The IRISH RUGBY thread

[Hardy]

I was talking about football. Soccer is beyond redemption.

[seafoid]

I think this is one of the reasons rugby is such a mess.

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/international/sexton-worries-what-if-outhalf-suffers-another-concussion-1.2102186

"Ireland is in trouble as playing Sexton after what happened to him is a big mistake," Bénézech told The Irish Times. "I can tell you already what will be the first way France will use the ball. It will be number nine [Rory Kockott] to [Mathieu] Bastareaud, straight at Johnny Sexton."
That's the same Bastareaud, all 120kg (19 stone) of him, who knocked Sexton out cold last March when Ireland clinched the Six Nations title in Paris. "The French have to do that," Bénézech said. "Maybe an Irish backrow could save the situation, but what happens if Johnny Sexton gets another knockout? He is out of rugby, maybe indefinitely.
"It would be easier to use him as a substitute and use him, or not, according to the game. Imagine the pressure on his shoulders for the first tackle? And if it is Bastareaud with a 20-metre run-up before getting the ball, it will be a disaster." Bénézech, who won 15 caps during the mid-1990s, attained notoriety in France last year when his book Rugby, où sont tes valeurs? (Rugby, where are your values?) highlighted possible doping within the game.

[yellowcard]

Personally I have found it hard to watch rugby in recent years and whilst I will watch the big internationals and an odd European Cup game its more out of duty because Ireland/provinces are involved than of any real interest in the game itself. To me its all bish bosh bang, win the collisions, and stick it up the jumper and run as hard into contact as you can before recycling and repeating. The skill level accounts for a very small minority of the game, to me it appears as though its mostly all about who wins the physical contact. A good backline move is now a rarity in a match and there is very little room left for innovative, flair, off the cuff type players.

[johnneycool]

Personally I have found it hard to watch rugby in recent years and whilst I will watch the big internationals and an odd European Cup game its more out of duty because Ireland/provinces are involved than of any real interest in the game itself. To me its all bish bosh bang, win the collisions, and stick it up the jumper and run as hard into contact as you can before recycling and repeating. The skill level accounts for a very small minority of the game, to me it appears as though its mostly all about who wins the physical contact. A good backline move is now a rarity in a match and there is very little room left for innovative, flair, off the cuff type players.

I'd agree with all that TBF, but I'd add a few caveats;

The French, I'd don't think have bought into the bish bosh bang rugby in its entirety. Whilst they acknowledge its effectiveness you still get the feeling they're in two minds about it, preferring to win with the flair players and are caught between two stools and indecision.
The Aussies, much like Ireland don't have that type of player that England and Wales have, suffer in the scrum and like to move it about a bit. like France can get caught out when it turns into a grinding game.
Ireland really can't get embroiled in a muscling session with the likes of England or even France and need to do something different, something Schmitt seems to be a dab hand at. If the game plan fails, then Ireland come unstuck.

Watching England and Wales last Friday night was a display of what is wrong with professional rugby, it was all safety first, possession, phases and very few risks taken and hope your opponents miss a tackle or what not.
Rugby league would be better.

[Keyser soze]

I agree. I like him, but he's not a top class international out half, and his kicking is not metronomic either. He can be hit and miss.

Talk about rushing to judgement. This guy only has a few caps!  How many people look top class after that many caps? Certainly Sextron and O'Gara were receiving plenty of criticism at that stage of their career, if he turns out at their level he might have a fair oul international career!

[AZOffaly]

I watch him every week for Munster. I know his strengths and weaknesses. He's good and tidy with the ball in hand, but not electric. He's a decent tackler, but not a brilliant one, he's a good kicker, but not a great reliable one.

In short he's a good player, and a good outhalf at club level, but he's not got the tools at the moment to be an international out half, in my opinion, and he is not a 21 year old starting out either.

[Keyser soze]

Well I thought he was fairly decent against Italy, which admittedly is the only time I ve seen him play for any length of time as he has had limited international opportunites, which will make it more difficult for him to develop at this level.

Though I will defer to your obviously much greater knowledge of his career, not to mention rugby in general, lol.

Someone put up the comment about having to listen to 'fat guys who once played rugby at school pontificating for the next 6 weeks'. Well Im not fat and I never played rugby but Im determined to do my share of pontificating regardless lol.

[johnneycool]

I watch him every week for Munster. I know his strengths and weaknesses. He's good and tidy with the ball in hand, but not electric. He's a decent tackler, but not a brilliant one, he's a good kicker, but not a great reliable one.

In short he's a good player, and a good outhalf at club level, but he's not got the tools at the moment to be an international out half, in my opinion, and he is not a 21 year old starting out either.

Which makes the decision of Munster to allow JJ Hanrahan go to Northampton all the more baffling if he's an average Joe!

[AZOffaly]

I agree, but JJ has a lot of development to do too. I don't want to be unfair to Keatley either, he's better than average at club level, but he's not top international class. That's all I'm saying.

[oakleaflad]

See Andrew Trimble is out of the 6 nations but hopes to be back for the World Cup, it's a pity as I thought he was very good last year. Hope he gets in contention for the World Cup as he's 30 now and probably won't get another chance.

[Asal Mor]

Can't resist France at 9/4. Come on you boys in blue.

[seafoid]

Sexton is world class but he was concussed 4 times last year.Is this more likely to make him a target? And if so would he not be better off leaving the sport?

[cornerback]

Sexton is world class but he was concussed 4 times last year.Is this more likely to make him a target? And if so would he not be better off leaving the sport?

Concussion or not Sexton will always be the main target for the opposition!!

[seafoid]

Are there any stats for how often players are concussed ? Would Ollie Campbell have been knocked out much ?

[stephenite]

Are there any stats for how often players are concussed ? Would Ollie Campbell have been knocked out much ?

I don't have any stats, but there was an article earlier in the week that mentioned one of the centres was heavier than the average weight of the forwards from the 85 triple crown team (or something like that).

And it's not fatter he is.

The collisions in the modern game were non existent when Ollie Campbell was playing.