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Tag: Brendan Gallagher

Rampaging Northampton Saints set up Leinster showdown

13 April 2025 0 comments

Beating Leinster in Dublin might sound like Mission Impossible but Northampton Saints fly-half Fin Smith insists playing the ‘Saints’ way is their best chance.

Northampton Saints 51-16 Castres: Job done! Alex Mitchell makes it simple for Saints

13 April 2025 0 comments

Northampton Saints, putting their foot down after the break, breezed past Castres to book a repeat of last year’s Champions Cup semi-final against competition favourites Leinster in Dublin.

Memo to the suits: Give us some jeopardy

13 April 2025 0 comments

RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER I FEEL the need to tap out a quick memo to the […]

Brendan Gallagher: I’m all for the thrills but keep game real

6 April 2025 0 comments

Rugby Matters – A weekly look at the game’s other talking points, by Brendan Gallagher Like many of you, I was vastly amused by Chris […]

Brendan Gallagher: Let’s get these tapped pens taken from the right place

6 April 2025 0 comments

By Brendan Gallagher As a follow up to my main theme, I offer a little warning on tapped penalties as we approach the business end […]

Bath 47-28 Harlequins: Bath give Quins a lesson in finishing

30 March 2025 0 comments

By Brendan Gallagher Bath ……………………………… 47pts Tries: Cokanasiga 3, Hill 8, Molony 19, Muir 21, 37; Ojomoh 52, van Wyk 64 Conversions: Russell 9, 20, […]

Saracens 12-23 Harlequins: Jamie Benson keeps nerve to kill off Sarries

23 March 2025 0 comments

By Brendan Gallagher Saracens ……………………… 12pts Tries: McFarland 4, Elliott 39 Conversion: Burke 5 Harlequins ………………….. 23pts Tries: Waghorn 60, Porter 78 Conversions: Benson 61, […]

Brendan Gallagher: Switzerland precision too sharp for Germany

23 March 2025 0 comments

Rugby Matters – A weekly look at the game’s other talking points by Brendan Gallagher Amid the torrent of international rugby last weekend, I caught […]

Six Nations: Battling Italy make it tough for Ireland

16 March 2025 0 comments

By Brendan Gallagher Italy ………………………………. 17pts Tries: Ioane 12, Varney 63 Conversions: Allan 13, 65 Penalty: Allan 33 Ireland…………………………. 22pts Tries: Keenan 24, Sheehan 40, […]

Antoine Dupont injury: We must face reality

16 March 2025 0 comments

Injured: Antoine Dupont is helped off last weekend France’s memorable 42-27 Six Nations victory in Ireland last weekend has a sad downside showing World Rugby’s […]

PODCAST (S4, E26): France target Six Nations title and Wales target England scalp with Alex Cuthbert

12 March 2025 0 comments

After a cracking weekend of rugby in which the championship tilted in French favour following their stunning win in Dublin, Ollie Little, Brendan Gallagher and […]

Six Nations: Scotland survive spirited Wales revival

9 March 2025 0 comments

By Brendan Gallagher Scotland ……………………… 35pts Tries: Kinghorn 5, 48; Jordan 11, 33; Graham 27 Conversions: Russell 6, 12, 28, 34, 49 Wales …………………………… 29pts […]

When Ireland’s warriors sent French packing

2 March 2025 0 comments

Rugby Matters – A weekly look at the game’s other talking points, by Brendan Gallagher With eight wins against France since 2014, it’s sometimes difficult […]

Now Philippines added to list of honour for the Varsity

2 March 2025 0 comments

By Brendan Gallagher Back in the day, the Varsity Match on the second Tuesday in December was virtually an England trial game and often went […]

PODCAST (S4, E24): England regain Calcutta Cup, Wales show signs of life & France flourish in Rome, with Nick Heath

25 February 2025 0 comments

Three fixtures told three hugely different stories in the third round of the 2025 Six Nations. Ireland held off a promising performance from Wales, England […]

Cool cat Fin Smith is England’s biggest hitter at 10 since Jonny Wilkinson

23 February 2025 0 comments

By Brendan Gallagher After narrowly losing a couple of games against class opposition in the summer and autumn that they probably deserved to win, England […]

This Italian squad are good – but not quite their best side

23 February 2025 0 comments

By Brendan Gallagher Having reported on Italy since the early 1990s, I wouldn’t hesitate to nominate the current crop as the strongest all-round Azzurri […]

A Tour de France we’d all love to see for the British & Irish Lions

23 February 2025 0 comments

By Brendan Gallagher That hardy perennial, the possibility of another Lions Test against France, has poked its head above the frosty surface again after reports […]

PODCAST (S4, E23): Calcutta Cup and Six Nations R3 Preview with Scotland Great Craig Chalmers

19 February 2025 0 comments

It’s almost time for the third round of the 2025 Six Nations, and the headline fixture of the weekend takes place at Twickenham as England […]

Six Nations sides singin’ in the rain – and I’m loving it

16 February 2025 0 comments

Rugby Matters – A weekly look at the game’s other talking points, by Brendan Gallagher It was raining all over Europe last weekend, large parts […]

PODCAST (S4, E22): Warren Gatland goes and England sink France with Jamie Noon

11 February 2025 0 comments

A weekend full of statement wins and in the aftermath, a mid-tournament coaching departure. Join the guys to review how England got the job done […]

Six Nations: Steve Borthwick deserves credit for his brave calls in England’s win over France

9 February 2025 0 comments

By Brendan Gallagher Time to tip a hat in the direction of England coach Steve Borthwick who bit the bullet hard this week and made […]

Six Nations: Italy hold on to leave Wales with little hope

9 February 2025 0 comments

By Brendan Gallagher Italy ……………………………… 22pts Try: Capuozzo 20 Conversion: Allan 21 Penalties: Allan 7, 29, 34, 61, 74 Wales …………………………….15pts Tries: Wainwright 70, Penalty […]

Scotland vs Ireland – The rivalry which is a little one-sided

9 February 2025 0 comments

Rugby Matters – A weekly look at the game’s other talking points, by Brendan Gallagher The history books tell us that Ireland currently lead Scotland 71-66 […]

Six Nations Predictions League: Round Two with Brett Igoe and The Rugby Analyst

7 February 2025 0 comments

Ahead of round two, the boys from the podcast, alongside this week’s guest, Irish analyst Brett Igoe and YouTube’s Rich Isaac (The Rugby Analyst), have […]

PODCAST (S4, E21): Six Nations opening round reaction + blockbuster R2 preview with Brett Igoe

4 February 2025 0 comments

Three home wins marked the start of the 2025 Six Nations as France thrashed Wales, Scotland conquered Italy and Ireland saw off England. So much […]

Fin Smith looks like a starting 10 to me, with Marcus Smith on the bench

2 February 2025 0 comments

By Brendan Gallagher There is no justice in this world and, despite the magnificent efforts of the other 28 players on the pitch, it is […]

Six Nations: Wales find reasons to hope but it’s a walk in the park for France

2 February 2025 0 comments

By Brendan Gallagher France………………………….. 43pts Tries: Attissogbe 18, 33; Bielle-Biarrey 23, 41; Marchand 55, Gailleton 68, Alldritt 78 Conversions: Ramos 19, 24, 34, 42 Wales […]

Why can’t we apply the laws fairly?

2 February 2025 0 comments

Rugby Matters – A weekly look at the game’s other talking points, By Brendan Gallagher You can blow a mental gasket trying to get your head […]

Six Nations Predictions League: Round One with Jeremy Guscott and The Rugby Analyst

31 January 2025 0 comments

Ahead of the 2025 Six Nations opener in Paris tonight the boys from the podcast, alongside this week’s guests, England legend Jeremy Guscott and YouTube’s […]

Cassius Cleaves delivers last-gasp knockout for Harlequins

26 January 2025 0 comments

By Brendan Gallagher Cassius Cleaves, a name destined to top the bill, scorched in for a late try to keep Quins well in the mix […]

S4, E19: England & Scotland hit by injuries, French clubs fire and South Africans slump

22 January 2025 0 comments

What to make of that Champions Cup weekend? On one hand we saw a classic in Northampton’s victory over Munster, however the issues with the […]

Beno Obano red ends Bath hope of an upset win against Leinster

19 January 2025 0 comments

By Brendan Gallagher Leinster ……………………….. 47pts Tries: Henshaw 9, 15; Conan 37, Snyman 51, 76; Ringrose 60, Gibson-Park 67 Conversions: Prendergast 16, 38, 52, 61; […]

S4, E18: Maro Itoje England captaincy reaction and Niko Matawalu madness

15 January 2025 0 comments

Join Ollie Little, Brendan Gallagher and Chris Hewett for this week’s Rugby Paper Podcast edition, recorded just half an hour after it was announced that […]

Munster 17-12 Saracens: Saracens miss out but still in contention

12 January 2025 0 comments

Saracens – high in effort, determination and ticker but low in poise, finesse and attacking nous – missed a golden opportunity to claim a rare win at Thomond and take control of their pool going into Round 4.

Heroes deserve highest accolade

12 January 2025 0 comments

Rugby Matters by Brendan Gallagher – A weekly look at the game’s other talking points The second series of BBC’s SAS Rogue Heroesis well underway […]

We need return to the County game

5 January 2025 0 comments

In Rugby Paper December 29, Paul Rees refers to Exeter’s Rob Baxter, whose club were bottom of the Premiership after eight successive defeats. Exeter are […]

Tom Willis on a rampage to ignite Saracens

5 January 2025 0 comments

By Brendan Gallagher Saracens …………………….. 35pts Tries: Willis 7, 39; Cinti 47, Burke 16, 77 Conversions: Lozowksi 8, 17 Penalties: Daly 33; Lozowksi 70 Bristol […]

Harlequins are denied as Leicester Tigers snatch draw

29 December 2024 0 comments

By Brendan Gallagher Harlequins ………………….. 34pts Tries: Walker 4, Murley 28, 70; Northmore 38 Conversions: Smith 5, 29, 39, 71 Penalties: Smith 50, 62 Leicester […]

Welsh quartet spark Gloucester’s assault

22 December 2024 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Gloucester ……………………14pts Tries: Hathaway 11, Clement 28 Conversions: Carreras 12, 29 Harlequins …………………….. 0pts GLOUCESTER will be pleased with the win but […]

Welsh quartet spark Gloucester’s assault

22 December 2024 0 comments

S4, E16: Rugby Paper Podcast 2024 Awards and Champions Cup debate

19 December 2024 0 comments

In our last episode of 2024, the gang is back together in full force. Host Ollie Little and columnists Nick Cain, Chris Hewett and Brendan […]

Alex Mitchell is taking Northampton Saints to next level

15 December 2024 0 comments

By Brendan Gallagher Bulls……………………………..21pts Tries: Coetzee 34, Hanekom 61, 69 Conversions: Goosen 35, 62, 70 Northampton Saints…. 30pts Tries: Hendy 31, Augustus 40, Freeman 59, […]

Jack Crowley or Sam Prendergast – Who is Ireland’s true number one fly-half?

13 December 2024 0 comments

Much has been made of Sam Prendergast’s recent arrival on the international scene, with fans and pundits alike quick to point out comparisons with Ireland’s […]

Saracens bounce back in fine style

8 December 2024 0 comments

By Brendan Gallagher Saracens……………………… 27pts Tries: Carre 22, George 48, Willis 56, Earl 64 Conversions: Burke 49, 57 Penalty: Burke 35 Bulls………………………………… 5pts Try: de […]

The Six Nations logo is an AI experiment that’s gone wrong

8 December 2024 0 comments

Rugby Matters by Brendan Gallagher – A weekly look at the game’s other talking points I see the new Six Nations logo has got a […]

Joe Schmidt: We’ll give Lions a real test

1 December 2024 0 comments

By Brendan Gallagher Australia coach Joe Schmidt is optimistic about the Lions challenge next summer after pushing Ireland all the way in Dublin. They came […]

150th party nearly ends in tears for sloppy Irish

1 December 2024 0 comments

By Brendan Gallagher Ireland…………………………. 22pts Tries: van der Flier 23, Doris 49, G McCarthy 73 Conversions: Prendergast 50, Crowley 74 Penalty: Prendergast 43 Australia……………………….. 19pts […]

Good to see the Eagles soaring again

1 December 2024 0 comments

RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points – By Brendan Gallagher That’s a wrap for the autumn Tests and it would […]

Fiji cave in as Ireland find some firepower

24 November 2024 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Ireland…………………………. 52pts Tries: Doris 4, Van der Flier 14, 29; Hansen 40, 67; Aki 46, McCarthy 63, Kelleher 78 Conversions: Prendergast 4, […]

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