The IRISH RUGBY thread

[The Stallion]

I wasn't sticking the boot in, just struggling to reconcile the oft-stated opinion that Ireland are one of the best teams in Rugby with the fact they have NEVER won a knockout World Cup game, as well as the wild Irish celebrating after England won the Six Nations Title.

Still can't understand it and haven't received a satisfactory explanation tbh.

[AhNowRef]

I wasn't sticking the boot in, just struggling to reconcile the oft-stated opinion that Ireland are one of the best teams in Rugby with the fact they have NEVER won a knockout World Cup game, as well as the wild Irish celebrating after England won the Six Nations Title.

Still can't understand it and haven't received a satisfactory explanation tbh.

As someone who has went to & watched these games since I was a Kid I can unreservedly say that Saturday was absolutely brilliant ... but here, if ye dont get it ye dont get it .. I'm glad to be one of those who do ...

[foxcommander]

Must be very confusing for 'irish' rugby fans when they hear GSTQ played in Dublin. Would be hard for them to resist the urge to sing along.

[The Stallion]

Why have you called them 'irish'?

[seafoid]

Must be very confusing for 'irish' rugby fans when they hear GSTQ played in Dublin. Would be hard for them to resist the urge to sing along.

I dare you to say that in Limerick

[seafoid]

There should be a good few on the Lions tour. According to the Torygraph the Lions have only beaten NZ once on tour.

[Walter Cronc]

Gerry not far away here.

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/international/gerry-thornley-predicts-his-british-and-irish-lions-starting-xv-1.3018100

Though I'm more excited about Irelands tour than the Lions!

[Maroon Manc]

I realise Ireland's world cup history is poor but I still think Ireland are punching above their weight. Resources wise Ireland a long way behind NZ, Aus, SA, England & France so to beating many of these teams as often as they do surely indicates that their punching above their weight. I'm far from an expert on Rugby Union but Ireland appear to have a brilliant structure with the players only spread across 4 teams which appears to have certainly benefitted them rather than hindered.

I do think there is some sort of middle ground between those who get far too carried away with a win and those who are always talking down any sort of good result.

[straightred]

I realise Ireland's world cup history is poor but I still think Ireland are punching above their weight. Resources wise Ireland a long way behind NZ, Aus, SA, England & France so to beating many of these teams as often as they do surely indicates that their punching above their weight. I'm far from an expert on Rugby Union but Ireland appear to have a brilliant structure with the players only spread across 4 teams which appears to have certainly benefitted them rather than hindered.

I do think there is some sort of middle ground between those who get far too carried away with a win and those who are always talking down any sort of good result.

We'll agree to differ.

I will agree that we shouldn't draw comparisons with NZ, Aus, SA, England and France as that's not fair. I do think however that it is fair to compare the records of the next level of teams in the WC. We have never got beyond the quarters. We've never won a game of knock out rugby. Wales and Argentina have done so twice each and Scotland have done it once. Only when we achieve this relatively modest task can we talk about boxing above our weight.

[dec]

Gerry not far away here.

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/international/gerry-thornley-predicts-his-british-and-irish-lions-starting-xv-1.3018100

Though I'm more excited about Irelands tour than the Lions!

Looking at his squad for the Lions highlights where Ireland are weak, back three and locks.

[Maroon Manc]

I realise Ireland's world cup history is poor but I still think Ireland are punching above their weight. Resources wise Ireland a long way behind NZ, Aus, SA, England & France so to beating many of these teams as often as they do surely indicates that their punching above their weight. I'm far from an expert on Rugby Union but Ireland appear to have a brilliant structure with the players only spread across 4 teams which appears to have certainly benefitted them rather than hindered.

I do think there is some sort of middle ground between those who get far too carried away with a win and those who are always talking down any sort of good result.

We'll agree to differ.

I will agree that we shouldn't draw comparisons with NZ, Aus, SA, England and France as that's not fair. I do think however that it is fair to compare the records of the next level of teams in the WC. We have never got beyond the quarters. We've never won a game of knock out rugby. Wales and Argentina have done so twice each and Scotland have done it once. Only when we achieve this relatively modest task can we talk about boxing above our weight.

The world cup isn't everything and in fairness Ireland have won all their games in their pool at both of the last 2 world cups so they've not completely failed at those world cups.  I agree that Ireland were hugely disappointing in the last 2 quarter finals and in turn missed out on 2 great opportunities to miss the world cup finals.

You're not taking into account that Ireland have become consistent in the 6 nations over the last 10 years and have finished top of the table 3 times in the last 9 championships.

[Applesisapples]

Taliking to an Ulster fan, he thought that Ulster don't get a fair shake when it comes to team selection. I don't know enough to comment. What do others think?

[screenexile]

Taliking to an Ulster fan, he thought that Ulster don't get a fair shake when it comes to team selection. I don't know enough to comment. What do others think?

Maybe, McCloskey/Olding/Gilroy are very good players and Payne should have been in FB instead of Kearney a long time ago.

Possibly McCloskey and Henshaw are very similar, Olding has had a lot of injury problems and Gilroy just a shade below a proper Test wing but other than that I don't think you could say too much. Ulster have been very f**king average this year and most years they are and never really hit the heights of Munster & Leinster recently so they don't deserve any extra players in.

[Walter Cronc]

Your friend obviously suffers with the same as most Ulster fans - everyone hates us!!

McCloskey isn't anywhere near the same level as Henshaw when it comes to work rate. Rumours were that he turned down the S.A tour last summer to go watch the Green n White army. He can kiss goodbye to an international career if that's true!!

The one player with massive potential is Stockdale. Could be the Irish full back come 2019!!

[Owen Brannigan]

Taliking to an Ulster fan, he thought that Ulster don't get a fair shake when it comes to team selection. I don't know enough to comment. What do others think?

There is an element of truth to it but both Munster and particularly Connacht have a similar claim given the apparent specific  allegiance of JS towards his Leinster players.

Ulster players probably have suffered because the team has not performed at European level and have been very inconsistent.  Not sure how much of this is due to the management. Certainly, the removal of McLaughlin by Humphries, the Anscombe affair and Doak holding the line for Kiss as the IRFU man have had a detrimental effect on bringing Ulster to a higher level.  When Kiss gets his own choice of coaches on board he will have no excuse.

Henderson has not been fully used by JS until the recent games as he has held on to Toner who has been more exposed in the absence of O'Connell.  Ulster has been given its share of the IRFU academy players and so in the next few years it should see more moving to the Ireland squad.  Trimble and Bowe have contributed to Ireland but age is now their enemy.