French battle fatigue factor
TOULOUSE head coach Ugo Mola has hailed Leinster as the best team in Europe as he battles to keep his own side fresh for tomorrow’s Champions Cup semi-final showdown in Dublin.
The defending champions sealed their place in the last-four thanks to a thrilling penalty shootout victory against Munster.
The French giants suffered a 30-12 loss to Leinster in the 2019 semi-final in this competition and Mola believes his side will face the top team in the tournament this weekend.
‘I remain convinced Leinster has been the best team in Europe for a very long time, in its rugby, its way of thinking about rugby, with a philosophy and a whole organisation around this philosophy.’
A weary Toulouse side will return to Dublin just seven days after their extra-time epic against Munster and Mola admitted getting his squad up to speed for another knockout battle will be a challenge.
‘We decided to really recover this week,’ he added. ‘We want to focus on mental and physical freshness. We only really trained today, and with a moderate intensity. It has not escaped anyone that our squad is in trouble, especially in the backs.
‘I won’t hide from you that I would have liked a weekend between the two games, but that’s how it is.’
Elsewhere on the provincial front, Andy Kyriacou has been confirmed as Munster’s new forwards coach ahead of next season.
The former Munster, Ulster and Cardiff hooker has been working with the province’s academy since 2021 and, after coaching stints with Cardiff, Sale Sharks, Nottingham and the Russian national team, Kyriacou will now link up with Graham Rowntree’s new-look backroom team.
In other transfer news, former Munster prop James Cronin will join Leicester from Biarritz in the summer. The Corkman left the province last summer after making 143 appearances in the red jersey. The 31-yearold loosehead prop, who won three caps for Ireland, is braced for a new challenge with the English Premiership league leaders.
‘You can see that Leicester Tigers is a club on the up, led by a world-class coach in Steve Borthwick, and I want to push myself in an environment like that which he has created,’ said Cronin. ‘To be a part of what is being built at the club is a massive driver for me. I see myself as a hard-working, confrontational player and, in the chats I have had with Steve, he wants to see those traits from me.
‘I hope that with my performances I can earn the respect of the Leicester Tigers fans.’
Meanwhile, Ireland will kick off their autumn internationals by hosting world champions South Africa in the Aviva Stadium.
In what will be a dress rehearsal of their group game at next year’s World Cup, Rassie Erasmus’ Springboks will play in Dublin on November 5. Andy Farrell’s side will then welcome Fiji to the Aviva a week later before the series is rounded off with a visit of Australia for a Saturday night game on November 19.
Ireland last played South Africa in November 2017, which saw them record a 38-3 win. However since then, the Boks have gone on to claim a third World Cup in Japan while also winning the Test series against the British & Irish Lions last summer. To add further spice to the fixture, this is the first clash since former Munster coach Erasmus was caught on camera speaking about ‘soft’ Ireland during the documentary chronicling his side’s World Cup win.
Australia and the USA have been confirmed as the host nations for the 2027 and 2031 men’s World Cups respectively. As expected, World Rugby also announced that England will host the next women’s World Cup in 2025 before Australia host the 2029 tournament.
Australia last hosted the World Cup in 2003 when Jonny Wilkinson inspired England to victory in the final over the Wallabies. A total of 12 stadiums across nine cities will be used by the Aussies, including three in Sydney, two in Melbourne as well as venues in Brisbane, Townsville, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra, Newcastle and the Gold Coast.
The Americans were the only bidders for the 2031 tournament and they will also host the 2033 women’s competition. The venues have yet to be confirmed but 24 US cities have expressed an interest in hosting games, including New York, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles and Seattle.