Columns - Irish Examiner

Donal Lenihan

Ireland v Wales - RBS Six Nations Rugby Championship 2016

Three key issues as Ireland seek to capitalise on French weaknesses

Donal Lenihan looks ahead to Ireland's clash with France.

Sat, 13 Feb, 2016

Six Nations championship will come down to survival of the fittest

If the opening sequence of games highlighted anything, it’s that the 2016 Six Nations title may well end up in the arms of the team with the shortest casualty list. The ability to close out tight contests is now coming down to having your key players in situ on the home straight.

Wed, 10 Feb, 2016

Paul O’Connell was destined to be a Munster lifer after all

SO everyone's go-to man has called it a day. For a rugby player who gave so much for so long, he deserved to bow out in a gladiatorial manner, writes Donal Lenihan. 

Wed, 10 Feb, 2016

Ireland need Sean O’Brien and Rob Kearney back in the mix for Paris

If the opening two contests of this season’s RBS Six Nations disappointed to some degree, yesterday’s amazing clash in Dublin served to restore everyone’s faith in northern hemisphere rugby.

Mon, 08 Feb, 2016

Three tactical challenges Ireland must master in the Six Nations

Donal Lenihan's recipe for Irish success in the first Six Nations game against Wales.

Sun, 07 Feb, 2016

Can Ireland adapt to retain Six Nations crown and four other big questions

So many questions, so many imponderables. Rarely has the outcome of a Six Nations championship been so difficult to predict. 

Wed, 03 Feb, 2016

Will the real Ireland please stand up?

Last weekend’s final round of Champions Cup pool action served to remind us that unless a team is emotionally invested in the outcome of the contest, chances are they can forget about winning.

Wed, 27 Jan, 2016

Munster must stay true to who they are in new European landscape

The problem with being a market leader for so long is that expectation levels are always set at ceiling height. Munster have been a good news story for European rugby ever since that shattering defeat to Northampton in the 2000 Heineken Cup final.

Wed, 20 Jan, 2016

Saracens v Ulster - European Rugby Champions Cup Pool 1 Round 5

Irish provinces searching for positive pointers to the future

DESPITE that crushing defeat to Saracens in London, Ulster remain Ireland’s solitary contender to make the last eight of this season’s Champions Cup. 

Mon, 18 Jan, 2016