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Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2018 10:45 pm
by DiscoHips D'Arcy
fishfoodie wrote:There's some proper flapping going on over on the English thread; there's a few on there talking about dropping Itoje :shock:
Itoje was shown up by Ryan and Hendo. what a pairing

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2018 10:48 pm
by Boxcar Ira
Itoje will be back but he needs a rest. The spivs will flog the best English players which is sad in a way. Itoje is too good to be a two season wonder.

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2018 10:55 pm
by themaddog
Are the highlights on youporn yet?

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2018 10:55 pm
by Willie Falloon
kerry_exile wrote:Lads, we're not very entertaining, but we ARE real. Savage to win a Slam in a Paris/Twickenham year.

We really, really, really need to get to a RWC semi final next year at least.
WHATTTT?

When you support Ulster week in, week out, it is bloody entertaining to see a pack perform like that.You guys don't know how lucky you are. :(( :((

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2018 11:00 pm
by fishfoodie
Boxcar Ira wrote:Itoje will be back but he needs a rest. The spivs will flog the best English players which is sad in a way. Itoje is too good to be a two season wonder.
I think he rushed back too quick after the broken jaw, because Sarries were floundering, & then of course he gets thrown back into the English setup, just because he's playing; rather than looking at how he's playing. That & he's now in that 2nd season, where people have seen how good he is, & they now plan for him.

He's good enough & smart enough to recover, if he's given a chance & not flogged to death by the spivs

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2018 11:07 pm
by Miguel Indurain
Tschussie wrote:
fishfoodie wrote:
Armchair_Superstar wrote:That England pack were beaten out the gate. So many dominant performances.

Standers try was a thing of beauty.
Dan Leavy like a second 10.

Glory days.
I think he was thinking that he was going to ground the ball at the base of the post from a long way out; it was brilliant heads-up rugby from him
Image
:lol:

Love that gif, Tschussie. :thumbup:

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2018 11:15 pm
by Miguel Indurain
Schmidt asked about comparing grand chelem 2018 to grand chelem 2009, drew an interesting comparison between Sexton and O'Gara.
We started this grand slam with a final minute drop kick by Sexton in the opening fixture, whereas 2009 grand slam fixture ended with a drop kick by O'Gara (and a missed penalty by Stephen Jones)

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2018 11:21 pm
by Jim Lahey
Miguel Indurain wrote:Schmidt asked about comparing grand chelem 2018 to grand chelem 2009, drew an interesting comparison between Sexton and O'Gara.
We started this grand slam with a final minute drop kick by Sexton in the opening fixture, whereas 2009 grand slam fixture ended with a drop kick by O'Gara (and a missed penalty by Stephen Jones)
Yeah but Sexton didn't play like a sack of shit throughout the tournament like ROG did.

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2018 11:23 pm
by Lazy Couch potato
I’m right in thinking that our three championship wins under Schmidt have seen bod poc and now best captain is to wins.


Pretty nice for 3 of the best leaders we’ve ever had

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2018 11:25 pm
by Miguel Indurain
Jim Lahey wrote:
Miguel Indurain wrote:Schmidt asked about comparing grand chelem 2018 to grand chelem 2009, drew an interesting comparison between Sexton and O'Gara.
We started this grand slam with a final minute drop kick by Sexton in the opening fixture, whereas 2009 grand slam fixture ended with a drop kick by O'Gara (and a missed penalty by Stephen Jones)
Yeah but Sexton didn't play like a sack of shit throughout the tournament like ROG did.
That would be the same O'Gara who was top points scorer in that years tournament?

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2018 11:27 pm
by Leinsterman
Lazy Couch potato wrote:I’m right in thinking that our three championship wins under Schmidt have seen bod poc and now best captain is to wins.


Pretty nice for 3 of the best leaders we’ve ever had
Wasn't POC captain in 2014?

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2018 11:27 pm
by DOB
Miguel Indurain wrote:
Jim Lahey wrote:
Miguel Indurain wrote:Schmidt asked about comparing grand chelem 2018 to grand chelem 2009, drew an interesting comparison between Sexton and O'Gara.
We started this grand slam with a final minute drop kick by Sexton in the opening fixture, whereas 2009 grand slam fixture ended with a drop kick by O'Gara (and a missed penalty by Stephen Jones)
Yeah but Sexton didn't play like a sack of shit throughout the tournament like ROG did.
That would be the same O'Gara who was top points scorer in that years tournament?
He still played like shit. That's inarguable to anyone who watched the games.

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2018 11:27 pm
by lemonhead
RR maybe but fuggit, really nice touch :thumbup:

http://www.the42.ie/aer-lingus-surprise ... 34-Mar2018

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2018 11:30 pm
by Miguel Indurain
DOB wrote:
Miguel Indurain wrote:
Jim Lahey wrote:
Miguel Indurain wrote:Schmidt asked about comparing grand chelem 2018 to grand chelem 2009, drew an interesting comparison between Sexton and O'Gara.
We started this grand slam with a final minute drop kick by Sexton in the opening fixture, whereas 2009 grand slam fixture ended with a drop kick by O'Gara (and a missed penalty by Stephen Jones)
Yeah but Sexton didn't play like a sack of shit throughout the tournament like ROG did.
That would be the same O'Gara who was top points scorer in that years tournament?
He still played like shit. That's inarguable to anyone who watched the games.
The statistics, along with the viewing of the games, make it very arguable.

Anyhow it was Schmidt who saw fit to draw the interesting comparison.

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2018 11:35 pm
by Jim Lahey
ROG was poor in 09, you'd have to be blind or be from Cork to argue otherwise.

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2018 11:36 pm
by Miguel Indurain
Jim Lahey wrote:ROG was poor in 09, you'd have to be blind or be from Cork to argue otherwise.
I'm neither blind or from Cork as you can (can't?) see from my avatar.

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2018 11:39 pm
by Miguel Indurain
ukjim wrote:I have a massive mancrush on Dan Leavy (almost as dreamy as wally)

he is like a prussian cavalry officer with his renschmiss and never say die attitude.

I am f**king pissed now lads.
Got to confess the man has had a phenomenal season.

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2018 11:41 pm
by Yer Man
DiscoHips D'Arcy wrote:Ryan and Hendo. what a pairing
:nod: :nod: :nod: :nod: :nod:

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2018 11:42 pm
by Reuser
Heady days :smug:
This team is way better than 2009 for me.

The pack is just so good. 4 tight carriers in the front five + Stander allows POM, Leavy and Best to do the dirty work. And nothing has been sacrificed in the set pieces.
The ball presentation is great and teams just can't stop us going forward.
Control from the half-backs. Aki has been a beast at 12. There's pace and guile out wide in Earls, Ringrose and Stockdale.
Safe hands from Kearney at the back.
It's just such a good mix of ages, leadership, experience and youthful enthusiasm.

And there's some depth behind it creating competition for places

2009 was fantastic. It felt like the end of an era of great players, getting what they deserved. Given the wait, it will probably live longer in the memory.
2018 feels like there's more to come

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2018 11:45 pm
by Yer Man
Reuser wrote:Heady days :smug:
This team is way better than 2009 for me.

The pack is just so good. 4 tight carriers in the front five + Stander allows POM, Leavy and Best to do the dirty work. And nothing has been sacrificed in the set pieces.
The ball presentation is great and teams just can't stop us going forward.
Control from the half-backs. Aki has been a beast at 12. There's pace and guile out wide in Earls, Ringrose and Stockdale.
Safe hands from Kearney at the back.
It's just such a good mix of ages, leadership, experience and youthful enthusiasm.

And there's some depth behind it creating competition for places

2009 was fantastic. It felt like the end of an era of great players, getting what they deserved. Given the wait, it will probably live longer in the memory.
2018 feels like there's more to come
I see it in these terms:

2009 was about hope
2018 was about expectation

That's a very different beast.

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2018 11:46 pm
by DeDoc
well that was a fun afternoon!

Really impressed by the performance of the youngsters. Which got me thinking about James Ryan - awesome performance, and it appears that he has yet to lose a game at pro level. Looking forward to the end of the season, Leinster are favourites for both league and NTHCSBH. Not inconceivable that he could finish the season with a Grand Slam, League and Euro cup without ever losing a pro game. Has any player ever had a similar intro to pro rugby?

Also, just realised that Ireland are now on 12 consecutive international victories. The current record (shared by England and NZ) is 18. Ireland have 3 tests against Oz in the summer, followed by Italy (Chicago, Autumn), Argentina and then.......NZ
Hell of a target to aim for......

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2018 11:49 pm
by danthefan
Not that it matters too much but there's daylight between us in 2nd and England in 3rd now, about 3 ranking points. We're 5-ish behind NZ though.

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2018 11:51 pm
by paddyor
Miguel Indurain wrote:Schmidt asked about comparing grand chelem 2018 to grand chelem 2009, drew an interesting comparison between Sexton and O'Gara.
We started this grand slam with a final minute drop kick by Sexton in the opening fixture, whereas 2009 grand slam fixture ended with a drop kick by O'Gara (and a missed penalty by Stephen Jones)
It wasn't just the DG though. It was the restart, the crossfield kick (which had shades of ROG vs Scotland in 2013) and then the DG to win it.

EDIT: It's an underappreciated point how close he came to committing a ROG like mistake in that Earls kick.

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2018 11:53 pm
by Yer Man
nardol wrote:What's up with the world rankings now? How far behind NZ?
93.99 - BNZ
89.11 - Ire
86.23 - Eng
85.49 - Aus

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2018 11:53 pm
by Diego
DeDoc wrote:well that was a fun afternoon!

Really impressed by the performance of the youngsters. Which got me thinking about James Ryan - awesome performance, and it appears that he has yet to lose a game at pro level. Looking forward to the end of the season, Leinster are favourites for both league and NTHCSBH. Not inconceivable that he could finish the season with a Grand Slam, League and Euro cup without ever losing a pro game. Has any player ever had a similar intro to pro rugby?
Itoje

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2018 11:55 pm
by Yer Man
Nolanator wrote:How many teams go for a shortened lineout with their THP standing in the backline and then use him as a playmaking pivot? :lol:
:lol: :lol: :lol: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:


That, lads, is how to take the piss :thumbup:

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2018 11:56 pm
by Armchair_Superstar
DiscoHips D'Arcy wrote:
fishfoodie wrote:There's some proper flapping going on over on the English thread; there's a few on there talking about dropping Itoje :shock:
Itoje was shown up by Ryan and Hendo. what a pairing
There was that and the fact that Furlong absolutely destroyed Itoje on several big carries. He soaked up half a yard at one point near our 5m line, and then turned him round and shunted him back 3 or 4 yards and completely disrupted the attack.

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2018 12:02 am
by paddyor
Lazy Couch potato wrote:I’m right in thinking that our three championship wins under Schmidt have seen bod poc and now best captain is to wins.


Pretty nice for 3 of the best leaders we’ve ever had
It's some turnover of players. :thumbup:

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2018 12:02 am
by Yer Man
Miguel Indurain wrote:
Tschussie wrote:
fishfoodie wrote:
Armchair_Superstar wrote:That England pack were beaten out the gate. So many dominant performances.

Standers try was a thing of beauty.
Dan Leavy like a second 10.

Glory days.
I think he was thinking that he was going to ground the ball at the base of the post from a long way out; it was brilliant heads-up rugby from him
Image
:lol:

Love that gif, Tschussie. :thumbup:
:lol: :lol: :lol:

hand that over the guys on the Trümp thread for dealing with WT's posts

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2018 12:04 am
by Yer Man
Leinsterman wrote:
Lazy Couch potato wrote:I’m right in thinking that our three championship wins under Schmidt have seen bod poc and now best captain is to wins.


Pretty nice for 3 of the best leaders we’ve ever had
Wasn't POC captain in 2014?
Yes.

POC had two Championships 2014, 2015.
BOD had one - 2009.

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2018 12:04 am
by Ulsters Red Hand
Armchair_Superstar wrote:
DiscoHips D'Arcy wrote:
fishfoodie wrote:There's some proper flapping going on over on the English thread; there's a few on there talking about dropping Itoje :shock:
Itoje was shown up by Ryan and Hendo. what a pairing
There was that and the fact that Furlong absolutely destroyed Itoje on several big carries. He soaked up half a yard at one point near our 5m line, and then turned him round and shunted him back 3 or 4 yards and completely disrupted the attack.
It’s an obvious point, but he’s by some distance the best tight head in the world, and probably the best prop (both tight and loose) too. Where the standards of a tighthead prop go from here I don’t know

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2018 12:07 am
by Yer Man
Boxcar Ira wrote:Itoje will be back but he needs a rest. The spivs will flog the best English players which is sad in a way. Itoje is too good to be a two season wonder.
Threw them straight back in after the Lions tour. :thumbdown:
Most of them are looking pretty fücked now in the Spring.

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2018 12:07 am
by Yer Man
Ulsters Red Hand wrote:
Armchair_Superstar wrote:
DiscoHips D'Arcy wrote:
fishfoodie wrote:There's some proper flapping going on over on the English thread; there's a few on there talking about dropping Itoje :shock:
Itoje was shown up by Ryan and Hendo. what a pairing
There was that and the fact that Furlong absolutely destroyed Itoje on several big carries. He soaked up half a yard at one point near our 5m line, and then turned him round and shunted him back 3 or 4 yards and completely disrupted the attack.
It’s an obvious point, but he’s by some distance the best tight head in the world, and probably the best prop (both tight and loose) too. Where the standards of a tighthead prop go from here I don’t know
He's scary good.

Genuinely scary.

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2018 12:17 am
by DeDoc
Diego wrote:
DeDoc wrote:well that was a fun afternoon!

Really impressed by the performance of the youngsters. Which got me thinking about James Ryan - awesome performance, and it appears that he has yet to lose a game at pro level. Looking forward to the end of the season, Leinster are favourites for both league and NTHCSBH. Not inconceivable that he could finish the season with a Grand Slam, League and Euro cup without ever losing a pro game. Has any player ever had a similar intro to pro rugby?
Itoje
yeah, thought of him, but pretty sure he lost a few Pro matches along the way before winning anything

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2018 12:22 am
by Ulsters Red Hand
Yer Man wrote:
Ulsters Red Hand wrote:
Armchair_Superstar wrote:
DiscoHips D'Arcy wrote:
fishfoodie wrote:There's some proper flapping going on over on the English thread; there's a few on there talking about dropping Itoje :shock:
Itoje was shown up by Ryan and Hendo. what a pairing
There was that and the fact that Furlong absolutely destroyed Itoje on several big carries. He soaked up half a yard at one point near our 5m line, and then turned him round and shunted him back 3 or 4 yards and completely disrupted the attack.
It’s an obvious point, but he’s by some distance the best tight head in the world, and probably the best prop (both tight and loose) too. Where the standards of a tighthead prop go from here I don’t know
He's scary good.

Genuinely scary.
It’s not even a case of he’s in his prime in propping terms. Seems to be made of fairly tough stuff as well, which is good

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2018 12:37 am
by JoeMangled
I love watching committed, intelligent rugby. The lads have been relentless.

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2018 12:41 am
by Nolanator
Been said, but this feels so different to 2009. Back then it was about a group of players finally getting the holy grail after several near misses, and getting there by any means.

This was a totally different matter. Aside from that last second win in Paris, every game was relentless controlled rugby with us in the driving seat for the majority of the games. Even the Paris game had us in control for large periods.
'09 was BOD dragging us over the line, no injuries and some good moments mixed in tight games. This year only the France game was won by less than a score.

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2018 12:57 am
by Trostan
TheBouncer wrote:That's Kieran marmion grand slammer to you
Henshaw ish
Marmion
Aki
Gwan Connacht!

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2018 1:00 am
by Trostan
AceKing wrote:Very very infrequent poster but just want to say well down to Joe and all the players. Amazing achievement and we were very comfortable today. That in itself is unreal considering we were away to England.

I’m on record here as saying that Joe is best coach in the world and was capable of winnng the World Cup. I think he would have learned a lot from the Argentina game in 2015 and if we avoid the ABs in the semis we’ll make the final in 2019.
Cheers

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2018 1:07 am
by Trostan
DeDoc wrote:well that was a fun afternoon!

Really impressed by the performance of the youngsters. Which got me thinking about James Ryan - awesome performance, and it appears that he has yet to lose a game at pro level. Looking forward to the end of the season, Leinster are favourites for both league and NTHCSBH. Not inconceivable that he could finish the season with a Grand Slam, League and Euro cup without ever losing a pro game. Has any player ever had a similar intro to pro rugby?

Also, just realised that Ireland are now on 12 consecutive international victories. The current record (shared by England and NZ) is 18. Ireland have 3 tests against Oz in the summer, followed by Italy (Chicago, Autumn), Argentina and then.......NZ
Hell of a target to aim for......

CALM DOWN