The IRISH RUGBY thread

[Wildweasel74]

16pts with 17mins to go, its unacceptable to lost a game from that point, this we hold it all for next week is crap, thats worst that the early lead we had again new Zealand a few years back

[Capt Pat]

If Stander is back next week we might still have a chance in the final game.

[JPGJOHNNYG]

16pts with 17mins to go, its unacceptable to lost a game from that point, this we hold it all for next week is crap, thats worst that the early lead we had again new Zealand a few years back

couldnt agree more the lads have no idea how to kill time. as soon as sa go ahead with 3/4 mins to go watch how they ran down the clock with pretty much nothing happening. like i said earlier the dumbest moment was giving away a cheap penalty when we were in their 22 with only 7 mins to go any other team would have scored or made sure they ran the clock down with ball up the jumper stuff

[Dinny Breen]

How can you run down the clock when have you no ball, 25% possession and they didn't have possession because they were out on their feet, it's not rocket science.

[Hardy]

I don't think people understand the effects of Oxygen debt at altitude. That's all that happened in the last 20 minutes. We'll win next week.

[Walter Cronc]

Just about getting over Saturdays defeat.

It has went from sheer anger to a realisation that the players were goosed. Still hopeful for this Saturday.

Henshaw a big loss. Who steps in at 13? Payne with O'Halloran at FB?

Huge game for U20s today. James Ryan is now starting after fears his tournament was over. Argentina will be very tough but it would be great to make a final at this grade!

[Hound]

Just looking at that Irish squad and wondering is there a co-relation between the GAA's massive funding of Dublin and the lack of Dublin players in the squad. Only Jack McGrath starting and Ian Madigan on the bench are Dubs, has Dublin GAA won the battle? or are these things cyclical but with a quarter of the population of this Island based in Dublin it's definitely not a proportional representation.

Don't believe so - the player pool is spreading wider and into more rural areas. With the demands placed on inter county players a lad talented at rugby and football/hurling at 14/15 is certainly more inclined to choose the professional route.

That Dublin team are as professional as the Leinster Rugby team and Academy players get pittance though so not as straight forward as you would think. The numbers are interesting though especially with the investment placed in schools such as Blackrock, Michaels and Belvedere. I do have issues with Leinster's ability to identify talent and their ability to develop talent though so perhaps it's more reflective of that than competition from other sports bodies.

Dublin however isn't your standard GAA side though. Take a lad say from Down or Wexford. Is he going to choose a chance at professional rugby or 10 years of slog with practically no reward!

I'm only interested in Dublin though, perhaps an increase in players outside the traditional areas might explain some of it.

Number of Dubs on the South Africa tour has nothing to do with Dublin GAA!
How many of the Dubs panel turned down contracts with Leinster rugby? I'd be surprised if there was as many as One!

An end of season tour is a poor barometer to use anyway given the number of injuries.
A better sample to look at to see if there is any merit to your argument would be how many Dubs on the rugby world cup U20 panel.

[whitegoodman]

Just about getting over Saturdays defeat.

It has went from sheer anger to a realisation that the players were goosed. Still hopeful for this Saturday.

Henshaw a big loss. Who steps in at 13? Payne with O'Halloran at FB?

Huge game for U20s today. James Ryan is now starting after fears his tournament was over. Argentina will be very tough but it would be great to make a final at this grade!

Id be inclined to keep Payne at 15 so either Olding and Marshall or Marshall and earls, probably the former.  A couple of players looked goosed in the last twenty minutes and might sit out the last test. Trimble in particular springs to mind.

[Walter Cronc]

Just looking at that Irish squad and wondering is there a co-relation between the GAA's massive funding of Dublin and the lack of Dublin players in the squad. Only Jack McGrath starting and Ian Madigan on the bench are Dubs, has Dublin GAA won the battle? or are these things cyclical but with a quarter of the population of this Island based in Dublin it's definitely not a proportional representation.

Don't believe so - the player pool is spreading wider and into more rural areas. With the demands placed on inter county players a lad talented at rugby and football/hurling at 14/15 is certainly more inclined to choose the professional route.

That Dublin team are as professional as the Leinster Rugby team and Academy players get pittance though so not as straight forward as you would think. The numbers are interesting though especially with the investment placed in schools such as Blackrock, Michaels and Belvedere. I do have issues with Leinster's ability to identify talent and their ability to develop talent though so perhaps it's more reflective of that than competition from other sports bodies.

Dublin however isn't your standard GAA side though. Take a lad say from Down or Wexford. Is he going to choose a chance at professional rugby or 10 years of slog with practically no reward!

I'm only interested in Dublin though, perhaps an increase in players outside the traditional areas might explain some of it.

Number of Dubs on the South Africa tour has nothing to do with Dublin GAA!
How many of the Dubs panel turned down contracts with Leinster rugby? I'd be surprised if there was as many as One!

An end of season tour is a poor barometer to use anyway given the number of injuries.
A better sample to look at to see if there is any merit to your argument would be how many Dubs on the rugby world cup U20 panel.

How many are there?

[Walter Cronc]

Just about getting over Saturdays defeat.

It has went from sheer anger to a realisation that the players were goosed. Still hopeful for this Saturday.

Henshaw a big loss. Who steps in at 13? Payne with O'Halloran at FB?

Huge game for U20s today. James Ryan is now starting after fears his tournament was over. Argentina will be very tough but it would be great to make a final at this grade!

Id be inclined to keep Payne at 15 so either Olding and Marshall or Marshall and earls, probably the former.  A couple of players looked goosed in the last twenty minutes and might sit out the last test. Trimble in particular springs to mind.

Definitely wouldnt have Earls in the centre, has proven he doesnt have the defence. Might be worth having a look at Marshall/Olding. Not the biggest but excellent players.

[Dinny Breen]

Superb performance from the Irish 20s completely dominant in all facets.

Nigel Carolan and everything that is good in Irish provincial game i.e. Connacht is what's feeding the belief in this team. Real shot at winning the Championship.

[Capt Pat]

A good performance from Ireland tonight beating Argentina 37-7. Now on to England in the final, the English are at home and beat South Africa 39-17.

[Walter Cronc]

Superb performance from the U20s. Fair played to Nigel Carolan, a few clowns on twitter were having a go at him during the 6 nations but he has this side playing with great confidence and flair. Some excellent prospects on this side - Porter, Ryan, Deegan and Stockdale all look like seniors already!

[Dinny Breen]

Superb performance from the U20s. Fair played to Nigel Carolan, a few clowns on twitter were having a go at him during the 6 nations but he has this side playing with great confidence and flair. Some excellent prospects on this side - Porter, Ryan, Deegan and Stockdale all look like seniors already!

That's your typical bi-polar knee jerkism that is prevalent not just on Twitter but on forums and indeed life these days. Carolan's remit is to develop talent, he would goal orientated not outcome. He is very much all about performance, once you get the performance right the outcome will take care of itself.

We beat England in the 6 nations but since then they have changed coaches and look a very dynamic powerful side, for an English team they lack a controlling 10 and are not as structured, a high tempo loose game would suit them. Still I think our set-piece will cause them problems and we are playing with and just like scoring in attack. Will be a tight game.

[Walter Cronc]

Superb performance from the U20s. Fair played to Nigel Carolan, a few clowns on twitter were having a go at him during the 6 nations but he has this side playing with great confidence and flair. Some excellent prospects on this side - Porter, Ryan, Deegan and Stockdale all look like seniors already!

That's your typical bi-polar knee jerkism that is prevalent not just on Twitter but on forums and indeed life these days. Carolan's remit is to develop talent, he would goal orientated not outcome. He is very much all about performance, once you get the performance right the outcome will take care of itself.

We beat England in the 6 nations but since then they have changed coaches and look a very dynamic powerful side, for an English team they lack a controlling 10 and are not as structured, a high tempo loose game would suit them. Still I think our set-piece will cause them problems and we are playing with and just like scoring in attack. Will be a tight game.

Is Harry Mallinder not their 10? He's played quite a few times for Northampton this year. Thought their game was quite structured. On another point he seems to be getting more game time than JJ Hanrahan at Saints. Been a disappointing move for him!