Johnny Watterson

1 week ago | irishtimes.com | Johnny Watterson

Leinster coach Leo Cullen said that he was confident that he could lead his team to a Champions Cup, and that he was the person to lead the organisation forward, following Saturday’s 34-37 defeat to Northampton in the semi-final of the Champions Cup. Leinster made it to the last three finals of the competition, but lost out in all three games to La Rochelle (twice) and Toulouse. “Yeah, I think I am. Yeah. I believe that I am, yes,” said Cullen.

1 week ago | irishtimes.com | Johnny Watterson

Hugo Keenan:Involved from the beginning. Tackle early on Freeman important. Worked hard in the air and in support on a day when Leinster generally were off key. Rating: 6Tommy O’Brien:First touch was a super kick and chase. Good on high balls and a willing tackler. More of the same in a second half, full of vim and energy from the winger. Rating: 7Garry Ringrose:Big tackles in first half and huge pressure on Northampton for O’Brien kick.

1 week ago | irishtimes.com | Johnny Watterson

If you had just scored the third goal for Liverpool and put your team in a strong position to secure the Premier League title, is it okay to declare who or what you belong to? Is it okay to say ‘I belong to Jesus’? The answer is yes. Cody Gakpo did just that last weekend with his celebration in Liverpool’s 5-1 win over Tottenham, and he was subsequently reminded of the English Football Association’s rules.

2 weeks ago | irishtimes.com | Johnny Watterson

Dan Sheehan has dismissed his try-scoring spate with Leinster as the “flashy stats”. In the four club games the hooker has played since January against Stormers, Harlequins, Glasgow and Ulster, he has scored seven tries, including a hat-trick against Richie Murphy’s Ulster crew. Not a bad strike rate for 186 minutes of competitive rugby. Nor is Sheehan in the mood for flattery this week.

2 weeks ago | irishtimes.com | Johnny Watterson

Phil Dowson knows more about Leinster than he might want to. A history that reaches back 14 years, in 2011 the current Northampton coach scored a try in the first half of his club’s Heineken Cup final with Leinster in the Millennium Stadium. Then an openside flanker, Dowson touched down after seven minutes with current Leinster coach Leo Cullen also playing that day in the secondrow.