BOD resentment for Gatland lingers

First topic message reminder :

Just seen an article on planetrugby where BOD has admitted that his disappointment with not being selected for the third test naturally carries with it some resentment for Gatland. He was quick to point out that Davies played a good game but feels that he could have equally contributed good things to that performance. http://www.planetrugby.com/lions/story/0,25883,16024_8907321,00.html

Is this a way of increasing ticket sales for the Wales Ireland match? Is this a journalist seeking out a story and BOD simply stating the truth? Is it wrong to make a statement like this now after the good way in which BOD conducted himself before and after the match? Does this resentment go further back than the Lions series to when Gatland was Ireland coach or when he made those comments before the Wales Ireland 6N match about how the Welsh view those games?

I'd like to know your opinion.

BamBam wrote:Just what the thread was missing, old Sainty to inject his brand of logic and non inflammatory posting

Assuming of course anyone takes a blind bit of notice of yer man...

BOD needs to man-up and keep his opinions to himself

ebop wrote:BOD needs to man-up and keep his opinions to himself

Why don't you do the same then?

BamBam wrote:Just what the thread was missing, old Sainty to inject his brand of logic and non inflammatory posting

I don't get why people selectively read. There has been a number of inflammatory posts on this thread and the previous BOD thread from the Irish. Not to mention the outbursts when BOD was dropped. But only good old Saint gets the finger pointed at him. Go join the green-eye brigade bambam, you'll be welcomed with open arms. The rest of us are just going to discuss facts and truth.

fa0019 wrote:Its probably that attitude which made him the great player in the first place.

I'd be worried if he genuinely felt fine about the whole thing.

Ask Cuthbert if he resents Gatland for dropping him after the first test.... in public he'd never say a word against him as he's his current coach at Wales... come his tell all end of career book you can be certain he will have similar feelings to BOD.

Its natural.

Spot on.

Davies was not undeserving of the selection but when he and others say it looks good on BOD's CV, give over.  

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

ebop wrote:BOD needs to man-up and keep his opinions to himself

Why don't you do the same then?

Well why don't you? Did you not just give an opinion on my apparent WUMs? I don't see why people feel the needs to dismiss honest and factual postings as a WUM. It's just daft and bitter.

The Saint wrote:

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

ebop wrote:BOD needs to man-up and keep his opinions to himself

Why don't you do the same then?

Well why don't you? Did you not just give an opinion on my apparent WUMs? I don't see why people feel the needs to dismiss honest and factual postings as a WUM. It's just daft and bitter.

I didn't tell anyone to keep their opinions to themselves though. I was just pointing out the irony of Ebop's post.

Yep, your comments regarding the irish and BOD are incredibly tedious but I certainly can't stop you posting them.

fa0019 wrote:Its probably that attitude which made him the great player in the first place.

I'd be worried if he genuinely felt fine about the whole thing.

Ask Cuthbert if he resents Gatland for dropping him after the first test.... in public he'd never say a word against him as he's his current coach at Wales... come his tell all end of career book you can be certain he will have similar feelings to BOD.

Its natural.

Spot on.

Davies was not undeserving of the selection but when he and others say it looks good on BOD's CV, give over.  

You're right, you can't.

ME-109 wrote:The sWelsh supporters are great. Their ability to put forward the holier than thou attitude is without comparison.  

The old definition of a Welshman is only strengthened by this and the previous thread....

What is the definition of a Welshman?

A person who prays on his knees on Sunday and preys on his neighbours for the rest of the week....

Is that kind of blatant xenophobia genuinely going to be tolerated?

The Saint wrote:

BamBam wrote:Just what the thread was missing, old Sainty to inject his brand of logic and non inflammatory posting

I don't get why people selectively read. There has been a number of inflammatory posts on this thread and the previous BOD thread from the Irish. Not to mention the outbursts when BOD was dropped. But only good old Saint gets the finger pointed at him. Go join the green-eye brigade bambam, you'll be welcomed with open arms. The rest of us are just going to discuss facts and truth.

Facts and truth

 

Don't be silly miaow. Only the Welsh are xenophobic (scroll up). Like I said, these Irish slated JD for having the nerve to mention he received threats, abusive messages, etc. over a nothing situation. Surely they should be slating BOD for moaning (as they put it) as well.

ME-109 wrote:The sWelsh supporters are great. Their ability to put forward the holier than thou attitude is without comparison.  

IMO this sums up the Irish on here to a tee. Let's see.

They slate the Welsh for booing kickers and deny that they even consider booing at a live match.
They slate the Welsh for giving an opinion on a ref but are quick to stick the boot in to these Rabo refs when their team is on the receiving end.
They slate the Great Gats for making a judgement call, and continue to do so even when they know it was the right call.
They slate JD for 'moaning' about some twitter abuse and praise the almighty BOD for 'moaning' about being dropped, despite it being the right call.
Over the last few days on these discussion threads they've been chucking out past demeanours involving Welsh players or fans when it hasn't absolutely nothing to do with any of this. Somebody needs to give Ireland rugby a tap on the shoulder just to let the fans know that this is the real world.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

The Saint wrote:

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

ebop wrote:BOD needs to man-up and keep his opinions to himself

Why don't you do the same then?

Well why don't you? Did you not just give an opinion on my apparent WUMs? I don't see why people feel the needs to dismiss honest and factual postings as a WUM. It's just daft and bitter.

I didn't tell anyone to keep their opinions to themselves though.  I was just pointing out the irony of Ebop's post.

Yep, your comments regarding the irish and BOD are incredibly tedious but I certainly can't stop you posting them.

Sorry Rory, I should have been more specific, what I meant to say was that he should.....

'keep his opinions to himself if he does'nt want to come across as a spoilt brat and lose some of the ever diminishing respect that some people afford him as a player. He has painted himself as a man that cannot handle life's many dissapointments, 2005 and 2013 are examples of that. I say, man-up, take it on the chin and don't tell journalists tour inner thoughts about being dropped. It's what most would do'.

That's the gist of it, BOD can keep digging the hole if he likes, go for gold mate! I'm just saying its not in his best interests, image-wise, as a so-called great of the game. BOD is risking being defined by his efforts in 2005 and 2013, unfortunately.

Does he want to be known as one of the great rugby players or not? These 'opinions' of his don't help that image because the great players don't whinge when they get dropped, they know their time is maybe up, and handle it without criticising the coach.

ME-109 wrote:Welsh supporters are great. Their ability to put forward the holier than thou attitude is without comparison.  

The old definition of a Welshman is only strengthened by this and the previous thread....

What is the definition of a Welshman?

A person who prays on his knees on Sunday and preys on his neighbours for the rest of the week....

Cracking generalisation to start that quoted part of the post off. I could offer a good comparison. The Irish supporters' holier than thou attitude towards booing supporters. We all know how that turned out.

I don't think BOD cares what a few posters on a small rugby forum think of him to be honest. He will be known as one of the greats of the game whether you (or I) like it or not. Funny that you mention his "whinging" about 2005 though. Talk about class.

Anyway, night lads!

Risca Rev wrote:

ME-109 wrote:Welsh supporters are great. Their ability to put forward the holier than thou attitude is without comparison.  

The old definition of a Welshman is only strengthened by this and the previous thread....

What is the definition of a Welshman?

A person who prays on his knees on Sunday and preys on his neighbours for the rest of the week....

Cracking generalisation to start that quoted part of the post off. I could offer a good comparison. The Irish supporters' holier than thou attitude towards booing supporters. We all know how that turned out.

Rev - do you not think it would be better ignoring these sort of posts and not turning this into an Irish vs Welsh debate?

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

Risca Rev wrote:

ME-109 wrote:Welsh supporters are great. Their ability to put forward the holier than thou attitude is without comparison.  

The old definition of a Welshman is only strengthened by this and the previous thread....

What is the definition of a Welshman?

A person who prays on his knees on Sunday and preys on his neighbours for the rest of the week....

Cracking generalisation to start that quoted part of the post off. I could offer a good comparison. The Irish supporters' holier than thou attitude towards booing supporters. We all know how that turned out.

Rev - do you not think it would be better ignoring these sort of posts and not turning this into an Irish vs Welsh debate?

Sure, why not. Though I think my intentions are probably more genuine than others.

Good luck tomorrow. Hoping for a cracker in the likely downpour.

Same to you mate, looking forward to it! I think it will be a close one.

rory gallagher wrote:BOD (and many other people including myself) thought he was the better player between himself and Davies (while some disagree)

Rory
You seem to be implying that more people thought BOD had a better tour than Davies, but if I am honest I can't recall anyone outside of Ireland and some media attention seeking ex-players who thought that. For me there wasn't much in it, but Davies in the eyes people who watched with me seemed to think was a country mile ahead of BOD throughout the tour. The only game that Davies was generally average was the second test but then again so was BOD.

ME-109 wrote:

Knowsit17 wrote:

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

Taylorman wrote:

slane wrote:Look this is not a WUM but I’m actually sick of the self absorbed Welsh posters on this site. I actually find it kind of pathetic that BOD is and has been targeted with comments like he’s “bitter” and he has an “attitude” problem” all because he disagreed with Gatlands but I suppose I can understand with the Welsh Rugby team being your only sense of national pride, sad.

Well I'm not Welsh and I'm just as sick of anyone saying it was the wrong selection. Gats made a choice that he thought would help the Lions win the series. Stuff those who thought BOD would have gone better. Cry all the way into next century. Fact is BOD wouldnt have gone better- at least its as factual as those cry babies who thought he might. If BODs going to say anything about the side...how about well done Gats, well done Lions. End of. Bitterness is a sad way to end a fabulous career. And looking at BODs form both in this series and vs the ABs last year...that doesnt look to far away. He did nothing to help win either series and funnily enough only in his absence di one actually get won.   Game over.

Do you not sense the irony when you talk about bitterness here?  What is your obsession with O'Driscoll these days?  You have done nothing but criticise the guy since the Lions tour.  BOD (and many other people including myself) thought he was the better player between himself and Davies (while some disagree) and he was disappointed to be dropped on his last ever game for the Lions tour.  Davies missed something like 4 tackles and was exposed for a crucial try, while BOD was solid.  Neither did a whole lot in attack, but there was your options.  Gatland went with Davies.

The Lions win, Davies has a good game.  Yet BOD is still disappointed naturally, missing out on his final Lions game and knowing he could also have shared in the victory on the field.  Does that make him a bad person?  For feeling disappointed?  No.  However it is just as bad for you to make out that BOD being dropped was the cause of the win, as it is for those "cry babies" you complain about.  I highly doubt the selection of the 13 had a huge bearing on the game.  Both were good options.

The guy gives an honest interview about his disappointment and people criticise him for it.  Seriously, some people really need to get off their high horse.  I would love to have seen the reaction if the tables were turned.

Therein lies the problem. Negativity towards BOD doesn't arise directly as a result of this interview. Rather it is in response to the closed-mindedness and utter lack of class of a great deal of his die-hard supporters. The comment quoted by Taylorman is a pathetic and underhanded response tenuously linked to the topic at hand. Same applies to the comment somewhere above criticising Davies for "bleating" about the online hate he received, which is disgraceful and irrelevant. You'll find that throughout this extended Lions fallout, criticism of BOD has often followed silly comments of that nature which really does the man himself an injustice as it inclines some to associate him with the clowns posting them.

Ah yes...the classic passive aggressive response in addition to the mealy mouthed comments. BOD was right but in reality was misguided/naïve and shouldn't have said anything. Poor JD was incorrectly vilified by the big nasty BOD supporters for coming across like Shane Williams around the time of the Marcus Horan incident. The sWelsh supporters are great. Their ability to put forward the holier than thou attitude is without comparison.  

The old definition of a Welshman is only strengthened by this and the previous thread....

What is the definition of a Welshman?

A person who prays on his knees on Sunday and preys on his neighbours for the rest of the week....

I know BOD was disappointed but no more so than anyone else who didnt get selected. No one has a monopoly on sympathy votes but BOD seems to have got them all anyway. It was a pathetic comment I agree and I shouldnt have directed it at BOD- he looks to have not particpated in any of this.

My issue is now we have two people- gats and JD who appear to have been targeted by 'BOD' fans when both actually did their job well.

In the entire time I have watched and followed rugby I havnt seen so many rants about the non selection of a player where the result was a resounding success to the degree I have here and elsewhere.

Those in the BOD support camp need to just su%ck it up and take it. Like BOD did from the start. Heaslip might have been disappointed and not felt like celebrating- again understandable, but this is professional rugby, and its a team game. It is not about the individual but individuals are being put forward here and trodden on like never before. What it actually proves yet again is the Lions is a flawed concept.

Its supported outwardly in general but each has his one eye on his own flag- in the end, ruining the result for many people.

And how would BOD fans take to the thought of an Irishman coaching the NZ side to a series historic win over the Boks only to get stabbed in the back by NZ fans over the selection of 10 Crusaders over other sxv franchises...thats how pathetic this all is...

T-Man,

I totally agree with everything you've said.  Brian O'Driscoll comes across to me as a spoilt, bitter little man who's popularity in Ireland has gone entirely to his head.  His sense of entitlement knows no bounds and former greats of the Lions and the Irish must be wishing he'd just shut-up and not sully the Lions fantastic winning effort.  

I could have understood if he said he was disappointed he was dropped and felt that he could have contributed had he started, however to say he resents the coach and believes he could have done stuff on the field that JD didn't do - well that's just bitter, petty and down-right disrespectful.  Show some class O'Driscoll and keep your mouth shut.

Frankly, from a Kiwi perspective, O'Driscoll has never impressed me and both Umaga and Conrad Smith (let alone Jaque Fourie and Jean de Villiers amongst others) were/are far better centre's than he'll ever be.  How he has gained this aura of greatness I'll never know.

Brian O'Driscoll reminds me a lot of myself when I was a player, I was a fantastic player and deserved to be rewarded with selection to much higher honours. however my problem was that at that time the coaches/selectors lacked foresight and rugby wisdom, and ended up choosing others.


I look forward to seeing Brian O'Driscoll line up for Ireland in a couple of months time against the ABs.

aucklandlaurie wrote:
Brian O'Driscoll reminds me a lot of myself when I was a player, I was a fantastic player and  deserved to be rewarded with selection to much higher honours. however my problem was that at that time the coaches/selectors lacked foresight and rugby wisdom, and ended up choosing others.


I look forward to seeing Brian O'Driscoll line up for Ireland in a couple of months time against the ABs.

Too true - I was the same.

BOD will get carved up big time by the new Smith on the block - Go Ben Go!!!

Otagolad wrote:T-Man,

I totally agree with everything you've said.  Brian O'Driscoll comes across to me as a spoilt, bitter little man who's popularity in Ireland has gone entirely to his head.  His sense of entitlement knows no bounds and former greats of the Lions and the Irish must be wishing he'd just shut-up and not sully the Lions fantastic winning effort.  

I could have understood if he said he was disappointed he was dropped and felt that he could have contributed had he started, however to say he resents the coach and believes he could have done stuff on the field that JD didn't do - well that's just bitter, petty and down-right disrespectful.  Show some class O'Driscoll and keep your mouth shut.

Frankly, from a Kiwi perspective, O'Driscoll has never impressed me and both Umaga and Conrad Smith (let alone Jaque Fourie and Jean de Villiers amongst others) were/are far better centre's than he'll ever be.  How he has gained this aura of greatness I'll never know.

 

Otagolad wrote:

aucklandlaurie wrote:
Brian O'Driscoll reminds me a lot of myself when I was a player, I was a fantastic player and  deserved to be rewarded with selection to much higher honours. however my problem was that at that time the coaches/selectors lacked foresight and rugby wisdom, and ended up choosing others.


I look forward to seeing Brian O'Driscoll line up for Ireland in a couple of months time against the ABs.

Too true - I was the same.  

BOD will get carved up big time by the new Smith on the block - Go Ben Go!!!

There's more Smith's in the AB's than there are Jones in the Welsh, where did they all come from:laugh: 

Cliff Morgan died a few days ago. In his playing days, which I recall as a Cardiff supporter for nearly 60 years, he was as great and famous to rugby men as BOD is now. His post-playing career, including battles with illness, was also stellar.

If Cliff had not been picked for a team I don't think he'd have gone on about 'resentment' - and if he had, he'd have been more original than saying someone isn't on his Christmas card list!

The problem here is ego.

Not only in the case of Brian O'Driscoll, but for many sports stars.

There comes a time where in your own mind you are still the best, yet those outside of you centre of influence believe otherwise.

So when the time comes where you are no longer first choice it hurts. It hurts the ego and different people react in a different manner.

So they say things they most likely say in the spur of the moment and later regret. That is understandable from a player who's ego has taken a dent.

What is worse though, is the supporters pro and anti O'Driscoll to get all uptight with each other and engaging in a tasteless slanging match whilst the subject of the matter is blissfully unaware that somewhere in Cyberspace a bunch of keyboard junkies are having a full go on his behalf.

I wonder what he will say if he reads some of the comments made on this thread.

I haven't read all the posts so apologies if this has already been said but I think this sums up what a great player and leader BOD is. He had no hesitation to say he held resentment against Gatland and it will niggle at him probably for the rest of his life. He also said he rememebrs being told Leonard was the greatest Lion under Geech as when dropped he did everything he could to help Wallace for the team. Looking at the lead up to the match and during the 80 itself all we heard and saw was BOD smiling being supportive and apparently helping on the 2 (3) centres picked ahead of him. Well done to him.

Agreed, Biltong. It was probably heightened in O'Driscoll's case because (as far as I'm aware) he'd never been dropped before in his life. But that's not Gatland's fault.

No 7&1/2 wrote:I haven't read all the posts so apologies if this has already been said but I think this sums up what a great player and leader BOD is. He had no hesitation to say he held resentment against Gatland and it will niggle at him probably for the rest of his life. He also said he rememebrs being told Leonard was the greatest Lion under Geech as when dropped he did everything he could to help Wallace for the team. Looking at the lead up to the match and during the 80 itself all we heard and saw was BOD smiling being supportive and apparently helping on the 2 (3) centres picked ahead of him. Well done to him.

Its true BOD did help the centres picked ahead of him BUT the difference is, is that Leonard never went whinging to the media or anyone else he just kept his head got on with it and came out of it with head and rep high.

bedfordwelsh wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:I haven't read all the posts so apologies if this has already been said but I think this sums up what a great player and leader BOD is. He had no hesitation to say he held resentment against Gatland and it will niggle at him probably for the rest of his life. He also said he rememebrs being told Leonard was the greatest Lion under Geech as when dropped he did everything he could to help Wallace for the team. Looking at the lead up to the match and during the 80 itself all we heard and saw was BOD smiling being supportive and apparently helping on the 2 (3) centres picked ahead of him. Well done to him.

Its true BOD did help the centres picked ahead of him BUT the difference is, is that Leonard never went whinging to the media or anyone else he just kept his head got on with it and came out of it with head and rep high.

An interview by a former team mate where he gave honest answers and came across well. He was far from whinging on it but clearly he was bitterly disappointed. For me BOD comes out of it looking good. If he caused a scene as others have done in the past at the time he would have taken a knock. Months after the event I don't think it harms anyone.

Here is the interview:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMYpucROcWE&feature=player_embedded#t=379

I can't see much of a problem with it. He explains how he feels. Its not his fault that people want to know what he thinks.

Interesting that Gatland didn't have the bottle to drop him on his own - he brough Howley along with him.

bedfordwelsh - Leonard was dropped by Geech - a far more diplomatic coach than Gatland and from what I've read so far, ran a much more cohesive squad than Gatland. Also, it was in a different age then with regard to press/social media.

Oh my.

What a tangle.

I have a couple of points to make.

(1) No-one should have abused JD2 on Twitter or anywhere else. No matter what you think of the decision it was not Foxy who made it and he should hold his head up high as a victorious Lion. I think almost all Irish Rugby fans feel this way.

(2) Do not "Tar" Irish rugby fans with the same brush as those eejits who did send abuse (Were there "death threats"? Saint keeps saying it but is it true?) to JD2. I doubt they could tell a ruck from a maul. The fact that they took to twitter to abuse anyone tells us everything we need to know about those people. But, we are not "those people".

(3) Some of us feel the way Gatland treated BOD by wheeling him out for the press conference just before dropping him was horrible, un-neccessary and appeared crass at best if not downright spiteful.

(4) Some on here seem to be taking this as an opportunity to stoke the fires of discontent between Irish and Welsh fans. That's really not very nice. Banter is great but there are some folks here who post stuff which comes close to racial abuse. Not cool lads.

(5) The season starts tonight!

Let's watch/play some rugby!!!!!

Sin é wrote:Here is the interview:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMYpucROcWE&feature=player_embedded#t=379

I can't see much of a problem with it. He explains how he feels. Its not his fault that people want to know what he thinks.

Will you now say the same about Jonathan Davies's response when he was asked about the abusive tweets he got?

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:

Sin é wrote:Here is the interview:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMYpucROcWE&feature=player_embedded#t=379

I can't see much of a problem with it. He explains how he feels. Its not his fault that people want to know what he thinks.

Will you now say the same about Jonathan Davies's response when he was asked about the abusive tweets he got?

Was Davies asked if he got abusive on twitter?

I'd have more of a problem with Davies saying that BOD should be happy because he could put winning a Lions series on his cv.

Mrs P - I seem to remember him saying that people on twitter told him they wanted 'to break his legs.' There was no mention of death threats.

MrsP wrote:Oh my.

What a tangle.

I have a couple of points to make.

(1) No-one should have abused JD2 on Twitter or anywhere else. No matter what you think of the decision it was not Foxy who made it and he should hold his head up high as a victorious Lion. I think almost all Irish Rugby fans feel this way.

(2) Do not "Tar" Irish rugby fans with the same brush as those eejits who did send abuse (Were there "death threats"? Saint keeps saying it but is it true?) to JD2. I doubt they could tell a ruck from a maul. The fact that they took to twitter to abuse anyone tells us everything we need to know about those people. But, we are not "those people".

(3) Some of us feel the way Gatland treated BOD by wheeling him out for the press conference just before dropping him was horrible, un-neccessary and appeared crass at best if not downright spiteful.

(4) Some on here seem to be taking this as an opportunity to stoke the fires of discontent between Irish and Welsh fans. That's really not very nice. Banter is great but there are some folks here who post stuff which comes close to racial abuse. Not cool lads.

(5) The season starts tonight!
Let's watch/play some rugby!!!!!

And If I am not wrong the first match of the Rabo season would be Scarlets (Foxy's folk) Leinster (BOD's brothers). If all the fans were as one-eyed, abusive and biased to their lads, as we are made to believe on here then that match may need football style riot police there to keep the peace  

To be honest BOD and Heaslip were never going to be interviewed and say "Well to 100% fair, I don't think I should have played that final game. That young up and coming Welsh lad may not be quite at the level I was in my prime, but he is probably better than me now that I am getting on and he is starting to get to his peak". That sort of interview would not exactly be good for Leinster or Irish rugby to hear from a legend, and someone that ehy will still be relying upon in the coming season. So he will obviously say that he believes he is still up to the job, and could have done as good if not better than his rivals.

Lets face it we are all a bit touchy on the subject because there are folks on both sides of the fence that have taken the banter a touch too far.

MrsP wrote:The season starts tonight!

Let's watch/play some rugby!!!!!

Damn right.

its must be terrible for the ego when an up and coming player takes your place and you no longer first choice , when everyone but the coach tells you are

Sin é wrote:Here is the interview:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMYpucROcWE&feature=player_embedded#t=379

I can't see much of a problem with it. He explains how he feels. Its not his fault that people want to know what he thinks.

I just watched that interview and it brought to mind the Diana 'Queen of Hearts' one in its restrained sycophancy.

The overwhelming impression to me was the bleeding ego was still a gaping wound. If this is Jason Leonard's ego: o, Then this is BOD's: O.

Heaslip just comes across as a grumpy git

Really disappointed in BOD though, really bad sport to effectively say Jonathan Davies didnt do enough. Just seems resentful now that his performances are slipping

I would never expect some of the games iconic figures, Carter, Wilkinson etc saying anything like that. Martyn Williams certainly didnt complain about sitting on the bench in 09.

Hmm. Wilkinson spurned approaches to join the tour as (to paraphrase him) it was time for youngsters to take up the baton.

No 7&1/2 wrote:

bedfordwelsh wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:I haven't read all the posts so apologies if this has already been said but I think this sums up what a great player and leader BOD is. He had no hesitation to say he held resentment against Gatland and it will niggle at him probably for the rest of his life. He also said he rememebrs being told Leonard was the greatest Lion under Geech as when dropped he did everything he could to help Wallace for the team. Looking at the lead up to the match and during the 80 itself all we heard and saw was BOD smiling being supportive and apparently helping on the 2 (3) centres picked ahead of him. Well done to him.

Its true BOD did help the centres picked ahead of him BUT the difference is, is that Leonard never went whinging to the media or anyone else he just kept his head got on with it and came out of it with head and rep high.

An interview by a former team mate where he gave honest answers and came across well. He was far from whinging on it but clearly he was bitterly disappointed. For me BOD comes out of it looking good. If he caused a scene as others have done in the past at the time he would have taken a knock. Months after the event I don't think it harms anyone.

Agree - I thought he came across quite well. Especially when he said that when his team for 15 odd years won the Amlin he didn't feel part of it and didn't really celebrate. (He seems happy enough on the cover of the Lions DVD when they are lifting the cup) I think it is only natural to feel gutted if you were not on the pitch and he was only being honest.

Simon Shaw was always gutted that he was only a squad member of the 2003 WC squad and didn't get to play. Made me laugh that Ben KAy is still haunted by that dropped pass

MrsP wrote:Oh my.

What a tangle.

I have a couple of points to make.

(1) No-one should have abused JD2 on Twitter or anywhere else. No matter what you think of the decision it was not Foxy who made it and he should hold his head up high as a victorious Lion. I think almost all Irish Rugby fans feel this way.

(2) Do not "Tar" Irish rugby fans with the same brush as those eejits who did send abuse (Were there "death threats"? Saint keeps saying it but is it true?) to JD2. I doubt they could tell a ruck from a maul. The fact that they took to twitter to abuse anyone tells us everything we need to know about those people. But, we are not "those people".

(3) Some of us feel the way Gatland treated BOD by wheeling him out for the press conference just before dropping him was horrible, un-neccessary and appeared crass at best if not downright spiteful.

(4) Some on here seem to be taking this as an opportunity to stoke the fires of discontent between Irish and Welsh fans. That's really not very nice. Banter is great but there are some folks here who post stuff which comes close to racial abuse. Not cool lads.

(5) The season starts tonight!

Let's watch/play some rugby!!!!!

Good on ya MrsP, logical and reasonable as always and echoing my own sentiments. You saved me a whole pile of typing

I wonder how we'd be if everyone got to express their resentment of their coach after having such a resounding and complete success, it must apply to someone in every single test, yet most seem to suck it up and take it ok. Yet BOD gets to have his very own little corner to 'share his feelings'... awwww...how quaint.

Taylorman wrote:I wonder how we'd be if everyone got to express their resentment of their coach after having such a resounding and complete success, it must apply to someone in every single test, yet most seem to suck it up and take it ok. Yet BOD gets to have his very own little corner to 'share his feelings'... awwww...how quaint.

Yet whenever Warbs or Davies 'speak their mind' they get blasted almost regardless of what they say. Only BOD could go as far as to say expressly that he resents the coach and not have to face even the shadow of a criticism from Ireland.
#Glaringdoublestandards

This is really going over old ground, but for me Bod wasn't playing well enough to stay in the team, whereas JD was having a good tour.

In the same way I thought Faletau deserved his chance in the last tests. Both calls were ones I was happy with as a fan.

While I have no problems with players being honest (who would be happy to be dropped?), I don't personally enjoy hearing how the tournament/win was devalued for them. I think it shows a bit of a selfish/egotistical side which maybe they shouldn't be telling the press.

Sin é wrote:Here is the interview:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMYpucROcWE&feature=player_embedded#t=379

I can't see much of a problem with it. He explains how he feels. Its not his fault that people want to know what he thinks.

Interesting that Gatland didn't have the bottle to drop him on his own - he brough Howley along with him.

bedfordwelsh - Leonard was dropped by Geech - a far more diplomatic coach than Gatland and from what I've read so far, ran a much more cohesive squad than Gatland. Also, it was in a different age then with regard to press/social media.

What a pathetic statement. bod throwing his rattle out the pram and all his zombie followers throw theirs. A has been now, not even one of the worlds best either.

'BOD' hasn't exactly covered himself in glory with this 'resentment/Xmas card list' nonsense.

Universally accepted as a magnificent rugby player back in the day, but as a sportsman? - no class.

Would BOD be God if Ireland had other half decent centres over the last decade ?