Your Cookies. Your Choice.
Cookies help provide our news service while also enabling the advertising needed to fund this work. We categorise cookies as Necessary, Performance (used to analyse the site performance) and Targeting (used to target advertising which helps us keep this service free).We and our vendors process data for the following purposes:
Use precise geolocation data. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Store and/or access information on a device. Personalised advertising and content, advertising and content measurement, audience research and services development.
Cookies Preference Centre
Manage Consent Preferences
Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then these services may not function properly.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we will not be able to monitor our performance.
Store and/or access information on a device 110 partners can use this purpose
Cookies, device or similar online identifiers (e.g. login-based identifiers, randomly assigned identifiers, network based identifiers) together with other information (e.g. browser type and information, language, screen size, supported technologies etc.) can be stored or read on your device to recognise it each time it connects to an app or to a website, for one or several of the purposes presented here.
Personalised advertising and content, advertising and content measurement, audience research and services development 143 partners can use this purpose
Use limited data to select advertising 113 partners can use this purpose
Advertising presented to you on this service can be based on limited data, such as the website or app you are using, your non-precise location, your device type or which content you are (or have been) interacting with (for example, to limit the number of times an ad is presented to you).
Create profiles for personalised advertising 83 partners can use this purpose
Information about your activity on this service (such as forms you submit, content you look at) can be stored and combined with other information about you (for example, information from your previous activity on this service and other websites or apps) or similar users. This is then used to build or improve a profile about you (that might include possible interests and personal aspects). Your profile can be used (also later) to present advertising that appears more relevant based on your possible interests by this and other entities.
Use profiles to select personalised advertising 83 partners can use this purpose
Advertising presented to you on this service can be based on your advertising profiles, which can reflect your activity on this service or other websites or apps (like the forms you submit, content you look at), possible interests and personal aspects.
Create profiles to personalise content 39 partners can use this purpose
Information about your activity on this service (for instance, forms you submit, non-advertising content you look at) can be stored and combined with other information about you (such as your previous activity on this service or other websites or apps) or similar users. This is then used to build or improve a profile about you (which might for example include possible interests and personal aspects). Your profile can be used (also later) to present content that appears more relevant based on your possible interests, such as by adapting the order in which content is shown to you, so that it is even easier for you to find content that matches your interests.
Use profiles to select personalised content 35 partners can use this purpose
Content presented to you on this service can be based on your content personalisation profiles, which can reflect your activity on this or other services (for instance, the forms you submit, content you look at), possible interests and personal aspects. This can for example be used to adapt the order in which content is shown to you, so that it is even easier for you to find (non-advertising) content that matches your interests.
Measure advertising performance 134 partners can use this purpose
Information regarding which advertising is presented to you and how you interact with it can be used to determine how well an advert has worked for you or other users and whether the goals of the advertising were reached. For instance, whether you saw an ad, whether you clicked on it, whether it led you to buy a product or visit a website, etc. This is very helpful to understand the relevance of advertising campaigns.
Measure content performance 61 partners can use this purpose
Information regarding which content is presented to you and how you interact with it can be used to determine whether the (non-advertising) content e.g. reached its intended audience and matched your interests. For instance, whether you read an article, watch a video, listen to a podcast or look at a product description, how long you spent on this service and the web pages you visit etc. This is very helpful to understand the relevance of (non-advertising) content that is shown to you.
Understand audiences through statistics or combinations of data from different sources 74 partners can use this purpose
Reports can be generated based on the combination of data sets (like user profiles, statistics, market research, analytics data) regarding your interactions and those of other users with advertising or (non-advertising) content to identify common characteristics (for instance, to determine which target audiences are more receptive to an ad campaign or to certain contents).
Develop and improve services 83 partners can use this purpose
Information about your activity on this service, such as your interaction with ads or content, can be very helpful to improve products and services and to build new products and services based on user interactions, the type of audience, etc. This specific purpose does not include the development or improvement of user profiles and identifiers.
Use limited data to select content 37 partners can use this purpose
Content presented to you on this service can be based on limited data, such as the website or app you are using, your non-precise location, your device type, or which content you are (or have been) interacting with (for example, to limit the number of times a video or an article is presented to you).
Use precise geolocation data 46 partners can use this special feature
With your acceptance, your precise location (within a radius of less than 500 metres) may be used in support of the purposes explained in this notice.
Actively scan device characteristics for identification 27 partners can use this special feature
With your acceptance, certain characteristics specific to your device might be requested and used to distinguish it from other devices (such as the installed fonts or plugins, the resolution of your screen) in support of the purposes explained in this notice.
Ensure security, prevent and detect fraud, and fix errors 92 partners can use this special purpose
Your data can be used to monitor for and prevent unusual and possibly fraudulent activity (for example, regarding advertising, ad clicks by bots), and ensure systems and processes work properly and securely. It can also be used to correct any problems you, the publisher or the advertiser may encounter in the delivery of content and ads and in your interaction with them.
Deliver and present advertising and content 99 partners can use this special purpose
Certain information (like an IP address or device capabilities) is used to ensure the technical compatibility of the content or advertising, and to facilitate the transmission of the content or ad to your device.
Match and combine data from other data sources 72 partners can use this feature
Information about your activity on this service may be matched and combined with other information relating to you and originating from various sources (for instance your activity on a separate online service, your use of a loyalty card in-store, or your answers to a survey), in support of the purposes explained in this notice.
Link different devices 53 partners can use this feature
In support of the purposes explained in this notice, your device might be considered as likely linked to other devices that belong to you or your household (for instance because you are logged in to the same service on both your phone and your computer, or because you may use the same Internet connection on both devices).
Identify devices based on information transmitted automatically 88 partners can use this feature
Your device might be distinguished from other devices based on information it automatically sends when accessing the Internet (for instance, the IP address of your Internet connection or the type of browser you are using) in support of the purposes exposed in this notice.
Save and communicate privacy choices 69 partners can use this special purpose
The choices you make regarding the purposes and entities listed in this notice are saved and made available to those entities in the form of digital signals (such as a string of characters). This is necessary in order to enable both this service and those entities to respect such choices.
Cookie List
PRO12: Team of the Week
As part of our regular RaboDirect Pro12 and Heineken Cup features, we select the best 15 players, in their positions, from the weekend’s action.
Connacht were deserved winners over Leinster at the Sportsground, Ulster were phenomenal against Cardiff Blues but Munster failed in their attempts to do a Welsh double before Saturday’s date against Joe Schmidt’s men at the Aviva.
Here is TheScore.ie PRO12 Team of the Week:
Full-back: Jared Payne (Ulster)
Tough call on Connacht’s Robbie Henshaw, who continues to grow in stature, but Payne’s excellent start to the season shows no sign of letting up. His superb solo effort try in the second-half summed up the innovative and self-assured attacking play Payne has brought to the full-back position in the opening fixtures.
Right wing: Tommy Bowe (Ulster)
Guilty of some over-eagerness in the opening 15 minutes of Ulster’s match but he settled in very well, linked up nicely with Payne on a couple of occasions and ran in two fantastic tries. Quite a return for the prodigal son. Tiernan O’Halloran pushed Bowe close and scored a fine try late in the first half for Connacht but was sin-binned on 63 minutes.
Outside Centre: Keith Earls (Munster)
Munster may have been defeated in Wales but Earls was a danger throughout and forged a good centre partnership with Casey Laulala. Crucial try-saving tackle in the second-half, too, from the Limerick man. Michael Allen from Ulster was the other obvious candidate and showed great determination to record an early try against the Blues but went off injured immediately afterwards.
Inside Centre: Dave McSharry (Connacht)
The Connacht backs came alive on Friday night and there was a lightning-quick strike from McSharry that summed it up. He took a pass on the charge from Dan Parks and thundered straight through a stunned Leinster defence. Defended well when needed and linked up well with Eoin Griffin.
Left wing: Fetu’u Vainikolo (Connacht)
The Tongan did not have the best of times with Connacht last season but is now a regular starter. He re-payed the coaching staff for their faith with an electric burst down the left wing to score a super try. His bullish runs and clever kicks pinned Leinster back in the second half. Simon Zebo, for Munster, was also a threat in his match and fielded high balls well and Andrew Trimble got a late try for Ulster.
Out-half: Dan Parks (Connacht)
It was not all perfect from Parks on Friday but his confidence shone through and his presence at out-half inspired his backline colleagues. His clever passing stood out more than his place-kicking and drop goal attempts. Paddy Jackson did a good job in Cardiff, Ian Madigan was part of an underwhelming Leinster effort and Ronan O’Gara landed his kicks but did little else.
Scrum-half: Paul Marshall (Ulster)
Kieran Marmion came close to pipping the Ulsterman here but, just like his dart for the tryline in Galway, here narrowly misses out. Marshall kept Ulster humming all night and played a key role in first-half tries for Allen and Nick Williams.
Tommy Bowe scored two tries in his first game back for Ulster. (©INPHO/Huw Evans)
Loosehead prop: Tom Court (Ulster)
Was part of an Ulster front row that caused Cardiff to quiver and caused enough chaos in the loose to allow the backs to target the gaps. Continues to show for the ball in all areas of the pitch, sometimes to better effect than others. Denis Buckley had a good first half but was replaced by Brett Wilkinson early in the second, as was Botha for Munster.
Hooker: Adrian Flavin (Connacht)
Leinster’s Tom Sexton put in some good defensive grapples to prevent Connacht scores but Flavin, who earned his 100th league cap for the province aginst Glasgow recently, was lively during his 57 minute shift. Nigel Brady was solid, again, for Mark Anscombe’s side in Cardiff.
Tighthead prop: John Afoa (Ulster)
The New Zealand prop is as devastating in broken play as he is in the coal-face of rucks and scrums. Played a vital role as a wrecking ball before Williams’ first half try and went close to scoring himself on a couple of occasions. Connacht’s Nathan White gave his former side, Leinster, some worries as he led from the front.
Lock (4): Devin Toner (Leinster)
Toner was called into action earlier than expected when Quinn Roux succumbed to a shoulder injury and had a decent game. Has a good chance of playing against Munster on Saturday. Michael Swift won the Pro12 man-of-the-match for Connacht but flirted with the sin-bin and conceded a couple of penalties.
Lock (5): Mike McCarthy (Connacht)
McCarthy loves the evening kick-offs in Galway and was at his bustling best on Friday. His graft all game personified that of his team and was crucial in a winning cause.
Blindside flanker: Iain Henderson (Ulster)
Henderson was called up to Declan Kidney’s Ireland training squad last week and justified that decision with another excellent showing in Wales. His strength at the breakdown was immense and evoked comparisons with Sean O’Brien.
Openside flanker: Johnny O’Connor (Connacht)
Chris Henry was very good in Cardiff for Ulster but O’Connor’s energy and willingness to throw himself in where it hurt was thrilling to watch. His Ireland days may be beyond him but he showed another battling flanker, Leinster’s Shane Jennings, how to do it out west.
Number 8: Nick Williams (Ulster)
George Nauopu, who was imperious and try-scoring for Connacht, is harshly omitted but Williams was a joy to watch. He bulldozed his way to a first half try and found himself on the left wing for another in the second. His meaty hand-offs put more than one Blues’ player on their backside. STAR PERFORMER*.
Read: Exiles: Monahan opens his account while Fogs puts his feet up
Read: Four conclusions from this weekend’s Pro12 action
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Adrian Flavin best players Guinness PRO12 Connacht Dan Parks dave mcsharry Devin Toner Fetu'u Vainikolo Iain Henderson interprovincial jared payne John Afoa johnny o'connor Keith Earls Leinster Munster NICK Williams outstanding Paul Marshall Rugby starting XV the cream Tom Court Tommy Bowe top 15 top performers try Ulster