Ireland Team Talk/Gossip/Rumour Thread V

Pink Fairy

Stheno wrote: »

It was a genuine question I only remember you dislike Clancy/lacey

Outside of his love for Nigel Owens, awec hates all refs

What ref would you not have complained about?

aimee1

Deleted User wrote: »

What ref would you not have complained about?

Lac ... err :eek:

Buer

Stheno wrote:

By the time the team is announced tomorrow we'll all have hit acceptance

Oh Stheno.

You're going to learn so much in the next week.

irishbucsfan

Buer wrote: »

Oh Stheno.

You're going to learn so much in the next week.

The next phase is the brief glorious "everyone is excited" phase.

But then it is always followed by the horrendous "I hope we win but I hope the people I don't like play badly" match day phase.

And the finally the "here are some post match thoughts I wrote before the game" phase.

Stheno

irishbucsfan wrote: »

The next phase is the brief glorious "everyone is excited" phase.

But then it is always followed by the horrendous "I hope we win but I hope the people I don't like play badly" match day phase.

And the finally the "here are some post match thoughts I wrote before the game" phase.

Eh are you not missing the during the match phase?

aimee1

Stheno wrote: »

Eh are you not missing the during the match phase?

The match is irrelevant.

irishbucsfan

Stheno wrote: »

Eh are you not missing the during the match phase?

Im always there so I assume the boards are absolutely divine

awec

Deleted User wrote: »

What ref would you not have complained about?

Barnes. Pollock.

I love most referees, there's just a few that regularly get on my wick. Unfortunately that few seem to follow my teams around like a really bad smell.

irishbucsfan

irishbucsfan wrote: »

The next phase is the brief glorious "everyone is excited" phase.

But then it is always followed by the horrendous "I hope we win but I hope the people I don't like play badly" match day phase.

And the finally the "here are some post match thoughts I wrote before the game" phase.

Oh man.

This is the most accurate post of the last week.

Dave Kearney could emerge to the field on Sunday, charge into the Welsh with the combined power of a thousand BOD's, consume them in a flurry of tries whilst single handedly hitting every single ruck, winning 4 line outs and filling in for the scrum while Heaslip fixes his hair and someone would still point out that he is slow for international rugby.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

awec wrote: »

So the ref on Sunday is Garces.

*bites tongue*

Gatland said something earlier about the ref on Sunday influencing his team selection.

Scythica

Deleted User wrote: »

Oh man.

This is the most accurate post of the last week.

Dave Kearney could emerge to the field on Sunday, charge into the Welsh with the combined power of a thousand BOD's, consume them in a flurry of tries whilst single handedly hitting every single ruck, winning 4 line outs and filling in for the scrum while Heaslip fixes his hair and someone would still point out that he is slow for international rugby.

This'll never happen....


Cos Stander will be starting instead of Heaslip :pac:

Podge_irl

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Im always there

La de ****in dah.

I'm always in the pub. Except for when we won the championships in Paris and Scorland

aimee1

Deleted User wrote: »

Oh man.

This is the most accurate post of the last week.

Dave Kearney could emerge to the field on Sunday, charge into the Welsh with the combined power of a thousand BOD's, consume them in a flurry of tries whilst single handedly hitting every single ruck, winning 4 line outs and filling in for the scrum while Heaslip fixes his hair and someone would still point out that he is slow for international rugby.

Well if he cant convert his own tries he shouldnt be in the 23 :eek:

Stheno

aimee1 wrote: »

Well if he cant convert his own tries he shouldnt be in the 23 :eek:

And he'd be craps in the lineout too

awec

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

Gatland said something earlier about the ref on Sunday influencing his team selection.

I have a reputation for being tough on referees, and so do all Ulster fans it seems. I feel obligated to point out that I and the rest of us are a fair, forgiving bunch who are not easily riled. I do not get angry at referees without due cause, and minor discretions are immediately forgiven.

We (and I) like all of them, except for the ones that have really screwed us over. At this point the scale tips. We never forget and we never forgive.

awec

awec wrote: »

Barnes. Pollock.

I love most referees, there's just a few that regularly get on my wick. Unfortunately that few seem to follow my teams around like a really bad smell.

bookmarked :pac:

Flipper22

irishbucsfan wrote: »

The next phase is the brief glorious "everyone is excited" phase.

But then it is always followed by the horrendous "I hope we win but I hope the people I don't like play badly" match day phase.

And the finally the "here are some post match thoughts I wrote before the game" phase.

I find it strange how people seem to be overly pessimistic before a match/tournament, but will still be giving out if we lose any games.

awec

Deleted User wrote: »

bookmarked :pac:

The list is not permanent! Barnes and Pollock are currently favourable.

As I said I love most referees. I didn't say I always like the same ones though!

Billysays no

former total wrote: »

It's now two years since Jackson was last ahead of Madigan in the pecking order.

People can't seriously claim that this was unexpected.

I would claim that's unexpected!!!!

The Rape of Lucretia

Billysays no wrote: »

I would claim that's unexpected!!!!

Yes, but not seriously.

Billysays no

The Rape of Lucretia wrote: »

Yes, but not seriously.

Yes seriously. While I'm all for change, I call a halt at mental

slingerz

Paddy Jackson on the bench for Ulster tomorrow night. Criminal that he isn't involved in the match day 23. Has been showning good form for Ulster, certainly more than both Sexton or Madigan.

This exemplifies the weakness of Schmidt as a coach, his reluctance to pick players other than those he knows from his Leinster days.

We should be bringing the likes of Jackson into the match squads and getting minutes on the pitch. Instead we will be stuck with Leinster plus some tokens from the other provinces

CMOTDibbler

slingerz wrote: »

Paddy Jackson on the bench for Ulster tomorrow night. Criminal that he isn't involved in the match day 23. Has been showning good form for Ulster, certainly more than both Sexton or Madigan.

This exemplifies the weakness of Schmidt as a coach, his reluctance to pick players other than those he knows from his Leinster days.

We should be bringing the likes of Jackson into the match squads and getting minutes on the pitch. Instead we will be stuck with Leinster plus some tokens from the other provinces

Amazing insight. So glad you took the time to share it with us.

vienne86

Billysays no wrote: »

I would claim that's unexpected!!!!

Yep - Jackson has been in great form for Ulster IMO - very surprised at this turn of events.

slingerz

slingerz wrote: »

Paddy Jackson on the bench for Ulster tomorrow night. Criminal that he isn't involved in the match day 23. Has been showning good form for Ulster, certainly more than both Sexton or Madigan.

This exemplifies the weakness of Schmidt as a coach, his reluctance to pick players other than those he knows from his Leinster days.

We should be bringing the likes of Jackson into the match squads and getting minutes on the pitch. Instead we will be stuck with Leinster plus some tokens from the other provinces

I think Paddy is likely to get a decent run over the course of the six nations. I don't think he is playing better than Sexton, I've watched more of Sexton but still a fair bit of Jackson and I still think even off form that Sexton is still ahead by a margin.

I also think Sexton is not as "off form" as those wanting alternatives want him to be. He was imperious against Ospreys, no other 10 has gotten anywhere near that level of performance this season.

Also, suggesting that Joe in someway favors Leinster is pretty unfair to the guy, especially at this stage of his tenure. He's delivered a lot with his selections.

Do you honestly think he has some bias loyalty to Leinster? He'll be coaching Ireland for longer pretty soon.

Billysays no

CMOTDibbler wrote: »

Amazing insight. So glad you took the time to share it with us.

Strangely there are those of us who agree with this 'insight' as you call it. Others would call it common sense based on a rational analysis of player performance.

vienne86

Deleted User wrote: »

I think Paddy is likely to get a decent run over the course of the six nations. I don't think he is playing better than Sexton, I've watched more of Sexton but still a fair bit of Jackson and I still think even off form that Sexton is still ahead by a margin.

I also think Sexton is not as "off form" as those wanting alternatives want him to be. He was imperious against Ospreys, no other 10 has gotten anywhere near that level of performance this season.

Also, suggesting that Joe in someway favors Leinster is pretty unfair to the guy, especially at this stage of his tenure. He's delivered a lot with his selections.

Do you honestly think he has some bias loyalty to Leinster? He'll be coaching Ireland for longer pretty soon.

Sexton has been improving his form at Leinster, and is certainly our best 10. I was expecting Jackson to bench on Sunday. And it makes no sense for Schmidt to favour Leinster players.

thomond2006

slingerz wrote: »

Paddy Jackson on the bench for Ulster tomorrow night. Criminal that he isn't involved in the match day 23. Has been showning good form for Ulster, certainly more than both Sexton or Madigan.

This exemplifies the weakness of Schmidt as a coach, his reluctance to pick players other than those he knows from his Leinster days.

We should be bringing the likes of Jackson into the match squads and getting minutes on the pitch. Instead we will be stuck with Leinster plus some tokens from the other provinces

While I don't agree at all with Madigan over Jackson, Madigan is more versatile and is a better goalkicker. There's two reasons for you other than what bloody province he's from.

aimee1

Billysays no wrote: »

Strangely there are those of us who agree with this 'insight' as you call it. Others would call it common sense based on a rational analysis of player performance.

munster captain
ulster captain

Ireland could have a backline with 1 [sexton] player starting on sunday if the rumours about RK are true, yet there is still a leinster bias nonsense thrown around. With a further 4 or so Leinster players in the pack.

That bias knows no bounds.

CMOTDibbler

Billysays no wrote: »

Strangely there are those of us who agree with this 'insight' as you call it. Others would call it common sense based on a rational analysis of player performance.

Did I not say it was amazing?

It's so refreshing to see such blue sky thinking. It's taken me completely by surprise. Why has nobody seen this before? How could it be that such bias has gone unnoticed through two six nations wins and so few losses?

We are in the presence of genius.

Zzippy

CMOTDibbler wrote: »

Amazing insight. So glad you took the time to share it with us.

CMOTDibbler wrote: »

Did I not say it was amazing?

It's so refreshing to see such blue sky thinking. It's taken me completely by surprise. Why has nobody seen this before? How could it be that such bias has gone unnoticed through two six nations wins and so few losses?

We are in the presence of genius.

Mod: This is not constructive. Please familiarise yourself with the zero tolerance sticky. Benefit of the doubt this time that you haven't seen it, but no more of this rubbish.

Billysays no

vienne86 wrote: »

Sexton has been improving his form at Leinster, and is certainly our best 10. I was expecting Jackson to bench on Sunday. And it makes no sense for Schmidt to favour Leinster players.

Sexton has been simply appalling. So he is improving to reach moderate, nothing more than moderate. Its back to Joe picking the known rather the unknown. Jackson is way ahead of sexton under current form, McCloskey is simply outstanding as is stander. But it doesn't matter. It simply DOES NOT MATTER. We can discuss it to the nth degree. Joe goes with experience. Always has, always will. While earls, zebo and Murray signed of recent times for Munster I think that this will be a final jesture to the international team. Young exciting players will simply leave as they have no future with Ireland.

aimee1

Billysays no wrote: »

Sexton has been simply appalling. So he is improving to reach moderate, nothing more than moderate.

thats simply not true. He was excellent in his last full game, and was quite good in several games before that. He was poor away to Toulon with some terrible execution. He hasnt been at his best but he has not been "appalling" either

CMOTDibbler

Billysays no wrote: »

Sexton has been simply appalling. So he is improving to reach moderate, nothing more than moderate. Its back to Joe picking the known rather the unknown. Jackson is way ahead of sexton under current form, McCloskey is simply outstanding as is stander. But it doesn't matter. It simply DOES NOT MATTER. We can discuss it to the nth degree. Joe goes with experience. Always has, always will. While earls, zebo and Murray signed of recent times for Munster I think that this will be a final jesture to the international team. Young exciting players will simply leave as they have no future with Ireland.

Nonsense. He completely schooled Dan Biggar in every facet of the game in the match against Ospreys.

Absolutely and comprehensively. There was no doubt who was the better ten and Biggar has recently been touted as a Lions starter. Jackson has never reached that level.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Deleted User wrote: »

I think Paddy is likely to get a decent run over the course of the six nations. I don't think he is playing better than Sexton, I've watched more of Sexton but still a fair bit of Jackson and I still think even off form that Sexton is still ahead by a margin.

I also think Sexton is not as "off form" as those wanting alternatives want him to be. He was imperious against Ospreys, no other 10 has gotten anywhere near that level of performance this season.

Also, suggesting that Joe in someway favors Leinster is pretty unfair to the guy, especially at this stage of his tenure. He's delivered a lot with his selections.

Do you honestly think he has some bias loyalty to Leinster? He'll be coaching Ireland for longer pretty soon.

Sexton at his worst this season has been worse than Jackson at his worst but at his best he's been better than Jackson at his best. To be fair though, I don't think anyone is genuinely suggesting that Jackson, or Madigan for that matter, should be contesting the 10 shirt with Sexton. If they are they need their heads checked.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

Sexton at his worst this season has been worse than Jackson at his worst but at his best he's been better than Jackson at his best. To be fair though, I don't think anyone is genuinely suggesting that Jackson, or Madigan for that matter, should be contesting the 10 shirt with Sexton. If they are they need their heads checked.

Rumsfeldian! :pac:

Stheno

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

Sexton at his worst this season has been worse than Jackson at his worst but at his best he's been better than Jackson at his best. To be fair though, I don't think anyone is genuinely suggesting that Jackson, or Madigan for that matter, should be contesting the 10 shirt with Sexton. If they are they need their heads checked.

Agreed.

ON the kicking front Jackson was pretty solid this season though no? Didn't he land a monster kick in a recent game?

former total

Stheno wrote: »

Agreed.

ON the kicking front Jackson was pretty solid this season though no? Didn't he land a monster kick in a recent game?

Yeah, Oyonnax away.

Jackson's technical kicking ability is fine. It's his consistency that is his downfall.

Zzippy

Deleted User wrote: »

Rumsfeldian! :pac:

At least Sexton is a known unknown. It's the unknown unknowns we need to worry about...

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Deleted User wrote: »

Rumsfeldian! :pac:

I'm simply trying to say that Jackson has been at a consistently good level all season. Sexton has been up and down but even so there's no chance anyone starts at 10 over him unless he's injured.

Simples.

MLC61

The thread is now moving into the surreal. Not only should Jackson have made the bench, he should have started ahead of a fit Sexton?

Paddy Jackson is becoming the Wes Hoolihan of Irish Rugby.

molloyjh

Billysays no wrote: »

Strangely there are those of us who agree with this 'insight' as you call it. Others would call it common sense based on a rational analysis of player performance.

Some people say building a wall between Mexico and the US and getting Mexico to pay for it is common sense. Just saying.....

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

I don't think anyone is genuinely suggesting that Jackson, or Madigan for that matter, should be contesting the 10 shirt with Sexton.

Billysays no wrote: »

Sexton has been simply appalling. So he is improving to reach moderate, nothing more than moderate. Its back to Joe picking the known rather the unknown. Jackson is way ahead of sexton under current form

slingerz wrote: »

Paddy Jackson on the bench for Ulster tomorrow night. Criminal that he isn't involved in the match day 23. Has been showning good form for Ulster, certainly more than both Sexton or Madigan.

I'm not sure if the above are wind-up's or opinion but there is two examples for ya!

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

For what it's worth, of the Irish players Ian Keatley has actually scored the most times from the boot so far this season, 32. Statistically Ian Madigan is the most successful with 100% accuracy but he's only had 10 kicks.

Sexton and Jackson must be below 80% because they're not in the top 5 and #5 is on 80.95% Biggar isn't there either.

molloyjh

Billysays no wrote: »

Sexton has been simply appalling. So he is improving to reach moderate, nothing more than moderate. Its back to Joe picking the known rather the unknown. Jackson is way ahead of sexton under current form, McCloskey is simply outstanding as is stander. But it doesn't matter. It simply DOES NOT MATTER. We can discuss it to the nth degree. Joe goes with experience. Always has, always will. While earls, zebo and Murray signed of recent times for Munster I think that this will be a final jesture to the international team. Young exciting players will simply leave as they have no future with Ireland.

You're not discussing anything though. You're making wholesale absolute statements and declaring them as fact without actually backing them up with anything. You are then ignoring what anyone else has to say on the matter and just repeating yourself ad nauseam. I hate to break it to you, but that isn't discussion.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

I'm simply trying to say that Jackson has been at a consistently good level all season. Sexton has been up and down but even so there's no chance anyone starts at 10 over him unless he's injured.

Simples.

Variance is the term you're looking for.

Jackson's got lower variance in his performance ratings.

mfceiling

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

Gatland said something earlier about the ref on Sunday influencing his team selection.

Gethin Jenkins is on the bench as garces has pinged him before about not scrummaging properly...boring in and up.


I'm going to go against the grain a bit here. We should win this game. We're back to back 6N champions. We're at home. Brilliant coach. Best, Toner and Heaslip will form the spine of the pack. Murray and Sexton are settled and should dictate the game. Stander will be bulling to get on and cause mayhem. Remember we did a lovely number on them at the last home game.

HON IRELAND!!

Billysays no

thomond2006 wrote: »

While I don't agree at all with Madigan over Jackson, Madigan is more versatile and is a better goalkicker. There's two reasons for you other than what bloody province he's from.

I understand why you might need a versatile player at province level. I don't understand why you might need a versatile player at international level unless we have poor players in certain positions that need such cover. If such is the case should we not simply replace them with in-form players rather than requiring a 'versatile' player who in my opinion is ordinary in all named positions.

former total

Billysays no wrote: »

I understand why you might need a versatile player at province level. I don't understand why you might need a versatile player at international level unless we have poor players in certain positions that need such cover. If such is the case should we not simply replace them with in-form players rather than requiring a 'versatile' player who in my opinion is ordinary in all named positions.

Actually, this is dead right. We just need to name 15 substitutes. Why has no one thought of this before?!