What a great end to a thrilling Test Series.
Irish rugby’s greatest ever season finished in winning style, at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium, as Joe Schmidt’s men defeated Australia 20-16 to claim the three-Test series.
The Hard Yards looks back on a fantastic end-of-season tour as host Andy McGeady is joined by James Downey, Ulster & Ireland scrum-half John Cooney, Georgina Robinson of Sydney Morning Herald and SportsJOE’s Pat McCarry.
Next season could get even better and [from 44:00 below] James looks ahead to a potential, exciting return of a Leinster legend to Irish rugby.
Reports in Argentina, from ESPN, suggest Leinster are set to add former outhalf Felipe Contepomi to their staff, as backs coach.
“I think he’d be extremely good,” Downey began.
“I was lucky enough to play with him. He knows the place inside out. He knows the culture and he has been amongst the best players when they were there. He epitomises Leinster, really, and he has that connection. Whatever it is with Leinster – you look at the foreign players they’ve had – they all have this attachment, still, to Leinster.
“You see Isa (Nacewa) coming back and Felipe has always spoken about it and has had such a good time here, and he often comes back. It’s just one of those things and it’s an interesting one, because I had forgotten about Girvan (Dempsey) going to Bath. They’ve announced it… because he is head coach in Argentina so it’s a nice little coup.”
Having spent six seasons with Leinster, and helped them to a Celtic League and Heineken Cup, the Argentine legend would be very much welcome into the set-up of Europe’s reigning champions.
THE HARD YARDS – EPISODE 69
1:40 – Ulster and Ireland scrum-half John Cooney phones in from Bangkok
4:30 – Dressing room beers with the Wallabies
14:20 – Praise for CJ Stander
21:00 – Georgina Robinson from Sydney Morning Herald gives the Aussie view
23:00 – The Israel Folau vs. Peter O’Mahony debate
33:00 – Aussie praise for Ireland’s best players on tour
41:00 – James, Pat & Andy answer your Twitter questions
You can listen to the show on Spotify, Soundcloud, all good podcast apps or HERE on iTunes.
