Peter O'Mahony is a God (in Munster) - but is he actually any good?

First topic message reminder :

Liam Toland, former Munster backrow doesnt really rate him right now and neither do I. Do you and why?

"Peter O’Mahony is an interesting character who is developing into a fine leader. I fear, however, that his combative style is stunting his rugby playing progress. He has all the tools to be world class but often gets bogged down in street fighting. IRB Player of the Year Kieran Read is what O’Mahony should be striving for – broaden your game."
-Liam Toland
http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/just-who-are-we-this-six-nations-is-a-real-chance-to-find-our-personality-1.1665970?page=2

Hes touted as a fine leader having captained at all levels at some point but is that enough to pick him?

Onfield he is all fire and brimstone and always looks like he is "starting" but for me he is a bit like the forward version of Luke Fitzgerald. Plenty of skill/talent but clueless when it comes to applying it to certain situations. All in all a fairly ineffective player in my opinion. A little more composure and intellegent rugby would go a long way for both players.

GunsGerms wrote:Belvo:

http://www.thescore.ie/hurricanes-good-luck-video-belvedere-1305255-Feb2014/

Clongowes:

Not as good as the Arsenal players for Clare and Munster - they got all the gear on for their good luck!

Did you know that Tony McGahan's Melbourne Rebels beat the Hurricanes at the weekend in NZ in a friendly. They beat Cheika's crowd the week before.

I think the improvement in our line out is completely a case of being coached better and players having confidence in their own roles. Scapegoating any one individual player for it being bad previously is rather foolish; from hooker to jumper to lifter, everyone is more confident.

Donnacha Ryan would thrive if he was to come in. We have enough depth that we won't need him this campaign unless we are unlucky with more injuries but he's a fine player and will likely add to his caps.

All I'm saying Guns is that it takes a lotta balls to completely write off an obviously talented Munster forward on the same thread you created to write off an obviously talented Munster forward only to have to eat humble pie on...

Sin é wrote:
Highly unlikely that anyone called Scott Flood-Wiley (21) would be from Munster. (he is from Dublin). He had previous convictions (drugs and theft).

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/two-clongowes-rugby-players-to-be-sentenced-over-mass-brawl-which-left-youth-with-broken-leg-29944695.html

Yes I know Sin. No idea how he got in. Completely at odds with Jesuit ethos.[/quote]

Mickado wrote:We're doing alright here lads, top of the table, 50+ points scored, 9 conceded, a few injuries, but only in areas of depth, plenty of players doing well individually and everyone executing well on a clear gameplan. So what does it matter what Liam Toland thinks, how much Tony fuggin Ward likes Leinster schools cup, how Heaslip was quiet for the first half last week?

Ah now, these lads need somewhere to play these games. This thread is as good as any   

Sin é wrote:

Not as good as the Arsenal players for Clare and Munster - they got all the gear on for their good luck!

Did you know that Tony McGahan's Melbourne Rebels beat the Hurricanes at the weekend in NZ in a friendly. They beat Cheika's crowd the week before.

I wouldnt get too excited about a good luck message from a soccer player. Didnt realise McGahan was at the Rebels.

I heard EOS is helping out at Cork Con or Dolphin or something as well and they are doing well too. Whats Kidney up to?

I think the major difference to the lineout maybe POC calling it and Devin Toner's improvement which must take the pressure off Besty a bit when you are trying to get past 10ft Richie Grey.

The Telegraph are doing stats on the 6 nations - an interesting one is that no one individual person is makes the top list of claims from the Irish team. That is down to POC and his calling of the lineout I'd imagine and having so many jumpers.

Sin é wrote:I think the major difference to the lineout maybe POC calling it and Devin Toner's improvement which must take the pressure off Besty a bit when you are trying to get past 10ft Richie Grey.

The Telegraph are doing stats on the 6 nations - an interesting one is that no one individual person is makes the top list of claims from the Irish team. That is down to POC and his calling of the lineout I'd imagine and having so many jumpers.

That is also fairly indicative of Schmidt's influence in not placing over reliance on any one player.

GunsGerms wrote:

Sin é wrote:

Not as good as the Arsenal players for Clare and Munster - they got all the gear on for their good luck!

Did you know that Tony McGahan's Melbourne Rebels beat the Hurricanes at the weekend in NZ in a friendly. They beat Cheika's crowd the week before.

I wouldnt get too excited about a good luck message from a soccer player. Didnt realise McGahan was at the Rebels.

I heard EOS is helping out at Cork Con or Dolphin or something as well and they are doing well too. Whats Kidney up to?

Ah now, they went to a fair bit of trouble.  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2523618/Arsenal-players-Lukas-Podolski-Santi-Cazorla-Mesut-Ozil-wearing-Munster-shirts.html

http://www.thescore.ie/arsenal-stars-podolski-cazorla-supporting-clare-gaa-1104865-Sep2013/

Arsenal website interview with Fla & Johnny O'Connor.

http://www.arsenal.com/news/features/irish-eyes

GunsGerms wrote:

Sin é wrote:I think the major difference to the lineout maybe POC calling it and Devin Toner's improvement which must take the pressure off Besty a bit when you are trying to get past 10ft Richie Grey.

The Telegraph are doing stats on the 6 nations - an interesting one is that no one individual person is makes the top list of claims from the Irish team. That is down to POC and his calling of the lineout I'd imagine and having so many jumpers.

That is also fairly indicative of Schmidt's influence in not placing over reliance on any one player.

I'd say that would be the last thing POC would be thinking of when calling the lineout.

I saw it before Sin. It is cool enough if you like premiership football but I really dont to be honest. It is class though that Flannery is getting work experience there. He is a very industrious sort of guy it seems.

Sin é wrote:
I'd say that would be the last thing POC would be thinking of when calling the lineout.

He might call the lineout but dont you think if he is told to mix it up that is exactly what he does? Surely he doesnt just randomly decide who he is going to throw it to each time when he calls it. Id imagine it is fairly scripted what he does at the lineout.

GunsGerms wrote:

Sin é wrote:
I'd say that would be the last thing POC would be thinking of when calling the lineout.

He might call the lineout but dont you think if he is told to mix it up that is exactly what he does? Surely he doesnt just randomly decide who he is going to throw it to each time when he calls it. Id imagine it is fairly scripted what he does at the lineout.

Probably because POC owns the lineout. I wouldnt imagine Schmidt or Plumtree would try to interfere where it isnt broken except with some suggestions. Although where the lineout throws have gone havent changed much since last year...unless of course you have been dreaming up something different.

ME-109 wrote:
Probably because POC owns the lineout. I wouldnt imagine Schmidt or Plumtree would try to interfere where it isnt broken except with some suggestions. Although where the lineout throws have gone havent changed much since last year...unless of course you have been dreaming up something different.

Very defensive today DOD. Who knows what Plumtree and Schmidt have done with the lineout but it is more than fair to say it has improved beyond recognition since last year. 4 of our tries have come from lineouts. I will say that Best does work well with POC it seems which possibly explains why his throwing was bad on the Lions tour. He never got to play with POC, if I remember right.

That said Tuohy did very well when he stood in for POC in the first game.

GunsGerms wrote:

ME-109 wrote:you should add...

"or is Liam Toland just being bitter about not ever playing for his home province and Guns is just wearing his blue tinted glasses"

After the Ireland Scotland game during his pitch side commentry David Wallace was asked about the Ireland performance and he singled out Heaslip as being outstanding and worthy of the man of the match award. He made no mention of POM. Given that you attacked me for having a similar opinion would you say that David wallace is also a bitter ex Munster player?

Bitterness certainly is a Munster trait.

The only person who is coming across bitter here is you Guns. I logged on and couldn't believe some that this thread was still going. Its almost like your trying to wind people up up but you actually believe some of the rubbish you are coming out with. Thats a serious block on your shoulder.

BlueMuff wrote:
The only person who is coming across bitter here is you Guns. I logged on and couldn't believe some that this thread was still going. Its almost like your trying to wind people up up but you actually believe some of the rubbish you are coming out with. Thats a serious block on your shoulder.

Were you literally outraged?

GunsGerms wrote:

ME-109 wrote:
Probably because POC owns the lineout. I wouldnt imagine Schmidt or Plumtree would try to interfere where it isnt broken except with some suggestions. Although where the lineout throws have gone havent changed much since last year...unless of course you have been dreaming up something different.

Very defensive today DOD. Who knows what Plumtree and Schmidt have done with the lineout but it is more than fair to say it has improved beyond recognition since last year. 4 of our tries have come from lineouts. I will say that Best does work well with POC it seems which possibly explains why his throwing was bad on the Lions tour. He never got to play with POC, if I remember right.

That said Tuohy did very well when he stood in for POC in the first game.

Defensive? Not at all..factual more like. Unlike the bolded comment. Opinionated yes/factual no. As I said our LO was excellent last year - fact. I would suggest Plumtree and Schmidt have done nothing with the lineout (the maul yes) I cant imagine they would change the way its going with POC. You seem to "know" otherwise...oh hang on its one of your made up facts.

Keep on going its very amusing. Next!

BlueMuff wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:

ME-109 wrote:you should add...

"or is Liam Toland just being bitter about not ever playing for his home province and Guns is just wearing his blue tinted glasses"

After the Ireland Scotland game during his pitch side commentry David Wallace was asked about the Ireland performance and he singled out Heaslip as being outstanding and worthy of the man of the match award. He made no mention of POM. Given that you attacked me for having a similar opinion would you say that David wallace is also a bitter ex Munster player?

Bitterness certainly is a Munster trait.

The only person who is coming across bitter here is you Guns. I logged on and couldn't believe some that this thread was still going. Its almost like your trying to wind people up up but you actually believe some of the rubbish you are coming out with. Thats a serious block on your shoulder.

Ah let him away with it its a bit of amusement on a Monday afternoon...

GunsGerms wrote:

Sin é wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:

Mickado wrote:Ward gave Heaslip MOTM last week.

Surprising from an ex Munster player.

He played for Leinster as well (and is from Dublin, and loves the Leinster Schools Cup).

It is the best schools cup in Ireland. Did you see the messages from All Blacks that both Clongowes and Belvedere got?

The Hurricanes did a video for Belvo and McCaw sent Clongowes a good luck message.

Dont know much about the LSC but isnt it just the case that Blackrock have won it about 70% of the time...bit boring really so doesnt seem any point. At least in Munster its across a number of schools...

How can you do something with the maul without doing something with the lineout? All of that good work starts with the lineout and all of the lineout calls we used to great effect this weekend were designed with the maul in mind. The way players move to set the maul and the player winning the lineout offloads the ball is all part of they lineout call which determines how successful the maul will be. It's not two independent things, they've not come in and changed the maul and left the lineout alone. They've objectively changed the whole strategy around the lineout and maul.

ME-109 wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:

ME-109 wrote:
Probably because POC owns the lineout. I wouldnt imagine Schmidt or Plumtree would try to interfere where it isnt broken except with some suggestions. Although where the lineout throws have gone havent changed much since last year...unless of course you have been dreaming up something different.

Very defensive today DOD. Who knows what Plumtree and Schmidt have done with the lineout but it is more than fair to say it has improved beyond recognition since last year. 4 of our tries have come from lineouts. I will say that Best does work well with POC it seems which possibly explains why his throwing was bad on the Lions tour. He never got to play with POC, if I remember right.

That said Tuohy did very well when he stood in for POC in the first game.

Defensive? Not at all..factual more like. Unlike the bolded comment. Opinionated yes/factual no. As I said our LO was excellent last year - fact. I would suggest Plumtree and Schmidt have done nothing with the lineout (the maul yes) I cant imagine they would change the way its going with POC. You seem to "know" otherwise...oh hang on its one of your made up facts.

Keep on going its very amusing. Next!

The Munster maul is pretty good    If a Kidney/Foley coached team in green used the maul like Schmidt & Plumtree are, the internet would go into meltdown.

ME-109 wrote:
Defensive? Not at all..factual more like. Unlike the bolded comment. Opinionated yes/factual no. As I said our LO was excellent last year - fact. I would suggest Plumtree and Schmidt have done nothing with the lineout (the maul yes) I cant imagine they would change the way its going with POC. You seem to "know" otherwise...oh hang on its one of your made up facts.

Keep on going its very amusing. Next!

Ok the lineout wasnt bad. Yes it wont change much with POC as he is captain.

ME-109 wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:

Sin é wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:

Mickado wrote:Ward gave Heaslip MOTM last week.

Surprising from an ex Munster player.

He played for Leinster as well (and is from Dublin, and loves the Leinster Schools Cup).

It is the best schools cup in Ireland. Did you see the messages from All Blacks that both Clongowes and Belvedere got?

The Hurricanes did a video for Belvo and McCaw sent Clongowes a good luck message.

Dont know much about the LSC but isnt it just the case that Blackrock have won it about 70% of the time...bit boring really so doesnt seem any point. At least in Munster its across a number of schools...

That was years ago. They havent won it that much in the last 20 years.

Notch wrote:How can you do something with the maul without doing something with the lineout? All of that good work starts with the lineout, all of the lineout calls we used were designed with the maul in mind. It's not two independent things, they've not come in and changed the maul and left the lineout alone. They've objectively changed the whole strategy around the lineout and maul.

oh right the maul and lineout are one now (your beginning to sound like Guns now Notch)...anyhow the question was lineout stats they arent much different from last year. In addition not every lineout turned into a maul. Yes how the mail is formed looks like a tweak that has paid dividends....but given how effective the Munster Maul has been this year it could as easily have come from that....

ME-109 wrote:
The only person who is coming across bitter here is you Guns. I logged on and couldn't believe some that this thread was still going. Its almost like your trying to wind people up up but you actually believe some of the rubbish you are coming out with. Thats a serious block on your shoulder.

Ah let him away with it its a bit of amusement on a Monday afternoon...[/quote]

Thanks DOD

GunsGerms wrote:

ME-109 wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:

Sin é wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:

Mickado wrote:Ward gave Heaslip MOTM last week.

Surprising from an ex Munster player.

He played for Leinster as well (and is from Dublin, and loves the Leinster Schools Cup).

It is the best schools cup in Ireland. Did you see the messages from All Blacks that both Clongowes and Belvedere got?

The Hurricanes did a video for Belvo and McCaw sent Clongowes a good luck message.

Dont know much about the LSC but isnt it just the case that Blackrock have won it about 70% of the time...bit boring really so doesnt seem any point. At least in Munster its across a number of schools...

That was years ago. They havent won it that much in the last 20 years.

Won it last year though

Yes they did. They have a massive school and should win in every year. Clongowes by contrast have 400 pupils and have won it 5 times in the last 20 years or so. Blackrock 7 or so.

4 Clongowes players in the Ireland team v Wales on Saturday. Three more than there were Blackrock players.

The under 20s are full of St. Michaels players if I remember right.

Mickado wrote:

rodders wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:

rodders wrote:Anyone else tell me the last Ulster player to be awarded motm?

Stephen Ferris v Oz RWC? Rory Best got on in last years 6 nations too I think.

Nope Ferris against Argentina in 2008.  Before that it was Best against Australia in 2006.

Best has never received motm, nor has Bowe.

Its official, everyone hates Ulster.

I think Cian Healy was MOTM against Aus in the WC.

Healy's an Ulsterman now? Grand job welcome aboard Cian .....

ME-109 wrote:

Notch wrote:How can you do something with the maul without doing something with the lineout? All of that good work starts with the lineout, all of the lineout calls we used were designed with the maul in mind. It's not two independent things, they've not come in and changed the maul and left the lineout alone. They've objectively changed the whole strategy around the lineout and maul.

oh right the maul and lineout are one now (your beginning to sound like Guns now Notch)...anyhow the question was lineout stats they arent much different from last year. In addition not every lineout turned into a maul. Yes how the mail is formed looks like  a tweak that has paid dividends....but given how effective the Munster Maul has been this year it could as easily have come from that....

No you're being silly about this. Talking about the Munster maul? Or maybe its come from the specialist forwards coach we signed... who just happens to be coming into the post with a reputation as a lineout/maul specialist amongst other things.

Well the maul and the lineout are two things but you wouldn't make two calls. You'd have one call for all your moves off the lineout. Obviously the strategy for the lineout doesn't happen in a vacuum; what happens next is a big part of the call. Backs moves and maul moves are all integrated with the lineout call, of course we've seen more of the latter than the former, so the lineout calls have to change when you bring in new calls in other parts of your game. The coaches are the ones giving out the calls to all the units so you saying they don't have anything to do with the lineout is just... not credible. These guys are really details focused and the idea that they've just come in and left the lineout alone or appropriated the calls from Munster is faintly ridiculous.

BlueMuff wrote:
The only person who is coming across bitter here is you Guns.

I'm bitter too!

I have actually enjoyed this thread. It has certainly made for some interesting reading. I especially liked the part where Munster people elevate their players to 'god like status'. Being a Munster man myself, never really experienced that. The most you will get out of us is comments like 'player A is doing exactly what he should be doing on the field'. Always considered us to be somewhat understated to be honest.

Nachos Jones wrote:I have actually enjoyed this thread. It has certainly made for some interesting reading. I especially liked the part where Munster people elevate their players to 'god like status'. Being a Munster man myself, never really experienced that. The most you will get out of us is comments like 'player A is doing exactly what he should be doing on the field'. Always considered us to be somewhat understated to be honest.

You arent outraged? I have enjoyed it too. The original post was a serious question and worth debating IMO but it evolved into a sort of odd pastiche or parody of the usual rivalries. Not sure everyone was in on the joke though.

I certainly hope they were not using the Munster calls!

Munster have been using the maul very effectively for the last 18 months or so.

You seriously think Paul O'Connell isn't focussed on detail?

Its also well known that POC spends hours and hours over a lap top dissecting other team's lineouts and that is why he is so a good lineout operator. He puts the hours in.


I'm not bitter   

GunsGerms wrote:

Nachos Jones wrote:I have actually enjoyed this thread. It has certainly made for some interesting reading. I especially liked the part where Munster people elevate their players to 'god like status'. Being a Munster man myself, never really experienced that. The most you will get out of us is comments like 'player A is doing exactly what he should be doing on the field'. Always considered us to be somewhat understated to be honest.

You arent outraged? I have enjoyed it too. The original post was a serious question and worth debating IMO but it evolved into a sort of odd pastiche or parody of the usual rivalries. Not sure everyone was in on the joke though.

Now I know you are on the wind up

Sin é wrote:I certainly hope they were not using the Munster calls!

Munster have been using the maul very effectively for the last 18 months or so.

You seriously think Paul O'Connell isn't focussed on detail?

Its also well known that POC spends hours and hours over a lap top dissecting other team's lineouts and that is why he is so a good lineout operator. He puts the hours in.


I'm not bitter   

Who said that?Could you point it out please.

Nachos Jones wrote:I have actually enjoyed this thread. It has certainly made for some interesting reading. I especially liked the part where Munster people elevate their players to 'god like status'. Being a Munster man myself, never really experienced that. The most you will get out of us is comments like 'player A is doing exactly what he should be doing on the field'. Always considered us to be somewhat understated to be honest.

It was me that dragged in 'God' into the argument.... but only ironically - pwomise

Ill change it again if you want. Any ideas on a better title?

No I like that title...I thought it might bring eternal peace to the Provinces but .... well.....

Carry on folks.

I personally think Madigan would have scored a more artistically beautiful try than Jackson did at the weekend.  Jackson went too straight line at it...he didn't try to weave through enough defenders...it was just boringly in fast and down.
Madigan would have gone a little outfield first to add in a few more defenders to the move.

Bad show Jackson and I hope Madigan replaces you on the bench.

GunsGerms wrote:Ill change it again if you want. Any ideas on a better title?

Jaysus Guns, whoever it was that likened you to Liam Toland wasn't far off the mark

Nachos Jones wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:Ill change it again if you want. Any ideas on a better title?

Jaysus Guns, whoever it was that likened you to Liam Toland wasn't far off the mark

How so? That was Sin, he cracks me up.

Aparently Toland is a bit of a ladies man. Is that what you mean?

SecretFly wrote:No I like that title...I thought it might bring eternal peace to the Provinces but .... well.....

Carry on folks.

I personally think Madigan would have scored a more artistically beautiful try than Jackson did at the weekend.  Jackson went too straight line at it...he didn't try to weave through enough defenders...it was just boringly in fast and down.
Madigan would have gone a little outfield first to add in a few more defenders to the move.

Bad show Jackson and I hope Madigan replaces you on the bench.

Yeah Mads would have added a little panache. Are you allowed wear a scarf when you play rugby?

This thread is hilarious.. Marmion should be ahead of that chancer Murray; Henshaw to oust BOD as greatest ever Ireland 13 and Muldoon ahead of that culchie-come-lately POM.... Or is Connacht not invited to the inter-pro bickering?      

wolfball wrote:Marmion should be ahead of that chancer Murray;    

Is that meant to be a joke? Rotation might make such a move interesting.

Sin é wrote:You seriously think Paul O'Connell isn't focussed on detail?

  

Not that I ever said that, but no- I absolutely think he's focused on detail. I think Paul O'Connell isn't the coach. John Plumtree is the coach- not that it's necessarily the word of God, players have no input. A player like O'Connell will of course have input but the forwards coach will be leading the process.

He is a world class player who puts hours into his game in the same way the other guys like Best, Toner, Tuohy etc. do and he'll doing the analysis within the framework the coaches would look at and on the individual details of his own game. As a senior player he'd be someone who adds their ideas to the mix and given the massive respect Plumtree has for him (which he's stated) he'd be an important part of the process. At the same time, he's not the guy who is ultimately coming up with the calls. This is honestly a very basic distinction. I'm not sure why this is an argument because I don't see what there is to be argued against.

This beats the England / Ireland thread for entertainment purposes..

what's next...how about the reason we won both games is because Joe showed his preference for a Munster style game by getting Ireland to play like Munster. I suppose imitation is the best form of flattery..

ME-109 wrote:This beats the England / Ireland thread for entertainment purposes..

what's next...how about the reason we won both games is because Joe showed his preference for a Munster style game by getting Ireland to play like Munster. I suppose imitation is the best form of flattery..

He's one up on the Munster man then. At least the players were allowed chase down the kicked balls in Joe's Munster blueprint. Declan ordered most of them to stay behind as we kicked, kicked and kicked to fast lads running back at us.

FFS please dont bring up the nightmare that was Kidney again. 5 years wasted. We have the coach we've really needed for years, at last.
Stop being stereotypical Paddies. We are on a roll and ye lot are still whinging and in-bitching about irrelevancies.

As my mate Maggie T would say... Rejoice!

SecretFly wrote:

wolfball wrote:Marmion should be ahead of that chancer Murray;    

Is that meant to be a joke?  Rotation might make such a move interesting.

It's a joke, have huge amount of time for Murray... though fully think Marmion should be ahead of Boss and a coin toss with an un-injured reddan for ireland's bench

Well, according to a lot of the squad, Schmidt gives them players their homework and and retreats away at the end of the week.

Plumtree doesn't think POC is a world class player. He thinks Ireland has only 1 world class player - Sean O'Brien. It doesn't surprise me that he doesn't rate O'Connell. Kiwis never rated the lineout and just think of it as a way to get the ball back into play. Brad Thorn was a world class player, but he was a hopeless lineout technician.

By the way, Plumtree is on record as saying he isn't into analysis (he put a stint in as an analyst for the All Blacks some time back).

SecretFly wrote:

ME-109 wrote:This beats the England / Ireland thread for entertainment purposes..

what's next...how about the reason we won both games is because Joe showed his preference for a Munster style game by getting Ireland to play like Munster. I suppose imitation is the best form of flattery..

He's one up on the Munster man then.  At least the players were allowed chase down the kicked balls in Joe's Munster blueprint.  Declan ordered most of them to stay behind as we kicked, kicked and kicked to fast lads running back at us.

so you agree the traditional Munster way of playing is the best way for this team?

Sin é wrote:Well, according to a lot of the squad, Schmidt gives them players their homework and and retreats away at the end of the week.

Plumtree doesn't think POC is a world class player. He thinks Ireland has only 1 world class player - Sean O'Brien. It doesn't surprise me that he doesn't rate O'Connell. Kiwis never rated the lineout and just think of it as a way to get the ball back into play. Brad Thorn was a world class player, but he was a hopeless lineout technician.

By the way, Plumtree is on record as saying he isn't into analysis (he put a stint in as an analyst for the All Blacks some time back).

Plumtree has said this? Paul O'Connell was listening? Plumtree is coaching him. O'Connell is captain.

I seldom doubt your word Sin.. but I'd be grateful for the details on where this might have come from? Surely he didn't say it at a press conference?