four in each conference will then contest quarter-finals in the last eight stages. Some former players have been rather scathing about the conference style competition. Welsh wing wizard Shane Williams labeling the format “Shambolic.” 

The latest Pro 14 restructure will likely lead to an eighteen game season. Irish is set to benefit in a big way, in an already jam-packed rugby calendar. Wales, Scotland, and Italy will also be delighted with the new development. The punishing workload on their international players has always been a concern.

The news will be less well received in England and France, where there are 22 and 26 games respectively. There have been many rumblings about the perceived easier seasons for the other competing Six Nations sides. The latest development will have done little to ease their frustrations.

The competition has certainly had a chequered history from its beginning in 1999. It has gone through numerous rebrandings and restructurings in its 21-year history. The arrival of the Kings and the Cheetahs were heralded as a bright new dawn. In truth, the competition has struggled to capture the public imagination.  Their departure will at least have a positive knock-on effect for Irish rugby.

 

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