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Chris Jericho spoke with Forbes for a new interview talking about All Elite Wrestling’s potential TV deals, a possible video game and more. Video and highlights are below:
On whether AEW is close to a TV deal: “I’m not going to show up somewhere that doesn’t have a major-league television deal. That’s not what I’m interested in doing. I’m not doing this to be a martyr or Robin Hood. I’m doing this to continue to grow my brand and to take over the business and the world. I know a few potential suitors for television. I know some potential ideas as far as how we’re going to do it. I know that both of them that I’ve heard are game-changers.”
On the current AEW roster: “I think we’ve assembled a great roster already of fresh talent. We have the seasoned veterans and really untapped rookies, with great people on every level. We have six-to-eight blue-chippers. That’s all you need to do a wrestling company. I think we have enough talent for the first year already. I think what AEW has done is shaken up the big companies, and when I say that I mean WWE and New Japan, to where they’re signing everybody, and signing them to longer deals and more money. And I say to all of them, you’re welcome. We have to work and build the roster that we already have, knowing that we’ll get more, but for right now, we have to assume this is our roster for next year. Let’s build some guys and create some of our own stars, which is mandatory for any wrestling company to survive.”
On the possibility of an AEW video game: “Kenny travels the world going to game conventions, specifically because he’s such a gamer. Not knowing for sure, but I’d say there is a pretty damn good chance there’s going to be an AEW game, and it’s probably going to be better than most because [Cody, Young Bucks, and Omega] probably going to have a hand in developing it.”Click Here: sydney roosters team jersey

WWE reportedly changed up the finishes to a match during Sunday’s Elimination Chamber. The news comes from Wrestling Observer Live, where Bryan Alvarez said that the introduction of new formats for the announcers caused a change to the first match’s finish.
Alvarez compared the situation to WCW, noting that the opening match (it isn’t entirely clear here whether he’s talking about the Women’s Tag Team Championship match to start the main show or the Cruiserweight Championship match on the Kickoff show) “switched up…the finishes.” Based on the plural nature of “finishes,” that would imply the Chamber match which had multiple pinfalls. It would also make the most sense as the announcers don’t usually come down until the main show is about to start.
There is no indication, it must be said, that the result was changed; rather, the change was in how the finishes went down.
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MUNSTER’S REMARKABLE CONSISTENCY in Europe has seen the southern province advance through to their 14th Heineken Champions Cup semi-final, but their ascent back to the summit has been laden with pitfalls.

Since last lifting the European Cup in 2008, Munster have lost all six of their semi-final appearances, and their end-of-season misery is not exclusive to that competition, with the province falling short in two finals and a further three semi-finals in the Pro14 since their last trophy, in 2011.

Conor Murray and Johann van Graan celebrate at Murrayfield last weekend. Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO

While the coaching and playing personnel has changed in the intervening years, the core of the team remains, and the demons and sense of collective suffering from those painful days is shared among the dressing room and supporter base.

Last weekend’s quarter-final defeat of Edinburgh paved Munster’s latest passage through to the last four, where they will meet Saracens — their conquerors two seasons ago — in a mouth-watering tie in Coventry.

The English Premiership side were clinically efficient in their defeat of the then Rassie Erasmus coached Munster in Dublin, while 12 months ago the province — with Johann van Graan in charge — completely misfired against Racing 92. Prior to that, Clermont, Toulon, Biarritz and Leinster have all had their number on semi-final day.

Conor Murray sat out the chastening defeat to Saracens back in 2017 due to injury but the Munster number nine has endured his fair share of disappointment, suffering defeat in all four of his European semi-final appearances in red.

“I don’t think it’s that psychological,” Murray insists. “I think the groups have been different. The players and the personnel have been different over the years. If you look at Saracens, we did well for so long but Saracens were the better team on the day and they eventually put enough pressure on us where we forced the game.

“Last year against Racing, we started so poorly. We gave away three tries in the first 20 minutes and made it really hard for ourselves. That’s completely different to the Saracens semi-final the year before where we did start well and we just didn’t have enough gas in the tank maybe, just not enough in our game that day to beat them which is fair enough and that’s easier to take.

The bottom line, however, is that Murray is ‘sick’ of talking about knocking on the door and getting close.

“Look, I’m fed up knocking on the door,” he continues. “There are no bones about it, if you’re Munster, it’s all about the European Cup. It’s the one I want bar a World Cup.

“Growing up, seeing Paulie [O’Connell] and ROG [Ronan O’Gara] lift the trophy, to do it would pretty much mean everything to me. For the supporters, as much as us, we just really want to get past the semis.”

Munster have almost certainly evolved as a team since their last meeting with Saracens, as van Graan has introduced new attacking ideas and philosophies while the addition of players such as Joey Carbery and Tadhg Beirne means the province are now better equipped to challenge for a third European crown. But the real test of that will be on 20 April.

“I’ll be able to tell you that after the game to be honest,” Murray says, when asked if he feels Munster have grown in the last two seasons.

Murray in training at UL this week. Source: James Crombie/INPHO

“I could tell you all the usual answers. You’ll find out after the game when we see. Yeah, we feel we’re better. Saracens are better. We’ve talked about the additions with Tadhg, Joey, Mike Haley who unfortunately got sick the [Edinburgh] morning of the game which was bad luck for him.

“We’ll see if that’s good enough to be able to beat Saracens. We fully believe in it, I fully believe we are but I’m kind of sick of saying ‘yeah we feel we can do it this year’ but we’re in a good place.”

While all the talk is of the Ricoh Arena date with Mark McCall’s side, Munster’s short-term focus is back on the Pro14 and victory over Cardiff Blues at Musgrave Park tonight [KO 7.35pm, TG4, eir Sport/Premier Sports] would assure them of a play-off berth.

Van Graan’s side will want more, though, and they hope a 13th successive home win in all competitions will put pressure on Conference A leaders Glasgow Warriors, who host Ulster later, as the race for a home semi-final heats up.

“Tonight is going to be big again because last week was us Irish lads’ first game coming back in with the Munster lads,” Murray, who starts a Pro14 game for the first time since December, adds.

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“WE EXPECT MORE from ourselves than anyone else.”

CEO Willie Ruane’s words on the ambition of Connacht stayed in the mind long after he helped to launch the province’s ‘Vision and Strategy: 2016-2020′ document in the Aviva Stadium.

Connacht have ambitions of further growth. Source: James Crombie/INPHO

Ruane has genuinely attainable ambitions for Connacht’s progress in the next four years and the men around him in the national stadium yesterday, namely Pat Lam, Eric Elwood and Nigel Carolan, are all on the same page.

Keen to make best use of the opportunity and profile afforded to them by their superb season in the Guinness Pro12, which has led to Saturday’s home semi-final against Glasgow, Connacht presented their vision to the IRFU and the assembled media.

Their targets stretch across areas like finance, governance and commercial but perhaps of most immediate interest are the province’s rugby goals in the next four years.

Champions Cup qualification every season is a minimum expectation, while Connacht have also set a target of reaching the knock-out stages of the European competition at least once before 2020.

Lam stated that the province are targeting a Pro12 win next season to follow up this campaign, and Connacht have also set an objective of having an average of 30% indigenous [i.e. Connacht born and bred] representation in their squads moving forward.

The bar has also been set at achieving an average of four players in Ireland’s national team match day squads by 2020.

Of course, history was made in that regard this season when Ultan Dillane, Nathan White, Finlay Bealham, Robbie Henshaw and Kieran Marmion were all on the field at the same time in the Six Nations clash with Italy.

“I would like us to be a very significant part of the Irish team on a consistent basis, so that having five players on pitch at one time isn’t something that stands out, it’s the norm,” said Ruane yesterday.

“That the game across the province has grown to a very large extent and that the experience that those kids are having is something that they absolutely cherish and want to continue playing the game.”

That Connacht’s objectives should include a goal that involves the national team is no surprise, given that their ‘grassroots to green shirts’ philosophy is driving this entire four-year vision.

Connacht’s historic day during the Six Nations. Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO

The green shirts refer to both Connacht and Ireland, but the relationship between the two has become increasingly positive. At a time when Leinster are dissatisfied with the IRFU and its performance director David Nucifora, Connacht are delighted with his influence on the game.

IRFU funding for Connacht has increased in recent seasons, admittedly from a relatively low starting point, while Nucifora has aided their recruitment of a handful of players, most recently Cian Kelleher from Leinster.

Nucifora’s motivation in desiring increased player movement between provinces is, of course, the prospect of an improved national team, but the IRFU and Connacht seem to be very much aligned at present.

“I’m only in the job two years but I honestly cannot say enough about the support they’ve given us thus far,” said Ruane.

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“Whether that’s David Nucifora, whether it’s Scott Walker, whether it’s Philip Browne, all are playing a really important role in what Connacht are going to achieve and what we want to achieve.

“We’re in constant dialogue with them, the plan today was presented to the IRFU, it was presented to David and everyone in the different departments to make sure we’re fully aligned. It’s not a coincidence that we’re aligned because we all believe in the same things.”

Connacht have benefited from Nucifora’s work in helping move Kelleher west next season, but Ruane points out that the Australian’s desire not to see ‘stockpiling’ of players in one position at any of the provinces could work the other way in future.

The Connacht CEO stresses that he “fundamentally” agrees with Nucifora’s ideas about ensuring the best Irish players are all playing as often as possible.

“You have really good players in a certain position and all of a sudden you have a block of players. It works both ways. But do I buy into the fact that for Irish rugby to be a success the best players have to be on the pitch, without a doubt.”

Connacht cosying up to the IRFU may prove beneficial to their aims of building a new 10,000-capacity stadium in the near future, with Ruane pointing out that support from the union and other stakeholders will be essential to financing that plan.

Connacht’s relationship with Nucifora is strong. Source: Donall Farmer/INPHO

Connacht have had to decline countless supporters searching for tickets for Saturday’s sold-out semi-final against Glasgow and that was also the case for the recent games against Munster, Leinster and the Scots.

7,800 people will be at the Sportsground to witness Saturday’s clash, but the province did consider moving to the tie down the road to Munster’s Thomond Park. Head coach Pat Lam wasn’t in favour of leaving their Galway cauldron, however.

“We had a good chat about it because, while there obviously is the commercial aspect to it, there is the bigger picture,” said Ruane. “We wanted to make sure that Pat was clear that this was a decision that shouldn’t be driven by anything other than a desire to win.

“I think our own supporters deserve that, as much as anything else. We want to play in the Pro12 final and then when we’re in the Pro12 final, we want to win it. Anything that distracts from that, or has potential to do that, was ruled off the page pretty quickly.”

There have been suggestions that Connacht might hitch their plans for a new stadium to Ireland’s bid to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup, and the need for infrastructure there, but Ruane suggested that may not be the ideal route.

The concern is that the province would end up with a 25,000-seater stadium that is half empty many weekends.

Connacht may end this season with their first-ever Pro12 title and even if they don’t, it’s likely that their emerging stars will attract attention from offshore.

Continuing to bring through home-grown talent will be essential and the province’s strategy for the next four years includes targets in that department.

60% of academy inductees moving into the professional game, four academy-originated players in the Ireland matchday squad by 2020 and four players per season moving from the academy into the pro sport are among them.

Connacht were unsuccessful in holding onto Robbie Henshaw, their highest-profile academy product yet, beyond the end of this season but Ruane believes that will not become the norm.

Last year saw Marmion sign on until 2018. Source: James Crombie/INPHO

“The reality is in the last two years we have had a huge amount of players who have come off contract and been re-contracted,” said Ruane. “They are actually committing in their droves.

“Something like 23 players were off contract this year, and almost every single one of those that we wanted to keep actually signed up. There are players out there who other clubs are already trying to speak to, but they have committed.

“Kieran Marmion wasn’t without options; he is an Irish international but he wanted to be part of Connacht into the future. And that’s the work we focus on, not the ones that for whatever reason aren’t here next year.

“All the others that are here, that’s a really positive statement about where we’re at at the moment.”

Indeed, Connacht are in a good place and if Ruane has his way, it’s only the beginning.

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IRELAND’S SHEER RESILIENCE and defensive work rate was the story of their historic win in Cape Town and will justifiably draw the majority of the plaudits.

Payne finished an excellent Ireland try. Source: Billy Stickland/INPHO

However, their opening quarter performance with 15 men was also impressive as Ireland went about building a 10-3 lead that perfectly set them up for the huge challenge that lay ahead following CJ Stander’s red card.

Schmidt’s men began positively and the Kiwi head coach stated afterwards that the good start allowed confidence to filter through his players. Most encouragingly, Ireland’s attacking intent was sharp and their accuracy with ball in hand was impressive too.

We will look at other aspects of Ireland’s performance in depth elsewhere but it’s worth examining the opening 19 minutes from Ireland in light of the two Tests ahead.

It will be fascinating to see how Ireland perform with, they hope, 15 players on the pitch for 80 minutes in Johannesburg next weekend.

This year’s Six Nations suggested Ireland’s attack was moving forward and the opening exchanges yesterday backed that impression up.

Strike with width

The first of 10 penalties conceded by South Africa [Ireland gave up seven] yesterday came directly from kick off as JP Pietersen clattered into the airbourne Devin Toner. Toner was a vital figure on the restarts for Ireland, as well as elsewhere.

Ireland kicked the resulting penalty up the line and launched their first attack of the evening. Immediately, they went to width.

Jamie Heaslip is the man who takes the lineout ball and pops to Conor Murray after landing back on the ground, before Paddy Jackson fires his pass to Robbie Henshaw behind the flat decoy-running Luke Marshall and in front of left wing Keith Earls short to his right.

It’s interesting to note what the South Africa defence is expecting as the ball lands in Henshaw’s hands.

Left wing Lwazi Mvovo shoots up to join the line and appears to think Henshaw is either going to carry or hit Payne directly outside him.

We can see above that Lionel Mapoe is in a good position to drift onto Payne but Mvovo has closed on the Ireland fullback and now there’s space outside the wing for Henshaw to find.

To see Ireland’s outside centre throwing a pass like this early in a game is encouraging.

The 22-year-old has been heavily used as a battering ram by Ireland in recent seasons, which is understandable given his pre-contact footwork and power through the tackle. The impression has always been that Henshaw is capable of more, however, and moments like this back that up.

Henshaw’s more direct carrying [he always uses his feet well to find a softer shoulder] will remain important but it’s positive to see Schmidt using Henshaw’s distribution now that he’s in the 13 shirt.

The long left-handed pass allows Andrew Trimble to make the gains for Ireland up the right-hand 15-metre channel and two phases later, the Boks infringe again, allowing Ireland to kick up to the 22.

The flash of width from Ireland early in the game echoes what they did against England in the Six Nations. A broad attacking palate from Ireland is desirable and will keep the opposition guessing but the width will continue to be married with more direct play and a strong kicking game.

Tester for Mvovo

Having earned good field position, Ireland’s next attacking tactic was to test Mvovo’s assurance under kicks and again they got good reward.

After a lineout peel to the tail produces negative yards as Jack McGrath is driven back in the tackle of Faf de Klerk and Pat Lambie, Murray puts up the contestable kick.

This type of wing-testing kick early in the game is well established for Schmidt’s Ireland at this stage. They like to challenge one or more of the opposition back three to deliver under the high ball before being properly settled into the game.

On this occasion, Ireland’s analysis tells them that Mvovo may not be the most comfortable and Murray picks him out, getting around three seconds of hang time to allow Trimble to get in the air and force the error from Mvovo.

Again, this is a central tenet of Ireland’s play under Schmidt – get off the ground on kick chase. Even if the chasing player isn’t going to win the ball back directly, their job is to force the mistake from their opponent.

In this case, the match officials call a knock-on against Mvovo and suddenly Ireland have an attacking scrum 10 metres from the South Africa tryline. Unfortunately for Schmidt, Mathieu Raynal awards the Boks a free-kick at that scrum as Murray delays his put-in.

A negative outcome on the first possession platform in the opposition 22 but certainly Ireland will have felt they imposed themselves on the game.

Kick return

A deep kick from the Boks in the ninth minute saw Payne run back at the hosts from his own 22-metre line.

Clearly Payne has the chance to hammer this ball back at the Boks with the boot but Ireland’s tactics early in this game, along with Payne’s own attacking instincts, mean he instead returns with ball in hand.

He slips at the 10-metre line but the clearout work from Jordi Murphy, Mike Ross and Rory Best results in quick ball for Ireland to play off.

What’s the next move? A one-out, direct carry to take that physical challenge to the Boks? No, Ireland want to play to the outside of South Africa’s muscular defenders.

Devin Toner, whose skills are perhaps somewhat underrated, is the fulcrum of the forward pod to Murray’s left as the scrum-half fires the ball from the base of the ruck.

Inside Toner is CJ Stander, while Jamie Heaslip and Jack McGrath are lined up to his left.

As we can see above, Jackson is hovering in behind Toner as the second wave and he proves to be the link as Ireland again move the ball wide to Keith Earls.

There is no big gain this time and Earls’ grubber kick attempt bounces off Pietersen but again the intent from Ireland is positive. They’re not keen to simply lump into contact, instead looking to attack to where the space is.

Furthermore, the use of a forward to pass the ball is welcome. Ireland have intermittently used this kind of play in recent seasons, with the likes of Toner and Heaslip passing the ball, but it does tend to fade out of their game in the more high-pressure contests.

Forwards passing the ball is not always the answer but it is certainly to Ireland’s benefit if it is a genuine part of their repertoire at all times.

Marshall’s magic

Ireland’s second visit to the South Africa 22 yielded their first try through Payne, with the fullback taking advantage of Marshall’s delightful grubber kick to finish well.

Some superb mauling work by Ireland’s pack lays the platform for the Ireland score, as they first trundle the Boks 10 metres back starting near the 22 and then fire up again after Allister Coetzee’s come in the side of that initial maul.

With advantage playing for Lood de Jager’ deliberate collapse as Ireland head for the tryline, Schmidt’s men strike.

Stander’s carry, above, on the second phase of the attack is crucial to the try being scored by Ireland.

Boks scrum-half de Klerk is always an eager defender despite his diminutive stature and we can see that he’s needed as a tackler as Stander carries off the collapsed maul.

It’s de Klerk who halts Stander’s surge for the tryline and this obviously removes him from the game on the next phase and – most importantly – on the phase after that.

As the scrum-half, de Klerk is generally tasked with being the man who sweeps in behind the frontline defence to cover any grubber or chip kicks from the attacking side. As we’ll see, tackling Stander in the instance above means he cannot get back into position to sweep.

Ireland exploit that empty zone ruthlessly.

After Trimble and Toner aggressively clear Adriaan Strauss away from the ball following Stander’s carry, Iain Henderson is the next ball carrier for Ireland as they move left.

The red circle above indicates where Henderson is carrying the ball and we can see de Klerk circled in white, still on the ground after his tackle on Stander.

With the rucking work of McGrath, Ross and Murphy meaning Ireland get quick ball from the subsequent ruck, de Klerk has no time to even really think about getting into position to sweep.

Marshall and Ireland’s backs realise the opportunity they have. It’s unclear exactly who identifies the opportunity but below we can see the Ulster inside centre take command of the situation.

We can see below that Marshall is in behind Best as Henderson carries the ball to the left for Ireland.

Note too that Henshaw is communicating with Marshall, sending the message in.

“We’re on, no sweeper,” or words to that effect.

With that information to hand, Marshall takes control. His composure on his return to Test rugby was extremely impressive and this is a fine example of what he offered.

As a former out-half, Marshall is comfortable with making decisions. He had a nice balance of 4/4/5 on his kick/pass/carry stats overall yesterday, showing that he was utilised as more than a carrier at 12.

We see below that Marshall steps out in front of Best, directing him out of the way, and gives two big claps of the hands and a shout to Murray to deliver him the ball.

The actions of Henshaw and Payne outside Marshall are crucial to the try being scored.

Payne begins in a wide position and that width is important as it adds an extra stress for the Boks’ midfield defence in having to worry about Ireland passing out to Payne and Earls.

Instead, Marshall produces the most delicious grubber kick, nutmegging Damian de Allende to find the space that is open without any sweeper in behind for the Boks.

The kick is weighted almost to perfection as Payne bursts to the inside of the turning Pietersen.

Without any sweeper, Ireland’s fullback has enough time to get to the ball and finish convincingly. Henshaw’s effort to flood through is actually stopped by an instinctive but deliberate trip by Mapoe, which Raynal seemed to overlook.

All in all, it’s a clinical exploitation of the available space by Ireland, with their identification, communication and execution all impressing.

Advantage is playing for Ireland but this remains a pressure situation. Marshall and co. manage it and deliver a seven-point reward. The yellow card for de Jager after collapsing the initial maul is the forwards’ badge of honour.

Add-ons

With Lambie having slotted his first shot at goal after Heaslip competed for the ball while not supporting his own body weight legally, Ireland then produced a strong passage of play on their next visit to the Boks’ 22 to earn three points and a 10-3 lead.

The attack originates with de Klerk’s box kick exit, which Murray gathers before captain Best makes a pick and jam for negative yards.

Re-setting his team, Jackson uses Marshall to carry hard in midfield and then we see a lovely show of simple handling from Ireland out to the left.

There’s nothing intricate from Ireland here, just simple hands, but it’s well done and takes advantage of the space the Boks are showing out on the left.

Murphy – who had another gorgeous pass to free Earls up the left in the second half – moves the ball to Payne when the easier thing to do is simply trundle into contact. Payne and Henshaw catch and pass to Earls, who is just about grounded by the advancing le Roux.

Ireland’s handling was generally much-improved on the Six Nations in yesterday’s win and simple but effective phases like the one above are encouraging as they look to continue to develop.

Following Earls’ carry, Henderson and Heaslip make yards one-out from the ruck before a clever inside pass from Jackson allows Payne to make his first offload of the game.

We will look at Payne’s offloading and general play elsewhere but this is a lovely glimpse of what he offers when roaming around from fullback and inserting himself into play in the ideal place.

Following that inside pass, we see Heaslip tip on a short pass to Stander on his right shoulder.

McGrath plays scrum-half above to ensure the tempo remains high – a pillar in Schmidt’s Ireland when they attack in the 22 – and again it’s basic handling from Heaslip.

But that simple tip-on gives Ireland another good gainline and asks even more questions of the Boks’ defence.

With variety very much becoming the theme of this multi-phase passage from Ireland, Murray then screens two forwards runners to find Jackson in behind.

There’s a nice clearout from McGrath in between and the quick ball allows Jackson to run at the Boks, drawing a high tackle from de Allende as their defence begins to stretch.

Ireland play the advantage with a bomb from Jackson but return to kick the penalty for their crucial 10-3 advantage after just 19 minutes.

There’s nothing revolutionary about the above attack into the Boks’ 22 but there is a pleasing variety that poses a number of different challenges for the defence. It’s not simply one-out carrying where the carrier is clearly defined and ready to be smashed in the tackle.

Instead, Ireland showed a range of different tools to stretch the Boks’ defence.

As we know, this game was altered utterly by Stander’s red card in the 23rd minute but the opening quarter before that was impressive and positive from Schmidt’s side.

Seeing what they can do with 15 men at altitude in Johannesburg will be fascinating.

– This article was updated at 4.32pm to correct the opening of the excerpt from ‘Luke Marshall’s try’ to ‘Jared Payne’s try’.

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JOHN FALLON IS the only reporter from Ireland covering all of the Irish games at the World Rugby U20 Championship in Manchester.

He has interviewed most of the Ireland players and management over the past few weeks.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

Here, Ireland chart the story of their march to a first-ever final in the U20 age grade, in which they will take on England on Saturday evening [7pm, TG4] at the AJ Bell Stadium.

__________

“All set now, it’s just countdown time. The weather has been fantastic, the facilities are incredible. The place here is something else.

“Just the facilities and even the grass is just incredible. It’s a great surface to play on, great venue, so it’s a great stage to be at. No complaints really, we are just looking forward to getting going.”

James Ryan at the captain’s run prior to the opening match against Wales when they got their first glimpse of the multi-million pound Manchester City Academy Stadium.

Captain James Ryan. Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

“I’ve had a lot of problems with injuries this year and did a lot of work to get myself in here to start in that team. I’ve done so much work to get back in and then to get just three minutes is not the best.

“I may have to get surgery on it, it was dislocated. It happened in the tackle. Once I hit the tackle I felt it was gone, I couldn’t wrap it and I knew I was in trouble.”

Prop Conor Kenny, whose World Championship campaign ended with a shoulder injury after just three minutes of the opening game against Wales.

Prop Conor Kenny. Source: James Crombie/INPHO

“We are absolutely delighted. First-half we made seriously hard work. We gave them three relatively easy tries and we put ourselves in a really bad position. Luckily but for three missed kicks we could have been in an even worse position going into half time.

“In the second half we managed to hold onto the ball, get through a few more phases and impose our game on them a little bit. When we did we got a bit of success from it.”

Flanker Greg Jones after the 26-25 win over Wales, having been 17-0 down after just 20 minutes.

Greg Jones, back row. Source: Camerasport/Dave Howarth/INPHO

“It was my first 80 minutes since December, so the last ten or 15 minutes I didn’t have much in the tank but credit to the team everyone put in their fair share of work, and to get the result it was brilliant.

“I’m just delighted to be playing fit and to get the win,”

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Out-half Bill Johnston after the win over Wales.

Alas, his tournament ended when he suffered another shoulder injury early in the second half against New Zealand.

Munster’s Bill Johnston. Source: Camerasport/Dave Howarth/INPHO

“I started roughly around 11 or 12 with Shannon Estuary back home in Shanagolden in County Limerick.

“It’s not far from Tarbert, but it is not really a big club. I don’t think they have ever had a senior side but they are trying to develop it as much as they can. It’s mostly minis.”

Prop Ben Betts, now with Young Munster, on how he was introduced to rugby with the small Estuary club.

Tighthead Ben Betts. Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO

“If we just stick to our systems and we really put our heart to it, there is no reason as to why we can’t win that game.

“We are looking to win a World Championship. We need to take each game at a time and beat every team that we can.”

Scrum-half and Sligo RFC man Stephen Kerins prior to the second pool match against New Zealand.

Scrum-half Stephen Kerins. Source: Camerasport/Dave Howarth/INPHO

“We were behind our captain and we covered the pitch. If their players wanted to eye-ball our guys they had to go from sideline to sideline.

“It was that green wall that they were going to experience for the 80 minutes.”

Head coach Nigel Carolan on how the Irish squad lined up right across the pitch from sideline to sideline when New Zealand were doing the haka.

Head coach Nigel Carolan. Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

“It is still quite unbelievable but we believed all week that we could do it and all of the hard work paid off today.

“We made a bit of history today but we knew that it would be very hard from the get go. We knew that we couldn’t have a start like we had against Wales. We had to put in the work from the first whistle.”

Loosehead prop Andrew Porter after the historic 33-24 win over New Zealand, the first by an Irish men’s national side.

Loosehead prop Andrew Porter. Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

“I didn’t think it was a yellow card personally but you can’t really go back. When I came on I had to do something to make up for it and thankfully I got a breakaway there for the try and got seven points back on the board.”

Hooker and Ulster U20 captain Adam McBurney, who scored a decisive try after spending ten minutes in the bin against the Baby Blacks.

Hooker Adam McBurney. Source: Camerasport/Dave Howarth/INPHO

“It is something I had always … you dream of those moments, the end of the game, you have to score, you need a score to close out the game.

“To be honest, it was unbelievable, I can’t really put it into words.

“The ball was just there at my feet and luckily I picked it up and went over.”

Number eight and Player of the Tournament nominee Max Deegan on the try he got to finish off New Zealand.

Number eight Max Deegan. Source: Camerasport/Dave Howarth/INPHO

“It was crazy during the Six Nations thinking we had 20% of the starting team coming from Sligo at the same age-group.

“If you told someone that five years ago they would have said you were crazy.”

Lock Cillian Gallagher, who is only 18 and underage again for this tournament in Georgia next year, on how so many players from Sligo RFC have been capped for Ireland this season.

Prop Conan O’Donnell, who was on the team last year, was ruled out through injury this time round but Gallagher — another whose tournament was cut short by injury — Stephen Kerins and Matthew Cosgrove have been flying the flag for the Yeats County.

Second row Cillian Gallagher. Source: Camerasport/Dave Howarth/INPHO

“Never ever. I feel I am Irish. My whole family is Irish, Irish blood.

“Ever since I can remember I have always wanted to play for Ireland, always since I have touched a rugby ball.”

Scrum-half Niall Saunders – who joins the Harlequins academy this summer – on following in the footsteps of his father, former Ireland captain Rob Saunders.

Saunders [right] with back row Kelvin Brown. Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

“That seems to be question I have been asked a couple of times, is it about the performance or is it about winning?

“The answer I come up with is the performance; people want to see performance. Particularly the performance people who are building players of the future.

“I don’t think there is a player or a coach here in Manchester that doesn’t want to be a world champion and that entails winning, so the combination of both and putting these players into this environment is outstandingly good for their development.”

Assistant coach Conor Twomey on putting the focus on player development or winning matches.

Ireland celebrate their semi-final win. Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

“He’s a massive help to me.

“He gives me a few words of encouragement before games. He’s always by my side throughout it so delighted to have him.”

Paul Kiernan on his dad Michael, the Triple Crown drop goal hero.

UCC centre Kiernan captained the U20s in the win over Georgia when the sons of two other Irish internationals — Terry Kennedy Jnr. and Rob Saunders’ son Niall — were also in the starting XV for the 35-7 victory.

Paul Kiernan carries. Source: Camerasport/Dave Howarth/INPHO

‘We do get a good bit of free time in fairness.

“Last week we got to go to Alton Towers and that was great craic!”

Leinster wing Matt Byrne on life in camp for three and a half weeks.

Wing Matthew Byrne. Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

“I spent five and half years in their [Newcastle United FC] academy when I was little.

“There sort of came a time where I had to chose between rugby and football and I was lucky to get a scholarship to go to boarding school and play rugby there.”

Out-half Johnny McPhillips, who grew up in Newcastle Upon Tyne but with mum Honor from Waterford and dad Tony from Belfast, the lure of the green jersey was too much for a player capped at U18 level by England.

Out-half Johnny McPhillips. Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

“He is a super operator and key member of our team. Lar does a great job and the lads really get on with him.

“He has a great way of doing things.”

Irish team manager Hendrik Kruger on the invaluable contribution of kitman Lar Hogan from Limerick.

Kitman Lat Hogan. Source: Billy Stickland/INPHO

“I’m a Chelsea fan! I had never been to Old Trafford.”

Wing Hugo Keenan ticks another one off, after going to Manchester United’s ground with the Ireland squad to watch Soccer Aid.

Left wing Hugo Keenan. Source: Camerasport/Dave Howarth/INPHO

“We are well looked after and we manage to get away from rugby for a time.There is a pool hall over the road so we spend a good bit of time over there.

“Conall Boomer is a good man for that, he’s my roomie as well. He is very good.”

Cashel man Sean O’Connor is no slouch with the cue himself, apparently.

Second row Sean O’Connor. Source: Camerasport/Dave Howarth/INPHO

“It’s a great occasion to look forward to. We’re going to do what we’ve done for the last four games and follow the process but in that we’re going to enjoy it and enjoy the experience and that’s important, to embrace it.

“We’re in a World Cup final.

“We’re going to go through our process, get the stuff right that we’ve got to get right and enjoy the occasion as well and give it a right rattle.”

Assistant coach Peter Malone looking ahead to Saturday’s showdown with England.

Source: David Davies

Ireland U20 World Championship squad:

Forwards:

Andrew Porter (UCD / Leinster)
James Bollard (DUFC (Trinity College) / Leinster)
Vakh Abdaladze (Clontarf / Leinster)
Adam McBurney (Ballymena / Ulster)
Vincent O’Brien (Cork Con / Munster)
Conor Kenny (Buccaneers / Connacht)
Benn Betts (Young Munster / Munster)
Cillian Gallagher (Sligo / Connacht)
James Ryan (Lansdowne / Leinster) (captain)
Sean O’Connor (Cashel / Munster)
Evan Mintern (Cork Con / Munster)
Greg Jones (UCD / Leinster)
Will Connors (UCD / Leinster)
Max Deegan (Lansdowne / Leinster)
Kelvin Brown (Shannon / Munster)
David Aspil (UCD / Leinster)
Conall Boomer (Ballymena / Ulster)
Adam Coyle (Naas/Leinster)
Matthew Cosgrave (Sligo/ Connacht)

Backs:

Stephen Kerins (Sligo / Connacht)
Niall Saunders (Epsom College)
Bill Johnston (Garryowen / Munster)
Johnny McPhillips (QUB / Ulster)
Conor O’Brien (Clontarf / Leinster)
Shane Daly (Cork Con / Munster)
Brett Connon (Newcastle)
Jimmy O’Brien (UCD / Leinster
Paul Kiernan (UCC / Munster)
Jacob Stockdale (Belfast Harlequins / Ulster)
Terry Kennedy (St. Mary’s / Leinster)
Hugo Keenan (UCD / Leinster)
Matthew Byrne (Terenure / Leinster)

Not Considered due to injury:

Conan O’Donnell (Sligo / Connacht)
Shane Fenton (Young Munster / Munster)
Peter Claffey (Galwegians / Connacht)
Sam Arnold (Ballynahinch / Ulster)
Jack Power (UCD / Leinster)

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WELSH RUGBY UNION chairman Gareth Davies feels that a decision to revamp the Six Nations could be made when the tournament organisers meet later this summer.

As part of the overhaul, the tournament could be moved from February to April, with the introduction of bonus points, as well as a promotion and relegation every year.

“There’s a Six Nations council meeting at the end of this month and this isn’t to fuel speculation, it is an annual review of where the Six Nations sits,” Davies told BBC Radio Wales.

“Do we look at ‘is it a closed shop for Six Nations?’ Do we open the gates to Georgia, Romania or anybody else who is deemed worthy and is capable of being in there?

“Moving the Six Nations – I don’t see it as a problem if it helps other things.

“I don’t think we need to move it for the sake of it because it does work where it is now – it gets huge following, huge TV audiences etc.”

There have been further calls for a more unified global calendar, with concerns over the increasing number of fixtures that the players have to face on an annual basis.

“If it were necessary to move it in order that it were a piece of the jigsaw that enabled northern and southern hemispheres to have a coherent global season, then it’s worth doing.”

“The main reason for the global season is player welfare, to try to cut down the numbers of games players are playing,”

It is understood that new World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont would also be in favour of a change to the rugby calendar.

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MUNSTER DIRECTOR OF rugby Rassie Erasmus says the province might have to take another plunge into the transfer market after the loss of Francis Saili for up to four months.

Saili was forced to undergo surgery for a second time on his shoulder injury on Monday and faces a race to be fit to return before Christmas.

All Black-capped centre Saili has been ruled out. Source: James Crombie/INPHO

Erasmus said switching Keith Ealrs back into the centre is an option, but he will take a good look at the depth of his squad in Friday’s pre-season warm-up against Zebre, and again the following weekend against Worcester in Cork. However, if he cannot identify a suitable replacement for Saili in-house, he may be forced to look elsewhere.

“I think the next two warm-up games will definitely be a gauge for us to see will we be okay in that area into the season. If we’re not we’ll obviously have to make a plan,” said Erasmus.

“I don’t like just bringing in guys for the sake of it, they must really be better. I think the boys we have here have two weeks to prove themselves in that position. They’re certainly going to have time and they all can see there’s an opportunity now, so they know there’s no reason why they should not take that opportunity.

“If in these two weeks nobody puts up their hands and really grabs that opportunity then for sure we’ll have to.”

Johnny Holland is one player that stepped forward last season and proved his class, eventually forcing his way into the starting number 10 shirt for the run-in. He is still suffering from a hamstring issue and misses this game, but Tyler Bleyendaal could be fit to return next weekend against Worcester.

And Erasmus could hand a debut to former Limerick minor hurler Conor Fitzgerald – currently one of two fit out-halves in the squad along with Ian Keatley – who could follow his brother Stephen and make his bow with the Munster senior team.

“Young fly-half Conor Fitzgerald is going to do well,” said Erasmus. “He’s been training from the beginning with us but he’s a young guy. He’s going to get an opportunity this weekend and sometimes guys like that get an opportunity and they just take it.

CONNACHT RUGBY HAS confirmed that there will be a new stand in place for the coming season at the Sportsground.

The seated and covered structure will be located at the side of the main stand and increases the Galway venue’s capacity by 300 to 8,100.

Tickets for the new stand are on sale ahead of the reigning champions’ season opener against Glasgow on Saturday (5.15pm).

The additional 300 seats will offer some relief to Connacht Rugby chiefs who are already weighing up their options as they struggle to deal with the demand for tickets in the province.

Earlier this year Connacht CEO Willie Ruane outlined plans to build a 10,000-seater stadium for the province over the next four years.

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News of the additional seats also comes only days after it emerged that the province is considering the possibility of sharing Eamonn Deacy Park with SSE Airtricity League Premier Division side Galway United, should the stadium be redeveloped.

The capacity of Eamonn Deacy Park, which is owned by the Galway FA, would increase from 8,000 to 12,000 should the work go ahead.

The Sportsground is owned by The Galway Agricultural and Sports Trust, who lease the venue to Connacht, through the IRFU, and to the Irish Greyhound Board.

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MUNSTER HAVE BROUGHT in Tom Sexton on trial as Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus aims to compensate for injuries at hooker.

With both Kevin O’Byrne and Mike Sherry among those currently sidelined, the province has announced that 26-year-old Sexton is currently training with the squad.

Sexton, who was born in Melbourne, was educated at Belvedere College and represented Ireland at Schools and U20 level, before making eight senior appearances for Leinster.

He joined Super Rugby side Melbourne Rebels in 2014 and missed his debut season due to an anterior cruciate knee ligament injury, but recovered and played five times in 2015. Sexton moved to Western Force on a one-year extended playing squad contract last October.

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Meanwhile, Erasmus will be able to call upon Irish internationals Conor Murray and Keith Earls this weekend, with both players available for selection for Saturday’s Guinness Pro12 game away to Newport Gwent Dragons [5.15pm].

On the injury front, Tyler Bleyendaal should also be back in contention at out-half after missing last Friday’s defeat to Cardiff Blues due to a mild calf strain, while Rory Scannell’s neck injury isn’t as bad as was initially feared, but the centre is still being monitored by Munster’s medical staff.

However, flanker Tommy O’Donnell is following the return-to-play protocols after sustaining a concussion and lock Dave Foley could potentially be facing a lengthy spell out of action. He requires further consultation with a specialist after undergoing a scan on an elbow injury.

Springbok international Jaco Taute — whose short-term signing was announced by Munster last week — has joined up with the squad but the versatile back won’t be considered for selection this weekend.

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