Joe Schmidt responds to Denis Leamy's parochial rant!!

First topic message reminder :

Leamy's article prior to the Ireland game in which he claimed there was a Leinster bias which could harm our WC chances:
http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/denis-leamy-questions-schmidt-selection-30091421.html

Schmidts response:
http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/international/joe-schmidt-denies-having-a-leinster-bias-1.1729932

“For me, I select Irish players. If people want to differentiate, if people want to divide that provincially, that’s their prerogative,” he said. “But, as a group, we’re just trying to select the Irish national team. If people are going to be distracted by provincial loyalties, then that is something that is certainly not happening within the group.

“I think there has been a super unity within the group. It is probably always disappointing to get criticised. I can totally understand the perception. But, what I can totally guarantee is that we have all the stats, we watch all the games and we try to do as much homework as we possibly can.”

GunsGerms wrote:People dont want rotation they just want to see Jimmy Joe Michael from down the road in the Ireland side because that gives them something to identify with.

But you all assured us that Schmidt would rotate his squad, unlike Kidney who apparently also had his favourites.

People weren't impressed with me for saying that he rarely rotated and his Leinster team was always predictable (i.e., Boss starts away from home, Reddan at home).

Rodders - he was never going to start Reddan in Twickers as it was away from home  

and notch, while I'm at it - he doesn't rate Boss (otherwise he would have given him more than 2 x 1 minute caps). He won't be going to a world cup.

Sin é wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:People dont want rotation they just want to see Jimmy Joe Michael from down the road in the Ireland side because that gives them something to identify with.

But you all assured us that Schmidt would rotate his squad, unlike Kidney who apparently also had his favourites.

People weren't impressed with me for saying that he rarely rotated and his team was always predictable (i.e., Boss starts away from home, Reddan at home).

Rodders - he was never going to start Reddan in Twickers as it was away from home   

He has. No irish coach in six nations history has rotated the front row as much as him. The players he brought in just arent from Munster thats all.

This is the area we have always needed depth most. He also won in France and won the six nations. Cant ask for much more.

No but in fairness Moore got roasted in the 2 scrums he was on for.

BlueMuff wrote:No but in fairness Moore got roasted in the 2 scrums he was on for.

Really? He played in every game yet only under pressure in the France game.

Sin é wrote:
and notch, while I'm at it - he doesn't rate Boss (otherwise he would have given him more than 2 x 1 minute caps). He won't be going to a world cup.

There's three nines need to go. I'm not too bothered about who the third one is but Boss is the clear front runner.

GunsGerms wrote:

Sin é wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:People dont want rotation they just want to see Jimmy Joe Michael from down the road in the Ireland side because that gives them something to identify with.

But you all assured us that Schmidt would rotate his squad, unlike Kidney who apparently also had his favourites.

People weren't impressed with me for saying that he rarely rotated and his team was always predictable (i.e., Boss starts away from home, Reddan at home).

Rodders - he was never going to start Reddan in Twickers as it was away from home   

He has. No irish coach in six nations history has rotated the front row as much as him. The players he brought in just arent from Munster thats all.

This is the area we have always needed depth most. He also won in France and won the six nations. Cant ask for much more.

That might have something to do with only having 1 prop on the bench who had to be able to play both sides of the scrum  up to recently;)

Edit: We have to thank Michael Cheika for that. Resorting to uncontested scrums when the going got tough for the Leinster props.

Notch wrote:

Sin é wrote:
and notch, while I'm at it - he doesn't rate Boss (otherwise he would have given him more than 2 x 1 minute caps). He won't be going to a world cup.

There's three nines need to go. I'm not too bothered about who the third one is but Boss is the clear front runner.

Which is mad at this stage. Maybe Tomas O'Leary will come back into contention.

Hopefully not.

O'Leary? That would be a very odd selection.

Stringer. As much chirp as Care, that guy - for our clocking-up-the-scores games against the cricket score sides

GunsGerms wrote:Hopefully not.

Why. Provincial begrudgery?

If I have to say, I agree with fly. Peter Stringer is the Irish 9 in England who is doing the business. He's turned out to be one of those players who gets better with age and we discarded him too early.

I don't advocate a comeback for him by any means, but he's still a great wee player. O'Leary has found his level.

Notch wrote:O'Leary? That would be a very odd selection.

Why? If Schmidt refuses to develop Marmion, who else is there. Tomas O'Leary is a better scrum half than Isaac Boss.

Sin é wrote:

Notch wrote:O'Leary? That would be a very odd selection.

Why? If Schmidt refuses to develop Marmion, who else is there. Tomas O'Leary is a better scrum half than Isaac Boss.

If he is so good why didnt Munster hold onto him? Boss still plays regularly with the most sucessful province in Irish rugby history and occasionally features in the Ireland squad. He must be much better than O'Leary.

Leinster doesnt hold onto dead wood anyway we usually just send them down to Munster.

Even Duncan Williams is better than TOL.

Notch wrote:If I have to say, I agree with fly. Peter Stringer is the Irish 9 in England who is doing the business. He's turned out to be one of those players who gets better with age and we discarded him too early.

I don't advocate a comeback for him by any means, but he's still a great wee player. O'Leary has found his level.

Are you serious? Stringer had been so poor I'd be wondering if he has some serious dirt on Mike Ford to get that new contract.

O'Leary is worse, that red card has been the highlight of his contribution to LI - there wouldn't be many AIL clubs willing to stump up his petrol fair if he was back here let alone pay him a salary. Good luck to the boys but don't be coming back soon.

Gees your man Duncan Williams is awful too. He'd make you cry he's so bad.

Isaac Boss granny is better than these guys.

Sin é wrote:

Notch wrote:O'Leary? That would be a very odd selection.

Why? If Schmidt refuses to develop Marmion, who else is there. Tomas O'Leary is a better scrum half than Isaac Boss.

See, you expect these things to be taken seriously... its hard sometimes.

I notice Carlos Spenser hasn’t gotten 1 minute of gametime under this coaching ticket.

Questions need to be answered people.

I hear he got 'homework' - always the killer blow for naturally gifted free-spirited players.

Mickado wrote:I notice Carlos Spenser hasn’t gotten 1 minute of gametime under this coaching ticket.

Questions need to be answered people.

Haha!!

Interesting Accenture stats presented over on another thread.  Top team on their stats:

Mike Brown
Andrew Trimble
Brian O'Driscoll
Gordon D'Arcy
Jonny May
Jonathan Sexton
Conor Murray
Cian Healy
Leonardo Ghiraldini
Mike Ross
Devin Toner
Alun Wyn Jones
Peter O'Mahony
Chris Robshaw
Dave Denton

Nine Irish players in the team.  Pretty dominant presence!  Schmidt will be annoyed. The players not on the list will get hairdryers thrown their way.

Two Munstermen vs five Leinstermen. Says it all really.

Very impressive that Peter O'Mahony made that list considering he missed one game and Conor Murray came off after 17 minutes because he was ill against Italy.

Anyone else make that list that had limited gametime?

Mickado wrote:I notice Carlos Spenser hasn’t gotten 1 minute of gametime under this coaching ticket.

Questions need to be answered people.

Never mind Carlos Spencer, think of fellow kiwi Isaac Boss who had to get the bench surgically removed from his ass!

Cian Healy was subbed off in every match. Denton came on as a sub in one too.

Sin é wrote:Very impressive that Peter O'Mahony made that list considering he missed one game and Conor Murray came off after 17 minutes because he was ill against  Italy.

Anyone else make that list that had limited gametime?

Jonny May was injured after about 10 minutes in the France game.

Isaac Boss isn't good enough to play for Ireland and didn't get enough game time.

Poor old Denny squeezed his last few caps in ahead of a young emerging exceptional backrow from The Bog Lane outside of Tullow.
Any coach other than DK and leamy would have been benched.

Irony must be somthing them fancy ladyboys have their servants do to make their shirts crisp in tipp.

So many positives from this year and I do expect to see more munster and ulster players involved on the summer tour.

Sin is wide of the mark re his assination attemp, munster players outside of the squard love Joe!
Below is a quote from Johne Murphy.

"I came away feeling fantastic. I thought I had improved just from being there this week. Myself and Keith Earls were driving away and we said to each other 'As much as we hate to say it, we know why Leinster have been so good for the last three years with Joe in. Having him on a day-to-day basis must have been just phenomenal for the guys'

Feagh McHugh wrote:Poor old Denny squeezed his last few caps in ahead of a young emerging exceptional backrow from The Bog Lane outside of Tullow.
Any coach other than DK and leamy would have been benched.

Irony must be somthing them fancy ladyboys have their servants do to make their shirts crisp in tipp.

So many positives from this year and I do expect to see more munster and ulster players involved on the summer tour.

Sin is wide of the mark re his assination attemp, munster players outside of the squard love Joe!
Below is a quote from Johne Murphy.

"I came away feeling fantastic. I thought I had improved just from being there this week. Myself and Keith Earls were driving away and we said to each other 'As much as we hate to say it, we know why Leinster have been so good for the last three years with Joe in. Having him on a day-to-day basis must have been just phenomenal for the guys'

Oh but he is just saying that because he really wants to be picked for Ireland. He doesn't mean it.

I'd say he means it alright. Johne is probably delighted - even he is in with a chance now of getting selected internationally  

Ian Dowling is the one who really, really missed out though! Brilliant at ruck resourcing.

"We've achieved a lot of provincial success, with Munster and Leinster, but this is where you really want to achieve it as an Irishman."

Hey Sin who is the above quote from?

Hugh, I think it was a certain David Wallace who had a firm grip on the openside's shirt, not Denis Leamy.

By the way, 30 (40 starts) of Dinny's caps for Ireland were at No. 8 so it was Mr Heislip who missed out.

Anyway, lets raise our caps to Dinny - what a fine footballer he was (watch this video).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thjigUCMWwY

Feagh McHugh wrote:"We've achieved a lot of provincial success, with Munster and Leinster, but this is where you really want to achieve it as an Irishman."

Hey Sin who is the above quote from?

Any one of Marcus Horan, ROG, Jerry Flannery, Paul O'Connell, etc. They all say it all the time.

Ahh this is sweet... everyone is back in love with Joe for now.

Onwards to the Summer it is then........................ with a little internecine Provincial warfare in between to get the juices flowing

Yea, Felix Jones was talking about his experiences in the joe camp. Says to make the team they will have to be 20-30% better than the encumbents.

He got a very detailed debrief from Joe as well. Guess what his work-ons are?

Straightening up when running?

SecretFly wrote:Straightening up when running?

No. Keep fit   

Very detailed debrief alright! He will only ever get to hold tackle bags, so it doesn't matter what his running is like.

Euphemistic way of saying "You don't call us, we'll call you"?

Ah only kidding.  But that's his homework?  Well why are some of these players allegedly resisting this criminally complex homework?

Keep fit - ie, 20 to 30% fitter than the incumbents.

Correct Sin - it was POC he also went on to say this

“I’ve been going to Paris since I was 22 and that’s my first win,” said O’Connell, already eyeing next autumn’s World Cup in England.“Joe’s had a massive impact, no doubt.“It was a poor, disappointing, frustrating season last year, albeit injury-plagued as well.“He’s brought what you’d hear Leinster players saying for the last few years.“He’s brought real clarity, a very effective way of rucking, and people are in no doubt of their role.“I just think when you have a good team and you can give players that kind of clarity, it allows them to be good players.“He instils a lot of confidence in those around him with his philosophy, his strategy and his detail.“It gives the younger guys in the squad a winning habit, and that’s important with the challenges ahead, especially leading into the World Cup.“We’ve got to harness that confidence and belief in that build-up now, to give ourselves every chance.”

SecretFly wrote:Euphemistic way of saying "You don't call us, we'll call you"?

Ah only kidding.  But that's his homework?  Well why are some of these players allegedly resisting this criminally complex homework?

Keep fit - ie, 20 to 30% fitter than the incumbents.

Its 20-30% better than the encumbents is how you get onto the team.

His work ons is to ''Stay fit and Joe will be watching them''.

Felix doesn't have to improve, he has just to be 20-30% better than Kearney and then he might get a look in.

Reading the subtext its clear what POC really meant was he wishes Joe was sacked, Zebo should have started and he would leave his wife for twink in a heartbeat.....I think.

Suprised the real reason for Zebos exclusion hasnt been discussed- Sin a man as in the know as you are surely knows the truth around what happened between zebo and coaches?

Feagh McHugh wrote:Correct Sin - it was POC he also went on to say this

“I’ve been going to Paris since I was 22 and that’s my first win,” said O’Connell, already eyeing next autumn’s World Cup in England.“Joe’s had a massive impact, no doubt.“It was a poor, disappointing, frustrating season last year, albeit injury-plagued as well.“He’s brought what you’d hear Leinster players saying for the last few years.“He’s brought real clarity, a very effective way of rucking, and people are in no doubt of their role.“I just think when you have a good team and you can give players that kind of clarity, it allows them to be good players.“He instils a lot of confidence in those around him with his philosophy, his strategy and his detail.“It gives the younger guys in the squad a winning habit, and that’s important with the challenges ahead, especially leading into the World Cup.“We’ve got to harness that confidence and belief in that build-up now, to give ourselves every chance.”

That reads to me like POC is looking on at the coaching of the rest of the team and how they respond to his coaching. Since most of them are Leinster players, its not surprising that they are responding well to Joe's methods.

Just for the record, POC has actually gone to Paris 5 times, and he has 1 win there and 1 Draw there.

Feagh McHugh wrote:Reading the subtext its clear what POC really meant was he wishes Joe was sacked, Zebo should have started and he would leave his wife for twink in a heartbeat.....I think.

Suprised the real reason for Zebos exclusion hasnt been discussed- Sin  a man as in the know as you are surely knows the truth around what happened between zebo and coaches?

I've heard about Joe taking a strop at Zebo for saying he couldn't stay to talk to him when he met him in the carpark going somewhere.

I didn't hear he had any problems with other coaches.

Sin é wrote:

Feagh McHugh wrote:Reading the subtext its clear what POC really meant was he wishes Joe was sacked, Zebo should have started and he would leave his wife for twink in a heartbeat.....I think.

Suprised the real reason for Zebos exclusion hasnt been discussed- Sin  a man as in the know as you are surely knows the truth around what happened between zebo and coaches?

I've heard about Joe taking a strop at Zebo for saying he couldn't stay to talk to him when he met him in the carpark going somewhere.

I didn't hear he had any problems with other coaches.

Well you say joe's strop, in reality it was, in the first instance, inappropriate from Zebo and then utterly disrespectful.  He did himself no favors. But he is young and will react in the right way. Think Pennys subsequent comments were about trying to spur Zebo on which is good for Penny Zebo and Ireland.

There is also a bit more to it but not going to mention it here.

Sin POC, Johne Murphy and Keith Earls clearly have a bromance with Joe.

Come on you dour sod climb aboard the joe show and feel the love.

While it might have been a bit casual on Zebo's part, I think its poor that Schmidt has let it develop into such a divisive situation. The coach is not bigger than the team. Joe is meant to be the grown-up here. He should act like it.

Sin é wrote:While it might have been a bit casual on Zebo's part, I think its poor that Schmidt has let it develop into such a divisive situation. The coach is not bigger than the team. Joe is meant to be the grown-up here. He should act like it.

I'm sorry, but why should Schmidt have to take disrespect from his players? We don't want a pushover, we want a coach who demands results and who will not take any sh1t from his squad. Good on him for setting an example for his players, it is up to them to do their homework, show some respect to the green jersey and break into the team.

I would hate to see Zebo mess up this opportunity, because he is super talented. He needs to wise up, keep the head down and score tries. I have no doubt Schmidt will select him if he can prove himself. If he is going to act like a twit then he only has himself to blame.

Sin é wrote:While it might have been a bit casual on Zebo's part, I think its poor that Schmidt has let it develop into such a divisive situation. The coach is not bigger than the team. Joe is meant to be the grown-up here. He should act like it.

It was dealt with and zebo was included in subsequent training squads, he will have his turn in the summer with Ireland.
A section of Munster fans are making this an issue (without the facts) and there isnt much joe can do about that unless he hangs zebo out to dry.
But as is a coaches job, he protects his players.

In reality the whole experience will make Zebo older wiser and in all probability a better player.

The coach is bigger than the players he chooses... as he chooses.

So?????????????????? Secrets Sin?

You DO know some of the details afterall??? Share them.... in more detail? Carpark deepthroat brush-offs? Now this is a first for me. This is interesting.

All Joes's Men

Elaborate. Don't be keeping these Munster secrets secret...like a few more secrets that I got wind of a few years ago that seem to have been kept oh so quiet.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

Sin é wrote:While it might have been a bit casual on Zebo's part, I think its poor that Schmidt has let it develop into such a divisive situation. The coach is not bigger than the team. Joe is meant to be the grown-up here. He should act like it.

I'm sorry, but why should Schmidt have to take disrespect from his players?  We don't want a pushover, we want a coach who demands results and who will not take any sh1t from his squad.  Good on him for setting an example for his players, it is up to them to do their homework, show some respect to the green jersey and break into the team.

I would hate to see Zebo mess up this opportunity, because he is super talented.  He needs to wise up, keep the head down and score tries.  I have no doubt Schmidt will select him if he can prove himself.  If he is going to act like a twit then he only has himself to blame.

He has been keeping his head down, and he has been scoring tries for Munster. He has been Red Carded for the 6Ns. What has he to do to get back into Joe's good books. Lick his boots? This is just going on far too long for the offence (and it is a loss to Ireland).