The Official Irish Rugby Thread

[Winnie]

Heineken cup suspended.

Inevitable really

[DOB]

If the HEC can't go ahead, can the 6N realistically?

[Winnie]

If the HEC can't go ahead, can the 6N realistically?

With no fans in attendance they can at least give it up to the 11th hour to make a decision without too much disruption
I'd say its extremely doubtful though

[Jim Lahey]

Are we going back to the Amatuer days? Given that France are meeting with the 6 Nations maybe that's under threat?
Surely pro rugby can't survive much more of this?

In an ideal world this would act as a wakeup call for the sport that has forsaken its roots and instead invited in spivs that have turned our game away from free-flowing attacking rugby to cynical, box-kicking, scrum penalty borefest that values winning at all costs over everything else. Just look at how shite rugby is to watch today compared to 10-15 years ago before the gravy train arrived.

[Floppykid]

Are we going back to the Amatuer days? Given that France are meeting with the 6 Nations maybe that's under threat?
Surely pro rugby can't survive much more of this?

In an ideal world this would act as a wakeup call for the sport that has forsaken its roots and instead invited in spivs that have turned our game away from free-flowing attacking rugby to cynical, box-kicking, scrum penalty borefest that values winning at all costs over everything else. Just look at how shite rugby is to watch today compared to 10-15 years ago before the gravy train arrived.

Agree fully.
Think it was at its peak late 90s/early 00s.

I think it was RR who compared current rugby to current F1.
Everything is becoming more uniform and efficient. Talent is being coached out of it at the top levels.

[EverReady]

Most of you wrecked rugby. Well done

[Winnie]

Are we going back to the Amatuer days? Given that France are meeting with the 6 Nations maybe that's under threat?
Surely pro rugby can't survive much more of this?

In an ideal world this would act as a wakeup call for the sport that has forsaken its roots and instead invited in spivs that have turned our game away from free-flowing attacking rugby to cynical, box-kicking, scrum penalty borefest that values winning at all costs over everything else. Just look at how shite rugby is to watch today compared to 10-15 years ago before the gravy train arrived.

Agree fully.
Think it was at its peak late 90s/early 00s.

I think it was RR who compared current rugby to current F1.
Everything is becoming more uniform and efficient. Talent is being coached out of it at the top levels.

So basically rugby peaked with Ulster winning the European cup

[Floppykid]

Are we going back to the Amatuer days? Given that France are meeting with the 6 Nations maybe that's under threat?
Surely pro rugby can't survive much more of this?

In an ideal world this would act as a wakeup call for the sport that has forsaken its roots and instead invited in spivs that have turned our game away from free-flowing attacking rugby to cynical, box-kicking, scrum penalty borefest that values winning at all costs over everything else. Just look at how shite rugby is to watch today compared to 10-15 years ago before the gravy train arrived.

Agree fully.
Think it was at its peak late 90s/early 00s.

I think it was RR who compared current rugby to current F1.
Everything is becoming more uniform and efficient. Talent is being coached out of it at the top levels.

So basically rugby peaked with Ulster winning the European cup

I was more thinking Larkham's peak years, but sure.

[camroc1]

Gusher Neilly literally coming on air describing the beautiful rugby of the "White Knights"; and how some enormous Fijian prop would make Europe quake.

[Jim Lahey]

Gusher Neilly literally coming on air describing the beautiful rugby of the "White Knights"; and how some enormous Fijian prop would make Europe quake.

Not a patch on his heir Robbo’s ability to talk shite about Ulster.

[Winnie]

Gusher Neilly literally coming on air describing the beautiful rugby of the "White Knights"; and how some enormous Fijian prop would make Europe quake.

Not a patch on his heir Robbo’s ability to talk shite

Fixed for accuracy

[lemonhead]

I see Treviso and Keatley have parted company.

Shame, seemed happy enough there but paper's painting it pretty badly.

Whole team have been a shambles this season mind.

[Yer Man]

Kieran Campbell succeeds Noel McNamara as Irish 20s coach. Official confirmation expected in next couple of days. https://t.co/lLRfXQss0x

um... interesting


And that promotion is based on Campbell's clear track record of developing young talent at Ulster?

[Willie Falloon]

Kieran Campbell succeeds Noel McNamara as Irish 20s coach. Official confirmation expected in next couple of days. https://t.co/lLRfXQss0x

um... interesting


And that promotion is based on Campbell's clear track record of developing young talent at Ulster?

Not sure how Campbell got the job. He was the man who thought McIlroy wasn't worthy of a place in the Ulster academy and Rhys O'Donnell (probably the best SH in the AIL), wasn't good enough even for the sub-academy.

[themaddog]

Kieran Campbell succeeds Noel McNamara as Irish 20s coach. Official confirmation expected in next couple of days. https://t.co/lLRfXQss0x

um... interesting


And that promotion is based on Campbell's clear track record of developing young talent at Ulster?

Not sure how Campbell got the job. He was the man who thought McIlroy wasn't worthy of a place in the Ulster academy and Rhys O'Donnell (probably the best SH in the AIL), wasn't good enough even for the sub-academy.

He clearly has a bias against Ulster players.

[Mr. Very Popular]

I see Treviso and Keatley have parted company.

Shame, seemed happy enough there but paper's painting it pretty badly.

Whole team have been a shambles this season mind.

Haven't read anything about it,I know he liked the live there but always planned to come back to Limerick, would be a good backup for a D2 team so hopefully he picks up something

[irishrugbyua]

Kieran Campbell succeeds Noel McNamara as Irish 20s coach. Official confirmation expected in next couple of days. https://t.co/lLRfXQss0x

um... interesting


And that promotion is based on Campbell's clear track record of developing young talent at Ulster?

Not sure who else could have got it.. Campbell has put in the time.. Munstwr don't have a hot young coach coming thru.. Leinster's is Noel Mc and he is leaving the role.. Connacht's is forwards coach.

[Ulsters Red Hand]

Kieran Campbell succeeds Noel McNamara as Irish 20s coach. Official confirmation expected in next couple of days. https://t.co/lLRfXQss0x

um... interesting


And that promotion is based on Campbell's clear track record of developing young talent at Ulster?

Not sure how Campbell got the job. He was the man who thought McIlroy wasn't worthy of a place in the Ulster academy and Rhys O'Donnell (probably the best SH in the AIL), wasn't good enough even for the sub-academy.

Rightly or wrongly, i’d say there was some politics involved in the McIlroy decision Willie. ROD was an attitude issue

Now we need a new academy coach, make way for the Ruan/Rory dream team

[earl the beaver]

Politics? In selecting a winger in the academy or not.

[irishrugbyua]

Kieran Campbell succeeds Noel McNamara as Irish 20s coach. Official confirmation expected in next couple of days. https://t.co/lLRfXQss0x

um... interesting


And that promotion is based on Campbell's clear track record of developing young talent at Ulster?

Not sure how Campbell got the job. He was the man who thought McIlroy wasn't worthy of a place in the Ulster academy and Rhys O'Donnell (probably the best SH in the AIL), wasn't good enough even for the sub-academy.

Rightly or wrongly, i’d say there was some politics involved in the McIlroy decision Willie. ROD was an attitude issue

Now we need a new academy coach, make way for the Ruan/Rory dream team

Campbell is staying on as Ulsters head of academy/A team coach, similar to Noel Mc was at Leinster.

[Ulsters Red Hand]

Politics? In selecting a winger in the academy or not.

Do you know who his brother is Earl?

[earl the beaver]

Politics? In selecting a winger in the academy or not.

Do you know who his brother is Earl?

A man found not guilty in a court of law?

[Ulsters Red Hand]

Politics? In selecting a winger in the academy or not.

Do you know who his brother is Earl?

A man found not guilty in a court of law?

Yet his mates got sacked. I agree with your stance in this Earl but it's a legitimate argument to think, despite having a clinker on our hands, it may not be worth it if in years to come it turns out he's anything like his brother, who definitely came off the worse of the 3. Hardly a controversial thing to say there's some level of politics which could have been involved, though it's good to see they've looked past it

[Porterbelly1]

Keatley was whipped off against Connacht back in November despite being Treviso’s best player by a distance on the night. Hasn’t started a game since, must have fallen out with Crowley. Talk that he’ll be picked up by Glasgow.

[Jim Lahey]

Keatley was whipped off against Connacht back in November despite being Treviso’s best player by a distance on the night. Hasn’t started a game since, must have fallen out with Crowley. Talk that he’ll be picked up by Glasgow.

From potentially getting Ben Healy to Keatley

[irishrugbyua]

Plan is to play Munster vs. Leinster this weekend. Players and coaches working towards it but it has not been officially signed off yet.

@patmccarry

[Mr. Very Popular]

Plan is to play Munster vs. Leinster this weekend. Players and coaches working towards it but it has not been officially signed off yet.

@patmccarry

Just makes sense, probably about TV logistics now, shouldn't really be that hard to sort it.

[hermie]

Plan is to play Munster vs. Leinster this weekend. Players and coaches working towards it but it has not been officially signed off yet.

@patmccarry

Interesting ROC was pretty certain it was Saturday week on OTB last night. Be great to have something this weekend.

The Prem not moving fixtures forward and taking two weeks off probably means that we can kiss goodbye to those two rounds of Europe, right?

[Luckycharmer]

Plan is to play Munster vs. Leinster this weekend. Players and coaches working towards it but it has not been officially signed off yet.

@patmccarry

Interesting ROC was pretty certain it was Saturday week on OTB last night. Be great to have something this weekend.

The Prem not moving fixtures forward and taking two weeks off probably means that we can kiss goodbye to those two rounds of Europe, right?

Yes I heard the 23rd as well with no rugby to watch January is just getting bleaker!!!

[irishrugbyua]

makes more sense for this weekend off and play next.. at least to me, especially if they want stronger teams.. but then the IRFU might not want to see all the internationals killing each other just before the 6 nations

[Jim Lahey]

makes more sense for this weekend off and play next.. at least to me, especially if they want stronger teams.. but then the IRFU might not want to see all the internationals killing each other just before the 6 nations

I hope I’m wrong but I just don’t see the 6N going ahead. Certainly not next month and March at least.

The Pro-howevermanythefuck should be cancelled as well. We should do a proper full-blown interpro series in that scenario. Hammering Welsh/Scottish/Italian teams for fun each week is seriously hampering our ability to deal with the big international sides.

[hermie]

makes more sense for this weekend off and play next.. at least to me, especially if they want stronger teams.. but then the IRFU might not want to see all the internationals killing each other just before the 6 nations

They should play postponed games this weekend and move the next round forward for the following. It will free up a weekend down the line if needed and as LC says January is grim enough as it is. Although with the Prem not doing that (even though most of the clubs seemed to want it) probably not going to happen.

[Porterbelly1]

Thornley said next the 23rd too. Also said in the Times today that a revised Heineken quarter final based on current standings would have Munster v Scarlets and Leinster v Gloucester. Newcastle v Ulster and Treviso v Connacht in the challenge cup.

[irishrugbyua]

McCarry changing he tune now saying 23rd.

[hermie]

Thornley said next the 23rd too. Also said in the Times today that a revised Heineken quarter final based on current standings would have Munster v Scarlets and Leinster v Gloucester. Newcastle v Ulster and Treviso v Connacht in the challenge cup.

There was some talk of adding a last 16 before the QFs

[rialtoblue]

Munster Leinster confirmed for the 23rd, 7.30 ko

Both teams should be full selections. Might even manage to rekindle some of the spite that has been far too absent

[Luckycharmer]

Munster Leinster confirmed for the 23rd, 7.30 ko

Both teams should be full selections. Might even manage to rekindle some of the spite that has been far too absent

Hopefully have a couple of lads back from injury, isn't lowe back training this week.

[earl the beaver]

Munster Leinster confirmed for the 23rd, 7.30 ko

Both teams should be full selections. Might even manage to rekindle some of the spite that has been far too absent

Might not be that strong given Ireland are playing 2 weeks later and they might not want people smashing each other up.

[Leinsterman]

Thornley said next the 23rd too. Also said in the Times today that a revised Heineken quarter final based on current standings would have Munster v Scarlets and Leinster v Gloucester. Newcastle v Ulster and Treviso v Connacht in the challenge cup.

There was some talk of adding a last 16 before the QFs

Yep that's how Leinster end up playing Glaws. They're 8th in their pool.
Wasps v Exeter would be tasty.

[feckwanker]

Munster Leinster confirmed for the 23rd, 7.30 ko

Both teams should be full selections. Might even manage to rekindle some of the spite that has been far too absent

Might not be that strong given Ireland are playing 2 weeks later and they might not want people smashing each other up.

They won't be.