WHO SAID RETIREMENT wasn’t easy for a sportsman?
Brian O’Driscoll is reaping the benefits of 133 hard international caps by making an appearance at The Icons Cup, a team golf tournament, in Dubai this week.
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Darren Clarke tweeted this picture of O’Driscoll doing his, erm… last minute preparations for the intense competition along with Mike Tindall.
The retired centres will team up on a rest of the world team captained by Clarke against Fred Couples USA team.
There are some massive names joining BOD and Tindall; including George Gregan, Luis Figo and Gabriel Batistuta on the ROTW team. Meanwhile, surf legend Kelly Slater is joined by Ray Allen, Mike Modano, Eric Dickerson and Oscar De La Hoya.
Here’s the teams (USA apparently have two unnamed secret weapons).
Team ROTW (2)
Team USA (1)
Team USA (2)
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“HOW DO YOU fancy a one-on-one interview with Paul O’Connell?”
“Sure,” I said “but would one of the rugby lads not be better suited with all these Toulon rumours?”
“Well it’s more a fitness piece so will I pencil you in?”
“Fire away so.”
“Oh, by the way, you’ll be doing Bikram Yoga with him.”
Source: reactiongifs
Sending the fat bloke to try his hand at yoga for the first time alongside one of Ireland’s greatest ever athletes might seem like cruel and unusual punishment but even I appreciate the comedic value.
It’s not all foreign to me. My wife’s a big yoga fan and used the breathing techniques she picked up over the years to give birth to our son without the need for any pain medication.
I told her she was just being a show off. She told me to, well, something else ending with off.
However, I was only vaguely aware of what Bikram Yoga actually was. Stretching with the thermostat set on high. Just how high though, I didn’t realise.
Google didn’t provide me with much comfort. 40 degrees Celsius, humidity of 40%, something called ‘Awkward Pose’.
Further research involved watching the children’s TV show ‘Waybuloo’ with my 18-month old. The characters in that practise something called yogo and as Teddy is able to get his foot into his mouth, it obviously works for increasing flexibility.
By the time Wednesday came around, I was fairly confident I wouldn’t make a show of myself even if, as was suggested to me, Bikram Yoga with Paul O’Connell was as good a cause of death as any.
Hot stuff
The heat at InIt Yoga hits you the second you walk in the door, like walking into a pizza oven in your Long Johns and a sensible thermal vest your mammy would approve of.
O’Connell was running late but it gave me a chance to ask a few more questions of one of the teachers, Aoife Kane, who specialises in the Power Vinyasa style of yoga, a more free flowing version than Bikram.
“I think the main thing anyone should take away from any form of yoga is that it allows you connect to your breath and relax your mind,” she said.
“When you connect to your breath, you take the awareness into your body. As a society, certainly at the moment, we are external all the time, be it Facebook, email, whatever.
“But when you come into a space where you’re connecting to your breath, you give yourself a space where you can be in your body and outside your head.”
O’Connell is tall, I’m far away. Source: Billy Stickland/INPHO
My training partner soon arrived and if he cuts an intimidating figure on television, O’Connell is even more impressive up close. I’ve seen him in person before, part of the job, but I’ve never been close enough to tickle his bare feet before.
At 6’6″ and weighing in at over 17 stone, I couldn’t help but think that were some sort disaster to strike the studio right now, future archaeologists coming across our remains would surely classify O’Connell as a different species from the rest of us.
In a way, I was glad the Munster and Ireland lock took his place directly in front of me. Hopefully, he would distract InIt Yoga’s studio director — and our teacher of the day –Jeanne Fregil from just how inflexible I was.
Spot the guy phoning it in. Source: Billy Stickland/INPHO
While a normal Bikram Yoga class runs for 90 minutes, ours would be a basic introduction and even I was able to manage the ‘Standing Deep Breathing’ pose without too much hassle.
It was only when we got into things that involved balancing on just my left foot that I struggled. If Derek Zoolander wasn’t an ambi-turner I quickly found out I wasn’t an ambi-balancer. Luckily for me, even O’Connell struggled with some of the poses so I’ll always have that in common with the 35-year old.
One thing that surprised the Munster man, as he told The42 after we’d both been fed and watered, was how long you hold the stretches for in Bikram Yoga.
“We’d obviously stretch in training but we’d hold them for two minutes, nothing like the length of time [five minutes] the teacher spoke about in class this morning.
“I’ve done some yoga before, not a lot of this type mind because they’re 90 minute sessions and they take a lot out of you. I might do a little bit of it again during my holidays this summer as I think it’s a big part of strength and conditioning at the moment.
“Flexibility and mobility are just as important as being big and strong and stretching and yoga are part of that.”
Before you could say “Namaste”, our class was over and I don’t think I embarrassed myself too much.
Well, not until I had to stand beside O’Connell in the group photo and realised how Peter Stringer felt for all those years.
Despite the accusations, I am not standing on my tippy toes. Source: Billy Stickland/INPHO
Like O’Connell, I enjoyed my first experience of Bikram Yoga. Would I have the patience to do it for 90 minutes a day, every day, for three months to become an expert at it?
Well, I’m writing this while eating free pizza that’s just been delivered to the office so I think that gives you the answer.
Read our full in-depth interview with Paul O’Connell at 8am Sunday, 3 May.
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Irish rugby international Paul O’Connell launches the new adidas Climachill product range. When it comes to performance, every degree matters, the new Climachill product range makes sure athletes can perform at their best regardless of heat, through new age design and material selection for maximum cooling.
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O’Connell confident in Ireland’s ‘outside chance’ of World Cup gloryPaul O’Connell calls on AP McCoy, ROG and BOD as he ponders retirement
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Updated 16.28
WHEN IT COMES to standout performers in the Aviva Premiership this season, the kids are alright.
The five-man shortlist for Player of the Season was announced on Tuesday and, remarkably, all of the nominees are aged 23 or younger.
Centre Jonathan Joseph — who turns 24 later this month — is the oldest youngster to make the shortlist where he is joined by Bath team-mate George Ford and Saracens’ Billy Vunipola.
All three are already familiar faces in the England setup while the other two nominees, Wasps duo Elliot Daly and Fiji-born Nathan Hughes, are both expected to make the step up to senior international level before long.
Click Here: plastic molding companyAviva Premiership Rugby Player of the Season shortlistElliot Daly – WaspsGeorge Ford – Bath RugbyNathan Hughes – WaspsJonathan Joseph – Bath RugbyBilly Vunipola – SaracensThere has been an encouraging World Cup health update on one of Ireland’s chief bulldozersAnalysis: Bangor Bulldozer plays vital role as 15-man Munster fold
HELLO WEEKEND, GOODBYE sunny weather.
And good riddance too, because we don’t need that sunshine raiding through our drawn curtains and washing out all the vibrant greens, blues, blacks and yellows that will be on our TV and laptop screens this weekend.
Cancel all your plans for Saturday and schedule meal-times according to this feast of live rugby.
Saturday
You look like an early riser, especially when there’s top notch Super Rugby to be watched over your Coco Pops.
Source: Billy Stickland/INPHO
The final round of Super XV fixtures has already begun, but the best is still ahead of us and it’s on Sky Sports 1. Dan Carter and Richie McCaw will play their last game for Canterbury Crusaders away to the Brumbies at 6.35 AM.
Straight after that at 8.35 AM is the mouthwatering clash between leaders Hurricanes (complete with Conrad Smith, Julian Savea and Dane Coles) and Sonny Bill Williams’ Waikato Chiefs.
Source: STEVE BELL
After that, you can leave the TV on for Waratahs v (for now) Quade Coopers’s Reds, but you better have the laptop open to keep tabs on how Ireland Women’s Sevens squad are getting on in the first leg of their Rugby Europe Grand Prix in Kazan.
Ireland’s kick-off times will be at 9.28 AM (v Spain), 11.22 AM (v France) and 2.22 PM (v Ukraine), and you can either watch them right here. Or on Rugby Europe’s Daily Motion channel here.
Alison Miller and Jenny Murphy will be helping Ireland on the road to Rio, which starts in Kazan. Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO
Make sure nobody’s clogging up the Wifi after lunch, because while the Women take on Ukraine, Allen Clarke’s Emerging Ireland team will already be under way against Emerging Italy in the Tbilisi Cup. It’s not on TV either, but you will be able to watch all the action unfold via the Georgian rugby union’s website from 2.00 PM.
Here’s the link directly to the feed.
Stuart McCloskey starts for Emerging Ireland. Source: Presseye/Russell Pritchard/INPHO
You still want more? Head back to Sky Sports 5 for Bulls v Cheetahs at 4pm and once you’re done with that there’ll just be enough time to see some daylight before the Top14 final kicks off. Because when you’ve watched over 12 hours of rugby, you don’t want to miss the game that actually has a trophy riding on it.
Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO
It’s Clermont Auvergne v Stade Francais and it will be live from the Stade de France at 8.00 PM on Sky Sports 3.
Sunday
You don’t want to go cold turkey after such an intense day of screen action, so keep an eye out for that link to Kazan as Ireland Women’s 7s (hopefully) enter the play-offs in the Europe Rugby Grand Prix.
Ireland men’s Sevens will also be in action under the guise of Wolfhounds in the third weekend of the GB7s in Colwyn Bay in Wales. You’ll just have to hear about that through the grapevine though.
5 things we want to see from Ireland’s Emerging talentClermont ‘sick of losing finals’ as they size up Stade for Top14 decider5 French-based All Blacks performed a powerful roadside Haka where Jerry Collins died
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The Bar (c) defeated The New Day
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3. The Miz defeated Mustafa Ali
4. Jeff Hardy defeated Samoa Joe
5. WWE United States Championship Match
Rusev (c) (w/Lana) defeated Shinsuke Nakamura
6. Mixed Tag Team Match
R-Truth and Carmella defeated Andrade “Cien” Almas and Zelina Vega
7. WWE Smackdown Women’s Championship – Triple Threat Match
Asuka (c) defeated Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair
8. WWE Championship Match
Daniel Bryan (c) defeated AJ StylesClick Here: Leggings
FORMER LEINSTER HEAD coach Matt O’Connor has backed Leo Cullen as his successor but admits expectations will need to be managed.
The Australian left Leinster by ‘mutual consent’ in May after two years in charge of the province.
A deterioration of the team’s performances, particularly in the Guinness Pro12, gave rise to a prevailing sense of discontent among supporters and O’Connor parted company with Leinster with twelve months remaining on his contract.
Speaking to the Michael Corcoran on Game On on RTÉ 2fm, the 44-year-old insisted he had no regrets from his time in Ireland but admitted last season’s results weren’t good enough.
“The results this year probably weren’t as good as we would have liked in the league and there was a lot of frustrations with went with the season,” he said. “But it’s about making the positives out of it and moving forward.
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Leinster suffered an extra-time defeat to the French side in the European Champions Cup semi-final but failed to qualify for the Pro12 play-offs, finishing fifth after a disjointed campaign.
The pressure on O’Connor increased as the year wore on. Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO
O’Connor lamented the spate of injuries he was forced to contend with early in the season and then the availability, or lack of it, of his international players for large chunks of the year.
“We had a pretty disruptive campaign across the whole league,” he continued. “We had injuries at the start of the season and then it gets broken up with the international schedule.
“To come fifth is no disgrace but the expectation is higher than that and we’re disappointed with that. We would have backed ourselves if we had of got in that top four to go on and push for a title.”
The former Leicester Tigers coach assumed the reins from Joe Schmidt in 2o13 and enjoyed instant success as he delivered the Pro12 title in his first season.
But results, and performances, went downhill thereafter as Leinster finished 13 points adrift of eventual winners Glasgow in 2014/15 -their worst league finish since finishing eighth a decade ago.
“There was a lot of talk throughout the season in relation to how we were playing and were we performing and what sort of form we were in but every team we played knew how dangerous we were and that’s credit to the group.
Jimmy Gopperth was one player who came under the spotlight alongside O’Connor. Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO
“I wouldn’t change anything,” O’Connor added. “There was a lot of changes in the back room and we lost a lot of significant leaders, as we did out of the changing room, and there was always going to be a transitional period for Leinster.”
As the grumblings among supporters began to increase, O’Connor’s position came under the spotlight. Many quarters questioned his style of play with Leinster’s performances tapering off as the season came to a close but he is adamant the personal criticism levelled at him was unmerited.
“We spoke a lot about trying to ignore the distractions and the noise from outside and focus on the positives inside,” he said of the pressure from fans and media. “We managed that but maybe the noise got a little too loud in the end.”
Leo Cullen has taken charge on an interim basis as the attention turns to preparing for next season. On the former second-row’s coaching credentials, O’Connor said there ‘aren’t many better blokes for the job’.
“Yeah, definitely. There’s nobody that knows more about Leinster rugby than Leo Cullen.
Cullen was forwards coach last year and is been tipped to take the main job. Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO
“From my perspective, I certainly wish him all the best. Does he want it? Is it perfect timing? No it’s not, but I think, certainly if you weighed up all the pros and cons, there aren’t too many blokes better to do the job.”
Cullen was an integral part of the Leinster side, under the guidance of Schmidt and Michael Cheika, that lifted three European Cups in the space of four years. The province’s fans have been spoilt with success of late and O’Connor believes they need to temper expectations.
O’Connor says he and his family will now return to Australia after spending seven seasons in Europe.
On the plane or out in the cold? We assess Ireland’s World Cup front row optionsBefore a high ball is launched, pick the back three players you would want in your Rugby World Cup squad
1987
Here the ’87 kit as modelled by Donal Lenihan
No nonsense with this jumper.
Source: INPHO
Trevor Ringland was counting up the marginal gains long before Clive Woodward with this customised little number
Years later, another Trevor, Giles would take all the credit for this leap forward in wearable tech.
Source: Billy Stickland/INPHO
1991
Simon Geoghegan would have scored a heap more than 11 tries had he not been wearing a big green parachute
Nice laid back look to Ralph Keyes sporting his vintage ’91 kit
Source: Billy Stickland/INPHO
1995
Ah, here. These jerseys are definitely getting bigger
You could have fit two Nick Popplewells in there.
Source: Billy Stickland/INPHO
Black was always very slimming all the same
And we love the squad numbers on the shorts.
Source: Billy Stickland/INPHO
1999
Four years later, glimpses of professionalism
A kit supplier! Marvelous, but Dion O’Cuinneagain would have completed his dash for the try-line in half the time in more aerodynamic attire.
Source: Billy Stickland/INPHO
The Swoosh suited Conor O’Shea
Source: Patrick Bolger/INPHO
2003
Perfection
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Not too tight, not too loose. Just right.
Source: INPHO
A jersey you could go away and play rugby in or just wear casually while having a beer over breakfast watching Ireland almost beat the Wallabies
Source: INPHO
2007
Sums up the whole thing really, off colour and overcomplicated
Source: Billy Stickland/INPHO
The long sleeve option was an interesting development though
Source: Billy Stickland/INPHO
2011
A new crest and return to form
The material (like most modern jerseys) didn’t allow for much casual wear, but if you looked like Stephen Ferris, the snug fit looked great.
Source: Billy Stickland/INPHO
This was the year the hard-to-grab, rubbery feel to jerseys really caught hold
And the end of supporters being able to afford the hi-tech matchday option, so slightly cheaper, less Batman-esque options were also made available.
Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO
2015
Collars out
The 2015 version is classic in its simplicity — no collar, and the merest hint of white trim around the v-neck.
Some might prefer a little bit more pizazz but there’s no need to overcomplicate things really, is there?
Ex-Munster centre de Villiers nears Springboks comeback after horror injury4 or 5 sessions a day in ‘deepest, darkest Poland’ — George North looks ahead to World Cup prep
Source: Lorraine O’Sullivan/PA Archive/Press Association Images
HomeThe IRFU announced that Joe Schmidt has signed a contract extension keeping him as Ireland head coach until 2017.Speaking of Ireland, Jamie Hagan has signed a two-year deal with Melbourne Rebels following the briefest of spells with Leinster.Longford footballers have begun the search for a new boss following Jack Sheedy‘s decision to walk away.An Ex-RUC man was banned from football games over ‘we’re racist and we like it’ chants in Paris.One of Ireland’s three Tour de France participants dropped out today.
Germany’s Simon Geschke celebrates winning Stage 17 at the Tour de France Source: Peter Dejong
AwayMemphis Depay opened his United account in last night’s win over San Jose.Toulon’s owner says he may sue the Australian Rugby Union for ‘millions’ over the collapsed Quade Cooper deal.An unnamed NFL coach has said RGIII’s time in the league is ‘done’ with his ego being part of the problem.Speaking of the NFL, UFC boss Dana White says Conor McGregor v Jose Aldo will ‘probably’ happen at Dallas Cowboys’ stadium.While a very well known face in the UFC has been told his services are no longer required by the organisation.
Click Here: cheap nrl jerseysThe best thing we shared today
If you haven’t seen Try Hard yet, prepare for the best nine minutes of your day.
Source: elveryssportsireland/YouTube
On the record
James O’Donoghue is not a fan of some of what’s been written about Kerry and referees.
Where we were today
Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO
Neil Treacy was at the launch of the new Munster rugby jersey and we’ll have interviews with the likes of Simon Zebo in the morning for you.The fixtures listShamrock Rovers will hope to overcome a two goal deficit away to Odds BK of Norway in the Europa League second qualifying round.While UCD will have home advantage as they look to overturn a 1-0 deficit against Slovan Bratislava in the same competition.Stage 18 of the Tour de France sees the peloton travel the 186.5km from Gap to St. Jean de Maurienne with one of the best finishes of this year’s Tour.
Showbiz, baby!
We saw Nick Cummins referred to as ‘The Honey Bear’ on live US TV.
Source: Jim Chocha/YouTube
One of Ireland’s three Tour de France participants dropped out todayThis NBA coach proves that being good is far more important than gender
39 DAYS AND counting.
The World Cup draws ever closer for Ireland, now ranked as the second best team in the international game. After comfortably dispatching a disjointed Wales team on Saturday, attention turns to the visit of Scotland.
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Monday morning’s review session will consign the 35-21 victory over Warren Gatland’s second string to the past, as preparation for the Scots begins in the afternoon.
O’Connell is likely to be involved against the Scots at the Aviva on Saturday. Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO
Vern Cotter’s men will hope to offer up a firmer test of Ireland’s ability this coming Saturday at the Aviva Stadium (KO 17.00), although the prospect of Joe Schmidt giving a handful of his front-liners starting chances means his side is likely to improve.
It is expected that captain Paul O’Connell will stretch his legs for the first time this season at the Dublin venue, while Schmidt might be tempted to put the likes of Tommy Bowe and Robbie Henshaw out for a gallop after his squad players impressed in Cardiff.
The Kiwi head coach has the difficult task of cutting his training squad by up to seven players this week too, meaning less experienced men like Jack Conan, Rob Herring, Craig Gilroy and Noel Reid may face the coming days with some trepidation.
Everything Ireland do now is built towards excelling in Pool D of the World Cup and another cohesive display against Scotland is part of that plan. Some may view these fixtures only as individual auditions, but Schmidt’s group see the summer Tests as an opportunity to build further on the form that brought them two Six Nations titles.
With that in mind, the victory over Wales offered further signs of the positive competition for places within Ireland’s squad, and the importance of the group as a whole.
This Ireland set-up is not just about O’Connell, Johnny Sexton and Murray. Those even on the very fringes of the group feel as important to the results as the try-scorers and public heroes.
Ryan made a big impression against Wales.
The most telling quotes from Ireland’s media work at Carton House last week were Schmidt’s when asked what good he sees in Donnacha Ryan, who went on to make a strong impression on his return to the international game against the Welsh.
“Donnacha’s actually been in camp a few times, he came in at the back end of camp a couple of seasons ago and did a fantastic job of organising the opposition line-out,” said Schmidt of the Munster second row.
It might seem like an odd detail for Schmidt to bring up, a couple of seasons after the fact, but it points to a pair of core components of his coaching philosophy.
Firstly, that training must be as close to Test match standard as possible and, secondly, every single member of the squad is of major value.
Saturday’s clash in Wales was a chance for the likes of Felix Jones, Fergus McFadden, Darren Cave, Eoin Reddan, Ryan, Iain Henderson, Richardt Strauss and Keith Earls to start and shine – all men who have probably been frustrated not to feature more in recent seasons but who have contributed to the training-ground effort and squad standards.
Last week, the likes of Sexton, O’Connell and Sean O’Brien reversed roles and looked to provide the fiercest training opposition they could, ensuring that Ireland’s unfamiliar (though admittedly experienced) XV delivered against Wales.
Schmidt places great value in his squad. Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO
Schmidt’s words on Ryan’s contribution to an opposition lineout two seasons ago underline his conscious effort to stress how important squad players are. Even in the immediate aftermath of the 2014 Six Nations success in Paris, he spoke about men who had missed out through injury but had contributed to the cause.
That mindset reaped rewards last November when Ireland had a serious-looking injury ‘crisis’ – Schmidt never once pointed to the lengthy injury list himself – and it will be important again if any front-liners go down with injury before or during the World Cup.
In terms of squad morale, Schmidt’s efforts to laud his squad players are important too, bringing to mind the words of the legendary San Francisco 49ers coach Bill Walsh:
The returning O’Connell and co. might steal the thunder in the coming weeks and months, but behind the scenes the work of others – even some of those who are cut this week – will not go unappreciated.
Analysis: Keith Earls looked sharp in Ireland’s 13 shirt against WalesNice guy TJ Perenara absolutely makes a young fan’s day after loss to Australia
Philippe Torreton va jouer les tueurs en série pour TF1 et pas n’importe lequel. Comme l’annonce Satellifax, il va incarner Michel Fourniret que l’on surnomme l’Ogre des Ardennes.
Le téléfilm Fourniret, la traque (produit par UGC) est une adaptation du roman La Mésange et l’Ogresse d’Harold Cobert publié en 2016. Le tournage débutera le 10 août sous la direction d’Yves Rénier en région parisienne. Les deux hommes ont déjà travaillé ensemble en 2015 dans Flic tout simplement avec Mathilde Seigner.
C’est Isabelle Gélinas (Fais pas ci, fais pas ça) qui incarnera Monique Olivier, la compagne et complice de Michel Founiret. Elle est accusée de complicité de meurtre et de non-dénonciation des meurtres dont elle avait connaissance. Elle a été condamnée à la réclusion criminelle à perpétuité assortie d’une période de sûreté de 28 ans. À noter que de nombreuses comédiennes ont refusé ce rôle. François-Xavier Demaison sera aussi au casting pour jouer le policier qui a arrêté Michel Founiret en 2003.
Michel Fourniret est un violeur, pédocriminel et tueur en série français. Il a avoué plus d’une dizaine de meurtres, dont celui de la petite Estelle Mouzin, 9 ans au moment des faits, dont le visage est connu de tous les Français. Ce dernier aveu remonte au 6 mars 2020, dix-sept ans après sa disparition.
La ressemblance physique entre Philippe Torreton et Michel Fourniret ne saute pas aux yeux, mais il ne fait aucun doute que le résultat sera bluffant. Comment oublier la transformation physique de Muriel Robin pour incarner Jacqueline Sauvage (également réalisé par Yves Rénier) ? Le réalisateur a un attrait particulier pour les histoires vraies et les affaires judiciaires. Il s’est également intéressé à l’affaire Patrick Dills en 2017 avec Je voulais juste rentrer chez moi. Inculpé pour le meurtre de deux garçons, ce dernier avait été reconnu comme une victime d’erreur judiciaire, après avoir passé treize ans et trois mois en prison.
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