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by hermie
Wed Mar 27, 2024 5:05 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: The Official Irish Rugby Thread
Replies: 525296
Views: 28507651

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Well this is the point. If we take your attitude that we don't concentrate on the league at all then that's essentially going all in for Europe. If we then end up with an away semi, or worse quarter, and we don't win in Europe then we're at a disadvantage in the league. By that stage we'll be tired...
by hermie
Wed Mar 27, 2024 5:04 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: The Official Irish Rugby Thread
Replies: 525296
Views: 28507651

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

I don't think you can blame him for the ones that were the right option but just didn't work out. Kitsoff is definitely the right player for Ulster at present. If the coaches don't get the best out of him or the atmosphere around the squad doesn't allow him to settle, that's not on Bryn. Coetzee, a...
by hermie
Wed Mar 27, 2024 5:01 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: The Official Irish Rugby Thread
Replies: 525296
Views: 28507651

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Yes. There’s been big names but all have been duds one way or another. If you say the big four are Piutau, Coetzee, DV, and Kitschoff, the first three all weren’t as good as you would like. Certainly not worked out as well as the likes of Fardy etc. Granted you know they arent going to be around fo...
by hermie
Wed Mar 27, 2024 3:55 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: The Official Irish Rugby Thread
Replies: 525296
Views: 28507651

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

We'd probably scrape through if we got no more points, just, but qualification for the URC knockouts is far from assured and we'll want to finish top to give us the easiest knockout stages to manage. At a minimum we need all home wins but a big win this Friday would make be massive. We'd then proba...
by hermie
Wed Mar 27, 2024 3:42 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: The Official Irish Rugby Thread
Replies: 525296
Views: 28507651

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

:lol: If you consider we basically have got everything wrong since McGlocks, bar the odd wonder year, Bryn is the common denominator in all of it. He should be out the door, plain and simple. Bryn is in charge of recruitment, right? He's gotten some big names in but there's also been some bonkers s...
by hermie
Wed Mar 27, 2024 2:28 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: The Official Irish Rugby Thread
Replies: 525296
Views: 28507651

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

I know McCarthy is a young lad but his performance levels declined throughout the 6Ns. Might need a wee bit more of a recharge. Also with Ryan out, wouldn't want to risk him unnecessarily. Jenkins can hopefully find a big performance against his old team. Declined is an understatement- he looked sc...
by hermie
Wed Mar 27, 2024 2:15 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: The Official Irish Rugby Thread
Replies: 525296
Views: 28507651

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Don't think the URC means anything to Leinster, they brought Nick McCarthy off the bench against the turnips. The URC will mean a lot more if we don’t win the ERC. With the URC playoffs after the completion of the ERC, there won’t be any trade-offs between one and the other; qualification for the U...
by hermie
Wed Mar 27, 2024 2:09 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: The Official Irish Rugby Thread
Replies: 525296
Views: 28507651

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Good molecast today. Taking in Ulster's predicament and also Leinster's forthcoming home ground issues among other things. One thing I noticed is that they seemed to write Guy Easterby completely out of Leinster's current ticket. Is he not in charge of sorting contracts in Donnybrook? Even as they m...
by hermie
Wed Mar 27, 2024 2:04 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: The Official Irish Rugby Thread
Replies: 525296
Views: 28507651

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Starting to think that cuunt is Damien from The Omen That's a bit much. Damien had far better hair and leadership skills. :lol: If you consider we basically have got everything wrong since McGlocks, bar the odd wonder year, Bryn is the common denominator in all of it. He should be out the door, pla...
by hermie
Wed Mar 27, 2024 2:03 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: The Official Irish Rugby Thread
Replies: 525296
Views: 28507651

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Snippet on the Ulster forum from a news article stating that Leinster wanted to sign both O’Toole and Bealham but both were rejected by the IRFU. Good :thumbup: It is good, for sure. Slightly worrying from a Leinster fan's perspective though. Really need a TH for next season. That Koch rumour was o...
by hermie
Wed Mar 27, 2024 1:59 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: The Official Irish Rugby Thread
Replies: 525296
Views: 28507651

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Luckycharmer wrote: Wed Mar 27, 2024 11:18 am Captained winning team, finally playing against my own age group.God I am old!!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c51lr580jg0o.amp
Good stuff, well done. Good craic I assume? What's the level like?
by hermie
Tue Mar 26, 2024 3:57 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: URCR13 Leinster vs Bulle
Replies: 25
Views: 1062

Re: URCR13 Leinster vs Bulle

irishrugbyua wrote: Tue Mar 26, 2024 12:27 pm id be very surprised to see Henshaw.. Osborne/Ringrose centre partnership
Makes sense really.
by hermie
Tue Mar 26, 2024 12:25 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: URCR13 Leinster vs Bulle
Replies: 25
Views: 1062

Re: URCR13 Leinster vs Bulle

Surely Leinster will select their best team. Its the chance for the Irish test players to get one ahead against us. Jake White already claim this as a test match. I think they'll select a strong side but unfortunately some of the best players are injured - Ryan, Keenan, JOB, Ngatai, Frawley. Plus s...
by hermie
Tue Mar 26, 2024 12:15 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: The Official Irish Rugby Thread
Replies: 525296
Views: 28507651

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

It is a difficult choice tbf. Leinster's potential run-in at the moment is: Bulls (H) Tigers (H) HEC QF vs Stormers/La Rochelle (H) Lions (A) Stormers (A) HEC SF (H) Ospreys (H) Ulster (A) HEC F (N) Connacht (H) With a relatively small lead in the URC table, I think Leinster will take a mixed/blend...
by hermie
Tue Mar 26, 2024 12:04 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: The Official Irish Rugby Thread
Replies: 525296
Views: 28507651

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Thornley saying JOB and Keenan might be available next week, which would be very welcome. Yeah would be great. JOB has been pictured training so you'd imagine not too far away. Keenan hopefully isn't too bad. Hadn't looked bad during the Irish celebrations. With Ryan out surely Molony starts all th...
by hermie
Tue Mar 26, 2024 12:01 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: The Official Irish Rugby Thread
Replies: 525296
Views: 28507651

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Thornley saying JOB and Keenan might be available next week, which would be very welcome. Yeah would be great. JOB has been pictured training so you'd imagine not too far away. Keenan hopefully isn't too bad. Hadn't looked bad during the Irish celebrations. With Ryan out surely Molony starts all th...
by hermie
Mon Mar 25, 2024 1:57 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: URC 2023/24 General match thread
Replies: 626
Views: 51624

Re: URC 2023/24 General match thread

Connacht 14 FT 38 Lions Great 14 man BP away win by the Lions Giftige span jou leeus :thumbup: My mate was in Galway with work the end of last week and shared a hotel with the Lions players. He'd back up their claim that they love to travel. They befriended everyone at the hotel, burst into song at...
by hermie
Sun Mar 24, 2024 12:37 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: The Official Irish Rugby Thread
Replies: 525296
Views: 28507651

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

I actually would have given Turner MOTM, even allowing for the YC.
by hermie
Sun Mar 24, 2024 12:32 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: Your best ever national team by unit
Replies: 95
Views: 3375

Re: Your best ever national team by unit

I'll keep it simple: Front row - '23 Slam 2nd row - '09 Slam Backrow - '09 Slam Halfbacks - '18 Slam Centres - '09 Slam Back 3 - '09 Slam Arguably those same centres were better still for the '04 Triple Crown and there's a case to be made for the 2nd row of that championship as well with O'Kelly pa...
by hermie
Sun Mar 24, 2024 9:01 am
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: Your best ever national team by unit
Replies: 95
Views: 3375

Re: Your best ever national team by unit

I'll keep it simple: Front row - '23 Slam 2nd row - '09 Slam Backrow - '09 Slam Halfbacks - '18 Slam Centres - '09 Slam Back 3 - '09 Slam Arguably those same centres were better still for the '04 Triple Crown and there's a case to be made for the 2nd row of that championship as well with O'Kelly par...
by hermie
Fri Mar 22, 2024 4:50 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: 6N - your best xv ?
Replies: 20
Views: 769

Re: 6N - your best xv ?

Much as I love Penaud, he was crap until the final two games so shouldn't be in the reckoning. I don't think he was crap against us. Was well marshalled generally but also took his try well. He was sensational the final two games. Trying to think of the two in between, only saw highlights of the It...
by hermie
Fri Mar 22, 2024 11:35 am
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: The Official Irish Rugby Thread
Replies: 525296
Views: 28507651

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Yep 1st year academy, missed most of the 6 nations due to injury but played 5 games in JWC. Of the Year 3 academy guys, who will move up and who will move on would you guess? Boyle moves up. Murphy may move up or join his dad, wait and see. Lasisi/Cosgrave leave. Is Cosgrave still injured? I'd like...
by hermie
Fri Mar 22, 2024 11:25 am
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: The Official Irish Rugby Thread
Replies: 525296
Views: 28507651

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

strong rumour that Gunne is benching tomorrow along with Mangan and Andrew Osborne is starting. Is Osborne not fresh from the 20s? Though I don't remember him playing Yep 1st year academy, missed most of the 6 nations due to injury but played 5 games in JWC. Of the Year 3 academy guys, who will mov...
by hermie
Thu Mar 21, 2024 4:01 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: The Official Irish Rugby Thread
Replies: 525296
Views: 28507651

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Son-Of-Ulster wrote: Thu Mar 21, 2024 3:59 pm
HighKingLeinster wrote: Thu Mar 21, 2024 3:56 pm
hermie wrote: Thu Mar 21, 2024 3:50 pm
Rumour is he's off at the end of the season
Could you blame him? Poor lad was sold a pup.
Has anyone a source for this rumour?
https://rugby365.com/tournaments/kitsho ... th-africa/ :P

There was talk previously on the thread. I'm not sure
by hermie
Thu Mar 21, 2024 3:58 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: The Official Irish Rugby Thread
Replies: 525296
Views: 28507651

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

How long did it take Porter to become a good TH? TOT isnt Porter, who is a generational talent. Not in the scrum though, his performances probably cost Ireland in the QF, you can’t give away as many scrum penalties against the top front rows as he does and be labels a top class prop. Healy and McGr...
by hermie
Thu Mar 21, 2024 3:53 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: The Official Irish Rugby Thread
Replies: 525296
Views: 28507651

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

It will be interesting to see what happens to the Ulster squad if Murphy gets the gig full time. There will be plenty of talented young lads with fond memories of playing for his u20 sides over the past 5 years, who might be looking at internationals and established first teamers ahead of them at t...
by hermie
Thu Mar 21, 2024 3:50 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: The Official Irish Rugby Thread
Replies: 525296
Views: 28507651

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Son-Of-Ulster wrote: Thu Mar 21, 2024 3:48 pm
hermie wrote: Thu Mar 21, 2024 3:38 pm Kitsoff should have been the ideal signing for Ulster but there's obviously just such a bad vibe there at the moment.
He has only played a handful of games. Settle down.
Rumour is he's off at the end of the season
by hermie
Thu Mar 21, 2024 3:38 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: The Official Irish Rugby Thread
Replies: 525296
Views: 28507651

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Kitsoff should have been the ideal signing for Ulster but there's obviously just such a bad vibe there at the moment.
by hermie
Thu Mar 21, 2024 3:03 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: The Official Irish Rugby Thread
Replies: 525296
Views: 28507651

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Well I agree that they shouldn't have to take more of a hammering. Moving around deck chairs won't improve them as a squad. I would say a decent squad but one that's haemorrhaging players ahead of next season. TOT, Stewart, Wilson could end up being an excellent front row. And how long does it take...
by hermie
Thu Mar 21, 2024 3:01 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: The Official Irish Rugby Thread
Replies: 525296
Views: 28507651

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Munster: Mike Haley; Seán O’Brien, Antoine Frisch, Rory Scannell, Shane Daly; Joey Carbery, Craig Casey; Josh Wycherley, Niall Scannell, John Ryan; Tom Ahern, RG Snyman; John Hodnett, Alex Kendellen (C), Gavin Coombes. Replacements: Eoghan Clarke, Jeremy Loughman, Stephen Archer, Jack O’Donoghue, R...
by hermie
Thu Mar 21, 2024 3:00 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: The Official Irish Rugby Thread
Replies: 525296
Views: 28507651

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

You agree with Earl that they've a poor squad or a decent squad? Because he's said both! TOT is being moved by Ireland, for Ireland. Nothing to do with Ulster. If Doak moves it'll be because he's not a great SH. Not because they have to move him. Both Petrie and Cunningham have said we aren't signi...
by hermie
Thu Mar 21, 2024 1:25 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: The Official Irish Rugby Thread
Replies: 525296
Views: 28507651

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Have to agree with earl on this one. WTF is Richie Murphy supposed to work with? Needed to shift the likes of Doak and TOT just to plug holes in the squad is a really bad look and the IRFU shouldn't let it happen. Not good for Ireland, let alone Ulster. You agree with Earl that they've a poor squad...
by hermie
Thu Mar 21, 2024 1:19 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: The Official Irish Rugby Thread
Replies: 525296
Views: 28507651

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Have to agree with earl on this one. WTF is Richie Murphy supposed to work with? Needed to shift the likes of Doak and TOT just to plug holes in the squad is a really bad look and the IRFU shouldn't let it happen. Not good for Ireland, let alone Ulster.
by hermie
Wed Mar 20, 2024 10:56 am
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: The Official Irish Rugby Thread
Replies: 525296
Views: 28507651

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

400 appearances!!!!! P.S. You forgot a U20s Six Nations Grand Slam Plus a Challenge Cup. Some haul! It was a big shame he got injured on the lions in 2013, was a shoe in to start those tests. What a CV though. Agreed, he was the best LH in the world at that point. Even if Corbs was some revelation ...
by hermie
Tue Mar 19, 2024 2:56 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: The Official Irish Rugby Thread
Replies: 525296
Views: 28507651

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Yer Man wrote: Tue Mar 19, 2024 2:44 pm
irishrugbyua wrote: Tue Mar 19, 2024 2:42 pm Cian Healy I𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱'𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿

4 European cups
7 League titles
5 Six Nations titles

271 caps in Leinster blue and 129 caps in Irish green.
400 appearances!!!!!

P.S. You forgot a U20s Six Nations Grand Slam
Plus a Challenge Cup. Some haul!
by hermie
Thu Mar 14, 2024 4:27 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: The Official Irish Rugby Thread
Replies: 525296
Views: 28507651

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

he is bigger than his brother, mainly a hooker yes but has played blindside this season too. id be surprised but stranger things have happened. I thought it was mainly blindside these days? Isn't he 6'4 or 6'5? Ginormous for a hooker. nah its mostly hooker unless Gus McCarthy is available I've prob...
by hermie
Thu Mar 14, 2024 4:15 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: The Official Irish Rugby Thread
Replies: 525296
Views: 28507651

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

France have named a really strong 20s side to play England (including the likes of Tuilagi and Carbonneau). They could do our boys a huge favour.
by hermie
Thu Mar 14, 2024 4:14 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: The Official Irish Rugby Thread
Replies: 525296
Views: 28507651

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

younger brother, current UCD captain, just played for irish clubs. Hooker? Heard he is also big lad any chance of getting a contract? he is bigger than his brother, mainly a hooker yes but has played blindside this season too. id be surprised but stranger things have happened. I thought it was main...
by hermie
Thu Mar 14, 2024 1:15 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: The Official Irish Rugby Thread
Replies: 525296
Views: 28507651

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Interesting bench!
by hermie
Wed Mar 13, 2024 4:37 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: The Official Irish Rugby Thread
Replies: 525296
Views: 28507651

Re: The Official Irish Rugby Thread

In terms of pace for Ireland, our first choice team post 6N will have Baird, Ringrose and Hansen in it. Already a big pace increase there. As a general rule, as discussed before, we just don't do wingers. You'd hope there's a bit going on in the background to address this but it's hard as invariabl...