Planet Rugby Forum

Ups sorry, forgive me, Im a spanish writting in a mobile phone [/quote]

good man

bienvenido to the Official Irish Rugby thread

now if you tell all the other English speaking countries that the whole world loves us Irish more than them we'll make you an honourary Irishman
and a Leinster fan on top!![/quote]
Gracias! And yes, World(or at least the Spanish people) love the irish much more the the other English speaking countries (Gibraltar is still fresh in our minds, and we dont have money to travel very far so we dont care about Americans, Australians or New Zealanders)

topo wrote:Ups sorry, forgive me, Im a spanish writting in a mobile phone

good man

bienvenido to the Official Irish Rugby thread

now if you tell all the other English speaking countries that the whole world loves us Irish more than them we'll make you an honourary Irishman
and a Leinster fan on top!![/quote]
Gracias! And yes, World(or at least the Spanish people) love the irish much more the the other English speaking countries (Gibraltar is still fresh in our minds, and we dont have money to travel very far so we dont care about Americans, Australians or New Zealanders)[/quote]

Take my word for it - wit kant the lot of them.

CambridgeFergal wrote:
Leinster fan in "desperate to find any stick to beat Kidney with" shocker!
I'd hate to see what levels the faux outrage would have reached had Kidney appointed Rory Best as captain, instead of Heaslip!
Some Leinster posters' opinions on *anything* Kidney does, or says, reminds me of (and is about as valuable as) the "oppositional" posturing that goes on in the Dail/Parliament, where the Opposition oppose, because that's what they do.
The attitude can be summarised by paraphrasing Churchill, if "Kidney invaded Hell, I would at least make a favourable reference to the Devil in the House of Commons."

Any Irish Rugby fan worth their salt will rightly regard the manner Kidney approached this as a grevious insult to BOD.

All joking aside though.
I really do think this is a marker being laid down that Kidney could Drop BOD.

now if BOD has a stormer Kidney will claim that this was the psychological provocation required to get the best out of BOD

if BOD has a mediocre season he will drop him and claim sorrow at being vindicated. He picked Heaslip instead of Best because lets face it the Nordie paranoia about anti nordie bias is only partially unfounded.

Kidney might be correct in this
however I think Shane Horgan was probably reacting based on his knowledge of O'Driscolls continued ambition.

He said a very interesting thing about Brad Thorne
He said that Thornes stint at Leinster had completely transformed a number of the Leinster players attitude to retirement and longevity of career.

Evidently the lifestyle and regime that Thorne followed was extreme even for a professional. So Horgan's outrage was that BOD's loss of captaincy was handled in a completely different manner to his loss of captaincy at Leinster. If BOD thinks he is up to it and has ambitions of continuing to the next world cup ( ) in Horgan's view we should be supporting him not undermining him.

Now there may come a time when BOD needs to be "handed a whiskey and revolver" but to me know is not it.

Given a choice between BOD and Heaslip starting in their respective positions
I would still choose BOD.

topo wrote:

redrebel wrote:

waguser wrote:

redrebel wrote:

topo wrote:Sexton would have been a good choice but as someone said in a previous post is very difficult to motivate your players when you have a day off with the boot, too much pressure to be the captaing, playmaker and kicker. Ogara, despite now is a past it non tackling non runing fly half he is considered one of the leaders, but raretime has captained Munster (despite all Oconels abscences) and only has captained Ireland once (if i remember correctly)

Leave the lad alone

he's obviously a Gaelgoir without Bearla as a cead teanga

my bad

Ups sorry, forgive me, Im a spanish writting in a mobile phone

Ignore them,wellcome aboard Monseuir.

glad to see jackson 'rested', he needs a break to go away and find himself again.
hendy being kept fresh for Ireland?

big game for ulster, must win for all sorts of reasons.

Ignore them,wellcome aboard Monseuir.

french spaniard then?

Leinster team :

Leinster: Rob Kearney; Isa Nacewa, Brian O’Driscoll, Gordon D’Arcy, Luke Fitzgerald; Jonathan Sexton, Eoin Reddan; Cian Healy, Richardt Strauss, Mike Ross; Leo Cullen, Devin Toner; Kevin McLaughlin, Sean O'Brien, Jamie Heaslip. Replacements: Sean Cronin, Heinke van der Merwe, Michael Bent, Rhys Ruddock, Shane Jennings, Isaac Boss, Ian Madigan, Fergus McFadden.

I like it.

camroc1 wrote:Leinster team :

Leinster: Rob Kearney; Isa Nacewa, Brian O’Driscoll, Gordon D’Arcy, Luke Fitzgerald; Jonathan Sexton, Eoin Reddan; Cian Healy, Richardt Strauss, Mike Ross; Leo Cullen, Devin Toner; Kevin McLaughlin, Sean O'Brien, Jamie Heaslip. Replacements: Sean Cronin, Heinke van der Merwe, Michael Bent, Rhys Ruddock, Shane Jennings, Isaac Boss, Ian Madigan, Fergus McFadden.

I like it.

love that backline

camroc1 wrote:Leinster team :

Leinster: Rob Kearney; Isa Nacewa, Brian O’Driscoll, Gordon D’Arcy, Luke Fitzgerald; Jonathan Sexton, Eoin Reddan; Cian Healy, Richardt Strauss, Mike Ross; Leo Cullen, Devin Toner; Kevin McLaughlin, Sean O'Brien, Jamie Heaslip. Replacements: Sean Cronin, Heinke van der Merwe, Michael Bent, Rhys Ruddock, Shane Jennings, Isaac Boss, Ian Madigan, Fergus McFadden.

I like it.

No lock replacement. Unless Mclaughlin moves there.

camroc1 wrote:Leinster team :

Leinster: Rob Kearney; Isa Nacewa, Brian O’Driscoll, Gordon D’Arcy, Luke Fitzgerald; Jonathan Sexton, Eoin Reddan; Cian Healy, Richardt Strauss, Mike Ross; Leo Cullen, Devin Toner; Kevin McLaughlin, Sean O'Brien, Jamie Heaslip. Replacements: Sean Cronin, Heinke van der Merwe, Michael Bent, Rhys Ruddock, Shane Jennings, Isaac Boss, Ian Madigan, Fergus McFadden.

I like it.

Strong bench too! Fergus McFadden will be disappointed...

I like this

From Connachtrugby.ie

Lam to join Connacht early

Pat Lam will join Connacht Rugby in April to work alongside current Head Coach Eric Elwood for the remainder of the season.
The newly appointed 44 year old will arrive in time to be involved with Connacht’s final three games of the current campaign before he assumes full control as the new Head Coach on June 1st.

Chief Executive Tom Sears said: "Pat’s early arrival will ensure that there is an opportunity for him to work alongside Eric and the coaching staff, get to know the players and facilitate an effective handover and transition. It will also mean that he can begin planning the crucial pre-season period and make the best possible start next season.

‘Already Pat is being involved in discussions regarding player recruitment and planning for next season and beyond and we are making good progress on that front.

"It’s important to note that Eric is fully supportive of Pat’s early arrival and looking forward to working with him."

Pat Lam said: ‘I’m delighted to be able to get to Connacht early, spend some time with Eric, the coaching staff and the players before the season finishes and start looking ahead to next season.’

one of the benfits of SH coaches is that they tend to be able to judge the quality of the players without preconceptions (good or bad).

Conn wrote:I like this

From Connachtrugby.ie

Lam to join Connacht early

Pat Lam will join Connacht Rugby in April to work alongside current Head Coach Eric Elwood for the remainder of the season.
The newly appointed 44 year old will arrive in time to be involved with Connacht’s final three games of the current campaign before he assumes full control as the new Head Coach on June 1st.

Chief Executive Tom Sears said: "Pat’s early arrival will ensure that there is an opportunity for him to work alongside Eric and the coaching staff, get to know the players and facilitate an effective handover and transition. It will also mean that he can begin planning the crucial pre-season period and make the best possible start next season.

‘Already Pat is being involved in discussions regarding player recruitment and planning for next season and beyond and we are making good progress on that front.

"It’s important to note that Eric is fully supportive of Pat’s early arrival and looking forward to working with him."

Pat Lam said: ‘I’m delighted to be able to get to Connacht early, spend some time with Eric, the coaching staff and the players before the season finishes and start looking ahead to next season.’

That would indicate the current coaching staff are being kept on

Porterbelly1 wrote:

Conn wrote:I like this

From Connachtrugby.ie

Lam to join Connacht early

Pat Lam will join Connacht Rugby in April to work alongside current Head Coach Eric Elwood for the remainder of the season.
The newly appointed 44 year old will arrive in time to be involved with Connacht’s final three games of the current campaign before he assumes full control as the new Head Coach on June 1st.

Chief Executive Tom Sears said: "Pat’s early arrival will ensure that there is an opportunity for him to work alongside Eric and the coaching staff, get to know the players and facilitate an effective handover and transition. It will also mean that he can begin planning the crucial pre-season period and make the best possible start next season.

‘Already Pat is being involved in discussions regarding player recruitment and planning for next season and beyond and we are making good progress on that front.

"It’s important to note that Eric is fully supportive of Pat’s early arrival and looking forward to working with him."

Pat Lam said: ‘I’m delighted to be able to get to Connacht early, spend some time with Eric, the coaching staff and the players before the season finishes and start looking ahead to next season.’

That would indicate the current coaching staff are being kept on

Not necessarily, but it does indicate that lam is going to have a look at them before making any changes. Its a positive.
In fairness to all involved this is the right way to go about things when there is animosity with a departing coach. A handover, time for the new guy to do an assessment and to be involved in any recruitment.

Talking of BOD, would his form prior to injury merit inclusion in the team? He really wasn't very good. Other more ruthless nations would be cutting him for that alone.

And yes, I know Earls has been ropey too.

Uncle Fester wrote:Talking of BOD, would his form prior to injury merit inclusion in the team? He really wasn't very good. Other more ruthless nations would be cutting him for that alone.

And yes, I know Earls has been ropey too.

On form, nah, on rep, yeah.

Conn wrote:I like this

From Connachtrugby.ie

Lam to join Connacht early

Pat Lam will join Connacht Rugby in April to work alongside current Head Coach Eric Elwood for the remainder of the season.
The newly appointed 44 year old will arrive in time to be involved with Connacht’s final three games of the current campaign before he assumes full control as the new Head Coach on June 1st.

Chief Executive Tom Sears said: "Pat’s early arrival will ensure that there is an opportunity for him to work alongside Eric and the coaching staff, get to know the players and facilitate an effective handover and transition. It will also mean that he can begin planning the crucial pre-season period and make the best possible start next season.

‘Already Pat is being involved in discussions regarding player recruitment and planning for next season and beyond and we are making good progress on that front.

"It’s important to note that Eric is fully supportive of Pat’s early arrival and looking forward to working with him."

Pat Lam said: ‘I’m delighted to be able to get to Connacht early, spend some time with Eric, the coaching staff and the players before the season finishes and start looking ahead to next season.’

http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/news/20383.php

Looks like Sean Holley really hasn't a notion.

Uncle Fester wrote:Talking of BOD, would his form prior to injury merit inclusion in the team? He really wasn't very good. Other more ruthless nations would be cutting him for that alone.

And yes, I know Earls has been ropey too.

Munster revisionism

i suppose you've forgotten his hattrick against France, you wanker

anonymous_joe wrote:

Uncle Fester wrote:Talking of BOD, would his form prior to injury merit inclusion in the team? He really wasn't very good. Other more ruthless nations would be cutting him for that alone.

And yes, I know Earls has been ropey too.

On form, nah, on rep, yeah.

I wouldn't be dropping him either but it is worrying that we have such a huge drop off from a player who is clearly on the wane. If we can get Marshall to come through at 12, at least only one of our centres will be an achilles heel.

bobbyfatfingers wrote:

Uncle Fester wrote:Talking of BOD, would his form prior to injury merit inclusion in the team? He really wasn't very good. Other more ruthless nations would be cutting him for that alone.

And yes, I know Earls has been ropey too.

Munster revisionism

i suppose you've forgotten his hattrick against France, you wanker

I remember it like it was current form bobby.

Uncle Fester wrote:

anonymous_joe wrote:

Uncle Fester wrote:Talking of BOD, would his form prior to injury merit inclusion in the team? He really wasn't very good. Other more ruthless nations would be cutting him for that alone.

And yes, I know Earls has been ropey too.

On form, nah, on rep, yeah.

I wouldn't be dropping him either but it is worrying that we have such a huge drop off from a player who is clearly on the wane. If we can get Marshall to come through at 12, at least only one of our centres will be an achilles heel.

Cave's ok. Been ignored a lot. Earls just doesn't strike me as a player who is as good at 13 as he is at playing rugby in general. Just don't get it.

Earls isn't a centre and his career has suffered no end from him being shoe horned there.

Uncle Fester wrote:

bobbyfatfingers wrote:

Uncle Fester wrote:Talking of BOD, would his form prior to injury merit inclusion in the team? He really wasn't very good. Other more ruthless nations would be cutting him for that alone.

And yes, I know Earls has been ropey too.

Munster revisionism

i suppose you've forgotten his hattrick against France, you wanker

I remember it like it was current form bobby.

right, well, what about that try for the Lions in Australia?

typical short memory if deccie says he's shit he's shit brown nosing from a fellow cork man

Floppykid wrote:Earls isn't a centre and his career has suffered no end from him being shoe horned there.

has he not reportedly asked to be considered as a centre primarily?

bobbyfatfingers wrote:

Uncle Fester wrote:

bobbyfatfingers wrote:

Uncle Fester wrote:Talking of BOD, would his form prior to injury merit inclusion in the team? He really wasn't very good. Other more ruthless nations would be cutting him for that alone.

And yes, I know Earls has been ropey too.

Munster revisionism

i suppose you've forgotten his hattrick against France, you wanker

I remember it like it was current form bobby.

right, well, what about that try for the Lions in Australia?

typical short memory if deccie says he's shit he's shit brown nosing from a fellow cork man

Remember how he won us the Grandslam single highhandedly?

bobbyfatfingers wrote:

Floppykid wrote:Earls isn't a centre and his career has suffered no end from him being shoe horned there.

has he not reportedly asked to be considered as a centre primarily?

Fitz wanted to be a full back.

Wanting to play there doesn't mean you can.

bobbyfatfingers wrote:

Floppykid wrote:Earls isn't a centre and his career has suffered no end from him being shoe horned there.

has he not reportedly asked to be considered as a centre primarily?

Just because he used to draw pictures of BOD does not mean he's fit to be a centre.

bobbyfatfingers wrote:glad to see jackson 'rested', he needs a break to go away and find himself again.
hendy being kept fresh for Ireland?

big game for ulster, must win for all sorts of reasons.

Ignore them,wellcome aboard Monseuir.

french spaniard then?

It was an attempt at humour.

Dropping BOD as captain was probably the right decision. He is perennially injured, coming into his final year/s, and is living off reputation rather than form. Earls' showings in the 6N were of a similar standard to anything BOD has showed in green since 2009; he was solid with some nice touches. BOD shouldn't be guaranteed his spot in the team, and being removed as captain reflects that. Although i'd have some issues about Heaslip's ability as captain, he is probably the only player with decent captaincy experience who is guaranteed his place in the squad.

bobbyfatfingers wrote:

Floppykid wrote:Earls isn't a centre and his career has suffered no end from him being shoe horned there.

has he not reportedly asked to be considered as a centre primarily?

Yes but he's obviously a f**king gobshite.

I truly believe that with regular gametime there he could be a great international winger. He'll never amount to more than a mediocre center, even at club level. Such a waste of talent.

Having said that, Munster haven't even had a mediocre center (before this season) to play instead of him so it did make sense for them to play him there (province before country - bastards!!!! )

I genuinely believe that his statements about playing in the center is him actually just trying to give himself the best chance of playing for Ireland. Seeing the growing competition for wing, and realising that BOD will soon be on his way out (and picking up more injuries) he went after the soon to be vacant position. And decided to take a leaf out of ROG's book and make that play through the media.

Like I said, f**king gobshite!!!

PornDog wrote:

bobbyfatfingers wrote:

Floppykid wrote:Earls isn't a centre and his career has suffered no end from him being shoe horned there.

has he not reportedly asked to be considered as a centre primarily?

Yes but he's obviously a f**king gobshite.

I truly believe that with regular gametime there he could be a great international winger. He'll never amount to more than a mediocre center, even at club level. Such a waste of talent.

Having said that, Munster haven't even had a mediocre center (before this season) to play instead of him so it did make sense for them to play him there (province before country - bastards!!!! )

I genuinely believe that his statements about playing in the center is him actually just trying to give himself the best chance of playing for Ireland. Seeing the growing competition for wing, and realising that BOD will soon be on his way out (and picking up more injuries) he went after the soon to be vacant position. And decided to take a leaf out of ROG's book and make that play through the media.

Like I said, f**king gobshite!!!

I preferred you with your old avatar.

NineInchNile wrote:Dropping BOD as captain was probably the right decision. He is perennially injured, coming into his final year/s, and is living off reputation rather than form. Earls' showings in the 6N were of a similar standard to anything BOD has showed in green since 2009; he was solid with some nice touches. BOD shouldn't be guaranteed his spot in the team, and being removed as captain reflects that. Although i'd have some issues about Heaslip's ability as captain, he is probably the only player with decent captaincy experience who is guaranteed his place in the squad.

etherman wrote:

NineInchNile wrote:Dropping BOD as captain was probably the right decision. He is perennially injured, coming into his final year/s, and is living off reputation rather than form. Earls' showings in the 6N were of a similar standard to anything BOD has showed in green since 2009; he was solid with some nice touches. BOD shouldn't be guaranteed his spot in the team, and being removed as captain reflects that. Although i'd have some issues about Heaslip's ability as captain, he is probably the only player with decent captaincy experience who is guaranteed his place in the squad.

I'd prefer Best to be captain and think he should be guaranteed his starting spot, but Kidney mightn't see it that way.

That Ulster selection looks like we'llbe going for a faster game and drag the Castres pack about, the front 5 while all big men gave good engines, Best, Afoa and Stevenson in particular. Marshall at 9 will be under orders to get there and chuck it to Pienaar as quick as humanly possibly, not going to be much tactical kicking from the back 3 either.

Feel for Jackson he's never really had a chance to recover form after getting the knock a while back,but he provides some impact on the bench, as does Henderson and that's good, considering the injuries we have it's a bloody good side.

soyhmf wrote:

camroc1 wrote:Leinster team :

Leinster: Rob Kearney; Isa Nacewa, Brian O’Driscoll, Gordon D’Arcy, Luke Fitzgerald; Jonathan Sexton, Eoin Reddan; Cian Healy, Richardt Strauss, Mike Ross; Leo Cullen, Devin Toner; Kevin McLaughlin, Sean O'Brien, Jamie Heaslip. Replacements: Sean Cronin, Heinke van der Merwe, Michael Bent, Rhys Ruddock, Shane Jennings, Isaac Boss, Ian Madigan, Fergus McFadden.

I like it.

Strong bench too! Fergus McFadden will be disappointed...

Now he knows how the rest of us feel.

bobbyfatfingers wrote:

Uncle Fester wrote:

bobbyfatfingers wrote:

Uncle Fester wrote:Talking of BOD, would his form prior to injury merit inclusion in the team? He really wasn't very good. Other more ruthless nations would be cutting him for that alone.

And yes, I know Earls has been ropey too.

Munster revisionism

i suppose you've forgotten his hattrick against France, you wanker

I remember it like it was current form bobby.

right, well, what about that try for the Lions in Australia?

typical short memory if deccie says he's shit he's shit brown nosing from a fellow cork man

And his first ever game against Munster for Leinster in Temple Hill, attended by 3 men and a dog. We were training on the side pitch so we ambled over to have a look. He made a break from his own 22 to the Munster 22.

Uncle Fester wrote:Talking of BOD, would his form prior to injury merit inclusion in the team? He really wasn't very good. Other more ruthless nations would be cutting him for that alone.

And yes, I know Earls has been ropey too.

Other ruthless nations would be dropping other whiney feckers as well

I have no issue with Heaslip taking over as captain let BOD hopefully regain his form. He still has the skills but doesn't threaten ball in hand like he used to. Earls skills are sadly lacking but prob bigger threat ball in hand.

Toulon have picked a near full strength side for the Montpelier match. Good.

L'équipe toulonnaise :
15.Delon ARMITAGE ; 14.Rudi WULF, 13.Maxime MERMOZ, 12.Matt GITEAU, 11.Alexis PALISSON ; 10.Jonny WILKINSON (cap), 9.Frédéric MICHALAK ; 8.Chris MASOE, 7.Steffon ARMITAGE, 6.Pierrick GUNTHER ; 5.Jocelino SUTA, 4.Simon SHAW ; 3.Davit KUBRIASHVILI, 2.Mickaël IVALDI, 1.Andrew SHERIDAN.
Les remplaçants :
16.Jean-Charles ORIOLI, 17.Gethin JENKINS, 18.Carl HAYMAN, 19.Nick KENNEDY, 20.Mathieu BASTAREAUD, 21.Juan-Martin FERNANDEZ LOBBE, 22.Vincent MARTIN, 23.Joe VAN NIEKERK.

BOD hasn't played much this season and he did have some good games before he was injured.

camroc1 wrote:Toulon have picked a near full strength side for the Montpelier match. Good.

L'équipe toulonnaise :
15.Delon ARMITAGE ; 14.Rudi WULF, 13.Maxime MERMOZ, 12.Matt GITEAU, 11.Alexis PALISSON ; 10.Jonny WILKINSON (cap), 9.Frédéric MICHALAK ; 8.Chris MASOE, 7.Steffon ARMITAGE, 6.Pierrick GUNTHER ; 5.Jocelino SUTA, 4.Simon SHAW ; 3.Davit KUBRIASHVILI, 2.Mickaël IVALDI, 1.Andrew SHERIDAN.
Les remplaçants :
16.Jean-Charles ORIOLI, 17.Gethin JENKINS, 18.Carl HAYMAN, 19.Nick KENNEDY, 20.Mathieu BASTAREAUD, 21.Juan-Martin FERNANDEZ LOBBE, 22.Vincent MARTIN, 23.Joe VAN NIEKERK.

Look at the bench

danthefan wrote:BOD hasn't played much this season and he did have some good games before he was injured.

He was good in the game he got injured in, but he was poor for Leinster otherwise. He was also poor-to-average in NZ. He was also the man to lead us to our worst ever defeat in the final NZ test. Its understandable he was stripped of his captaincy.