The Official Irish Rugby Thread

[Jumper]

My understanding is all the negativity around him starting for Ireland has really got to him. Quelle surprise. It is mostly driven by the scarf wearing super fans who want to pretend they were watching rugby when Gunty mauled 29 players 100 yards down the pitch to have us beat Wales 4 points to 3, our largest victory since 1948.

There was next-to-no negativity surrounding Lowe. The likes of Stander and Aki were abused for months (/years?). Lowe got a half-mention once or twice.

[EverReady]

I am aware that's what you believe. Just because PR says it doesn't mean it's true

[Jumper]

Lowe should not be there. As previously mentioned I hate the concept of poaches, but would now question Lowe's committment. Yes he was not playing yesterday afternoon, but instead of supporting his teammates by watching the match he went to the beach.

He couldn't be arsed to chase back and stop Daly's try against England, and now he didn't even care to support his teammates.

[Leinsterman]

I am aware that's what you believe. Just because PR says it doesn't mean it's true

At least he didn't go whining to the press like Zebo constantly does.

[EverReady]

' Tune in later and Simon tells lifestyle correspondent Kathy that Christmas in Cork with all the lights and the food and all the trimmings reminds him of still being eligible to play for Ireland'

[feckwanker]

Lowe

I'm calling bullshit.
Kleyn and Bent got heaps of abuse when getting capped but Lowe and JGP kind of flew under the radar.

He is highly strung and their has been plenty of noise. Little things like journos getting digs in at pressers

Not sure if serious.....

[Despot]

The winners in this series could well be the guys who weren't there. The covid closed shop squad meant that the provinces could give developing players a good run. Coombes, Casey, Healy, Penney, and a few more have had a good run and proved their worth. Some of the senior players will not be returning to secure places.

[feckwanker]

The winners in this series could well be the guys who weren't there. The covid closed shop squad meant that the provinces could give developing players a good run. Coombes, Casey, Healy, Penney, and a few more have had a good run and proved their worth. Some of the senior players will not be returning to secure places.

We all know what's going to happen when they return to the provinces.....

[Jumper]

The winners in this series could well be the guys who weren't there. The covid closed shop squad meant that the provinces could give developing players a good run. Coombes, Casey, Healy, Penney, and a few more have had a good run and proved their worth. Some of the senior players will not be returning to secure places.

Shane Daly could well be a big loser in the short term.

He went into the squad as the form 15 in the country. He was then injured and missed everything bar a 25 minute run ou in a terrible performance to Georgia. While he has been away, Gallagher and Haley have been performing well at 15 for Munster.

[rialtoblue]

The winners in this series could well be the guys who weren't there. The covid closed shop squad meant that the provinces could give developing players a good run. Coombes, Casey, Healy, Penney, and a few more have had a good run and proved their worth. Some of the senior players will not be returning to secure places.

We all know what's going to happen when they return to the provinces.....

In Leinster's case I think Dooley and H Byrne have done enough to be ahead of E Byrne and R Byrne

(Too many Byrnes)

[Mullet 2]

My understanding is all the negativity around him starting for Ireland has really got to him. Quelle surprise. It is mostly driven by the scarf wearing super fans who want to pretend they were watching rugby when Gunty mauled 29 players 100 yards down the pitch to have us beat Wales 4 points to 3, our largest victory since 1948.

There was next-to-no negativity surrounding Lowe. The likes of Stander and Aki were abused for months (/years?). Lowe got a half-mention once or twice.

Pretty disgusting xenophobia on show here from Junper

[Mullet 2]

Lowe should not be there. As previously mentioned I hate the concept of poaches, but would now question Lowe's committment. Yes he was not playing yesterday afternoon, but instead of supporting his teammates by watching the match he went to the beach.

He couldn't be arsed to chase back and stop Daly's try against England, and now he didn't even care to support his teammates.

Implying Maori people are lazy and disloyal is not cool man.

[Duff Paddy]

You do have to admit its pretty funny that all us Rugby oracles have been calling for Sextons head for 18 months and we get a brief glimpse of it and all of a sudden it ain't so rosy in the garden.

I don't believe Sexton is for the knacker's yard JUST yet. But would like to see H. Byrne (or Healy) being given the bench time and 2nd tier starts to allow their games grow and learn from one of the best. I really hope Leo rewards form when it comes to the Heineken Cup selection .

When's Sexton's projected return?

Kinsella tweeted that hes due to return to starting lineup this weekend.

I'd guess

Healy
Herring/Kelleher
Porter
Henderson
Ryan
Standard
Connors
Doris
Murray
Sexton
Lowe
Aki
Farrell
Keenan
Stockdale

Lowe should not be there. As previously mentioned I hate the concept of poaches, but would now question Lowe's committment. Yes he was not playing yesterday afternoon, but instead of supporting his teammates by watching the match he went to the beach.

He went where

[Conspicuous]

I wouldn’t question the commitment of anybody who goes to the beach in November

Nor would I . I would question their sanity though

[CM11]

Jumper acting even more disgracefully than usual, I see. Pathetic attack.

[CM11]

I wouldn’t question the commitment of anybody who goes to the beach in November

Nor would I . I would question their sanity though

Ah it was a lovely day yesterday.

[Leinster in London]

He went where

Sandycove

[Duff Paddy]

Fair play I wish I went for a swim in the 40ft instead of watching that shite yesterday

[Duff Paddy]

I wouldn’t question the commitment of anybody who goes to the beach in November

Nor would I . I would question their sanity though

Ah it was a lovely day yesterday.

You had your Bermuda’s on and headed for the water yeah

[CM11]

I wouldn’t question the commitment of anybody who goes to the beach in November

Nor would I . I would question their sanity though

Ah it was a lovely day yesterday.

You had your Bermuda’s on and headed for the water yeah

Oh absolutely.

Anyway, plenty swim year round in the sea and yesterday was a nice day for it.

[Conspicuous]

I wouldn’t question the commitment of anybody who goes to the beach in November

Nor would I . I would question their sanity though

Ah it was a lovely day yesterday.

Was it yeah ? I don’t think I stepped outside the front door during daylight . Up and down to the attic all day getting the decorations down and putting up the tree

[CM11]

I wouldn’t question the commitment of anybody who goes to the beach in November

Nor would I . I would question their sanity though

Ah it was a lovely day yesterday.

Was it yeah ? I don’t think I stepped outside the front door during daylight . Up and down to the attic all day getting the decorations down and putting up the tree

Lovely fresh day.

Have the tree still ahead of me.

[Duff Paddy]

I wouldn’t question the commitment of anybody who goes to the beach in November

Nor would I . I would question their sanity though

Ah it was a lovely day yesterday.

You had your Bermuda’s on and headed for the water yeah

Oh absolutely.

Anyway, plenty swim year round in the sea and yesterday was a nice day for it.

Yep they are known as Dry Robe Wankers

[Floppykid]

I personally think Sexton is too old and has been for a while.
He gets rattled/exposed against teams higher than Wales' level and in the past year he's even started to look shakey against them.
That there isn't a ready made back up doesn't change that fact.

[feckwanker]

I personally think Sexton is too old and has been for a while.
He gets rattled/exposed against teams higher than Wales' level and in the past year he's even started to look shakey against them.
That there isn't a ready made back up doesn't change that fact.

Spot on.

[Floppykid]

I also don't believe too much has been learned tbh.
A bunch of never was/past it players have got a run out with a fairly toothless gameplan.

If you want to believe the coaches are being ultra cynical and using these games to rule them out and take the beatings instead of younger players, ok. I don't think it's anywhere near that sophisticated though.

[rialtoblue]

I personally think Sexton is too old and has been for a while.
He gets rattled/exposed against teams higher than Wales' level and in the past year he's even started to look shakey against them.
That there isn't a ready made back up doesn't change that fact.

So what are the options

Flog Sexton till he's spent and we have no one behind him ready to step in

Mix and match between Sexton and his middle of the road replacements (Burns and R Byrne)

Or utilise Sexton while he can still offer something and bring one or both of the promising young lads through


Personally I'd see Sexton working with H Byrne and Healy as the most exciting option and best use of resources



Where is Carberry on his road to recovery?

[earl the beaver]

I personally think Sexton is too old and has been for a while.
He gets rattled/exposed against teams higher than Wales' level and in the past year he's even started to look shakey against them.
That there isn't a ready made back up doesn't change that fact.

So what are the options

Flog Sexton till he's spent and we have no one behind him ready to step in

Mix and match between Sexton and his middle of the road replacements (Burns and R Byrne)

Or utilise Sexton while he can still offer something and bring one or both of the promising young lads through


Personally I'd see Sexton working with H Byrne and Healy as the most exciting option and best use of resources



Where is Carberry on his road to recovery?

I'd remove Ross Byrne from that middle of the road bit, Burns is someway out in front.

I'd happily have Sexton there and Healy/Harry Byrne on the bench and getting starts that Byrne and Burns have had this autumn, but that's unfortunately not how Irish rugby works.

[Floppykid]

Oh yeah, third option was definitely the right one in hindsight.
But not even giving R.Byrne a chance would be incredibly harsh, then again, it's pretty clear he's never really been up to a level higher than HEC and pro rugby is cruel.

My worry is that opportunity is gone, that Sexton will continue to diminish only more rapidly.

Carbery I've almost given up on such is his injury record.

[Mullet 2]

Perfectly good out half kicking his heels at London Irish for sending a couple of texts.

[earl the beaver]

Perfectly good out half kicking his heels at London Irish for sending a couple of texts.

Most annoying thing is he didn't even send any offensive texts, just happened to be in a group where someone else did.

[Winnie]

Get the Prod igal son home from LI and fu.ck the twitterati
LI boss stood up to their gurning and it was forgotten about in a week.
The IRFU and Ulster should have had the stones to do it the first time around

[Mullet 2]

Murray
Jackson
Stockdale
Frawley
Ringrose
Larmour
Keenan

Wouldn't mind a look at that

[Floppykid]

Jackson isn't coming back.

We gotta hope H Byrne or Healy can take their game up the levels.
Cullen needs to just go with H Byrne and same with Healy and JVG.

[Flametop]

At this stage Sexton is doing what is commonly referred to as “Doing a ROG”

Anybody expecting him to take Harry under his wing and mentor him into taking the Leinster/Ireland 10 shirt off him is deluded. He’s obnoxiously competitive, which has brought fab days both in blue/green but the other side of the same coin is a negative.

[Ulsters Red Hand]

Murray
Jackson
Stockdale
Frawley
Ringrose
Larmour
Keenan

Wouldn't mind a look at that

You racist

[DeDoc]

At this stage Sexton is doing what is commonly referred to as “Doing a ROG”

Anybody expecting him to take Harry under his wing and mentor him into taking the Leinster/Ireland 10 shirt off him is deluded. He’s obnoxiously competitive, which has brought fab days both in blue/green but the other side of the same coin is a negative.

I get where you're coming from, but it was pretty clear to most of us by 2010 (2011 at the very latest) that Sexton was significantly better. It was clear even in 2009 that Sexton had a lot more about him in attack and as a defender - the (perfectly reasonable) questions were could he exert the control on a game that ROG was brillaint at, and about whether his goal-kicking was good enough.

If Jackson wasn't persona non-grata, or Carbery had remained fit, then we'd probably have a like for like comparison. Sad fact though is that Sexton appears, even in average form, to be our best current option.

But to your point about his competitive streak - yep, it is going to be a very difficult conversation and I can't see him accepting that anyone is better than him. Thats his nature, and what has made him so good. I think someone with Schmidts status might get away with telling him (not that Sexton wouldn't argue), but I could see a Saipan type moment if Farrell gives him his notice

[Mullet 2]

Murray
Jackson
Stockdale
Frawley
Ringrose
Larmour
Keenan

Wouldn't mind a look at that

You racist

What are you on? I have seen loads of photos of Paddy and he is black as the ace of spades in them

[feckwanker]

https://twitter.com/Murray_Kinsella/sta ... 0408022017
So with a few big names soon to be out of contract, who do you think we'll lose?
Some names up for renewal are:

Stander
POM
Healy
Henderson
Furlong
Sexton
Earls

[Mr. Very Popular]

https://twitter.com/Murray_Kinsella/sta ... 0408022017
So with a few big names soon to be out of contract, who do you think we'll lose?
Some names up for renewal are:

Stander
PM
Healy
Henderson
Furlong
Sexton
Earls

Earls and Sexton won't get a sniff of a central contract, Healy might get another year.
PM? If you mean PoM, wouldn't be surprised to see him ship off to check out the garden centres around La Rochelle.