The IRISH RUGBY thread

[johnneycool]

Watched a bit of the Rabo direct Munster v Ulster game on friday night and what struck me most (more than the empty seats at Thomand) was the amount of times both teams deployed the jakeball/Garryowen/up and under, it was crazy and somewhat predictable.

I'd say if we persist with it as our main way of gaining field position or attack threat then we'll be found out in the 6N's not to mention the World Cup!

[Walter Cronc]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/30269070

Jezza has picked his team for the November Internationals. Somethings just not right when he's praising Ireland!!

[Max Payne]

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/other-rugby/dangerous-obsession-with-size-creates-bigger-need-for-answers-30785080.html

Uh oh.

[gallsman]

He still managed to fit a fair few funny looking ones in though! Only one from the Irish pack is a bit of an oversight.

[Walter Cronc]

He still managed to fit a fair few funny looking ones in though! Only one from the Irish pack is a bit of an oversight.

Yeah O'Connell was excellent against SA and Aus. Jack Mc Grath also!

[seafoid]

http://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/letters/jackie-kyle-a-great-sporting-hero-a-gentleman-my-role-model-1.2024514

Sir, – As a 10-year-old boy in February 1955 I attended the England v Ireland rugby encounter with my Dad. I stood tall at the Havelock Square end on a Jacob's Biscuit tin so I could see all the action.
Jackie Kyle was faster over that first 10 yards than Usain Bolt. I was enthralled with his majestic contribution to the 6- 6 draw in front of a huge crowd. I became a dedicated young fan and went to all the major games. As an avid follower I sought out the players' autographs, a prized possession of young followers.
Then as a 12-year-old, well into my stride, I was waiting with anticipation the overseas Australian tourists of 1957 to arrive. My hero was to play in a club game against Lansdowne RFC in September. In the relative quiet of the after-match dressing room I nervously approached my champion. I mentioned the upcoming Ulster clash with the tourists in November. As he would be playing he would have access to a game programme. I asked would he give me his address as I wanted to write to him, and the next day I sent him a letter and enclosed a shilling for a programme.
A week after the game, our postman delivered a large envelope with a letter from Jackie. They had lost 9-0 but he enclosed the programme autographed by all the tourists and the Ulster squad. He also sent the menu for the dinner that evening, autographed by all. But the inspirational piece came in the last paragraph of the letter. He said "please find enclosed your shilling. As I was selected on the team they gave me a free programme." Signed Jackie Kyle. What a gentleman. – Yours, etc, MIKE PARLE Leixlip, Co Kildare.

[yellowcard]

The silence on possible doping in rugby (and I'm getting mostly at journalists for opening a debate) is deafening but now that Kimmage is onto it, there could be a few more in the media who will row in behind him. I certainly believe that there is a lot more going on here than we are led to believe. The increase in size in rugby teams over the last decade or more is frightening and in a sport where the bigger and bulkier you are the better the benefits of doping are obvious. Problem is you just don't know whether to believe that what you are seeing is real any more. 

[screenexile]

Here's one. Is there a benefit for a youngster just out of school looking to get a contract to dope for 6 months to get the massive gains and then stop? Surely that has to be happening flat out?

[Walter Cronc]

Here's one. Is there a benefit for a youngster just out of school looking to get a contract to dope for 6 months to get the massive gains and then stop? Surely that has to be happening flat out?

I'd say its rife in school boy rugby. Maybe the top players aren't doing it as they are on a specialist programme through academies but the players just below that are the main offenders desperate to get a contract.

[bennydorano]

https://vodhls.rasset.ie/manifest/audio/2014/1211/20141211_rteradio1-seanorourke-dopinginru_c20696085_20696110_261_.m3u8

Kimmage, Trevor Hogan & Sean Byrne.

[muppet]

http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/european/2014/1218/667731-concussion-makes-sexton-a-doubt-for-italy-match/

Ireland outhalf Johnny Sexton is a doubt for Ireland's opening Six Nations game against Italy after Racing Metro said he would be out until 14 February due to concussion.
Sexton has not played since he sustained a blow to the head during Ireland 26-23 victory over Australia on 22 November.
He is believed to have been suffering from nausea and headaches since the injury, and has been seeing a neurologist in Paris about the symptoms.
"He will not play a match until he's 100%," Racing Metro's head coach Laurent Labit told a news conference as Sexton was again left out of the squad for Saturday's Top 14 game against La Rochelle.
             
French sports daily L'Equipe reported on Thursday that the French league's medical committee had banned Sexton from playing until 14 February, which means he would at least miss Ireland's opening Six Nations game against Italy a week earlier.

[Tony Baloney]

http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/european/2014/1218/667731-concussion-makes-sexton-a-doubt-for-italy-match/

Ireland outhalf Johnny Sexton is a doubt for Ireland's opening Six Nations game against Italy after Racing Metro said he would be out until 14 February due to concussion.
Sexton has not played since he sustained a blow to the head during Ireland 26-23 victory over Australia on 22 November.
He is believed to have been suffering from nausea and headaches since the injury, and has been seeing a neurologist in Paris about the symptoms.
"He will not play a match until he's 100%," Racing Metro's head coach Laurent Labit told a news conference as Sexton was again left out of the squad for Saturday's Top 14 game against La Rochelle.
             
French sports daily L'Equipe reported on Thursday that the French league's medical committee had banned Sexton from playing until 14 February, which means he would at least miss Ireland's opening Six Nations game against Italy a week earlier.

Better safe than sorry. Should have more than enough for that match. Has Carter been signed yet to replace him?

[screenexile]

http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/european/2014/1218/667731-concussion-makes-sexton-a-doubt-for-italy-match/

Ireland outhalf Johnny Sexton is a doubt for Ireland's opening Six Nations game against Italy after Racing Metro said he would be out until 14 February due to concussion.
Sexton has not played since he sustained a blow to the head during Ireland 26-23 victory over Australia on 22 November.
He is believed to have been suffering from nausea and headaches since the injury, and has been seeing a neurologist in Paris about the symptoms.
"He will not play a match until he's 100%," Racing Metro's head coach Laurent Labit told a news conference as Sexton was again left out of the squad for Saturday's Top 14 game against La Rochelle.
             
French sports daily L'Equipe reported on Thursday that the French league's medical committee had banned Sexton from playing until 14 February, which means he would at least miss Ireland's opening Six Nations game against Italy a week earlier.

Better safe than sorry. Should have more than enough for that match. Has Carter been signed yet to replace him?

Yip!

[Tony Baloney]

Just reading there he is on €1.5 million a year for 3 years. Nice wee pension top up before retirement.

[seafoid]

http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/european/2014/1218/667731-concussion-makes-sexton-a-doubt-for-italy-match/

Ireland outhalf Johnny Sexton is a doubt for Ireland's opening Six Nations game against Italy after Racing Metro said he would be out until 14 February due to concussion.
Sexton has not played since he sustained a blow to the head during Ireland 26-23 victory over Australia on 22 November.
He is believed to have been suffering from nausea and headaches since the injury, and has been seeing a neurologist in Paris about the symptoms.
"He will not play a match until he's 100%," Racing Metro's head coach Laurent Labit told a news conference as Sexton was again left out of the squad for Saturday's Top 14 game against La Rochelle.
             
French sports daily L'Equipe reported on Thursday that the French league's medical committee had banned Sexton from playing until 14 February, which means he would at least miss Ireland's opening Six Nations game against Italy a week earlier.

They must have changed their tune since that Fritz video