The IRISH RUGBY thread

[trailer]

This all starts with giving Farrell the top job. Will he be a top coach (probably England) definitely yes. But the facts remain. He played very little union rugby. He hasn't had a top job. He's learning on the fly with Ireland. It shows in his team selection and decisions. He got a lot of calls wrong last year but being new and Covid saved him. Ireland should get rid and appoint an experienced top coach as would be appropriate for one the most coveted jobs in world rugby.

[screenexile]

This all starts with giving Farrell the top job. Will he be a top coach (probably England) definitely yes. But the facts remain. He played very little union rugby. He hasn't had a top job. He's learning on the fly with Ireland. It shows in his team selection and decisions. He got a lot of calls wrong last year but being new and Covid saved him. Ireland should get rid and appoint an experienced top coach as would be appropriate for one the most coveted jobs in world rugby.

If O'Mahoney doesn't go off we win that game fairly handily... Ireland actually played well but individual errors cost the team today's performance is not the one to be judging Farrell on!

[currychip]

OMahoney seems to be a bit of a protected species. Probably we all feel positive about him.   A good lad.  Always puts in a decent shift.  Today's performance was def disappointing.  Prob cost Ireland the game.  People should acknowledge this, but nobody says so.  I don't know what he is paid but his performance today isn't professional.  But nobody wants to say so.  It's the biggest factor about today's game buts is not said.

[dublin7]

This all starts with giving Farrell the top job. Will he be a top coach (probably England) definitely yes. But the facts remain. He played very little union rugby. He hasn't had a top job. He's learning on the fly with Ireland. It shows in his team selection and decisions. He got a lot of calls wrong last year but being new and Covid saved him. Ireland should get rid and appoint an experienced top coach as would be appropriate for one the most coveted jobs in world rugby.

If O'Mahoney doesn't go off we win that game fairly handily... Ireland actually played well but individual errors cost the team today's performance is not the one to be judging Farrell on!

I thought so too. Game plan was sound, we moved the ball well. Individual kicking errors (not to mention O'Mahony's brain fart) can't be blamed on Andy Farrell.

[Rudi]

James Lowe was caught out badly for both tries. Both tries were well taken but somewhat fortunate. Earl's was poor, Kennan did ok.

[Angelo]

This thread is always a funny read.

One million ways to excuse failure.

[Silver hill]

Farrell  might be out of his depth but you need a bit of luck too as a coach. You also can't legislate for some of the decisions made on the pitch by your players. Silly concession of needless penalties like the 2 for blocking the chaser on a Garryowen; that's just schoolboy stuff. That kick will haunt Burns but so too should the one earlier by sexton (but he won't get the same grief as he's untouchable).
Where Farrell should get some criticism is the one dimensional way Ireland play. We are so predictable from scrum or ruck. It's box kick from Murray or garryowen from sexton. (Legacy of Schmidt). The sad thing is there's a ton of potential with ball in hand from henshaw and Keenan.
Game was gone though once o'mahoney did what he did. Again, not much Farrell can do about that. Still plenty to play for.

[Bord na Mona man]

Ah Billy what have you done 🤦🏼‍♂️🤦🏼‍♂️

Taken the heat off O'Mahony, that's what he's done!

[seafoid]

The margins are very tight in the 6n except aganst Italy. In 2018 in the first game Ireland were 2 points down with 3 minutes left and they scored a drop goal after 41 phases.
Everything went right
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOjF6rRRHWQ
They ended up winning the Grand Slam.

Yesterday they were 5 points down and nothing worked. O'Mahony has to bear a lot of the responsibility for that.

[GetOverTheBar]

Ah Billy what have you done 🤦🏼‍♂️🤦🏼‍♂️

Taken the heat off O'Mahony, that's what he's done!

He had to go for it.

[Milltown Row2]

Ah Billy what have you done 🤦🏼‍♂️🤦🏼‍♂️

Taken the heat off O'Mahony, that's what he's done!

He had to go for it.

There's going for it, and there's going for it but making sure you keep it in. 5m would have been brilliant, but you'd take ten and work another penalty as Wales were flapping at this point, they could have given away another one close in. But yes I can't argue that he shouldn't have went for it but like I said before, he's not the second best kicker in my view.

[GetOverTheBar]

Oh he went for it alright.....

It was just something at the end of the game. The red card was the key. Burns should learn from it. Ireland will have a problem going forward if he doesn't because they were never winning this six nations anyway, even though maybe they should be beating Wales at present.....but it's time to look at the next one, then the World Cup really.

[phpearse]

How many HIA were in that game and how many more could have been sent for HIA? It is a brutal sport. Players still tackle high.

[seafoid]

How many HIA were in that game and how many more could have been sent for HIA? It is a brutal sport. Players still tackle high.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/0/when-will-rugby-season-resume-start-six-nations-games/amp/

Professionals will require a mini pre-season to get fit again once the government lockdown is lifted, in order to build back up not just match fitness but also muscle in key areas such as the neck to ensure set-pieces can be carried out safely.


https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/dec/08/steve-thompson-interview-world-cup-rugby-union-dementia-special-report

He remembers all the gruelling sessions on the scrum machines. "There's so much pressure. They aren't moving, they've got pegs in it, they've got people stood on it, and you drive into it, all that weight coming through." He'd push until the point when his head started to go. "And suddenly, as the pressure comes off, you start getting the light, the little white dots, and you don't know where you are for a few seconds."

[trailer]

Question. Could you see Rugby be allowed in 50 years time? As it is now. Honestly I think there comes a point that a massive number of compensation claims start to come down the line and they try to change the game fundamentally or even a government steps in and possibly outlaws it. What are you left with? There is no doubt those hits take their toll and surely if we start to see above average cases of dementia and other neurological problems in ex players then I think it's game over. It's brutal sport and the hits have got a lot worse. Throw in actions such as Peter O'Mahoney's yesterday. He hasn't much regard for player safety, extrapolate that across the amateur game. How many hits like that go unpunished? Rugby like a lot of these contact sports are going to have a rough few years regarding player safety.