Irish Rugby

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Ulster back row Juarno Augustus says the team are focused on finishing as high up the United Rugby Championship table as they can to try and secure home advantage in the knockout stages as the battle for silverware hots up in the latter stages of the season.

Richie Murphy's side sit third in the table with four rounds of regular season fixtures remaining but face a testing run-in with Friday's visit of Leinster to Belfast followed by matches against Munster, the Stormers and table toppers Glasgow Warriors.

The South African says confidence is high after European Challenge Cup wins over Ospreys and La Rochelle set up a semi-final at home to Exeter Chiefs on 2 May.

"We are playing four of the best so all we need to do is take it week by week, recover well and then just go again when it's game day," the 28-year-old told BBC Sport NI.

"We're focusing firstly on the URC now because we want to get a home quarter-final, a home semi-final. That's what teams are playing for now.

"If we win a few games we can get second or first in the table and that's what we're aiming for."

The back-to-back European wins were both played in challenging conditions at the Affidea Stadium, but the number eight is philosophical about adapting gameplans to suit different weather conditions.

"We want to play expansive rugby, that's what we want to do, but unfortunately it's out of our control, so we have to adapt to the weather conditions and the teams we play over the next few weeks.

"If the weather is better we can show better what we have."

Augustus added that he was pleased to have overcome the frustration of a lengthy spell on the sidelines because of the ankle injury he suffered in December.

"For me I felt like I could go but then I had felt a little niggle, but hopefully it's all behind me now. Hopefully I can finish the season well and the team can finish it well also."

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Ulster head coach Richie Murphy makes just one change for Friday's United Rugby Championship inter-provincial derby against Leinster at Affidea Stadium (19:45 BST).

Sean Reffell comes in to replace Nick Timoney in the only change from the side that beat La Rochelle in last weekend's Challenge Cup quarter-final.

Once again, there is a front three of Angus Bell, hooker Tom Stewart and Tom O'Toole, while team captain Iain Henderson is joined in the second row by Cormac Izuchukwu.

While Reffell comes in at open-side flanker, David McCann retains his place at blind-side with Juarno Augustus at number eight.

Nathan Doak claimed the player of the match award after last week's win over the French side and he partners Jack Murphy in the half-backs.

The midfield pairing of Stuart McCloskey and James Hume remains, while Zac Ward and Werner Kok occupy the wings as Jacob Stockdale continues at full-back.

There are no changes on the bench with Murphy retaining the same eight as last week in a five-three split.

In contrast, Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has made 12 changes from the side that began last week's Investec Champions Cup quarter-final win over Sale Sharks, with Ireland fly-half Sam Prendergast among those returning to the line-up.

Props Jerry Cahir and Thomas Clarkson and hooker Ronan Kelleher form a changed front row, with James Ryan captaining the side at lock.

Alex Soroka, Scott Penny and number eight James Culhane come into the back row.

Hugo Keenan starts at full-back with Robbie Henshaw coming in alongside Garry Ringrose at centre this week, while there are changes on the wings where Joshua Kenny and Jimmy O'Brien start.

In a six-two bench split, there is a place for prop Ed Byrne who returned to the province this week on a short-term loan.

Ulster are third in the URC table, a point and a place above Leinster.

Leinster won 24-20 when the sides met at Aviva Stadium in December.

Ulster: Stockdale; Kok, Z Ward, Hume, McCloskey; Murphy Doak; Bell, Stewart, O'Toole, Henderson (capt), Izuchukwu, McCann, Reffell, Augustus.

Replacements: McCormick, Crean, Wilson, Sheridan, B Ward, McKee, Flannery, Postlethwaite.

Leinster: Keenan; Kenny, Ringrose, Henshaw, J O'Brien; Prendergast, McGrath; Cahir, Kelleher, Clarkson, Deeny, Ryan (capt), Soroka, Penny, Culhane.

Replacements: G McCarthy, E Byrne, Slimani, O'Tighearnaigh, Deegan, Connors, Gunne, Frawley.

Image source, Inpho

Kicking coach Gareth Steenson says Ireland "should have high expectations" as they look to kick-start their Women's Six Nations campaign with victory over Italy in Galway on Saturday (17:40 BST).

Ireland opened the tournament with a 33-12 defeat by world champions England at Allianz Stadium on Saturday.

But Steenson insists the Irish have no interest in "making up the numbers" as they target home wins over Italy, Wales and Scotland and a statement away victory over France.

"They should have high expectations, why would they not? They're playing for their country," said Steenson.

"We want to go to the next World Cup and be competitors. We don't want to go and make up numbers, we want to be going into Six Nations games and we want to be going and winning games, but we have to understand that to get there we have to keep going on a journey to get to that point."

Steenson added: "You have to take every session to grow and get better. We've got three games at home, we want to win the three games at home and then we want to go over to France next week and we want to be knocking and getting into that top four [in the world].

"There's a bit of hurt from what happened at the World Cup and we want to make sure we can put a few wrongs right."

First-half errors cost Ireland against England as they fell to trailed 21-0 at half-time before an improved second-half showing yielded tries from Anna McGann and captain Erin King.

And Steenson is confident Ireland - who finished third last year - will improve as the tournament progresses, starting with Saturday's game at Dexcom Stadium.

"As a coaching group, it's something we're challenging them on," added the former Exeter Chiefs fly-half.

"I do believe these things will get better. The more we can put them in pressure situations in training should stand them in good stead as we move forward.

"We would expect to see a better performance this week. But if you look at the how the game panned out, we worked out a way to cause England a bit of damage and played to our strengths."

In positive squad news, former co-captain Sam Monaghan and scrum-half Aoibheann Reilly have resumed training after missing the England game.

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Munster have appointed Roger Randle as the province's new attack coach on a two-year deal.

Subject to obtaining a valid work permit, Randle will join Munster from the Chiefs in the summer following the completion of the Super Rugby season.

He will replace Mike Prendergast, who will depart Munster at the end of the season to join Bath.

Randle, who won two All Blacks caps, has been with the Chiefs for eight years and worked with Munster head coach Clayton McMillan at the Hamilton-based club.

In his 31-year career as player and coach, the well-travelled Randle has represented clubs and unions across the world, including in New Zealand, France, Italy and Japan.

"I am incredibly excited to be joining a prestigious club like Munster who have such a rich history and incredible supporters," said Randle.

"I'm really looking forward to reuniting with Clayton but my focus for now is on the Chiefs and having a successful end to the season."

McMillan said he was "very pleased" with Randle's appointment.

"I have worked with Roger for many years, and he has always demonstrated an incredible work-ethic and ingenuity when it comes to the attack aspect of the game," said McMillan.

"We are thrilled to have him come on board and believe he will complement the already excellent work that (skills and assistant attack coach) Mossy Lawler is doing on a day-to-day basis."

Richard Petrie
BBC Sport NI Journalist

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Ulster back Zac Ward says the rivalry with Irish interprovincial rivals Leinster makes Friday's interprovincial game between the two teams at the Affidea Stadium "a spicy one".

Ulster sit third in the table, one point ahead of Leo Cullen's charges, before the encounter in Belfast, and aim to avenge a narrow 24-20 loss to Leinster in their previous United Rugby Championship meeting in Dublin in December.

"Any home interpro at home is a spicy one, but with Leinster I just think it goes to the next level," Ward told BBC Sport NI's Gavin Andrews.

"We know them so well and guys are competing against their opposite numbers to try and get into a green jersey as well.

"We're really looking forward to it. We don't really know what sort of team they are going to send up, but it doesn't really matter, they have a lot of talent and a lot of depth, but we're looking forward to it, to the challenge, and I really hope it stays dry."

Ulster will face Exeter Chiefs for a place in the European Challenge Cup final in early May but are also well in the hunt for URC silverware with four sets of games remaining before the knockout play-off stages of that competition.

"To be in this position now is class. If you'd said at the start of the season we'd be in the position we are now we'd have been delighted," enthused the 27-year-old.

"The hard work that we've done over the season is now really standing to us.

"We have some big games coming up, but the majority of those at home which is really good, so hopefully a packed Affidea can get us over the line in those games."

Ward is also pleased with his own form this campaign, although he knows there is still room for improvement.

He scored two tries in the weekend win over La Rochelle and set up another for brother Bryn.

"From where I was last year to now I think I have come on a lot and have really grown in confidence," explained the ex-Ireland Sevens player.

"There are still things I need to work on, still a lot to learn, but hopefully I can kick on at the business end of the season.

"Playing in front of our fans is amazing, they really get behind us, they really back us, and we just want to keep performing, getting a few more people into the stands to cheer us on and put a few more smiles on faces."

Lauren McCann
BBC Sport NI Journalist

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European Challenge Cup quarter-final

Montpellier (26) 45

Tries: Penalty try, Tolofua, Haouas, Miotti, Cadot, Price, Welsch, Cons: Miotti (2), Vincent (2)

Connacht (8) 22

Tries: Tierney-Martin, Naughton, Aungier Cons: Gilbert (2) Pens: Gilbert

Montpellier ended Connacht's six-game winning run as they picked up a 45-22 victory at the Septeo Stadium to progress to the semi-finals of the European Challenge Cup.

Stuart Lancaster's side trailed 26-8 at the break in France with ill-discipline contributing to the deficit as Connacht received three yellow cards in the first half.

Montpellier capitalised by scoring four first-half tries and they added three in the second period to ease to victory.

They will now face the winner of the quarter-final between Zebre and Dragons in the last four in May.

Montpellier too strong for Connacht

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Sam Gilbert kicked an early penalty to put Connacht ahead on three minutes before Montpellier hit back when they were awarded a penalty try three minutes later following a five-metre maul.

Things went from bad to worse to Connacht when they were reduced to 13 men for a spell as both Dylan Tierney-Martin and Shamus Hurley-Langton were shown yellow cards.

Montpellier took full advantage and added a second try on 14 minutes through Christopher Tolofua.

Returning to full complement, Connacht battled back and reduced the deficit when Tierney-Martin finished off a free-flowing move in the corner.

Mohamed Haouas and Domingo Miotti then crossed before the break with Shayne Bolton also shown a yellow card for Connacht, as Montpellier went in with a comfortable half-time lead.

Sean Naughton then cut the gap for Lancaster's side soon after the restart as he crossed under the posts, but again Montpellier responded to re-establish their healthy advantage.

Auguste Cadot scored the pick of the tries for the hosts on 52 minutes as he weaved his way through a number of challenges before racing over with Ali Price adding a sixth by diving over the line from close range to all but secure the win.

Jack Aungier scored a late consolation try for Connacht before Valentin Welsch rounded off the scoring with a last-minute score for Montpellier.

Montpellier: Banks; Taofifenua, Cadot, Anyanwu, Echegaray; Miotti, Price; Erdocio, Tolofua, Haouas, Verhaeghe, DuGuid; Camara, Becognee, Vunipola (capt)

Replacements: Akrab, Forletta, Welsch, Tauleigne, Nouchi, Rates, T Vincent, A Vincent

Connacht: Gilbert; Bolton, Forde, Aki, Mullins; Naughton, M Devine; Bohan, Tierney-Martin, Illo; Joyce, Murray; Prendergast (c), Hurley-Langton, Boyle

Replacements: Victory, Dooley, Aungier, J Murphy, O'Brien, B Murphy, Carty, J Devine

Image source, Getty Images

Hooker Dan Sheehan will captain Leinster for their Investec Champions Cup quarter-final against Sale Sharks at Aviva Stadium on Saturday with Caelan Doris ruled out of the game.

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen makes three changes in total from the team which started last week's 49-31 last-16 victory over Edinburgh.

With Andrew Porter also out, 20-year-old academy prop Alex Usanov will make his first start in the Champions Cup after coming on for Porter at half-time on Sunday.

James Ryan returns from a calf injury to play in the second row alongside Joe McCarthy while Garry Ringrose is also back and partners Jamie Osborne at centre.

As a result, Rieko Ioane, who started at centre against Edinburgh, shifts to left wing, while Ryan Baird moves to lock and Jack Conan switches from blindside flanker to number eight in the absence of Doris.

On the bench, Ronan Kelleher, Jerry Cahir and Scott Penny are recalled to the matchday squad.

Leinster: Keenan: T O'Brien, Ringrose, Osborne, Ioane; Byrne, Gibson-Park; Usanov, Sheehan (capt), Furlong; McCarthy, Ryan; Baird, van der Flier, Conan.

Replacements: Kelleher, Cahir, Clarkson, Deegan, Penny, McGrath, Frawley, Henshaw.

Jana McCabe
BBC Sport NI journalist

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Ireland scrum coach Denis Fogarty said the side must "not let the games go past us" during the Six Nations.

Ireland's first fixture is against hosts England at the Allianz Stadium on Saturday [14:25 BST] with over 75,000 tickets sold, a tournament record.

World champions England are aiming to secure their eighth successive title and a fifth consecutive Grand Slam.

"One goal for us is to win all our home games, the last couple of years we have only won two games in the Six Nations. It didn't feel right, we felt we were better than that," Fogarty said.

"We looked at the occasion, I think it is important that we make our mark in these games and not let the games go past us, even at the back end of the games.

"Especially against England and France, we want to turn one of those teams over and that is our mindset going into it. Obviously, the home games will be really important for us overall."

Last year, England were the comfortable 49-5 victors against Scott Bemand's side at Virgin Media Park in Cork for their 12th successive victory over Ireland.

Fogarty also acknowledged that the side struggled with scrums during that match and it "has definitely hurt" him.

"We have spoken about it and the area has probably lingered around for quite some time, it has definitely hurt me and the players," he continued.

"Even prepping for the World Cup and the World Cup, we have moved that forward, we knew we needed to.

"This week, they have really gone after this area to make sure we don't let it happen again as it did have a big impact in the game. They have prepped really well and we are confident it will not happen again."

Jana McCabe
BBC Sport NI journalist

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Ulster winger Jacob Stockdale said Friday's Challenge Cup quarter-final against La Rochelle is a chance to "create a statement for ourselves" [20:00 BST].

Richie Murphy's side defeated Ospreys 28-24 at the Affidea Stadium to advance to the last eight.

La Rochelle won the Champions Cup in 2022 and 2023 and were the victors against Newcastle Red Bulls to set up the tie in Belfast.

"It's an exciting game as they are a big French giant. I feel like we do play well whenever big French teams come to town, so, I'm really excited about it," Stockdale told BBC Sport NI's Mark Sidebottom.

"I think there's an opportunity to put in a massive performance and hopefully create a bit of a statement for ourselves.

"We need to focus on ourselves, just bring the best version of ourselves, and hope that that's enough and I think it will be."

Despite playing four times against La Rochelle during his career so far and Ulster only winning one of those matches, Stockdale believes that the side can take confidence into the game after the Ospreys win.

The home side trailed 17-14 before Stockdale and Nick Timoney crossed the line in the second half to secure Ulster's quarter-final spot.

"It was frustrating on the pitch but, looking back and reviewing it, it's quite encouraging because we were able to beat a good Ospreys in a tight encounter, but actually leave a lot on the pitch," he continued.

"We felt like we weren't really anywhere near our best and the best we've shown so far this season.

"So that's exciting that we can hopefully right those wrongs this week and put in a big, big performance on Friday."