The IRISH RUGBY thread

[Bord na Mona man]

The Scots are a funny lot. When they play England they go full Braveheart with the anti-English stuff.
Eddie Jones mentioned the abuse the English team got from the moment they disembarked the bus at the weekend.

Yet, when it came to voting for Independence, the Scottish rugby heartlands were the biggest Uncle Toms of all, voting the referendum down in the heaviest numbers.

Thou doth protest too much.

[Milltown Row2]

The Scots are a funny lot. When they play England they go full Braveheart with the anti-English stuff.
Eddie Jones mentioned the abuse the English team got from the moment they disembarked the bus at the weekend.

Yet, when it came to voting for Independence, the Scottish rugby heartlands were the biggest Uncle Toms of all, voting the referendum down in the heaviest numbers.

Thou doth protest too much.

Hating the English and possibly being short of money (a Scottish thing) would be a close call..

[Syferus]

Scotland is the Disneyland version of Ireland.

[Franko]

Jamie Heaslip retired . . . didn't see that coming to be honest but maybe it was. A great servant to Ireland but he left the jersey in a better place than he found it so fair play to him!

Is this a direct result of taking that knee in the back against France or was a recurring unrelated injury?

It's unrelated, just a back injury from wear and tear that after two surgeries hasn't showed sufficient progress to allow him to play professional rugby. Of course you have Paul Kimmage at his Gobshite best claiming Heaslip wasn't injured at the time. Never played again. Know him since he was a kid but never got to know him, very private person. Very smart though like his brothers, will go well in the business world. He won't stay involved in rugby.  Best of luck to him, loved that try against France in Croke Park.

What's Kimmage's gripe with Heaslip?  Saw a few discussions on twitter about Heaslip blocking various journalists.

[magpie seanie]

The Scots are a funny lot. When they play England they go full Braveheart with the anti-English stuff.
Eddie Jones mentioned the abuse the English team got from the moment they disembarked the bus at the weekend.

Yet, when it came to voting for Independence, the Scottish rugby heartlands were the biggest Uncle Toms of all, voting the referendum down in the heaviest numbers.

Thou doth protest too much.

+1

[Dinny Breen]

Jamie Heaslip retired . . . didn't see that coming to be honest but maybe it was. A great servant to Ireland but he left the jersey in a better place than he found it so fair play to him!

Is this a direct result of taking that knee in the back against France or was a recurring unrelated injury?

It's unrelated, just a back injury from wear and tear that after two surgeries hasn't showed sufficient progress to allow him to play professional rugby. Of course you have Paul Kimmage at his Gobshite best claiming Heaslip wasn't injured at the time. Never played again. Know him since he was a kid but never got to know him, very private person. Very smart though like his brothers, will go well in the business world. He won't stay involved in rugby.  Best of luck to him, loved that try against France in Croke Park.

What's Kimmage's gripe with Heaslip?  Saw a few discussions on twitter about Heaslip blocking various journalists.

Above was when there was rumoors last year that Heaslip was going to be dropped for O'Mahoney and that he and the IRFU fabricated a story that Heaslip was injured.

Heaslip also failed a drug test in 2006 for high levels of testosterone.

[tonto1888]

Jamie Heaslip retired . . . didn't see that coming to be honest but maybe it was. A great servant to Ireland but he left the jersey in a better place than he found it so fair play to him!

Is this a direct result of taking that knee in the back against France or was a recurring unrelated injury?

It's unrelated, just a back injury from wear and tear that after two surgeries hasn't showed sufficient progress to allow him to play professional rugby. Of course you have Paul Kimmage at his Gobshite best claiming Heaslip wasn't injured at the time. Never played again. Know him since he was a kid but never got to know him, very private person. Very smart though like his brothers, will go well in the business world. He won't stay involved in rugby.  Best of luck to him, loved that try against France in Croke Park.

What's Kimmage's gripe with Heaslip?  Saw a few discussions on twitter about Heaslip blocking various journalists.

Above was when there was rumoors last year that Heaslip was going to be dropped for O'Mahoney and that he and the IRFU fabricated a story that Heaslip was injured.

Heaslip also failed a drug test in 2006 for high levels of testosterone.

really? I don't remember that, did it get a lot of coverage at the time?

[Dinny Breen]

God no, Irish Sport do cover-ups as well as the UK.

It wasn't reported on as Heaslip was able to prove medically that he has high levels of naturally produced Testosterone, so no ban etc. If only he was South African.

[tonto1888]

God no, Irish Sport do cover-ups as well as the UK.

It wasn't reported on as Heaslip was able to prove medically that he has high levels of naturally produced Testosterone, so no ban etc. If only he was South African.

I didnt know that at all. Cheers

[dec]

England no where near winning this match. Blaming it on the ref is some leap, but you're well used to making those.

Scotland still in the mix.

Need France to do something next day out

England not getting a bonus point against France (who must fancy their chances now) and us beating Scotland with four tries and the tournament is over.  And even if they remain five behind heading to the final round they'd need to put four tries on us. Great chance to get the trophy in the bag early now.

Losing a grand slam game but still winning the championship would be very unsatisfying.

[Syferus]

England no where near winning this match. Blaming it on the ref is some leap, but you're well used to making those.

Scotland still in the mix.

Need France to do something next day out

England not getting a bonus point against France (who must fancy their chances now) and us beating Scotland with four tries and the tournament is over.  And even if they remain five behind heading to the final round they'd need to put four tries on us. Great chance to get the trophy in the bag early now.

Losing a grand slam game but still winning the championship would be very unsatisfying.

History remembers who wins the tournament, not who wins the last game. I'd have taken it if offered before the season.

[Rudi]

The Scots are a funny lot. When they play England they go full Braveheart with the anti-English stuff.
Eddie Jones mentioned the abuse the English team got from the moment they disembarked the bus at the weekend.

Yet, when it came to voting for Independence, the Scottish rugby heartlands were the biggest Uncle Toms of all, voting the referendum down in the heaviest numbers.

Thou doth protest too much.

Plus 1. I dislike everything about Scotland. Strange miserable folk.

[Walter Cronc]

Jonno Gibbes to step down as Ulster head coach at the end of the year. The circus that is Ulster Rugby continues. Time for Shane Logan and Bryn Cunningham to step down also. Farce of an organisation but knowing the arrogance of some of those involved I've zero sympathy for them!

[DuffleKing]

Shane Logan and "The board" need to go if they are serious about progress. I hope they don't mind as I personally hate that organisation.

It's peculiar that the IRFU are continually willing to fund this pantomime.

[Dinny Breen]

Don't forget Ulster delegates make up a portion of the IRFU. Leinster are the only province with their ducks in a row so to speak. The IRFU though are an amateur body trying to run a professional game. Ulster rugby are a shambles in every section from clubs to schools to coaching to players, they're structure. They need serious reform but it has to come from within Ulster, the IRFU can give them a framework but they have to put the work in. Ulster Rugby as a brand is pretty toxic at the moment.