The IRISH RUGBY thread

[quit yo jibbajabba]

No expert but as bad as I seen for ages from them. Some amount handling errors. Yeah your man coming on had a mare. Ah well

[Sheedy]

Sorry but Lowe bigging up after that kick (it was a v good one in fairness) when losing by 10 annoyed me.
Then they ended up giving away another penalty from the resulting phase.

thought the same, you're losing by 10 points and are bigging up finding touch.

[Wildweasel74]

I dont blame players or management,  but the bigging up of Ireland by the Media and on TV nearly sets them up for a fall. Favourites never sits well with Ireland, especially against top 3 teams.

[Walter Cronc]

Will the media fanboys call out the great Paulie for the abysmal lineout? Farrell needs to find 5/6 new players and fast.

[Tony Baloney]

Will the media fanboys call out the great Paulie for the abysmal lineout? Farrell needs to find 5/6 new players and fast.

Can hardly blame him for NZ encroaching and poor throws. Kelleher has always been a poor lineout thrower in big games. It was only in the 2nd half that the ref stepped in to keep the gap.

[tiempo]

McKenzie is a great watch, NZ often looking for ways to bench him but they're far better with him on, reminds me of Gatland not trusting Liam Williams who brought an extra dimension to the Wales attack

[quit yo jibbajabba]

Sorry but Lowe bigging up after that kick (it was a v good one in fairness) when losing by 10 annoyed me.
Then they ended up giving away another penalty from the resulting phase.

thought the same, you're losing by 10 points and are bigging up finding touch.

Yup

[Armagh18]

Maybe bodes well for the next world cup. Ireland normally win these friendlies and the media think they're the best team ever only to get found out when it counts. Hopefully the opposite happens now.

[seafoid]

Maybe bodes well for the next world cup. Ireland normally win these friendlies and the media think they're the best team ever only to get found out when it counts. Hopefully the opposite happens now.

As long as they learn from this loss. That is how the all blacks do it

[6th sam]

I'd be interested in posters views on rugby , though I suspect it won't be representative as many stay clear of the rugby thread and are now steering clear of watching rugby.
Whereas the IRFU deserve enormous credit for their management of the Irish team since the professional era, we are still falling short.
I admit that I don't get this business of Ireland being a top team in the world (on the basis of equations, coefficients etc , in what many of us consider as "friendlies"). Yet we still can't advance beyond the quarter finals of the World cup, even though getting to the quarter finals is a gimme , due to seeding and the fact that in only a handful of countries is rugby a major sport.
I think the fact that it's an All-Ireland team is a major plus , and though not perfect , it's All-Ireland ethos is an example and not just for sport.
Despite the hype from mainly the Dublin media , the fact remains that rugby in Ireland remains a minor sport and in reality it has advanced little beyond a small number of schools ( many elitist).

There's wall to wall complaint from the same Dublin media , about how unwatchable Gaelic football has become , but when is somebody going to call out Rugby.

This is only my opinion , but tbf shared by many people I know.
It's actually a dreadful sport to watch ( maybe just for those that never played it). And that's on TV , knowledgeable rugby friends of mine will admit it's even harder to enjoy the game in person , without camera angles , replays  and commentary/analysis.
Many friends who go to Ravenhill or Aviva , admit they're there for the beers and often don't even watch the match.

I'm going to throw it out there for comment, but that was absolutely dreadful to watch yesterday . Handling errors, kicking errors , baffling penalty concessions, risky collisions , stop-start.
We kid ourselves , as Ireland is competitive on a world stage and we'll cheer anyone wearing a green jersey , but where is the "Wow factor ". By comparison I just flicked on the TV last Saturday and watched the Dublin Hurling final which was a brilliant game , totally compelling . Riain O'Neill taking the All-Ireland by the scruff of the neck . Rhys McCleneghan winning gold . Champions league etc etc .

By comparison , the sky commentators were homing in on the fact that Finlay Bealham's hip moved slightly to concede a penalty in a scrum. Less exciting than tug of war . Raving about kicks that just happen to bounce the right way. Crucial penalties conceded cheaply. Empty the bench to rest professional  athletes  that aren't expected to complete a full game .

We've wall to wall barracking of Gaelic football by the Dublin media , when will we hear them negative about rugby as a spectacle? Maybe they went to "rugby schools" and understand it better than the rest of us, but for me , the hype around rugby is not matched by the game as a spectacle .

[marty34]

Does Ireland not need to clear all the old lads out now and get prepared for the next World Cup?

Start bringing the young lads in now.

[The Trap]

I couldn't have written that any better myself 6th Sam!
I like watching the rugby and the craic that goes with it. Probably the sport that ireland can do best in on a global stage and as you say the fact that it is All Ireland is appealing.
However when you look at the game most tries are built from battering away close to the line and all conversions/penalties are free shots at goal that take an age to take. And don't even get to scrums lol.

[Walter Cronc]

Will the media fanboys call out the great Paulie for the abysmal lineout? Farrell needs to find 5/6 new players and fast.

Can hardly blame him for NZ encroaching and poor throws. Kelleher has always been a poor lineout thrower in big games. It was only in the 2nd half that the ref stepped in to keep the gap.

The lineout has been a mess for a lot longer than last night TB

[JoG2]

I'd be interested in posters views on rugby , though I suspect it won't be representative as many stay clear of the rugby thread and are now steering clear of watching rugby.
Whereas the IRFU deserve enormous credit for their management of the Irish team since the professional era, we are still falling short.
I admit that I don't get this business of Ireland being a top team in the world (on the basis of equations, coefficients etc , in what many of us consider as "friendlies"). Yet we still can't advance beyond the quarter finals of the World cup, even though getting to the quarter finals is a gimme , due to seeding and the fact that in only a handful of countries is rugby a major sport.
I think the fact that it's an All-Ireland team is a major plus , and though not perfect , it's All-Ireland ethos is an example and not just for sport.
Despite the hype from mainly the Dublin media , the fact remains that rugby in Ireland remains a minor sport and in reality it has advanced little beyond a small number of schools ( many elitist).

There's wall to wall complaint from the same Dublin media , about how unwatchable Gaelic football has become , but when is somebody going to call out Rugby.

This is only my opinion , but tbf shared by many people I know.
It's actually a dreadful sport to watch ( maybe just for those that never played it). And that's on TV , knowledgeable rugby friends of mine will admit it's even harder to enjoy the game in person , without camera angles , replays  and commentary/analysis.
Many friends who go to Ravenhill or Aviva , admit they're there for the beers and often don't even watch the match.

I'm going to throw it out there for comment, but that was absolutely dreadful to watch yesterday . Handling errors, kicking errors , baffling penalty concessions, risky collisions , stop-start.
We kid ourselves , as Ireland is competitive on a world stage and we'll cheer anyone wearing a green jersey , but where is the "Wow factor ". By comparison I just flicked on the TV last Saturday and watched the Dublin Hurling final which was a brilliant game , totally compelling . Riain O'Neill taking the All-Ireland by the scruff of the neck . Rhys McCleneghan winning gold . Champions league etc etc .

By comparison , the sky commentators were homing in on the fact that Finlay Bealham's hip moved slightly to concede a penalty in a scrum. Less exciting than tug of war . Raving about kicks that just happen to bounce the right way. Crucial penalties conceded cheaply. Empty the bench to rest professional  athletes  that aren't expected to complete a full game .

We've wall to wall barracking of Gaelic football by the Dublin media , when will we hear them negative about rugby as a spectacle? Maybe they went to "rugby schools" and understand it better than the rest of us, but for me , the hype around rugby is not matched by the game as a spectacle .

Would agree re last nights game, it was poor spectacle, errors galore, like watching an Ireland game from a 20 years ago, especially the missed tackles nevermind the unforced handling errors. I'd far rather watch a game of rugby than a soccer match, football, though can be a tough watch but there's a load of emotion attachment whether it's the club or the county.

Couple of questions, your Aviva / Ravenhill friends, what do they do when the game is on, apart from drink overpriced beer?  Personally I love attending the internationals with the old man / brothers, a great sporting day out, beers too of course!

Also on the hype part, I cannot understand why people get all hot and bothered about it, whether it's a boxer, a footballer, Ireland rugby etc, surely others opinions shouldn't matter? An eyebrow raiser

Each to their own

And re Marty's comment re clearing out the old guard, should obviously be phased, but there was half a dozen men there last night, most on the bench right enough who should have been put out to pasture

[Milltown Row2]

Irelands first game in how many months?

Poor handling, low tempo, fluffed lines and playing against a top team

Would have been a better start had they played a lesser team then played the likes of New Zealand and South Africa.

Fancied New Zealand before the game but also Ireland made it easy for them