Quote from: thewobbler on March 10, 2024, 10:49:07 PMQuote from: Wildweasel74 on March 10, 2024, 08:55:03 PMDidn't deliver in the World cup,look that's the problem, the part time supporter not knowing the real layout of the land in Rugby. France was the most heavy favoured team to win on home Ground, then South Africa, followed by Ireland and New Zealand.The top 4 ,there was very little between them and that showed in games. Had Ireland actually been playing at home like France, then they would have been the favourites. The only people saying we were favourites is the Dublin media and people who knew f**k all about Rugby.
Ah you're fully bought in. Fair play to you.
The layout of the land is that Ireland has a unique advantage in international rugby whereby our international team absolutely trumps the needs of club rugby.
It provides us a genuine advantage in that our players our better rested and more closely coached for the international game.
But 20 odd years on we haven't come close to realising this advantage. We use it to build focused teams instead of competitive squads.
As a policy it leaves Ireland as sitting ducks. No matter how well drilled Ireland become - and by God are we well drilled - everyone knows what's coming.
And unless we find a couple of unplayable types like O'Driscoll at once, then it counts against us.
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On this note. Murray should have been retired from Ireland duty a decade ago.
By accident or design - and honestly I still don't know which - the predominant feature of his game has been shite box kicking. Nobody else does this at this level. Because it's shite, pointless rugby, unless it comes as a surprise.
Don't think this is true at all. Before the professional era Ireland were behind both Scotland and Wales in terms of success. We were miles behind England. Now at club level and international level we are blitzing all 3 of those sides. The idea that we are sacrificing club rugby to boost the national team is simply not supported by the facts.