ROG book

Hurk

former legend wrote: »

Did ROG have a ghost writer?

Thornley, I think.

.ak

I thought Jackson did very well...?

awec

.ak wrote: »

I thought Jackson did very well...?

Kicking from tee aside, yes I agree.

.ak

awec wrote: »

Kicking from tee aside, yes I agree.

Yeah, I'll never consider kicking from the tee as part of an out halves role.

Foxtrol

.ak wrote: »

Yeah, I'll never consider kicking from the tee as part of an out halves role.

I think you'd be the antithesis of how ROG judged the form of other OHs while he was playing.

OhHiMark

.ak wrote: »

Yeah, I'll never consider kicking from the tee as part of an out halves role.

It is if he's the kicker.

mystic86

.ak wrote: »

Yeah, I'll never consider kicking from the tee as part of an out halves role.

I see where you're coming from, but this is a ridiculous statement for the vast majority of teams/number 10's.

Buer

Just for fun:

"If I'd have started against Scotland we would have been out of sight before they came into the game"

"Goal-kicking is crucial. For a head coach to say goal-kicking is a secondary role for an out-half is not an accurate comment. It wasn't Paddy's fault he was selected."

CatFromHue

Is that from his book Buer?

Buer

CatFromHue wrote: »

Is that from his book Buer?

Seemingly. Sections quoted in Independent article today.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/ronan-ogara-i-need-to-learn-every-day-be-challenged-29733621.html

CatFromHue

I wonder what he's written about the RQC QF against Wales then when we turned down the kicks at goal early in the game.

They're fairly ****ty comments he's written.

former legend

"If I'd have started against Scotland we would have been out of sight before they came into the game"

OMFG.

I wonder does he actually, deep down, believe that. Has his insatiable ego blotted out the memory of what he contributed to the Scotland game? Could he possibly really be so deluded?

And it's not as if he needs to be in direct competition with someone before he'll sh*t all over a teammate.

JPCN1

Buer wrote: »

Just for fun:

Jeez he really is a nasty little toe rag.

moycullen14

former legend wrote: »

OMFG.

I wonder does he actually, deep down, believe that. Has his insatiable ego blotted out the memory of what he contributed to the Scotland game? Could he possibly really be so deluded?

And it's not as if he needs to be in direct competition with someone before he'll sh*t all over a teammate.

A psychoanalyst would have a field day with him. Probably wants to kill his father and have sex with his mother.

Buer

moycullen14 wrote: »

A psychoanalyst would have a field day with him. Probably wants to kill his father and have sex with his mother.

I reckon a psychoanalyst would have more interest in someone that would imagine ROG thinking that...

.ak

Lads, this thread is going south pretty quick. Fine, have your opinion on ROG, discuss what's in the book fine, you can even discuss ROG's frame of mind - fine, but some of the stuff being spouted here can't be dressed as 'opinion'. Any trolling, goading or abuse will be dealt with bans from now on.

Podge_irl

Jackson was good against Scotland. ROG was a ****ing abomination. You think he'd have the good grace to acknowledge that (well actually you wouldn't but you'd think he'd have the sense to not put something so stupid in print).

Deluded doesn't even come close. And I'm aware top sportspeople need insane self-confidence but this crosses a line. It was also evident in his play the last couple of seasons where he attempted things he clearly couldn't pull off.

moycullen14

Podge_irl wrote: »

Jackson was good against Scotland. ROG was a ****ing abomination. You think he'd have the good grace to acknowledge that (well actually you wouldn't but you'd think he'd have the sense to not put something so stupid in print).

Deluded doesn't even come close. And I'm aware top sportspeople need insane self-confidence but this crosses a line. It was also evident in his play the last couple of seasons where he attempted things he clearly couldn't pull off.

I always felt that he was never quite as good as he was made out to be. I think he believed - had to believe - that mental strength made up for some of his short-comings. In fairness to him, he got the very last out of his talent, but as time went on and the level got higher (esp. the lions), no amount of determination could make up for an inadequate skill level. Pro sport is a very unforgiving place.

All that said, he really comes across as a prize d**k in the book excerpts I've read. I'm just amazed that no-one pointed this out to him. I suppose it helps sales.

awec

moycullen14 wrote: »

I always felt that he was never quite as good as he was made out to be. I think he believed - had to believe - that mental strength made up for some of his short-comings. In fairness to him, he got the very last out of his talent, but as time went on and the level got higher (esp. the lions), no amount of determination could make up for an inadequate skill level. Pro sport is a very unforgiving place.

All that said, he really comes across as a prize d**k in the book excerpts I've read. I'm just amazed that no-one pointed this out to him. I suppose it helps sales.

Ignoring a mod notice posted 20 minutes ago on this very thread - take a day off.

astonaidan

Two sportsmen in Ireland bring out the really worst in people.
ROG and Robbie Keane, I think people go out of their way to forget exactly how good these people were for the country

CatFromHue

astonaidan wrote: »

Two sportsmen in Ireland bring out the really worst in people.
ROG and Robbie Keane, I think people go out of their way to forget exactly how good these people were for the country

That's not the point of the what people are angry about at all.

In the bits we have from his book about him dropped we have

Ignoring his coaches calls repeatedly.
Taking what should be a private call on speaker phone.
Questioning the ability of a team mate and implying he's not up to it.
Saying that if he'd have picked ahead of the team mate everything would have been rosy when all the evidence shows that it would have been from that.

Buer

astonaidan wrote: »

Two sportsmen in Ireland bring out the really worst in people.
ROG and Robbie Keane, I think people go out of their way to forget exactly how good these people were for the country

You spelled Roy wrong.

jm08

CatFromHue wrote: »

That's not the point of the what people are angry about at all.

In the bits we have from his book about him dropped we have

Ignoring his coaches calls repeatedly.
Taking what should be a private call on speaker phone.
Questioning the ability of a team mate and implying he's not up to it.
Saying that if he'd have picked ahead of the team mate everything would have been rosy when all the evidence shows that it would have been from that.

Ah here now. He was in the car with his wife and kids. Not exactly the US President talking to the Pentagon with Angela Merkel in the room

He had a decent game against the Ospreys and his form was good for Munster after that, so its hardly surprising he might think he could do a better job.

I notice the part where he praises Paddy Jackson isn't mentioned at all here in the selected quotes.

Paddy Jackson

"There's no doubt these boys have big futures, but I questioned Paddy Jackson being ready for international rugby at that stage. I think he has a huge future because he's humble, respectful and aware of where he is."

CatFromHue

jm08 wrote: »

Ah here now. He was in the car with his wife and kids. Not exactly the US President talking to the Pentagon with Angela Merkel in the room

He had a decent game against the Ospreys and his form was good for Munster after that, so its hardly surprising he might think he could do a better job.

I notice the part where he praises Paddy Jackson isn't mentioned at all here in the selected quotes.

He said himself that Kidney wouldn't be ringing him with good news. It's a rude thing to do to put someone on the spot like that i.e. make them give you bad news in front of an audience.

Ha had an average game against the Ospreys which had come after some poor games.

You're right I haven't seen any quotes praising Jackson.

jm08

CatFromHue wrote: »

He said himself that Kidney wouldn't be ringing him with good news. It's a rude thing to do to put someone on the spot like that i.e. make them give you bad news in front of an audience.

Ha had an average game against the Ospreys which had come after some poor games.

You're right I haven't seen any quotes praising Jackson.

1) His wife and very young kids are hardly an audience. (By the way, having re-read the piece from the IT website, I can't see the part where he said he put him on speaker. Do you have a link?

2) Em, you feel entitlted to criticise O'Gara 130+ caps for Ireland, yet he cannot express an opinion on a) his own form or b) the form of a someone else. His opinion is just as valid as yours.

3) There are none so blind as those who don't want to see

CatFromHue

"Now I was being dropped from a match-day squad for the first time in 14 years playing for Ireland. We’d had our conversation on speaker, with Jessie and the kids in the car. I talked with Jess for a little while and a swirl of thoughts went round in my head."
http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/i-don-t-think-your-form-at-the-minute-is-good-enough-1.1582259?page=2

astonaidan

People are always going to jump on those who arent mindless sheep, ROG said what he thought of the situation, Ill never understand why people get so wound up by one persons opinion

CatFromHue

Criticising a team mate publicly is not the same as not being a mindless sheep.

Howard Juneau

If you're driving you have to take a call on speakerphone.

jm08

CatFromHue wrote: »

Criticising a team mate publicly is not the same as not being a mindless sheep.

I wouldn't regard criticising a team mate to your coach, in front of your wife and your children (all under 5/6) as criticising anyone in public.

.ak

jm08 wrote: »

I wouldn't regard criticising a team mate to your coach, in front of your wife and your children (all under 5/6) as criticising anyone in public.

He's talking about publicizing said critique, I think.

rudiger2.0

jm08 wrote: »

I wouldn't regard criticising a team mate to your coach, in front of your wife and your children (all under 5/6) as criticising anyone in public.

How about writing it in a book then?

astonaidan

To be honest lads, his career as a player is finished. If this is going to affect Jackson well how weak minded is he. He has every right to say how he felt about it at the time, if you dont agree with him you dont need to listen to it.
If my coach dropped me, Id feckin well say it to him.
Christ when BOD retires, Id be surprised if he doesnt say something about Warren, then again its BOD so it will be justified :mad:

CatFromHue

The annoyance isnt that he disagreed with his coach more that he talked bad about a team mate and then said after wards that he'd have won the game if he'd played. The bit of the game he did play he was rubbish in, he did nothing constructive in it and made a fair few mistakes.

It doesn't change his record for Ireland or Munster or his standing in the game, it's just a bit cheap really.

These are excerpts so maybe in the book they read differently, who knows!

MBolgia

Not enjoying this book to be honest. O'Gara isn't coming across too well in my view, certainly not as well as he did in his first book. The style and format of the writing isn't great either, but that's more Thornley than ROG I guess. Disappointing too as Thornley's book with Trevor Brennan was very well put together and had a great format to it.

Teferi

For the night that's in it I thought I would drag up this thread again. As I've said before I'm wary of picking up player autobiographies as they are normally a quick cash in with a junior infants reading level, not worth the paper their printed on. Thankfully this book is different. A very good and interesting read delving not only into the mind of ROG and what made him the player he was but what it takes to be a professional rugby player. He also covers his relationships with various players and coaches not least of all Sexton. I also really liked his views as a new coach and his perspective on training and tactics.

One criticism I do have of this book is the editing although these faults lie with Thornley and the publisher. Too often you find ROG repeating himself or covering something he already spoke about. I really think the book could have been organised a bit better with that in mind.

awec

Teferi wrote: »

For the night that's in it I thought I would drag up this thread again. As I've said before I'm wary of picking up player autobiographies as they are normally a quick cash in with a junior infants reading level, not worth the paper their printed on. Thankfully this book is different. A very good and interesting read delving not only into the mind of ROG and what made him the player he was but what it takes to be a professional rugby player. He also covers his relationships with various players and coaches not least of all Sexton. I also really liked his views as a new coach and his perspective on training and tactics.

One criticism I do have of this book is the editing although these faults lie with Thornley and the publisher. Too often you find ROG repeating himself or covering something he already spoke about. I really think the book could have been organised a bit better with that in mind.

I'm about 80% of the way through it and my opinion is pretty much the same. Good book and he comes across well.

Unlike loads of sports autobiographies there are no real funny bits. It's all pretty serious.

phog

I got ROG's and Rala's book but both have been commandeered by my daughters. Hoping to get one of them over the weekend.

Teferi

Jaysus Phog, I'd thought you'd have this book read by now! Let us know what Rala's book is like when you get done.

phog

Teferi wrote: »

Jaysus Phog, I'd thought you'd have this book read by now! Let us know what Rala's book is like when you get done.

Waited as it made Xmas presents easier.

Will do.

Grimebox

Got this for Christmas myself. This would be the first autobiography I've ever read. Its pretty good. I can't help but hearing ROG's voice in my head as I'm reading :pac:

phog

Teferi wrote: »

Jaysus Phog, I'd thought you'd have this book read by now! Let us know what Rala's book is like when you get done.

Started into Rala's book, lighthearted enough, he seems a natural stroy teller. So far very little about rugby more about people he met in his early life, through work and then on his travels as the bagman. He loves life and enjoys the chat. I reckon you'd enjoy more if you knew the characters he talks about especially in his early life as once he moves into being the bagman for Ireland most will know the backroom staff and players.

I'd recommend it.

.ak

phog wrote: »

Started into Rala's book, lighthearted enough, he seems a natural stroy teller. So far very little about rugby more about people he met in his early life, through work and then on his travels as the bagman. He loves life and enjoys the chat. I reckon you'd enjoy more if you knew the characters he talks about especially in his early life as once he moves into being the bagman for Ireland most will know the backroom staff and players.

I'd recommend it.

Got it for Christmas, looking forward to reading it.