PODCAST : Ep 56 : “#RetroRugby 10 - TLSvLEI2006 featuring Cian O’Muilleoir (@RugbyKino)”

In the 10th instalment of our #RetroRugby series we look back at Toulouse v Leinster in the Heineken Cup quarterfinal of 2006.  Although it was to be a few years before the boys in blue saw European glory, this match was a crucial part of the evolution.  Discussing it with me is Cian O’Muilleoir of Laighin Pit and @RugbyKino fame.

You'll find Cian on twitter here > https://twitter.com/rugbykino and also here > https://twitter.com/LaighinPit

And my new pod with Keego on the US Presidential election can be found here > https://anchor.fm/whatsthestorywith

Interview with Mike Ross on the 2011 Heineken Cup Final

You could call it Episode 3 of our new Facebook Live show The Leinster Laighin in conjunction with Three Blokes, A Ball & BOD.

Or you could call it Episode 9 in our #RetroRugby series where we rewatch great matches from years gone by.

OR you could call it Episode 54 of The HarpinOnRugby Podcast.

Whatever way you package it, what you have is a chat Big Joe Shep & I had with Leinster & Ireland legend Mike Ross on Wednesday evening, where he gave us some amazing insights to what it was like before, during and after that rollercoaster ride of a final in Cardiff back in 2011.

Here's where you can watch the show...

Here's where you can listen to the podcast with highlights from the interview...

And here is where you can watch Monday's rewatch party when Big Joe Shep, Keego & I harped on as we endured the first half and enjoyed the second...

Enjoy.  JLP

PODCAST : Ep 52 : “#RetroRugby 8 - HCup SF 2018 LEIvSCA featuring Richard Mifsud”

For this pod we’re bringing back our #RetroRugby series, looking back at a great contest from years gone by and today long time Harpin commenter Richard Mifsud and I feature a Leinster triumph on the road to earning star number four.  

If you’d like to rewatch the match yourself before listening to our thoughts just hit pause and watch the YouTube clip below, we promise to wait patiently.

For links to all episodes in our RetroRugby series click here > https://bit.ly/RetroRugby

#RetroRugby home page

Throughout the COVID void we have run a feature called #RetroRugby whereby myself and a guest would watch a great rugby match from years gone by and have a harpin' session via the pod. 

Here's a home page for links to all the different episodes - of course if you subscribe to The HarpinOnRugby Podcast (available on all major platforms) you'll get the new ones as we make them, as well as our other recently added feature The Pod Of Three were we share clips from all the best independent rugby podcasts out there. 

1. FRAvIRE2018 featuring @RugbyKino
2. WALvIRE2009 featuring Conor Cronin
3. HCupFinal2009 featuring Neil ‘Keego’ Keegan (@nkeegan)
4. RSAvJPN2015 featuring Ciarán Duffy (@PostToPostSport)
5. 2ndNZLvBIL2017 featuring Michelle Tobin (@CorkSeashell)
6. AUSvIRE from #RWC2011 featuring Kristian Ross
7. ENGvFRA2015 (plus Ferg McF tribute) featuring Conor Cronin
8. LEIvSCA HCup SF 2018 featuring Richard Mifsud
9. HCupFinal2011 featuring Mike Ross & Big Joe Shep
10. TLSvLEI HCup QF 2006 featuring @RugbyKino
11. IREvNZL2018 featuring Ciarán Duffy (@PostToPostSport)

A recap of our #RetroRugby series of podcasts so far

We're in no way finished with our #RetroRugby podcasts just yet, we're just taking a break for a week or two so in the meantime I thought I'd throw together this post to put links to the seven we've done so far in the one place.   

If you've missed any of them why not watch a match and take in our chat see how much you disagree on? 🤪

#1 - FRANCE v IRELAND 2018 with Cian O'Muilleoir

#2 - WALES v IRELAND 2009 with Conor Cronin

#3 - LEINSTER v LEICESTER TIGERS 2009 with Neil Keegan

#4 - SOUTH AFRICA v JAPAN 2015 with Ciarán Duffy

#5 - ALL BLACKS v LIONS 2017 (2ND TEST) with Michelle Tobin

#6 - AUSTRALIA  v IRELAND 2011 with Kristian Ross

#7 - ENGLAND v FRANCE 2015 with Conor Cronin

PODCAST : Ep 48 : #RetroRugby 7 - ENGvFRA2015 (plus Ferg McF tribute) featuring Conor Cronin

For the seventh instalment of the series I was joined by Conor Cronin to talk about that crazy England v France match at Twickenham at the end of the 2015 Six Nations, though first we pay a quick tribute to the Leinster & Ireland career of Fergus McFadden.

Match stream >  https://youtu.be/W4SO4aDPO70

Haskell incident referenced > https://youtu.be/Z6tMj5w_kbE

Match stats > https://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/match?gameId=180693&league=180659

Harpin writeup (for IREvSCO the same day but ENGvFRA referenced) > http://www.harpinonrugby.net/2015/03/scotland-10-ireland-40.html

PODCAST : Ep 47 : #RetroRugby 6 - AUSvIRE from #RWC2011 featuring Kristian Ross

Listen to the pod via the player above or even better,  

why not subscribe we're on Apple Podcasts and most major platforms

For the sixth instalment of the series I was joined by Kristian Ross who was keen to talk about one of Ireland’s best outings at a Rugby World Cup, that against the Wallabies to kick off our campaign in 2011.  Trust me, this is the best chat on Irish rugby between a Yank and a Geordie you’ll hear today.

Match stream (part 1 of 4 videos) > https://youtu.be/2FxSD0BkSpY 

Match stats > https://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/lineups?gameId=93473&league=164205

Harpin writeup > http://www.harpinonrugby.net/2011/09/ireland-15-australia-6.html

PODCAST : Ep 46 : #RetroRugby 5 - #2ndNZLvBIL2017 featuring Michelle Tobin (@CorkSeashell)

Listen to the pod via the player above or even better, 
why not subscribe we're on Apple Podcasts and most major platforms

For the fifth instalment of the #RetroRugby series I was joined by Michelle Tobin who did 12 great blogs for us back in 2017 outlining her experiences following the Lions around New Zealand.  Today our focus is on the second test but she also shares some stories from the trip as a whole and it was a great rugby chat all round.

Match stream (highlights) >  https://youtu.be/KF0s-qiMyLY

Michelle’s Tour Diary > http://www.harpinonrugby.net/2017/06/a-lions-tour-diary-by-michelle-tobin-1.html

Harpin writeup > http://www.harpinonrugby.net/2017/07/new-zealand-21-lions-24.html

PODCAST : Ep 45 : #RetroRugby 4 - #RSAvJPN2015 featuring Ciarán Duffy (@PostToPostSport)

Use the player above to listen or subscribe 

we're on most major platforms including Apple Podcasts

For the fourth instalment of the series I was joined by Ciarán Duffy from PostToPost Sport to feature one of the greatest World Cup matches of all time, South Africa v Japan from 2015.  We discuss the amazing timeline from the match and also the way the fixtures from the pool stages made it all but impossible for the Brave Blossoms to build on their famous victory.   

Match stream >  https://youtu.be/o5UMmIMeZzQ

Harpin writeup > http://www.harpinonrugby.net/2015/09/rsa-32-34-jpn-8-0-review.html

Ciarán Duffy's PostToPost site > https://posttopost.sport.blog/

...and the mental health charity link > https://posttopost.sport.blog/mental-health/

PODCAST : #RetroRugby 3 - HCupFinal2009 featuring Neil ‘Keego’ Keegan (@nkeegan)

Listen from the player below or subscribe to the feed on Apple Podcasts and all major platforms

For the third instalment of the series I was joined by Neil 'Keego' Keegan of CouchPunditIreland.com to discuss the 2009 Heineken Cup final between Leinster and Leicester Tigers - we were banging on for over an hour but truth be told, not only could we have gone longer on this match, we referenced at least half a dozen other games from the same season which could easily get the #RetroRugby treatment.

Running order : 

(1) Setup part 1 

(2) Setup part 2 

(3) First half hour 

(4) 30-50m 

(5) Last half hour

Links to watch the match itself > https://youtu.be/wPJbzFhARCc (1st half) & https://youtu.be/9T588UUylVg (2nd half)

Harpin match writeup from 2009 > http://www.harpinonrugby.net/2009/05/leinster-19-leicester-16.html

(Apologies if the link spoils the final score but hey, it's been like 11 years! 🤪)

PODCAST : #RetroRugby 2 : Wales v Ireland 2009 with Conor Cronin

For the second installment of our #RetroRugby series I was joined by Conor Cronin to discuss Ireland’s unforgettable win over Wales in Cardiff back in 2009 - normally I go for pods of about half an hour but we had so much to harp on from this match I let it go even further...

RUNNING ORDER

Intro

1  What was rugby like at the time?

2 The first half hour

3 From the first score to "TOMMY BOOOOWE!!!"

4  From the fightback to the drop goals


5 From Paddy to Stephen to Geordan to....YES!!!!

Listen to the pod on the link above or on most major platforms - why not subscribe to be sure to get the next one?  JLP

Previously in the #RetroRugby series...

1. FRAvIRE2018 with Cian O'Muilleoir

This week we're gonna #RetroRugby like it's 2009

If you happen to run a Leinster & Ireland rugby fan site and you're planning to rewatch classic matches during an enforced break in live action, it makes sense to start by going back to the most successful times.  And in recent history, you won't get two better years than 2009 and 2018 for that particular niche market.

So after kicking off our #RetroRugby series last week by featuring the famous "Sexton drop goal" match from Paris in the 2018 Six Nations, we thought it was fitting to switch our focus to 2009 since last Saturday marked 11 years to the day since we won the Grand Slam in Cardiff.

Not only was that a memorable year for both Leinster & Ireland Rugby, it was also our first full season of harping on these pages.  So we're hoping to do two pods this week - first we'll look at the Six Nations, with the Wales match being the highlight but to set the tone we'll also look briefly at the win over England at Croke Park in Round 3.  Joining me on that pod will be Conor Cronin.

Then later in the week we'll turn our attention to Leinster and that amazing day at Murrayfield against the Leicester Tigers, and my guest will be Ciarán Duffy of the excellent podcast Post To Post Sport.

If you want to join in with RetroRugby why not watch any or all of the full YouTube replays below and send us in your thoughts so we can share them on the pods, or failing that just subscribe (available through all major platforms) and listen!

We've more RetroRugby pods lined up over the coming weeks with Leinster, Ireland and even the Lions in the mix.  Hopefully you are all doing ok in these testing times and we can help our fellow egg-chasing nuts to get through it all!  JLP

PODCAST : #RetroRugby 1 : France v Ireland 2018 featuring @RugbyKino

To help fill the COVID19 void, I have enlisted some contributors to a project I call #RetroRugby where we look back over great contests from years gone by.  The idea is not just to go over the match in question but also to see how the rugby world stood at the time.  First on the list was France v Ireland from the 2018 Six Nations and rewatching it with me was @RugbyKino.

#RetroRugby 1 : Front Five

I hope St Patrick's Day finds you & yours well.  It is a crazy time, no doubt about it.  

Right about now we should be harping on a completed Six Nations campaign, getting ready for today's Leinster Schools Cup Final at the RDS, as well as looking ahead to the remainder of the domestic rugby season and hopefully a continuation of Leinster's unbeaten run.

But alas that is not to be and rather than lament that reality, here at Harpin Manor we have chosen to lean into it and find a way to stay active by way of what we're calling #RetroRugby.

Of course we're not trying to say we invented this concept - all over the world sports fans are passing the time by rewatching classic contests.  We just want to do it our own way, and that involves spending the entire day of the rewatch attempting to recapture the sporting atmosphere of the time.  

So for our first match, namely the first of Ireland's Grand Slam campaign from 2018 (not too far back I know but still fitting IMO since we were meant to play in Paris last weekend), we start by sharing our "Front Five" feature from the the morning of the match.

Later today we will re-post our match preview, and then at 3pm, the rewatch will begin and I will be tweeting updates along with @RugbyKino.  I will be watching using this YouTube clip - the commentary is in French.  After full time I will post a selection of online comments from the day in question as well as my match writeup and finally, @RugbyKino and I will have a chat for a podcast to round things off.

Hopefully you'll join us and this can be a good way to get through the rugbyless weeks ahead!  JLP

Front Five - Feb 3, 2018

A selection of quotes & links

---

"Hopefully I haven’t outstayed my welcome"

The Joe Schmidt interview

Gerry Thornley - Irish Times

---

What looked, for the longest time, to be a French rout turned into one hell of a game in Bordeaux.

Tommy O'Brien pure class but Ireland U20s fall agonisingly short

Pat McCarry - SportsJoe.ie

---

Roscrea advanced to the last-eight of the Leinster Schools Senior Cup after overcoming a stern challenge from Wesley College

Kilgallon kick-starts Roscrea drive

Irish Independent

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All five Ulster Bank League Division 1A matches on Saturday see clubs from opposite halves of the table go head-to-head

Ulster Bank League: Division 1A Previews

IrishRugby.ie

---

TV3 have taken over the coverage of the famous competition and will have to big boots to fill as RTE’s renowned coverage

Brilliant TV3 Promo Will Get You Fired Up For The NatWest Six Nations

Eddie Ryan - SportsJoe.ie

---

#RetroRugby kicks off with France v Ireland 2018

#1 : FRANCE V IRELAND SIX NATIONS 2018

REWATCH STARTS : TUESDAY MARCH 17 AT 3PM

Rather than leave the site idle over the coming weeks of uncertainty, we've decided here at Harpin Manor to hop on the re-watching bandwagon so for the near future we'll be going back over some great Leinster & Ireland matches from years gone by.

For our first installment, we're not going back all that far.  With no France v Ireland match last weekend, we're travelling back to February 2018 and the last time the two sides met in Paris.  Of course we all know how it turned out so the picture above isn't exactly a spoiler, but what we want to do with #RetroRugby is look back at how the rugby world was at that time so as well as re-watching the 80 minutes, we'll also be looking at sporting headlines, our Harpin match preview and then some of the online reactions to the result at the time where possible.

Joining me in the re-watch will be Cian "@RugbyKino" O'Mulleoir.  The plan is to start the video rolling at 3pm on St Patrick's Day and we'll be tweeting our way throughout and then that same evening, we'll record a chat about the match for a podcast to round things off.

Maybe if you're free you can watch along with us and share your thoughts along with us, otherwise check out the pod once I have it published.

I'll be using the YouTube clip below to watch - the commentary is in French though I find the foreign language element helps you form your own narratives.  If I find an alternative legal source with English I'll pass it on.

Hope you can join in this experimental project  - if so I'll see you on Twitter at 3 bells on Tuesday!!! JLP