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.”

rodders wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:If Ireland win their group by beating Italy and france which is what we did this year then we play the runner up in NZ and Argentina's group which will be Agrentina. If we win that we play England in the semis. We have shown this year that we arent that far from beating England in Twickers so I think all in all we have a very good chance of getting to a final.

Yup and if we get there we'll win it - quote me on it next year. We could well be heading in as back to back 6N champions and top 4 in the IRB so there's every reason to be confident. Joe is a master at KO competitions so we will be the darkest of dark horses next season.

Baby steps first - get some depth built in Argentina and a clean sweep in the Autumn.

Believe.

Cant see us winning the six nations next year. We have the players to do it but winning two in a row is a massive mental hurdle to climb. As Joe said on Second Captians Live on Wednesday "if we play in next years championship like we did this year we will come third at best". His point was that you cannot afford to consolidate what you have got, you must continue to improve all the time. He has a great attitude and work ethic as a coach but the competition being so strong in the 6 nations it will come down to the wire so we will probably need to ride our luck.

That said he did win two in a row in the heineken cup with Leinster.

rodders wrote:

Sin é wrote:

rodders wrote:I'll tell you who poppy boy could learn from - non other than Dougie Howlett - who forced his way back into the NZ team ahead of younger, faster better attacking players with his superior defence and work rate.

Yea, he had to stop scoring tries for the Blues to get a look in for the Blues when Joe was coach.

His average was 1 try a game before Joe, with Joe it dropped to 1 every 2nd game.   

Funnily enough, his average stayed at 1 a game when playing for the ABs in the same period.

Of course the ABs won all round them. The Blues were Poopie.

That's because Joe taught him to defend, ruck and chase kicks, which is a good thing for you guys as his career would have been over at 28 when he lost his sprinters pace, otherwise.

Jebus, even at 50, Dougie would look like Shergar in a donkey derby in the most recent Ireland backline.

GunsGerms wrote:

rodders wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:If Ireland win their group by beating Italy and france which is what we did this year then we play the runner up in NZ and Argentina's group which will be Agrentina. If we win that we play England in the semis. We have shown this year that we arent that far from beating England in Twickers so I think all in all we have a very good chance of getting to a final.

Yup and if we get there we'll win it - quote me on it next year. We could well be heading in as back to back 6N champions and top 4 in the IRB so there's every reason to be confident. Joe is a master at KO competitions so we will be the darkest of dark horses next season.

Baby steps first - get some depth built in Argentina and a clean sweep in the Autumn.

Believe.

Cant see us winning the six nations next year. We have the players to do it but winning two in a row is a massive mental hurdle to climb. As Joe said on Second Captians Live on Wednesday "if we play in next years championship like we did this year we will come third at best". His point was that you cannot afford to consolidate what you have got, you must continue to improve all the time. He has a great attitude and work ethic as a coach but the competition being so strong in the 6 nations it will come down to the wire so we will probably need to ride our luck.

That said he did win two in a row in the heineken cup with Leinster.

So we won't be seeing too much of the present backs then next year? Let them enjoy their moment of glory then. They have just been binned.

How do you come to that conclusion?

Sin é wrote:

rodders wrote:

Sin é wrote:

rodders wrote:I'll tell you who poppy boy could learn from - non other than Dougie Howlett - who forced his way back into the NZ team ahead of younger, faster better attacking players with his superior defence and work rate.

Yea, he had to stop scoring tries for the Blues to get a look in for the Blues when Joe was coach.

His average was 1 try a game before Joe, with Joe it dropped to 1 every 2nd game.   

Funnily enough, his average stayed at 1 a game when playing for the ABs in the same period.

Of course the ABs won all round them. The Blues were Poopie.

That's because Joe taught him to defend, ruck and chase kicks, which is a good thing for you guys as his career would have been over at 28 when he lost his sprinters pace, otherwise.

Jebus, even at 50, Dougie would look like Shergar in a donkey derby in the most recent Ireland backline.

  

GunsGerms wrote:

rodders wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:If Ireland win their group by beating Italy and france which is what we did this year then we play the runner up in NZ and Argentina's group which will be Agrentina. If we win that we play England in the semis. We have shown this year that we arent that far from beating England in Twickers so I think all in all we have a very good chance of getting to a final.

Yup and if we get there we'll win it - quote me on it next year. We could well be heading in as back to back 6N champions and top 4 in the IRB so there's every reason to be confident. Joe is a master at KO competitions so we will be the darkest of dark horses next season.

Baby steps first - get some depth built in Argentina and a clean sweep in the Autumn.

Believe.

Cant see us winning the six nations next year. We have the players to do it but winning two in a row is a massive mental hurdle to climb. As Joe said on Second Captians Live on Wednesday "if we play in next years championship like we did this year we will come third at best". His point was that you cannot afford to consolidate what you have got, you must continue to improve all the time. He has a great attitude and work ethic as a coach but the competition being so strong in the 6 nations it will come down to the wire so we will probably need to ride our luck.

That said he did win two in a row in the heineken cup with Leinster.

Jeez guns don't you have an original thought in your head? That's exactly what js said on secondcaptainslive...

GunsGerms wrote:How do you come to that conclusion?

The recent Ireland backline is just way too slow (from 11 out - Sexton & Murray are fast for halfbacks). Not enough guile in it.

Just think of what Brown contributed to England and they will get better as well.

ME-109 wrote:

Guns wrote:

Cant see us winning the six nations next year. We have the players to do it but winning two in a row is a massive mental hurdle to climb. As Joe said on Second Captians Live on Wednesday "if we play in next years championship like we did this year we will come third at best". His point was that you cannot afford to consolidate what you have got, you must continue to improve all the time. He has a great attitude and work ethic as a coach but the competition being so strong in the 6 nations it will come down to the wire so we will probably need to ride our luck.

That said he did win two in a row in the heineken cup with Leinster.

Jeez guns don't you have an original thought in your head? That's exactly what js said on secondcaptainslive...

Dod you are a laugh a minute. If what I said resembles what Schmidt said on Second captains that because it was what he said as I stated in my post. Doh   embarassed for you!!

16 tries suggests the wings were never meant to be the whizz boy try scorers.  As if they were misfiring on a Joe set-piece plan that had them down as the scorers, then things would have been much more gloomy by the end of the campaign.  

But if opposition teams expect that's where the tries would be coming from, then that's a nice time to have a completely different plan ready for them.
How many of our tries came from forwards?

Maybe that's another issue with ambitious Wings?  "You want me to pretend I'm there for scoring wonder tries but instead help out the plan to give more of the tries to forward ass****s???  Have you no shame, Joe?  I can't be contained, man!  I need to score tries!!"

Sin é wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:How do you come to that conclusion?

The recent Ireland backline is just way too slow (from 11 out - Sexton & Murray are fast for halfbacks). Not enough guile in it.

Just think of what Brown contributed to England and they will get better as well.

Funny how our backs scored more tries (9) than Ireland scored in total last year (6).

SecretFly wrote:16 tries suggests the wings were never meant to be the whizz boy try scorers.  As if they were misfiring on a Joe set-piece plan that had them down as the scorers, then things would have been much more gloomy by the end of the campaign.  

But if opposition teams expect that's where the tries would be coming from, then that's a nice time to have a completely different plan ready for them.
How many of our tries came from forwards?

Maybe that's another issue with ambitious Wings?  "You want me to pretend I'm there for scoring wonder tries but instead help out the plan to give more of the tries to forward ass****s???  Have you no shame, Joe?  I can't be contained, man!  I need to score tries!!"

I don't think the opposition would be worried about trys coming from outwide some or other.

Problem though with Joe bash them up the middle plan, the team take more of a beating. Easier on the team if you can run tries in using guile and pace rather than beat your way over the line.

GunsGerms wrote:

Sin é wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:How do you come to that conclusion?

The recent Ireland backline is just way too slow (from 11 out - Sexton & Murray are fast for halfbacks). Not enough guile in it.

Just think of what Brown contributed to England and they will get better as well.

Funny how our backs scored more tries (9) than Ireland scored in total last year (6).

Yea, it was a mistake having Peter O'Mahony on the wing against Italy.

Sin é wrote:
I don't think the opposition would be worried about trys coming from outwide some or other.

Problem though with Joe bash them up the middle plan, the team take more of a beating. Easier on the team if you can run tries in using guile and pace rather than beat your way over the line.

Trimble was 2nd top try scorer in the 6 nations, Mcfadden also scored. Close to a third of our tries came from wingers.

The team take way less of a beating under Schmidt that Kidney. Is it any surprise we amassed approx 15 injuries last year during the six nations as opposed to practically none this year?

Sin é wrote:
Yea, it was a mistake having Peter O'Mahony on the wing against Italy.

Thats Kidney for you.

GunsGerms wrote:

ME-109 wrote:

Guns wrote:

Cant see us winning the six nations next year. We have the players to do it but winning two in a row is a massive mental hurdle to climb. As Joe said on Second Captians Live on Wednesday "if we play in next years championship like we did this year we will come third at best". His point was that you cannot afford to consolidate what you have got, you must continue to improve all the time. He has a great attitude and work ethic as a coach but the competition being so strong in the 6 nations it will come down to the wire so we will probably need to ride our luck.

That said he did win two in a row in the heineken cup with Leinster.

Jeez guns don't you have an original thought in your head? That's exactly what js said on secondcaptainslive...

Dod you are a laugh a minute. If what I said resembles what Schmidt said on Second captains that because it was what he said as I stated in my post. Doh   embarassed for you!!

Nah dont worry about me...just goes to show how little attention I pay to your posts....did you leak a little wee when he was on the other night...you must have been bleating like mad...  

Sin é wrote:

SecretFly wrote:16 tries suggests the wings were never meant to be the whizz boy try scorers.  As if they were misfiring on a Joe set-piece plan that had them down as the scorers, then things would have been much more gloomy by the end of the campaign.  

But if opposition teams expect that's where the tries would be coming from, then that's a nice time to have a completely different plan ready for them.
How many of our tries came from forwards?

Maybe that's another issue with ambitious Wings?  "You want me to pretend I'm there for scoring wonder tries but instead help out the plan to give more of the tries to forward ass****s???  Have you no shame, Joe?  I can't be contained, man!  I need to score tries!!"

I don't think the opposition would be worried about trys coming from outwide some or other.

Problem though with Joe bash them up the middle plan, the team take more of a beating. Easier on the team if you can run tries in using guile and pace rather than beat your way over the line.

The Munster Way surely? Certainly the traditional version????

Thought Darcy looked very nervous Dod.

GunsGerms wrote:Thought Darcy looked very nervous Dod.

Watching his Ps&Qs just in case he said something he shouldnt. Probably got 100 lines for daring to go on National Television..

This is fun, but I feel like this thread is not part of the same reality I inhabit with some of the things being said. It's so weird.

ME-109 wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:Thought Darcy looked very nervous Dod.

Watching his Ps&Qs just in case he said something he shouldnt. Probably got 100 lines for daring to go on National Television..

Or he is just a shy guy?

You would swear Schmidt was Adolf Hitler the way you go on about him. He just expects high standards which is a good thing.

Sin é wrote:

SecretFly wrote:16 tries suggests the wings were never meant to be the whizz boy try scorers.  As if they were misfiring on a Joe set-piece plan that had them down as the scorers, then things would have been much more gloomy by the end of the campaign.  

But if opposition teams expect that's where the tries would be coming from, then that's a nice time to have a completely different plan ready for them.
How many of our tries came from forwards?

Maybe that's another issue with ambitious Wings?  "You want me to pretend I'm there for scoring wonder tries but instead help out the plan to give more of the tries to forward ass****s???  Have you no shame, Joe?  I can't be contained, man!  I need to score tries!!"

I don't think the opposition would be worried about trys coming from outwide some or other.

Problem though with Joe bash them up the middle plan, the team take more of a beating. Easier on the team if you can run tries in using guile and pace rather than beat your way over the line.

England outmuscled us in the last quarter same as last year because we lacked guile and pace which is why we beat them previously in Twickers. The game against SA will show if we have progressed as they just squashed us previously and will show if we are capable of advancing further in the World Cup which Rodders seems to think we have won already.

GunsGerms wrote:

ME-109 wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:Thought Darcy looked very nervous Dod.

Watching his Ps&Qs just in case he said something he shouldnt. Probably got 100 lines for daring to go on National Television..

Or he is just a shy guy?

You would swear Schmidt was Adolf Hitler the way you go on about him. He just expects high standards which is a good thing.

The Gordon Darcy who a number of years ago would make Mr Zebo blush with his antics?

Anyhow thats an insult to Adolf.

Notch wrote:This is fun, but I feel like this thread is not part of the same reality I inhabit with some of the things being said. It's so weird.

You clearly lead a sheltered existence...

What did Darcy do? No need to make things up Dod.

Please explain what you mean by guile? I understand it to mean crafty which is exactly what Ireland were in the six nations based on the variety of their moves and ability to keep the opposition guessing.

As for pace our best winger Tommy Bowe is probably our slowest. Pace isnt everything.

GunsGerms wrote:What did Darcy do? No need to make things up Dod. Please explain what you mean by guile? I understand it to mean crafty which is exactly what Ireland were in the six nations based on the variety of their moves and ability to keep the opposition guessing.

As for pace our best winger Tommy Bowe is probably our slowest. Pace isnt everything.

Guile - Trickery, craftiness, cunning, cleverness....as in "Irelands backline lacked guile when attempting to breakdown the English defence"

or

Irelands backline lacked guile and pace when attempting to breakdown the English Defence.

You don't pick two centres in their mid 30's if your goal is to score out wide.

Not sure why anyone is remotely surprised because it is exactly how Leinster played under Joe.

I think he's a genius - attack France around the ruck were they are lazy. Kick the ball to the Wales back 3 because they play a blitz and the wingers can't catch.

You attack teams based on were they are weak - not based on what looks best to the supporters.

This thread is hot with innuendo and intrigue! The most useful thread for getting to the bottom of some long told never mentioned unkown stories.

Another heavy breather player (D'Arcy) is added to the list of "What I know about him, I ain't sayin'...but I know, that's all I'm sayin', which I won't be talkin'about."

I'll add another name then - Stringer.

SecretFly wrote:This thread is hot with innuendo and intrigue!  The most useful thread for getting to the bottom of some long told never mentioned unkown stories.  

Another heavy breather player (D'Arcy) is added to the list of "What I know about him, I ain't sayin'...but I know, that's all I'm sayin', which I won't be talkin'about."

I'll add another name then - Stringer.

How about Dreyfuss. Now thats a good name for innuendo and conspiracy theories.

ME-109 wrote:

Notch wrote:This is fun, but I feel like this thread is not part of the same reality I inhabit with some of the things being said. It's so weird.

You clearly lead a sheltered existence...

I hope Ireland win lots of trophies so the All Blacks come calling and we get rid of Joe Schmidt quicker? Ireland are playing a bash it up the middle game plan? Joe Schmidt rules by fear?

It's the Sin E comedy hour and none of this is what normal rugby fans are thinking.

ME-109 wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:What did Darcy do? No need to make things up Dod. Please explain what you mean by guile? I understand it to mean crafty which is exactly what Ireland were in the six nations based on the variety of their moves and ability to keep the opposition guessing.

As for pace our best winger Tommy Bowe is probably our slowest. Pace isnt everything.

Guile - Trickery, craftiness, cunning, cleverness....as in "Irelands backline lacked guile when attempting to breakdown the English defence"

or

Irelands backline lacked guile and pace when attempting to breakdown the English Defence.

Two inaccurate statements re the England game as Ireland showed a lot of guile for the Kearney try both in the intricacy of the move and they subtle blocking from POC.

In attempting to unlock the England defense earlier ireland used a move where they pretended to set up a maul but instead launched a crossfield kick to Kearney again tricking the England defense.

These are two examples of guile, the execution off in one of them.

Dod sometimes it really seems you dont think before you post.

rodders wrote:You don't pick two centres in their mid 30's if your goal is to score out wide.

Not sure why anyone is remotely surprised because it is exactly how Leinster played under Joe.

I think he's a genius - attack France around the ruck were they are lazy. Kick the ball to the Wales back 3 because they play a blitz and the wingers can't catch.

You attack teams based on were they are weak - not based on what looks best to the supporters.

100% Rodders. different tactics for each game. Masterclass from Schmidt.

We're all happy because we now have an Ireland team that look incredibly well-drilled, there seems to be universal approval for the coach and his methods from players from all provinces, we're playing attractive rugby which is full of guile, invention and skill and we've just won a Championship. By beating France in Paris!

So things are pretty great right now. Which is why this is so surreal.

GunsGerms wrote:

ME-109 wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:What did Darcy do? No need to make things up Dod. Please explain what you mean by guile? I understand it to mean crafty which is exactly what Ireland were in the six nations based on the variety of their moves and ability to keep the opposition guessing.

As for pace our best winger Tommy Bowe is probably our slowest. Pace isnt everything.

Guile - Trickery, craftiness, cunning, cleverness....as in "Irelands backline lacked guile when attempting to breakdown the English defence"

or

Irelands backline lacked guile and pace when attempting to breakdown the English Defence.

Two inaccurate statements re the England game as Ireland showed a lot of guile for the Kearney try both in the intricacy of the move and they subtle blocking from POC.

In attempting to unlock the England defense earlier ireland used a move where they pretended to set up a maul but instead launched a crossfield kick to Kearney again tricking the England defense.

These are two examples of guile, the execution off in one of them.

Dod sometimes it really seems you dont think before you post.

Wow the only two examples in 80 minutes. Did you see anything in the last 20 (except for average Dave being chased down by a lock). No? We lost the end...lack of guile and pace. whats embarrassing is your man love for Joe. But sure whatever yanks your chain.

Thats more examples than in the entire 6 nations for Ireland last year. There are plently more if you bothered to look.

So why did we lost to England so Guns?

ME-109 wrote:So why did we lost to England so Guns?

Execution from the players wasnt good enough. Small margins. I reckon if it was in Dublin we would have won.

Closing out games is also something we need to work on. That comes down to composure which is something Irish players have often been poor at.

Against this England team at the moment if you dont get everything right in Twickers you will probably lose. The fact that we were in the position to win is very positive.

Okay smart asses.................... give us Schmidt's individual battle plans for the next four sides he's going to meet!

Because nobody but nobody thought Schmidt was going to use a wet game strategy against Wales on a dry field!   

The only problem is that neither did Schmidt - but because his players had practiced for lots of rain he decided to go with it anyway rather than trying to change it at quick notice.

Pragmatism that paid off - not genius at work, I'm afraid.

The man says it (and you know it's true from his body language) that he doubts every gameplan he ever conceives.  

Be careful of overdoing the genius bit.  He'll have disappointments along the way. First one already happened - England were there to be beaten and we let it slip through our fingers. He was asked would he have done anything different during the campaign? He answered: "Beating England"

Reality bites - and let's keep it real for his sake.

GunsGerms wrote:

rodders wrote:You don't pick two centres in their mid 30's if your goal is to score out wide.

Not sure why anyone is remotely surprised because it is exactly how Leinster played under Joe.

I think he's a genius - attack France around the ruck were they are lazy. Kick the ball to the Wales back 3 because they play a blitz and the wingers can't catch.

You attack teams based on were they are weak - not based on what looks best to the supporters.

100% Rodders. different tactics for each game. Masterclass from Schmidt.

Absolutely - it wasn't perfect - perfect would have been the slam and beating Australia and the ABs but we weren't far off at all - it's a game of inches and 12 months ago we were miles away from where we needed to be. The mind boggles how some people either can't or refuse to see the huge progress we have made.

Even under the surface there is a second wave coming - the succession planning for Drico and the aims for the summer and Autumn. You ain't seen nothing yet, that will come in November I believe

GunsGerms wrote:

ME-109 wrote:So why did we lost to England so Guns?

Execution from the players wasnt good enough. Small margins. I reckon if it was in Dublin we would have won.

Not really a specific reason then? Anyhow we will see next year.

I couldnt be any more specific. Schmidt gave the players a game plan but they didnt execute it to perfection. There are lots of examples in the game of this.

GunsGerms wrote:I couldnt be any more specific. Schmidt gave the players a game plan but they didnt execute it to perfection. There are lots of examples in the game of this.

The glaringly obvious one was our inability to breakdown the English defence and not having the players to execute the game plan.

SecretFly wrote:Okay smart asses.................... give us Schmidt's individual battle plans for the next four sides he's going to meet!

Because nobody but nobody thought Schmidt was going to use a wet game strategy against Wales on a dry field!   

Actually a couple of us said exactly what he would do - anyone who watched North and Cuthbert floundering under the high ball the week before knew it was coming. I wouldn't have imagined it would have been anywhere near as effective - particularly the maul - but no way did Joe drop Marshall for D'arcy and plan to run the ball in the 3/4s against Wales. He knew well in advance what he was planning and it was nothing to do with the weather.

Likewise we all said the maul wouldn't work against England and the very first move - which should have been a try - was a dummy maul with Henry peeling off and a cross field kick to Trimble - it would have been genius if we scored it and we almost did.

I think some people are not giving Joe enough credit. He had a game plan for every team and was 99% spot on.

[quote="ME-109"][quote="GunsGerms"][quote="ME-109"]

GunsGerms wrote: (except for average Dave being chased down by a lock).

Can we please call him by his real name - Daverage

To answer your question fly re: tactics: -

Argentina - keep the ball in hand and bash them side to side a la Italy and use our superior fitness late on.

Australia - Scrum, maul, scrum, maul, scrum, maul.

SA - Kick, defend, poach, counterattack.

Georgia - Give the ball to Zebo.

BlueMuff wrote:

ME-109 wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:

ME-109 wrote:

GunsGerms wrote: (except for average Dave being chased down by a lock).

Can we please call him by his real name - Daverage

No need to be such a schoolgirl. I clearly didnt post that.

BlueMuff wrote:

ME-109 wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:

ME-109 wrote:

GunsGerms wrote: (except for average Dave being chased down by a lock).

Can we please call him by his real name - Daverage

Very Naughty BM...  

Schmidt maybe is a genius.  Afterall, everybody knew what his tactics were going to be except the coaches of the sides he played against.

Tharh is something special.

I think Schmidt is a very very good tactician and therefore great for player confidence.  They believe he knows what he's doing, which is much more than half the battle.  He's special in the certainty he brings to his methods.  Players don't doubt that he knows what he's talking about and therefore aren't inclined to go off doing their own thing in sticky situations.  They keep to his designs and that settles them through the iffy times when we'd often more usually collapse under the strain of different players reacting to stress in their own ways and killing any design in the process.

The second ingredient - and most important one - and one of the main reasons he chose to come to Leinster.... is the players themselves.  No, not Leinster ones - Irish ones.  Our temperament - our instincts.  He didn't come to Leinster or Ireland to start at the bottom.  He came because he knew he'd have the players at his disposal that he could hit the ground running with and that would help him realise his own personal ambitions.  He has his own dreams, and the compliment is that he believes Irish players have the ability for him to use them to achieve those personal ambitions.

As many many people began to lose faith in everything in the latter years of Kidney, as people began to bite at Kidney and his techinques or lack of them, his man-management skills rather than his tactical savvy; as defenders of him became more and more hardened to the idea that he was suffering under the strain of losing so many World Class players and had very little to work with in simply sub-standard International material available to him, I kept saying that the players are Not the problem (it doesn't matter who is at 10 or who is at 15 or who is at 8) the players weren't responsible for the often comical performances provided by them.

No - we've always had the players to compete through most of the Provinces.  We certainly have always had the players to compete on a level footing with our NH colleagues.  And as Welsh players were being bathed in excessive rubbish about their superman abilities, I kept saying these guys get beaten week in and week out by Irish players - and often second string Irish players at that.

And when I'd say that I'd get given the other morsel that claimed Provincial class isn't International class - and that whilst Welsh players struggled with Regional class, their true skills came through at International class.

Yes...fine logic...but not on the planet Vulcan.

Irish players have been mocked and laughed at and sneered - often by our own countrymen - and all because we were embarrassed into self-hating submission by the fancy sides with fancy fitness regimes and better coaching panels.

Schmidt - very very good.  But he knows he's in a truely potential hot-seat by virtue of the calibre of players now available to him.  Small pool yes - tough job ahead for him - but like he said on that show a few days ago "Lucky to be in the right place at the right time with the players we have to work with"

The irony in this part of your post is something else : ''Irish players have been mocked and laughed at and sneered - often by our own countrymen - and all because we were embarrassed into self-hating submission by the fancy sides with fancy fitness regimes and better coaching panels.''

Sin é wrote:The irony in this part of your post is something else : ''Irish players have been mocked and laughed at and sneered - often by our own countrymen - and all because we were embarrassed into self-hating submission by the fancy sides with fancy fitness regimes and better coaching panels.''

What is ironic about it?   

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

Sin é wrote:The irony in this part of your post is something else : ''Irish players have been mocked and laughed at and sneered - often by our own countrymen - and all because we were embarrassed into self-hating submission by the fancy sides with fancy fitness regimes and better coaching panels.''

What is ironic about it?   

Fly is lamenting the fact that we don't have to be embarassed or self-hate ourselves any more because we now have a foreign coach to make us feel better about ourselves.