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James Ryan has admitted that he and the Leinster squad are "excited" about the prospect of facing a strong Toulouse side in the semi-finals of the Champions Cup this weekend.

Leinster beat the Top 14 side 40-17 in last year's semi-final, but the Toulouse side of this year is much improved from their last encounter.

Leo Cullen's Leinster has hit top form in the United Rugby Championship and in this year's Champions Cup, but this stage of the season is where the Irish province is really tested.

Last year, after Leinster's win over Toulouse, they lost the final to La Rochelle. They then lost the semi-final of the URC playoffs to the Vodacom Bulls.

The all-conquering Irish province has swept away every side in Europe this year, but Ryan, who played in the statement win last year, believes that Leinster will face a very different Toulouse side this weekend when they meet in the Aviva on Saturday.

"It will be a very, very tough game. You see how good Toulouse are, like some of the world-class players they have in their squad. That includes the likes of Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack," said Ryan to the Irish Post in an exclusive interview.

"We are looking forward to it. It's another opportunity to play another knockout game in the Aviva. Those days are always special to be involved as a Leinster rugby player.

"We can't wait for it, but it is definitely going to take our very, very best to get a result there. You know we beat them last year, but they will be better than they were, and we are excited."

As mentioned already, Leinster will have to deal with the threat of facing Dupont, the golden boy of French and world rugby this weekend. Ryan broke down what it was like to play against the "world-class" Dupont as a player.

"Well, obviously he is amazing as a player," added Ryan. "He is world-class, and to be honest, I don't know any weakness to his game really. He is deceptively strong as well. He's a small enough man, but you know he's pretty stocky as well.

"For a scrum-half as well, he's pretty good around the tight parts of the game. You know the ruck and close quarters, but I mean yeah, he is the heartbeat of the Toulouse team and French team really, and everything seems to run through him."

Leinster's game against Toulouse starts at 3pm later on this evening. The game is live on RTE.

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Interview with James Ryan: 'We are excited to face Toulouse' - Irish Post

Sunday brings with it the return of The King.

Henry Shefflin makes the trip to UPMC Nowlan Park as Galway manager with his side up against Kilkenny in the second round of the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship.

You can hear full live commentary from 2pm on KCLR with Brendan Hennessy and two-time All-Ireland winner Michael Walsh, with our coverage beginning with former Kilkenny player Kieran Joyce from 1.30pm.

Victory for either county would see them move ahead of their opponents and reach the summit of the table with three games remaining.

While it is a highly anticipated tie, both teams know that the ultimate goal will be to end their respective waits for an All-Ireland title.

One man that knows about leading teams to the Liam MacCarthy Cup is Cyril Farrell.

The three-time All-Ireland winning manager with Galway looked ahead to Sundays encounter when he spoke to KCLRs Scoreline.

As well as giving his thoughts on Kilkenny and Galway, Farrell gave his opinion on modern hurling and the saturated nature of punditry.

He began: Any time Kilkenny and Galway meet its always a good game. It will tell us a lot about where both teams are at. Kilkenny are building a new team, especially up front. They have players that have been around for a while but theyre relatively young. They also have experienced players who have returned in the backs and if they have everyone, theyre going to be very strong.

Theres no doubt that Kilkenny will contend for the All-Ireland. Theyre very hard to beat and if you think back to last year, there was only a puck of the ball between themselves and Limerick, so I think theyll be right up there again.

On Henry Shefflin: I think Henry Shefflin would be very happy with the win against Wexford. Hell be happy to have the two points going down to Nowlan Park and after that game hell have a better understanding of where theyre at. What theyre planning on doing this year is getting straight to a Leinster final and win it so that they get into the All-Ireland semi-final. Youre going to meet Munster teams who are very strong, but it will be a knockout game which is a different thing.

Farrell also stressed the importance of the provincial championship for both sides.

Winning the Leinster title is big for both counties. It will tell you a bit on Sunday, but it will be more of a learning process for both teams and well know about their chances after the Leinster final which I expect will be between Kilkenny and Galway. It will be a tight game on Sunday and both teams would love to win but theyll probably learn as much about their teams by losing as they would if they won.

Theres no pressure on Henry Shefflin this year but its big for him to rectify what happened in last years Leinster final. That will certainly be the aim.

You can listen to the full interview on KCLR this Saturday from 5pm.

KCLR is the only place where you can hear all of Kilkennys games in the Leinster championship and All-Ireland series in 2023.

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Cyril Farrell: 'There's no pressure on Henry Shefflin from Galway ... - Scoreline.ie

Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics reacts after fouling Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks during the fourth quarter of Round One, Game Five of the NBA Playoffs at the TD Garden on Tuesday in Boston, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) April 25, 2023

This should have been a lay-up. A get-to-the-next-round-free card.

The Celtics should have been on their way to a date with Philadelphia after eliminating the short-handed Hawks.

It should have been one series down, one opponent down, with an easy path ahead to the promised land.

Only the Celtics werent able to finish off the series. They blew the bunny, as they were taken down at TD Garden, 119-117, by the Hawks in a game they could have easily knocked them out, and moved on.

And now there are more questions than answers. There is more doubt in the Celtics than confidence after taking their foot off the gas, and letting the Hawks back in the series.

Its almost unforgivable for a so-called championship-driven team to lose a potential knockout game like this.

The road is practically paved for them to make it to the NBA Finals. And yet, they shot themselves in the foot, losing a potential series-clincher to a Hawks team playing without star Dejounte Murray, who was suspended for the game after bumping an official at the end of Game 4.

Even with a golden path ahead, its still hard to believe in the Cs given their inability to hold leads, and close out games. Its hard to trust this team because thats how its been most of the season.

Watching them Tuesday night, they just dont look like theyre ready to win a championship, much less get there with an easy road.

They pretty much led the entire game before crumbling in the fourth quarter.

Joe Mazzulla had no answers. He was out-coached by Quin Snyder down the stretch.

It also didnt help that Jayson Tatum was ice cold (8-for-22, 1-for-11 from three-point range) and landed a technical in the closing minutes.

Jaylen Brown, who was sensational with 35 points, couldnt hit free throws (1-for-5), especially down the stretch, missing a pair with just over seven minutes to go in the fourth quarter, with the Hawks creeping closer.

Marcus Smart, meanwhile, couldnt stop picking up fouls in the fourth quarter, while Al Horford only mustered three points.

Add in the fact that no one could guard Trae Young, who hit the game-winning three with 1.8 seconds to go. Mazzulla had Brown, not Smart or Derrick White, on Young (game-high 38 points) during that final possession.

The Celtics did have a chance with 1.8 seconds to go, but Tatums hurried heave missed and there was a sense of deflation all around TD Garden.

We cant change anything, Tatum said following the loss. We just gotta do a really great job of moving on. Its as simple as that.

Only nothing is simple for this team.

The Cs were up by 13 with 9:32 to go and later by a dozen with less than six minutes to go and still couldnt close out the Hawks.

Instead of going for the throat and putting the Hawks away, the offense went stagnant. Mazzulla said they simply lost their pace.

I think weve just got to execute, Mazzulla said following the loss. I thought we got some good shots, but I just didnt think we executed the way we normally do down the stretch.

Yup, they had the collective collar around their necks, at least, thats how it looked.

This should have been NBA Finals or bust time for the Celtics.

Instead its worry time, even up 3-2 in the series.

If they dont advance, its on them. More to the point, if they dont reach the point where they have a chance to address unfinished business their stated playoff motto itll be hard to blame anyone else.

If you dont win, you dont execute, then you lost your poise, Mazzulla said. I dont know if we were trying to do too much, I just didnt think we were poised and just didnt execute well.

At the outset, the Celtics had a wounded opponent on the ropes with one win needed to advance. And the game was at home, to boot.

They knew they needed to finish off Atlanta without adding more games to the series. They knew that was key.

When it comes to the playoffs, efficiency means a lot. The Celtics know that more than anybody.

Last year, they kept adding extra games into the mix before eliminating opponents.

They did get to the NBA Finals, but didnt have a lot left in the tank to deal with Golden State.

After going up 3-1 in the series after beating the Hawks in Atlanta, Tatum brought up that very point. He said the Celtics had learned their lesson from last years experience. They knew it behooved them to finish off the Hawks, and get some rest, before taking on Philadelphia.

Guess the message wasnt received.

On Tuesday night during the potential close-out game, they blew countless leads. They missed free throws. They kept heaving threes with a double-digit lead. They didnt play sound defense. And now theyre headed back to Atlanta for Game 6 on Thursday after giving the Hawks life.

We pride ourselves as players (making) the right play and adjustments, said Brown. At times, we leave that up to the coaches to make that decisionWe gotta be better overall as a team, coaching staff, & players on getting organized in those moments, whether we call timeouts or not.

How can they flip the script?

They know, said Mazzulla. Just focus on what we did well, where we can get better, and just have an awareness to those details on both ends of the floor.

That was the mission prior to Game 5, as well. Only they continue to do things the hard way.

Given how the dominoes are falling, specifically whos hurt, and whos not, the Celtics needed to win, and rest, as opposed to head on a plane and contemplate a turnaround in Game 6.

Sixers star Joel Embiid is injured, and has a huge question mark over his head in terms of his readiness for the next series.

Hes battling a knee injury, which is never good. But now he gets extra rest.

Add in the top-seeded Bucks being on the ropes, trying to win with Giannis Antetokounmpo also wounded, toughing it out with a bad back, and the Cs couldnt be in better shape.

If they do ultimately advance, they might not even have to face the Bucks, who are down 1-3 to the Miami Heat.

So it was all falling into place. Only the Celtics couldnt do their part in a timely fashion. Instead, theyre sabotaging themselves and their journey ahead.

Said Mazzulla: We have another opportunity on Thursday, so I think its a matter of having perspective on the situation and then learning and then just growing through it. So we had an opportunity, and now we have another one. So now we just have to focus on that.

More here:
Guregian: Celtics raise major red flags by blowing chance to close out Hawks - Boston Herald

Just when you think the Top 14 table is taking shape, unexpected results arrive, throwing everything up in the air.

This week we saw plenty of drama - Bordeaux Begles fired their way into the top four with a pivotal win against Lyon on Sunday night, while Toulouse squandered their advantage at the top of the table with a loss to Stade Francais, meaning they now sit just a point above La Rochelle.

At the bottom of the table, Brive managed to collect their first win in months, and Castres continued their hot run of form to move clear of the relegation scrap into the mid-table mix.

Here are the top five talking points from another fascinating round of French club rugby.

Toulouse put their top spot in jeopardy after losing 19-10 to Stade Francais in Paris.

Head coach Ugo Mola picked a second-string starting XV for the fixture, deciding to rest key players ahead of his sides Champions Cup semi-final against Leinster next weekend.

The gamble did not pay off, as Toulouse lacked the usual ingenuity and power which audiences have become accustomed to seeing on a weekly basis.

Their only try of the game was scored by centre Pierre Fouyssac, with Melvyn Jaminet adding the extras. Soon after, the French fullback was ferried off the field after sustaining an ankle injury, meaning he is likely to miss next weeks knockout game.

With Toulouse lacking their usual firepower, Stade Francais capitalised, carried in large part by the boot of fly-half Joris Segonds, who converted four penalties in total.

The win cements Stades hold over the third spot and means they are all but set on qualifying for the postseason.

Meanwhile, La Rochelle continued their trailblazing run of form with a confident 26-13 win at home to Clermont, pushing them to within one point of Toulouse.

Brive picked up a crucial 22-17 win against relegation rivals Pau at the Stade Amde-Domenech, bringing to an end a torrid run of eight straight losses in all competitions.

Tries have been hard to come by for the men in black and white this season, and this weekend proved no different, with Motu Matu'u crossing the whitewash for their sole try of the afternoon.

It meant the struggling club had to rely upon the boot of Argentine fly-half Nicols Snchez, who kicked five penalties, ensuring victory fell in favour of the home side.

Despite the win, Brive remains firmly rooted to the bottom of the table, but there remains a slight glimmer of hope of an escape from the automatic relegation spot before the season ends.

For Pau, the loss puts them just three points clear of the relegation zone, with little time to turn things around.

Brive were not the only struggles to pick up a big win this weekend, as Perpignan beat Racing 30-21 in a full-blooded contest.

Two tries from Argentinian flanker Joaquin Oviedo and additional scores from replacement prop Sacha Lotrian and winger Ali Crossdale were enough to cement victory in a dramatic tie.

On the 22nd minute mark, Perpignan number eight Genesis Mamea-Lemalu and Racing second row Anton Bresler Racing both saw red, reducing the two sides to 14 men apiece.

The disruption clearly didn't stifle Perpignan as they cruised to an unexpected win, putting them just three points off Pau.

Meanwhile, Racing remains in seventh, equal on points with Lyon, who are a spot above them.

Castres catapulted up the Top 14 table following a stirring 31-18 win over play-off hopefuls Toulon at the Stade Pierre-Fabre.

The fourth straight win for last seasons finalists sees them move above Montpellier and Clermont to put them ninth overall, in with an outside shot of reaching the postseason.

This is remarkable, given only a few weeks ago, Castres were in the heat of a relegation battle, but now they seem to be enjoying their rugby and reaping the rewards for it.

Tries from Julien Dumora and the Fijian duo of Vilimoni Botitu and Josaia Raisuqe gave Castres the edge over Toulon, who failed to score a single try.

Instead, Toulon had to rely upon the boots of Dan Biggar and Thomas Salles to keep them in the game but in the end, this wasnt enough, and the loss sees them drop back to fifth in the table.

In the other Saturday fixture, Bayonne returned to winning ways with a tight 33-30 victory over Montpellier.

Bordeaux Begles edged into the top four with a commanding 23-9 win over playoff rivals Lyon.

At the break, Lyon held a narrow 6-3 lead, but Bordeaux fought back, first with some pinpoint kicking from Maxime Lucu.

Then in the last ten minutes of play, the hosts took charge with tries from Maxime Lamothe and Nicolas Depoortere - who started the game on the bench but came on within eight minutes to replace Jean-Baptiste Dubie.

The result sees Bordeaux overtake Lyon, who, after losing their last two matches, have slipped down to sixth.

Original post:
Five Talking Points From Round 23 Of The Top 14 - Top Spot Up For ... - FloRugby

The USWNT has played its last game before the 2023 World Cup roster is announced in June. (Brad Smith/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

The U.S. womens national team has wrapped up its final international window before the 2023 World Cup roster is named. Between now and June, players are hard at work with their club teams both in the NWSL and abroad.

USWNT head coach Vlatko Andonovski has made it clear that game minutes matter for roster selection, and he has been actively watching NWSL games, most recently catching two matches in the Pacific Northwest this past weekend.

As player performances and returns from absence become clearer, its time for a second stab at projecting Andonovskis 23-player squad that will make the trip to New Zealand to try to repeat as World Cup champions.

Alyssa Naeher (Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

On the roster: Alyssa Naeher, Casey Murphy, Adrianna Franch

First player out: Aubrey Kingsbury

The USWNT goalkeeping position seemed all but wrapped up going into April, but a few NWSL performances have thrown just a shred of doubt into the mix. Naeher and Franch have each had touchy moments for their clubs in recent weeks. Franch wasnt selected to start for Kansas City in their 2-0 win over the Orlando Pride this weekend, with backup keeper Cassie Miller getting the nod in her place. Also over the weekend, Naehers Chicago Red Stars allowed five goals against OL Reign on just five shots on goal.

Theres enough evidence piling up to make U.S. fans slightly nervous, but probably not enough to sway Andonovski from his pre-determined trio of goalkeepers, all of whom have necessary experience at the international level. Casey Murphy, though, might have a clearer road to competing for serious minutes rather than serving primarily as Naehers backup if she begins to look like the clear frontrunner in form.

Kelley O'Hara (Brad Smith/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

On the roster: Becky Sauerbrunn, Alana Cook, Naomi Girma, Tierna Davidson, Emily Fox, Crystal Dunn, Kelley OHara

First players out: Sofia Huerta, Emily Sonnett, Casey Krueger

Determining who makes the USWNT defense for this years World Cup is as much a numbers game as it is a reflection of individual quality. If the U.S. takes seven attackers, they can roster only seven defenders, meaning they cant provide cover for every position on the backline. If Andonovski wants four center backs along for the ride, that limits his ability to have a relevant backup for every outside back and vice versa.

There are some things we know. Andonovski has indicated his current preferred starting defense is made up of Becky Sauerbrunn and Naomi Girma in the central defense, with Emily Fox and Crystal Dunn on the outside. That leaves others fighting for rotation spots. Tierna Davidson provides flexibility as a center-back/outside-back hybrid, and Alana Cook has gotten too many minutes in the teams system to be dropped now. The question then lies on the outside, where the U.S. will surely need to rotate throughout the tournament.

The biggest question mark is whether Kelley OHara or Casey Krueger has displaced Sofia Huerta, a crossing extraordinaire in the attack but a player who could struggle defensively against top competition. OHaras has steadily built her fitness back up to full 90-minute performances for Gotham in the early going of the NWSL season, and her experience could win out in crunch time. Emily Sonnett has been playing defensive midfield for OL Reign this season, indicating she might not currently have a foothold in the U.S. defense.

Julie Ertz (Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

On the roster: Julie Ertz, Andi Sullivan, Ashley Sanchez, Rose Lavelle, Lindsey Horan, Kristie Mewis

First players out: Taylor Kornieck, Sam Coffey

Fans have long desired two clear defensive midfield candidates to make sure the USWNT midfield is as balanced as possible at the World Cup, and it seems their prayers have been answered. The USWNT is now likely to take two No. 6s in New Zealand, but they are not the two anybody expected. Julie Ertzs return has flipped the teams midfield dynamic on its head, with the 31-year-old providing a solid counter-option to Andi Sullivan depending on the teams opponent.

The good news of Ertzs return does spell trouble for other midfielders who have been auditioning for various roles, including Taylor Kornieck, who may end up on the outside looking in. Ashley Sanchez doesnt provide as much versatility, but shes clearly Rose Lavelles attacking midfield backup when the veteran isnt available. And Kristie Mewis major tournament experience might be enough to secure her spot as the final midfielder on the plane to New Zealand.

Alyssa Thompson (John Todd/USSF/Getty Images).

On the roster: Alex Morgan, Sophia Smith, Lynn Williams, Megan Rapinoe, Catarina Macario, Trinity Rodman, Alyssa Thompson

First players out: Ashley Hatch, Midge Purce

With Mallory Swanson now sidelined with a serious knee injury, the U.S. has once again had to scramble to make sure all elements of the attack are covered by players with international experience. The good news is that the winger position is one of the USWNTs deepest, with quality forwards still likely to just miss out on a trip to the World Cup.

Andonovski called teen phenom Alyssa Thompson up in the wake of Swansons injury, appearing to place her higher on the depth chart than Gotham winger Midge Purce. Thompson is still a work in progress, but she plays off Sophia Smith well positionally and has a defensive motor the team could need in a close knockout game. Megan Rapinoe has shown her quality on set pieces hasnt abated in the latter stages of her career, likely becoming a candidate to help play left wing by committee in Swansons absence. Lynn Williams, a player built for Andonovskis system, has also only solidified her place with an excellent run of form in the NWSL.

The other unknowable factor in the final attacking decision for the U.S. is the status of Catarina Macario, whose timeline for a return to competitive play gets slimmer by the day. Macario has fewer than five matches left in her club season with Olympique Lyon and hasnt yet indicated a return to full training.

Ashley Hatch, meanwhile, has continued to perform in NWSL, scoring three goals in four games. Despite that, the Spirit forward hasnt seemed to make much progress in playing time with the U.S. At this moment, Im still betting on Macarios promise over Hatchs known qualities, though the balance between the two players shifts further toward Hatch with every passing day.

Claire Watkins is a Staff Writer at Just Womens Sports. Follow her on Twitter @ScoutRipley.

Link:
USWNT mock roster 2.0: Projecting the 2023 World Cup team - Just Women's Sports