NORTHAMPTON SAINTS COACH Jim Mallinder downplayed the incident which could cost Dylan Hartley his place at the Six Nations with England.

The Saints overcame Leicester Tigers 23-19 on Saturday, despite Hartley’s early dismissal for elbowing Matt Smith after being powerfully cleared from a ruck by the Leicester centre.

Hartley’s reaction caused a brief fracas between the two sets of players, and could land Hartley with a ban.

Match referee JP Doyle initially seemed content to brandish a yellow, but following a long discussion with television match official Sean Davey, Hartley was shown a red card and sent on his way.

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Despite being down to 14 men for over an hour, Northampton managed to claim an impressive win and top spot in the Premiership courtesy of Jamie Elliott’s late try and Mallinder believes the England hooker’s early dismissal inspired his side.

“In terms of the red card, it’s disappointing,” Mallinder said. ”Dylan’s got to keep his arms down, but he was being held and I don’t think there was any malice in it.

“I think Smith went down pretty easily to be honest, which was disappointing. It’s a tough game. If you looked at that 80 minutes of rugby, it was hard, physical, some great tackles. Some of them were quite high and people got penalised for those.

“I don’t think there was any malice in that and JP’s first reaction of a yellow card would have been the correct decision.”

Source: NZAUTV News/YouTube

Mallinder added: ”I tell you what Tom Wood said [at half-time]… let’s do it for Dylan Hartley. That was really the theme.

“You don’t want to be down to 14 men but what we have got is playing with 14 men against Leicester and knowing we can come back and win.”

Hartley previously missed the British and Irish Lions’ tour of Australia after abusing referee Wayne Barnes in the 2013 Premiership final, also against Leicester.

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FRIDAY’S LOSS TO Munster marked the halfway point in Leinster’s Pro12 season. So it’s time to get the red biro out and run the rule over their campaign so far.

Overall record

Won 9. Lost 5. Drawn 1 (Fifth in Pro12, 2nd in Champions Cup pool).

High point

It has been a relatively tough season for Matt O’Connor, but the high points and positives to take from the first half of the season are that the eastern province are neck and neck at the top of their Champions Cup pool.

To that end, the home win over Wasps was arguably one of Leinster’s more complete performances this season. Though Leinster’s injury woes are obvious, that was a game that saw Jamie Heaslip proving that he’s more than capable of carrying his side over the gainline if asked to do the job.

Low Point

The 18 – 12 victory over an under-strength Ospreys captured Leinster’s season in a nut-shell. There was a win to celebrate, but only after this late November game (in the shadow of the joy surrounding Ireland’s series sweep) had inched past in frustratingly stop-start fashion.

Click Here: Real Sociedad Jersey SaleTry of the season so far

Rhys Ruddock v Cardiff Blues (after 2.20 in the clip below).

Source: Leinster Rugby TV/YouTube

Player of the season so far

Ian Madigan: While the Blackrock boy is commonly lauded for his skills as a playmaker, he has been unable to make the Leinster backline hum this season. However, his mechanical kicking routine is incredibly impressive and that accuracy has so often proved to be the difference for Leinster in their biggest European games this season.

Breakthrough talent

Jack Conan: The powerful number eight made his debut in blue early in the year, but this season (perhaps aided to injuries above and beside him in the depth chart) he has seen more opportunities to make his presence felt in the first team and does not look an inch out of his depth.

Playing style

As captain, Heaslip was eager to stress how he felt that Leinster were now playing a less ‘robotic’ game under O’Connor with players given more license to play off the cuff. This may well be the case, however, the plan has rarely materialised in that free and easy rhythm. And while Leinster rightly point to their 28 tries as the best in the Pro12, they are level with Treviso as the side with the fewest tries in the European Cup.

Source: Inpho/Billy Stickland

In the away fixture against Harlequins, Leinster showed attacking ambition throughout with Jimmy Gopperth conspicuously operating very flat to his scrum-half. More often, though, the Kiwi (departing at the end of the season) has looked short on the confidence needed to run that style of gameplan and the uncertainty spreads to the kick-chase game and so to the rest of the side.

One thing to work on in 2015

Force out the unforced errors: Changing an out-half is not the solution for Leinster. For an attacking team to flourish, they must return to doing the basics well at every ruck and every collision. If they can come together, playing on the same page, then this group of players will always be incredibly effective.

Marks out of 10? 6.

‘Out goes the sledge, in comes the vice’: It’s the rugby quotes of the year

THERE ARE MANY reasons I am incredibly lucky to work for TheScore/The42.ie, but undoubtedly the main one is the level of coverage we provide women’s sport.

Let’s not forget, Irish women have provided us with some of our finest sporting moments over the past year including the Irish women’s U19 side falling just short of a European Championship final, the women’s rugby team’s victory over four time World Cup winners New Zealand and, of course, Katie Taylor’s fifth world boxing title in a row.

But what I love about this website is that we’re not just there for those marquee, front-page-making events, we also cover ladies football, camogie, rugby and soccer from club level right up to inter-county and international in a way I believe all media organisations should.

The well worn argument for lack of coverage elsewhere is that women’s sport isn’t good enough and there isn’t an audience for it. That’s bullshit of course.

The simple fact is that, the more coverage a sport gets, the more people are likely to attend. The more people who attend, the more money goes into the sport. The more money floating around for coaches, high-performance training, etc, the higher the standard.

TG4 have been at the forefront of women’s sports coverage in this country showing GAA, the Rugby World Cup and Katie Taylor’s successful world title defence as well as their regular coverage of ladies football and camogie. They’ve shown there is an audience for it and perhaps it’s time that RTÉ followed suit.

As well as increased coverage, it would also make a nice change if articles on the achievements of Irish sportswomen didn’t inevitably descend into a critique on the attractiveness or otherwise of the subject.

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It rarely, if ever, happens with male athletes and it shouldn’t happen with women’s sport either.

So my sporting wish for 2015 is the same sporting wish I have every year, that we treat all sportspeople equally.

Afterall, if we celebrate a Katie Taylor world title the same way we would a male boxing one, why shouldn’t we expect the same level of reporting on the camogie championship as we get on the hurling one?

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JOE SCHMIDT HAS a number of selection calls to ponder over the next month, including the left wing position.

While the Kiwi head coach has a decision to make regarding Ireland’s 10 shirt for the opening game of the Six Nations against Italy on 7 February, his wide options look well stocked.

Tommy Bowe would appear to be a strong favourite to retain the 14 jersey after two tries in two starts there in November, but the 11 shirt looks altogether more open.

Simon Zebo certainly put his best foot forward against South Africa and Australia, but the Munster man is not short on fellow contenders. Among the possibilities for Schmidt is the fit-again Dave Kearney, who was excellent in last year’s Six Nations success.

Having returned from a lengthy knee injury late in November, the Leinster man has now racked up six 80-minute appearances and is beginning to look closer to his best.

The likes of Zebo, Ulster’s in-form Craig Gilroy, Munster’s returning Keith Earls and Andrew Conway provide competition for that coveted Ireland slot, but even within the Leinster group Kearney highlights the fight for places.

Fergus McFadden is on a similar trajectory of form to Kearney after his own injury problems, while Zane Kirchner has plentiful experience and Darragh Fanning has been backed by head coach Matt O’Connor this season.

“[Ireland] is always at the back of your head, but my main focus at the moment is performing for Leinster and getting on the team sheet,” says Kearney.

“There’s a lot of competition for the Ireland backs and for the Leinster backs, nothing really changes.”

Kearney last played for Ireland in the Six Nations-clinching game against France in Paris. Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO

With his focus on Leinster at present, Kearney agrees that a crucial fortnight lies ahead for the province, with Champions Cup fixtures against Castres and Wasps to come, decisive games in the race for a quarter-final.

Easing of the injury problems in Leinster has been helpful, even if Jack McGrath’s three-week suspension came at an inopportune moment.

“I think we’ve been luckier in the past few months with guys coming back from injuries,” says Kearney of the personnel boosts.

“There’s been a lot of leaders who’ve been out who’ve come back into the frame and that brings confidence back too.

The 25-year-old admits there “probably is a bit more pressure” on the squad at this stage of the season, although Leinster have grown accustomed to managing expectations. More pertinent in this week’s build-up is sharpening the backline’s armoury.

Last week McFadden spoke of the need for Leinster’s backs to start delivering tries, a sentiment Kearney echoes:

“It was good to get four tries against Cardiff, but as a backline we need to score more tries. Hopefully it’ll be a similar game plan this weekend, get the ball a bit wider and the backs can get a bit more ball.”

Having bided his time on the sidelines for Leinster and Ireland, Kearney will want as much of that possession heading in his direction as possible.

Leinster wary of wounded animal as focus turns to weakened CastresLeinster captain Jamie Heaslip an injury doubt for visit of Castres

VERN COTTER HAS selected four uncapped players in his 32-man squad for the upcoming Six Nations, but there is no space for flankers Kelly Brown and John Barclay.

All four of the new faces – Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, Ben Toolis, Hugh Blake and Hamish Watson – play their club rugby for Edinburgh.

21-year-old scrum-half Hidalgo-Clyne recently starred in the Pro12 side’s win over Connacht at the Sportsground, while lock Ben Toolis [22] and back row Hamish Watson [24] have also featured extensively for Edinburgh.

22-year-old back row Blake is a native of New Zealand but qualifies for Scotland through a grandparent.

The former Otago man has yet to play a game for Edinburgh since arriving in Scotland in December, meaning his selection may raise eyebrows, particularly as Saracens’ Brown and Barclay of the Scarlets have been omitted.

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Greig Laidlaw captains the squad, which includes a total of 15 players from Gregor Townsend’s Glasgow Warriors, exciting 21-year-old centre Mark Bennett among them.

Adam Ashe, Chris Fusaro, Grant Gilchrist, Tyrone Holmes, Ruaridh Jackson, Duncan Taylor and Duncan Weir were all unavailable due to injury.

Hidalgo-Clyne was instrumental in Edinburgh’s recent win over Connacht. Source: James Crombie/INPHO

Cotter’s side open their Six Nations campaign with a trip to play France on 7 February, before welcoming Wales to Murrayfield eight days later.

They are at home to Italy on 28 February, and then play England at Twickenham on 14 February. Scotland’s final fixture sees them host Joe Schmidt’s Ireland on 21 March.

32-man Scotland squad for Six Nations:

Props: Alasdair Dickinson (Edinburgh Rugby), Gordon Reid (Glasgow Warriors), Jon Welsh (Glasgow Warriors) Geoff Cross (London Irish), Euan Murray (Glasgow Warriors)

Hookers: Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby), Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors)

Locks: Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors), Richie Gray (Castres), Jim Hamilton (Saracens), Ben Toolis (Edinburgh Rugby)

Back rows: Hugh Blake (Edinburgh Rugby), Blair Cowan (London Irish), David Denton (Edinburgh Rugby), Rob Harley (Glasgow Warriors), Alasdair Strokosch (Perpignan), Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby)

Half-backs: Sam Hidalgo-Clyne (Edinburgh Rugby), Greig Laidlaw (Gloucester, captain), Henry Pyrgos (Glasgow Warriors), Finn Russell (Glasgow Warriors), Greig Tonks (Edinburgh Rugby)

Centres: Mark Bennett (Glasgow Warriors), Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors), Peter Horne (Glasgow Warriors), Matt Scott (Edinburgh Rugby)

Back threes: Dougie Fife (Edinburgh Rugby), Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors), Sean Lamont (Glasgow Warriors), Sean Maitland (Glasgow Warriors), Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors), Tim Visser (Edinburgh Rugby).

Blow for England as explosive Lawes set to miss start of Six NationsNew Zealand native Anscombe included in Gatland’s 34-man Six Nations squad

Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO

(St Michaels’ David Duggan celebrates scoring a late try)

HomeThere were wins for reigning champions UCC and NUI Galway on the opening day of Sigerson Cup action.
Favourites St Michael’s came very close to being knocked out of the Leinster Schools Cup today.One-time Ireland central-defensive stalwart Sean St Ledger is set for a trial with MLS side DC United.Niamh Briggs has been named as the new captain of the Irish Women’s Rugby team.It’s been confirmed that Belfast boxer Carl Frampton will defend his world title live on ITV.The GAA are hoping to adopt tougher sanctions against those guilty of racial or sectarian abuse of players.Ireland are optimistic that Jonathan Sexton will be fit in time for their Six Nations clash with France.

Away

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Wasps back row Ashley Johnson has been cited for his dangerous tackle on Leinster’s Dave Kearney last weekend.Sky Sports have decided to ban fans from their coverage of Transfer Deadline Day.England’s Owen Farrell is set to miss all of this year’s Six Nations owing to a knee injury.Robin van Persie has suggested his long-term future at Man United is uncertain.South African rugby has decided to experiment with new scrum laws.Mario Balotelli will assess his Liverpool future in the summer, according to his agent.The best thing we shared today

This Six Nations mockumentary will give you a laugh.

Source: BBC/YouTube

On the record

Bradford’s Irish midfielder Mark Yeates praised Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho for showing dignity in defeat at the weekend.

TOURNAMENT ORGANISERS HAVE released the fixture lists for the 2016 and 2017 Six Nations, with Ireland set to travel to Wales on a Friday night in two years’ time.

The 2015 competition gets underway this weekend as Warren Gatland’s side face England at the Millenium Stadium, but the Six Nations has provided fans with the opportunity to begin planning for the next two years.

Ireland have yet to take part in a dreaded Friday evening Six Nations fixture, but will do so on 10 March, 2017 when they visit Wales.

Next year, Ireland begin with a home clash against the Welsh on Sunday 7 February, before travelling to France on Saturday 13 February. Their third fixture sees them away to England on Saturday 27 February.

Ireland’s final two fixtures in 2016 involve a home tie against Italy on 12 March,  before another Saturday game on 19 March at home to Scotland.

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NIGEL CAROLAN’S IRELAND U20s suffered their first defeat of the 2015 Six Nations in Donnybrook last night, as England secured a 19-14 victory.

The missed try-scoring chances from Ireland, particularly in the first half, were ultimately what cost the home team, but there were once again many positives in the performance.

This is a talented U20s crop, and here we pick out three players who particularly impressed against England.

Jeremy Loughman

Loughman proved a handful for the English defence. Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

The powerful prop helped Blackrock College to their Leinster Schools Senior Cup title last year, impressing with his ball-carrying power and set-piece prowess on the tighthead side of the scrum.

He has plenty of history at loosehead too though, and it’s in the number one shirt where he has nailed down a starting spot for this Ireland U20 side.

The 19-year-old demonstrated all his strength with a series of excellent carries for Ireland last night in Donnybrook, while the set-piece was at its strongest with Loughman still on the pitch.

A subtle tip-on pass to Zack McCall for a break in the build-up to Stephen Fitzgerald’s try demonstrated that the front row has good skills and an understanding of space too. Part of a large UCD contingent in this Ireland U20s group, Loughman is a promising player.

Garry Ringrose

Ringrose made linebreaks, passed well and contributed some excellent defensive reads. Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

Back for his second season at U20 level, the outside centre had put in accomplished performances in the wins over Italy and France prior to the England meeting, but this display saw him stand out even more.

It was with ball in hand that Ringrose did his best work, displaying the same upright and elusive running style that saw him nominated for the IRB World Junior Player of the Year award in 2014.

His timing of pass and awareness of defenders was in evidence for his assist to Fitzgerald and on other occasions. Defensively, the missed tackle for Joe Marchant’s try will truly rankle, but there were a host of other excellent hits and reads.

At the breakdown too, Ringrose made his presence felt. An outside centre of rounded quality.

Zack McCall

McCall is a bundle of sheer aggression. Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

Munster’s Sean McNulty appeared favourite to wear Ireland’s number two shirt during this campaign before being injured, but Ulsterman McCall has stepped up admirably to claim the hooker position.

There were lineout difficulties last time out against France, and intermittently against England last night, but those are collective issues. For the large part, McCall’s throwing was accurate in Donnybrook.

It’s around the pitch that the Queen’s University Belfast man adds most energy, constantly bursting up from the defensive line to make firm hits. McCall was overly zealous once to concede a penalty, but his chop tackles were largely effective.

The scrum-cap wearing hooker also got involved in the carrying stakes once again, making the valuable yards before Ireland’s backline sparked.

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