notpropaganda
Key Player
Eden 'Azarrrrrrrr!
Posts: 8,465
Likes: 5,693
Team: Republic of Ireland
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Rugby
Dec 1, 2014 21:51:16 GMT
Post by notpropaganda on Dec 1, 2014 21:51:16 GMT
www.bbc.com/sport/0/rugby-union/30267626Classic Gats. Unless they build on that win - they've shown nowhere near the form that brought them to the semis in 2011 tbh. And the game against SA was scrappy as fuck, really poor game of rugby and as it was outside the official international window some players were missing. I get that it's the long term goal for them but I just found it a really stupid comment to come out with considering the performances from Wales recently and the pressure he's been under. But maybe that's why he said it I suppose.
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Rugby
Dec 1, 2014 22:07:06 GMT
Post by The Quito Diet on Dec 1, 2014 22:07:06 GMT
www.bbc.com/sport/0/rugby-union/30267626Classic Gats. Unless they build on that win - they've shown nowhere near the form that brought them to the semis in 2011 tbh. And the game against SA was scrappy as fuck, really poor game of rugby and as it was outside the official international window some players were missing. I get that it's the long term goal for them but I just found it a really stupid comment to come out with considering the performances from Wales recently and the pressure he's been under. But maybe that's why he said it I suppose. If Lancaster came out with that the media would be slaughtering him for it and they've (I can't say we I don't watch enough rugby) shown more than Wales have.
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notpropaganda
Key Player
Eden 'Azarrrrrrrr!
Posts: 8,465
Likes: 5,693
Team: Republic of Ireland
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Rugby
Dec 1, 2014 22:12:16 GMT
Post by notpropaganda on Dec 1, 2014 22:12:16 GMT
It highlights the different mentality in English and Welsh rugby tbh. I've always found the Welsh pretty arrogant in rugby whereas the English are always down to earth and humble (poor marketing decisions aside - Grand Slam advert before losing the final game of the 6N anyone?)
Gatland gets a torrid time from the Welsh media and public because apparently he hasn't done enough with them in spite of the 3 Grand Slams in 10 years or something? They're playing poorly right now but they're always dangerous. I just found it a pretty stupid comment to out with when there has been no indication from them that they can scale the same heights - but I'd never rule them out and would hate to meet them in the knockouts this time next year. Having said that I don't see them getting out of the group. England are very strong and Australia will be even better after a year of working with Cheika imo.
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Rugby
Dec 1, 2014 22:25:59 GMT
Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2014 22:25:59 GMT
England during Clive Woodward's reign were incredibly arrogant and at times disgraceful, remember Martin Johnson's antics with Mary McAleese and the red carpet in 2003?
The reason the English are seemingly a lot more humble because they simply don't have the quality to be arrogant.
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notpropaganda
Key Player
Eden 'Azarrrrrrrr!
Posts: 8,465
Likes: 5,693
Team: Republic of Ireland
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Rugby
Dec 1, 2014 22:35:02 GMT
via mobile
Post by notpropaganda on Dec 1, 2014 22:35:02 GMT
Talking from personal experience of fans more than anything tbh
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Mycon
Starter
Con My-Ji also acceptable
Posts: 4,209
Likes: 929
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Rugby
Dec 1, 2014 23:04:07 GMT
Post by Mycon on Dec 1, 2014 23:04:07 GMT
Yeah while English fans aren't exactly humble, Welsh can get seriously arrogant.
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notpropaganda
Key Player
Eden 'Azarrrrrrrr!
Posts: 8,465
Likes: 5,693
Team: Republic of Ireland
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Rugby
Dec 5, 2014 16:32:14 GMT
via mobile
Post by notpropaganda on Dec 5, 2014 16:32:14 GMT
Ireland formally announced a bid to host the 2023 World Cup today. It's miles away but hard not to get excited about it
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Rugby
Dec 5, 2014 19:32:51 GMT
Post by ChappyHova on Dec 5, 2014 19:32:51 GMT
My brothers been playing in those Dubai 7's the last few days in what is supposed to be the social league or whatever it's called. He's the only person in his team to have played at any sort of level.
The other "social" teams turned up and clearly weren't teams that are supposed to enter a social tournament haha!
My brothers team lost all 4 games conceding 150 points and scoring 5 hahahahahahaha.
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notpropaganda
Key Player
Eden 'Azarrrrrrrr!
Posts: 8,465
Likes: 5,693
Team: Republic of Ireland
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Rugby
Dec 16, 2014 0:35:32 GMT
via mobile
Post by notpropaganda on Dec 16, 2014 0:35:32 GMT
Connacht are the only province worth watching these days. They'll still probably lose to Leinster at the weekend though
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notpropaganda
Key Player
Eden 'Azarrrrrrrr!
Posts: 8,465
Likes: 5,693
Team: Republic of Ireland
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Rugby
Jan 19, 2015 21:13:38 GMT
Post by notpropaganda on Jan 19, 2015 21:13:38 GMT
Great set of results at the weekend for Leinster, win against Wasps (which will be difficult) and they're guaranteed a home quarter final.
As for the other provinces... fuckin hell. Munster obviously the biggest disappointment, though Connacht have fallen into their old habits of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Ulster are seriously lacking in depth so the injuries meant I expected Toulon to destroy them, but the score racked up is still poor.
Jackson is out of the 6N opener with a dislocated elbow, though I think he was a distant 3rd in the running to replace Sexton anyway. I still think we'll see Madigan at 10 with Keatley on the bench, though Keatley - Madigan - Henshaw as the 10, 12, 13 sounds good to me.
Also looks like Healy and SOB are closer to starting again, which will be massive for both Leinster and Ireland
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notpropaganda
Key Player
Eden 'Azarrrrrrrr!
Posts: 8,465
Likes: 5,693
Team: Republic of Ireland
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Rugby
Jan 26, 2015 20:10:19 GMT
Post by notpropaganda on Jan 26, 2015 20:10:19 GMT
Encouraging weekend from an Irish pov though it's a case of opportunity lost for Munster especially, and Ulster seriously need to sort out the depth of their squad. The difference Henderson made to their pack though, unreal, he has to start for Ireland imo.
Stupidly excited for the 6 Nations though still no news on Murray which is really, really worrying. Reddan also went off early against Wasps so Marmion might be thrown in against the Italians. I really like him but he's never started and for his first cap to be in the 6 Nations in Rome is a huge ask. Obviously it's preferable to be against the Italians than any other team but it's not like they're useless, they could give us a serious scare if they make it a dogfight and if the pack is under pressure, the 9 is under pressure and you don't want that for a guy making his debut.
Interesting options at centre now as well with Fitzgerald coming into great form and Earls back for Munster, as well as Payne back as well. Seem spoilt for fecking choice at 13 all of a sudden. Team I'd like to see:
McGrath - Best - Moore
POC (c) - Henderson
Conan - Heaslip - Ruddock
Marmion - Madigan
Henshaw - Fitzgerald
Zebo - Kearney - Bowe
Lots of that depends on fitness. I'd have Healy and O'Brien in there in a heartbeat if Schmidt feels they're ready. Ruddock might be out as well and I was struggling to think of back row options with Henry out as well. Jennings might get the nod to have an orthodox 7 in there.
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notpropaganda
Key Player
Eden 'Azarrrrrrrr!
Posts: 8,465
Likes: 5,693
Team: Republic of Ireland
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Rugby
Jan 26, 2015 20:18:47 GMT
Post by notpropaganda on Jan 26, 2015 20:18:47 GMT
^ Also a possibility of Toner & POC and then moving Henderson to the back row
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notpropaganda
Key Player
Eden 'Azarrrrrrrr!
Posts: 8,465
Likes: 5,693
Team: Republic of Ireland
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Rugby
Feb 5, 2015 15:06:58 GMT
Post by notpropaganda on Feb 5, 2015 15:06:58 GMT
15. Rob Kearney 14. Tommy Bowe 13. Jared Payne 12. Robbie Henshaw 11. Simon Zebo 10. Ian Keatley 9. Conor Murray. 1. Jack McGrath 2. Rory Best 3. Mike Ross 4. Devin Toner 5. Paul O’Connell (capt.) 6. Peter O’Mahony 7. Sean O’Brien 8. Jordi Murphy Replacements: 16. Sean Cronin 17. James Cronin 18. Marty Moore 19. Iain Henderson 20. Tommy O’Donnell 21. Isaac Boss 22. Ian Madigan 23. Felix Jones
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Not too many surprises though I'm disappointed for Fitzgerald not to be involved in any capacity. I suppose Schmidt picked Henshaw and Payne against SA and hasn't had the chance to explore it further so it'll be interesting to see how they do in a more attacking game as you would think we won't have to defend as much as we did against SA.
Major thing is obviously O'Brien being back! Excited to see him again, had a decent run for the Wolfhounds, he's such a huge player for us. And clearly I forgot about O'Mahony in my above post.
Keatley getting picked at 10 is interesting. I think the pecking order is essentially: If Sexton is out injured then Keatley is next in line to start. But if we're just talking who will be back-up to Sexton when he's fit, I think it's Madigan because he's more versatile. Still, I'm a bit surprised as I thought Madigan was Schmidt's guy given their time at Leinster.
Ross still starting even though he's 2nd, possibly 3rd choice at Leinster is worrying though.
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Rugby
Feb 5, 2015 15:21:36 GMT
Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2015 15:21:36 GMT
Keatley was the year ahead of me in school and he was a decent schools player but i could never imagined him being a starting number 10 for Ireland
The schools team that won the cup had Healy, Keatley, Eoin O Malley and Paul O Donoghue (both retired) and Cathal Pendred as a second row. All gone on to very good things.
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notpropaganda
Key Player
Eden 'Azarrrrrrrr!
Posts: 8,465
Likes: 5,693
Team: Republic of Ireland
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Rugby
Feb 5, 2015 16:59:50 GMT
Post by notpropaganda on Feb 5, 2015 16:59:50 GMT
He's earned it, been consistent for Munster. Will be interested to see how it plays out.
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