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Independentie

News [1]
Opinion [2]
Business [3]
Sport [4]
Life [5]
Style [7]
Entertainment [8]
Travel [9]

Menu Sections

The Left Wing

March 2023

Ireland players celebrate with the Six Nations and Triple Crown trophies. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

The Left Wing: Ireland are the Grand Slam Champions – Reaction and Analysis from the Aviva

They’ve done it.

Owen Farrell is back in the England team to face Ireland. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

The Left Wing: Alex Corbisiero on England’s chances of spoiling the party on Saturday

On the latest episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by former England international Alex Corbisiero to look ahead to Saturday's Grand Slam decider.

Enda McNulty during his time working with the Ireland team. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

The Left Wing: Enda McNulty on Ireland's resilience, working with Joe Schmidt and World Cup fallout

On the latest episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald look back on Ireland's win over Scotland and discuss the mental preparation for Saturday's Grand Slam decider with former Ireland performance coach Enda McNulty.

Jack Conan of Ireland scores his side's third try despite the tackle of Duhan van der Merwe of Scotland

The Left Wing podcast: There’s no stopping Ireland - bring on England now

There’s just no stopping Ireland in this Six Nations no matter what’s thrown at them. The Grand Slam is just one win away for Ireland, they’ve beaten Scotland 22 points to 7 and Cian Tracey joins Sinéad Kissane from Murrayfield with the post-match analysis.

Scotland Head coach Gregor Townsend, left, and Finn Russell have had plenty of ups and downs together. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

The Left Wing: The view from Scotland - Ireland rivalry, project players and Russell vs Townsend

On the latest episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery is joined by BBC Scotland journalist Andy Burke to look ahead to Sunday's Six Nations clash at Murrayfield.

Ian Madigan is trying to break back into the Ulster starting team. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

The Left Wing: Ian Madigan on Ireland's Grand Slam bid, maverick out-halves and Ulster's season

On the latest episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Ulster out-half Ian Madigan to look ahead to Scotland vs Ireland and discuss Ulster's season to date.

Ireland will need to contain Finn Russell if they want to beat Scotland. Adam Davy/PA Wire.

The Left Wing: Ireland's room to improve, the Finn Russell enigma and Leo Cullen's future

On the latest episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery, Luke Fitzgerald and Cian Tracey look back on Ireland's dramatic win in Italy.

February 2023

Ross Byrne is set for his first Six Nations start against Italy. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

The Left Wing: Ross Byrne's big chance, Wales chaos and Ian McKinley on Italy's improvement

On the latest episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by former Italy international Ian McKinley to look ahead to Ireland vs Italy.

Dubliner Stephen Aboud took his Italian rugby job after signing a hotel napkin in the Gresham

Stephen Aboud says all that was missing from his first meeting with the former president of the Italian Rugby Federation over seven years ago was the theme music from The Godfather.

Joey Carbery is back in the Ireland squad. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

The Left Wing: Joey Carbery returns to Ireland fold as preparations for Italy ramp up

Doubts over Johnny Sexton's fitness for Saturday's clash with Italy in Rome have resulted in Joey Carbery earning a recall to the Ireland squad and Rúaidhrí O’Connor joins Sinéad Kissane on today’s Left Wing podcast with the latest news.

James Lowe celebrates Ireland's win over France. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

The Left Wing: Ireland run riot, the return of James Ryan and Wayne Barnes' mistake

On the latest episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Cian Tracey to look back on Ireland's dramatic win over France.

Fabien Galthié during the France rugby captain's run at the Aviva Stadium

The Left Wing podcast: From 2019 rock bottom to 14 wins in a row - how France became World Cup favourites

On the latest episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery is joined by French rugby expert Paul Eddison to discuss the rise of France under Fabien Galthié and tomorrow's clash with Ireland.

The Left Wing Podcast: Analysing the Ireland team who take on France in crunch Aviva showdown

12 February 2022; James Ryan of Ireland in action against Gael Fickou of France during the Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship match between France and Ireland at Stade de France in Paris, France. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

The Left Wing: Impressive Ireland, English problems and France test looms

On the latest episode of The Left Wing podcast, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Jonathan Bradley to look back on the opening weekend of the Six Nations.

Ireland captain Jonathan Sexton leads his side on a lap of honour

The Left Wing podcast: Post-Match from Cardiff - Winning start for Ireland but questions remain for France

Finlay Bealham, pictured during Ireland rugby squad training at The Campus in Quinta da Lago, Portugal, will replace Tadhg Furlong in the Ireland starting XV to face Wales. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

The Left Wing: Huge blow for Ireland with Furlong out – Sinéad Kissane and Rúaidhrí O’Connor on the Ireland team to play Wales

Ireland have been dealt a major setback ahead of their Six Nations opener against Wales with the news that Tadhg Furlong is out with a calf issue.

Warren Gatland is looking to spring a Six Nations surprise against Ireland on Saturday. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

The Left Wing: Irish expectations, the number 12 'debate' and the Warren Gatland wildcard

On the latest episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Jonathan Bradley and Welsh broadcaster Ross Harries to preview the Six Nations.

January 2023

Warren Gatland is back as Wales head coach for another Six Nations. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

The Left Wing: Ireland squad update, Warren Gatland's mind games and Andy Farrell's starting team

It’s opening week of the 2023 Six Nations and the Left Wing podcast is bringing you extra shows throughout the championship.

Ross Byrne (left) has replaced Joey Carbery in the Ireland squad. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

The Left Wing: The Joey Carbery decision, Champions Cup drama and rugby's drastic tackle change

On the latest episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Cian Tracey to look back on the final round of Champions Cup pool games and to look ahead to the Six Nations.

18 January 2023; Head coach Graham Rowntree during a Munster rugby squad training session at Thomond Park in Limerick. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

The Left Wing: Permutations, possibilities and some big Champions Cup selection calls

It’s the final round of pool games in the Champions Cup this weekend and Sinéad Kissane is joined by Cian Tracey on the latest Left Wing podcast to discuss the team news and possible permutations for the Irish provinces.

Joey Carbery, right with Ireland head coach Andy Farrell. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

The Left Wing: Ireland’s Six Nations squad reaction - Andy Farrell’s shock decision to cut Joey Carbery

Munster’s Joey Carbery has been axed from Ireland’s Six Nations squad which was announced by Andy Farrell today.

Andy Farrell names his Six Nations squad on Thursday morning. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

The Left Wing: Andy Farrell's Six Nations dilemma, central contracts and the return of Eddie Jones

On the latest episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Rúaidhrí O'Connor to look ahead to the Ireland Six Nations squad announcement and the final round of Champions Cup pool games.

Conor Murray's omission is the big talking point from the Munster team news. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

The Left Wing Extra: Conor Murray dropped, Garry Ringrose returns and a huge test for Ulster

Sinéad Kissane looks ahead to Round 3 of this weekend’s Champions Cup action with the Irish Independent’s Rúaidhrí O’Connor and the big news is that Conor Murray has been dropped from the Munster squad to face Northampton in Thomond Park.

Dan Sheehan has had a busy season so far with Leinster and Ireland. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

The Left Wing: Dan Sheehan's minutes, South African travel and should more players follow Ben Healy's lead?

On the latest episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Cian Tracey to discuss all the latest rugby news.

Johnny Sexton picked up a facial injury aganst Connacht on New Year's Day. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

The Left Wing: Johnny Sexton's injury, Irish Six Nations bolters and why size matters

On the first episode of The Left Wing in 2023, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Rúaidhrí O'Connor to discuss all the latest rugby news.

December 2022

Michael Ala'alatoa, left, and James Ryan of Leinster celebrate winning a penalty during the Heineken Champions Cup Pool A Round 2 match between Leinster and Gloucester at the RDS Arena in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

The Left Wing podcast: Leinster's demolition job, brittle Ulster and Munster's away day

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald look back on the latest weekend of Champions Cup action.

Johnny Sexton is set to feature off the bench for Leinster. Image: Sportsfile.

The Left Wing podcast: Champions Cup weekend preview with Sinéad Kissane & Rúaidhrí O’Connor

It’s round two of the Champions Cup this weekend and Rúaidhrí O’Connor joins Sinéad Kissane on the latest Left Wing podcast to look ahead to the games involving the Irish provinces with all the latest team news.

James Lowe and Leinster were in scintillating form against Racing 92 in the Champions Cup last week

The Left Wing: Leinster hit top form, atrocious Ulster and Munster's project continues

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Jonathan Bradley to discuss the opening round of the Champions Cup.

Ryan Baird of Leinster competes for possession

The Left Wing podcast: Sexton and Furlong out – Rúaidhrí O’Connor and Sinead Kissane preview the Irish provinces’ chances in Europe this weekend

The Irish provinces have named their teams for the opening weekend of European action and Rúaidhrí O’Connor joins Sinéad Kissane to preview Racing 92 v Leinster, Munster v Toulouse, Sale Sharks v Ulster and Connacht v Newcastle Falcons.

Leinster are looking to avenge last season's defeat in the Champions Cup final against La Rochelle. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

The Left Wing: Champions Cup kick off, Eddie Jones' exit and Warren Gatland returns