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Well done Ireland, 6N titles are not to be sniffed at. I think it was Phil Matthews there made a great point, the WC was an incredible disappointment for Ireland& France, France are only coming out of mourning now, Ireland managed the disappointment better & won the championship from a similar position. They've also started the transition while winning a title. I'd imagine that's the end of Murray & O'Mahoney.

I agree to an extent and delighted to win the championship. However Irish rugby does need to be modest and accept we're at best competitive to take the pressure off.

It was interesting to hear BOD say it's the fourth sport in Ireland and I didn't sense the same arrogance this week.

We can't forgot the Irish system is like a club scene, France wouldn't have spent the same time together post WC so I'm not sure we can compare the two.

This year was a free hit and the next three 6N prior to the WC will be a lot stronger; France and England will certainly be stronger.

Well done Ireland though, deserved to win the championship.

Great game for the neutral. There is no other team in world football that survive that second half. The atmosphere and drive from that Liverpool team was insane. Klopp's teams have fell short in most title races and today was the chance to open a gap, they were not ruthless.

I sense City will be delighted to survive today and I think will go on to win the title from here.

Whilst on one level, I admire how the IRFU have embraced the professional game , let's consider these facts. Our 3 best players weren't good enough to play for NZ . Even rugby aficionados would say the game is boring and difficult to watch, the enjoyment is in having a few beers and cheering on the green jersey. It's a highly dangerous and often cynical game cf targeting Sexton's head.
It's incredibly over hyped in Ireland by Dublin (rugby schooled)media  . Overseas  players with no apparent Irish connection are coming here as a career move and are taking jerseys from potential home grown talent .
We are brilliant at winning stand alone "test matches " many of dubious significance, but when it comes down to the "clutch" in the really big games eg WC or England in Twickers, we fall short. Could this be because most of our players are either overseas mercenaries ( I accept that appears harsh on great characters who have contributed enormously) or private school privileged?

Fair play to the IRFU for making the most of the rules to get a strong team on the field, and hyping us as "the best team in the world" but Rugby clubs are struggling and Irish players aren't developing . It may seem great to be appearing to be at the top table , but in reality we're really only there because we're playing ringers, and we're still only getting the crumbs . Harsh maybe but that's reality.

Yeah at the end of the day its the posh boys sport, nice to see them do well but won't be losing too much sleep over them not. One good thing is that its an actual all ireland team.

Christ these posts are so Irish... We're good at something on an international level, very very good in fact. So, let's pick holes in it or find ways to bring the team down to earth. The reality is 6th Sam is full of dung. Can he name 1 team not playing overseas players? ... By his logic, well....

To be honest 'bringing the team down to earth' or more to the point bringing Irish rugby down isn't a bad thing. Twice in 6 months they've fell short when the pressure was on or the opposition focused.

We're good at rugby and a championship next week is welcome. This arrogance though across Irish rugby is embarassing and people calling it out are only speaking facts. Enjoy the wins but stop with the arrogance. We're competitive but not far ahead of every other team.

Disappointing result but it's not surprising. Massive disrespect to England all week, talking about record winning margins etc.

6 Nation team are in transition except Ireland but when England focused and I suspect targeted this game Ireland fell short again. Irish rugby is in a good place, but this Number 1 in the World, winning WC's, guaranteed grand slams and winning margins etc is embarassing.

The reality is Ireland are not as good as the hype suggests.

Ireland are in a very good place

Problem is that they're the only ones who value this place.

Everyone else has eyes further ahead.

In the world cup, Ireland got bate by the better team on the day, very unlucky and Ireland could be no.1 in the rankings at the next world cup and still meet a team who could beat them on the day.

There isn't much between New Zealand France South Africa and Ireland at the minute so when they play each other its a 50/50 game

Binning anyone over a certain age now will not mean Ireland will be a better team for it, cause if your are a team with youth and getting hammered in most games then it won't actually do much for the confidence.

Bleed in players slowly and bring them up to speed with the requirements at that level.

Ireland will do well to hold on to the manager, as he's brought about a different animal to the previous managers albeit we can't get past the first knock out stage! 

Ireland will likely win three of the next four 6 Nations adding a few grand slams.

In reality we know Ireland will also lose a close QF at the next WC.

It's a similar pattern and very good for Irish rugby, both from a sporting and commerical context to build the hype over a four year period.

It's not appropriate to suddenly bin players over a certain age but it's fair to question why some players in their mid 20's, clearly good enough now weren't realistic options going into a tough group at the WC.

We'll enjoy the success but other teams will catch up again as we get closer and into the next WC.

This 4 years malarkey grinds my gears... How the F does it take a professional rugby player this long to "acclimatize" to RWC-type-rugby?

It is a bizarre system. France don't look focused and it'll be interesting to see their results throughout the tournament. England, I believe had seven uncapped players brought into their squad and Farrell is already gone.


The 6 nations is a great tournament though and the IRFU benefit commercially from Ireland's success.

Ye all are a crying bunch of feckers. Moan moan moan. How else do tg4 pay for the service without ads?

I'd expect any broadcaster not to take ads in middle of live game. People already had missed first 20 minutes of the game. They easily could have delayed the ads to half time. They had taken ads ten minutes earlier before the penalties. And the game is blocked online in the north.

Exactly. And one reason for not doing this is that the people watching this are GAA fans and they are not going to be especially warm toward AIB for sponsoring the championship if AIB are inserting their ad at a time when play is ongoing.

The game is not blocked online in the North, I expect people have seen it. Your own setup might not make it clear where you are, but that is hardly the fault of TG4.
 
What is ridiculous is that TG4 are required by the GAA to block the service outside of Ireland, but GAAGO do not show it. WTF is that about?

GAAGO did show the Ulster Final outside Ireland. It was an added benefit today as the game was shown from the start.

Arteta has terminated 9 contracts since arriving at Arsenal.

That's how to change the culture of a club and it's the approach United have to take, starting with Martial, Sancho and honestly, Rashford. If trying hard and being a team player is too much for a player, he has to go.

I agree but it would be very expensive especially with the deals given out at United. I doubt the owners would sanction it if requests were made.

Deserved? I think they poor enough, France be kicking themselves.

I think they were tired. It was a punishing schedule for SA. Great teams find a way though.

SA deserved to win it. They forgot about the tough draw and went and won the WC.

England have a knack of overachieving in World Cups. In 2007 they nearly won the final, only months after Ireland beat them 43–13 in Croke Park.

SA should have enough for them. England's best weapon is bosh and the South Africans are not going to be beaten at their own game.

I think they probably underachieve outside of the WC. The clubs hold all the power in English rugby and this holds them back internationally. The only period they have months with their players is around and during a WC. It's no coincidence they always do well at the WC. I think they're going to win this evening as well, they've been excellent.

Think i heard commentator say they've been in collective training together since July

Yes July is probably accurate. I think the Irish central contracts system gives us a massive advantage and results in us getting carried away.

England have a knack of overachieving in World Cups. In 2007 they nearly won the final, only months after Ireland beat them 43–13 in Croke Park.

SA should have enough for them. England's best weapon is bosh and the South Africans are not going to be beaten at their own game.

I think they probably underachieve outside of the WC. The clubs hold all the power in English rugby and this holds them back internationally. The only period they have months with their players is around and during a WC. It's no coincidence they always do well at the WC. I think they're going to win this evening as well, they've been excellent.

Cracking semi final, really close . I'm hoping for a similar cricket score tomorrow

Drico had to check himself on ITV  .

He alluded to the semi final tomorrow night being similar but then realised his audience .

Hope SA put 50 on England

Sure England are the only team undefeated and running SA scared !!

Was listening today on radio! By Christ they actually believe

It would be a shock if they win. However I wouldn't rule them out. England have a very good WC record and are unlucky not to have more than one title.

That a bad, England team, theyvtaje a pasting in the semi.

It's possible but despite any problems England have leading into WC's they always know how to win knock out games, so it wouldn't surprise me if they win the SF or at least get very close to doing so.

What overconfidence? All week long the analysis has been that the game was 50/50, Ireland marginal favourites if you had to choose.

They bottled nothing. Nobody in the rugby world is saying we bottled it. That appears to be the exclusive preserve of twats in the internet. They responded to every NZ try with one of their own. At the end of the day one top level rugby side lost a close match to another one which, because of the nature of the particular match, is absolutely gutting.

I think if you listen carefully to what came out of NZ, Ireland's overconfidence and celebrations post series win focused NZ.

Beating SA was a great win but the post match narrative about that resulting in an easier QF was laughable. I don't blame the players for that, more Irish rugby in general.

I agree there was some last minute analysis about the game being 50/50 but the overconfidence was still there and from a nation yet to win a knock out game or back up the confidence.

We can't complain now about the post match analysis. I agree it is gutting but we've been here before and it is very consistent.