The Official Irish Provinces Rugby Thread

[Notch]

First topic message reminder :

Fans of Ulster, Leinster, Munster and Connacht unite! A place is here to talk of your teams.

Discuss the Pro12 run-in, the provinces prospects in Europe next season, the tour to Argentina and why we're generally just the best. I mean, just how great are we? Lets talk about that.

But mainly whatever feckin' thing comes into your head!

[Mickado]

Pretty amazing that only 1 Munster player has won Player of the Year in the last 10 years (and thats POC in 2005).

Is it really that surprising?

Let me play you a song...

Spoiler:

[Notch]

Its a lulster love in most of the time....

Hey, it's your boys who keep voting for them!

I'd say that last year Nick Williams was drawing on some considerable good will from his former teammates, who will have been pleased to see him find the form he hinted at for Munster but never realised.

And it's the guys from Connacht, Leinster and Munster who have voted for Trimble. As far as I know teammates can't vote for each other.

[Notch]

Yeah I don't like seeing intercepts selected as try of the year either. Thats my only gripe.

I think Andrew Trimble is very deserving of the big award but wouldn't have minded if it was O'Mahony either. Bit of a dream season for Trimble; outstanding in the Heineken Cup, Six Nations medal, Ulster Awards hat trick (has that been done before?), IRUPA Player of the Year... he probably just wishes there was a Lions tour this summer and not in three years!

[rodders]

I think Trimble should have won it last year too. In fact he was even more impressive last year than this.

Try of the season should have been Luke Marshalls against the blues.

[Mickado]

Pick any of Leinster's tries against Northampton. They're all top top.

But they've obviously gone for the emotional one, the one where we all started to believe. I suppose I'll never forget seeing him haring down the line unopposed, it's the type of thing you'd be boring your kids / young relatives about when they're in their teenagers... had we won

[ME-109]

We didnt move on...

[Portnoy's Complaint]

We didnt move on...

I PMed you ME, but you apparently don't accept PMs.

So I'll come out of the closet and speak openly. Here's my PM

Howdy, DOD.

I like your independently-voiced posts. Always have.

Just thought I'd touch base and say hello (as I promised, but forgot to last week).

***

*** = real name deleted

[ME-109]

We didnt move on...

I PMed you ME, but you apparently don't accept PMs.

So I'll come out of the closet and speak openly. Here's my PM

Howdy, DOD.

I like your independently-voiced posts. Always have.

Just thought I'd touch base and say hello (as I promised, but forgot to last week).

***

*** = real name deleted

Cheers PC...sorry had visitors and got caught up...glad to see your back after a little sabbatical...no I dont accept PMs usually.. leads to too many personal attacks...prefer to keep them in the open   

Always good to have some balanced views on here (its such a rarity)...I will keep to the er...unbalanced ones myself..

[Notch]

If someone does PM you abuse, just report them to the mods. We have no other way of knowing.

[Golden]

Heard an interview with BOD saying he would be interested in staying on with Leinster in a coaching position if they thought he could add something.

[Pete330v2]

We didnt move on...

I PMed you ME, but you apparently don't accept PMs.

So I'll come out of the closet and speak openly. Here's my PM

Howdy, DOD.

I like your independently-voiced posts. Always have.

Just thought I'd touch base and say hello (as I promised, but forgot to last week).

***

*** = real name deleted

OK PC, you must be a Tim or Tom, Jim or Jon. Sam perhaps????

[Portnoy's Complaint]

Redacted info I'm afraid, Pete.
We don't want another Leveson Inquiry do we?

But none of the above.  

[Kingshu]

I've read that Connacht's wage budget for last year and this year is £3.5 million, Does anyone know if this is true?

If true it puts Connacht onto a level playing field with the 4 Welsh regions. Making their aim of a being a top 6 team fairly realistic.

[Notch]

Kingshu the Welsh Unions refusal to properly fund their regions is a massive problem for us... if the regions can't attract an audience or provide decent competition it damages the league. I wish Connacht well in their quest to make the Top 6 but the uncompetitiveness of the regions is a growing concern.

[Portnoy's Complaint]

Seems to me that the regions can't attract any sizeable support because WRU was forced into panic mode a decade or so back to set up a franchise structure which was at odds with its long and glorious club/league history.

Only now are the chickens coming home to roost.

Giveaway broadcasts rights sponsored by by WRU haven't helped. But primarily the Welsh public never appear to have bought into the manufactured productette.

[Kingshu]

I was going to touch on that as well, but was worried it would seam to be putting the regions down.

For a competitive league we need the regions to be more competitive, if they continue on the course they are on the league as a whole will suffer.

Over the years regional attendances have been increasing, but I would be surprised if they have not decreased this year.

TBH if you were a Welsh fan and your team looked to be being left behind by Connacht you would grow very disinterested.

on another not there were rumours the FIR would replace Treviso with a union owed team, with them losing a lot of their top players is there any substance to this?

[LeinsterFan4life]

Treviso have already lost most of their top players. Hopefully it isn't true as Treviso have built up a decent core of supporters and even manage to bring some away fans from time to time.

It would be a disaster if a new Italian franchise was getting a similar crowd to the one Zebre is getting.

[Jenifer McLadyboy]

Lads. Treviso signed up to the Pro12 for 4 years last Monday. at 4M juros a year from FIR.

All that shyte about them leaving was just some lost in translation stuff from google translate.

all the PRL apologists on here made a bit of a meal of it at the time.

[Notch]

Seems to me that the regions can't attract any sizeable support because WRU was forced into panic mode a decade or so back to set up a franchise structure which was at odds with its long and glorious club/league history.

Only now are the chickens coming home to roost.

Giveaway broadcasts rights sponsored by by WRU haven't helped. But primarily the Welsh public never appear to have bought into the manufactured productette

Indeed. It's akin to Ireland at the start of professionalism making Cork Con a super-club and then expecting the Limerick sides to row in behind them as fans and feeder clubs. The fact that the franchises have been so closely associated with former clubs was a disaster, and it does affect us- we need a high-quality league as a proving ground. Zebre continue to tread water, as do Edinburgh, Treviso had several years of great progress which has utterly collapsed backwards in just one year and they look set to finish last. The squeeze on the regions hurts them every year. So we have five teams going backwards, two bottom half sides flatlining and the two big Irish provinces maintaining their standards at the top. Only the growing strength of Glasgow and Ulster is good news for the Pro12 over the past few years. They are the only two sides that are actually better than they were a few years ago.

[Notch]

But hey! Giovanni Trappatoni is a closet Irish Rugby fan;

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/irish/2014/0509/616356-trapattoni/

[thebandwagonsociety]

Is MOC and his conservative game plans and regressive offense going to negatively impact the national side in the coming seasons?

[ME-109]

Thats a bit precious no? It might make a difference to Leinster but with St Joe doing things his way I wouldnt expect it to affect the national side.

[ME-109]

Anyone watching the Racing Toulouse game tonight?

[Jenifer McLadyboy]

Arrrr Dekko. G'wan Jonny!

[ME-109]

Arrrr Dekko. G'wan Jonny!

Crikey Jen you ok? Do you need a doctor or something?

Good win from Racing there. Perfect kicking from Johnny...they are getting their moneys worth. Cant say much about their game plan, 10 man rugby...wouldnt bet against them with the two laurents in charge..

[LeinsterFan4life]

One of the biggest upsets ever! A French team won AWAY from home!

[ME-109]

The game against Toulon is next in Lille I think from the commentary....will be interesting.

Some of the penalties given away by leroux were completely stupid....

[profitius]

Posters on planet rugby saying Munster have signed a center. No names mentioned but the poster said he is signed "as a center" and hasn't been capped before.

[ME-109]

Have seen the rumours...no names yet though

[profitius]

I'm not expecting a big name but a good super rugby level player would be nice.

[Jenifer McLadyboy]

As well as Andrew Smith? Wow. Must be the cork con mafia affect. 2 x niq centres?

[Golden]

http://balls.ie/rugby/video-ronan-ogara-isa-nacewa-star-bizarre-puppet-advert/

  

Great accents lads.......

[Notch]

I think if Racing had lost that then Sexton would have toured but as he is involved in the playoffs, they may decide he needs the time off more (especially if Racing win their semi)

He won't like that, being the cranky ultra-competitive man that he is. But I think it would be the right call.

[Golden]

I heard Fritz was knocked out during the game and Toulouse sent him back on. Disgraceful if true. Dont they know BOD has that move trade marked?

These incidents really are terrible especially after all the serious concussion incidents have come out over the last couple of years.

Anyone see the game?

[Brendan]

Seems to me that the regions can't attract any sizeable support because WRU was forced into panic mode a decade or so back to set up a franchise structure which was at odds with its long and glorious club/league history.

Only now are the chickens coming home to roost.

Giveaway broadcasts rights sponsored by by WRU haven't helped. But primarily the Welsh public never appear to have bought into the manufactured productette

Indeed. It's akin to Ireland at the start of professionalism making Cork Con a super-club and then expecting the Limerick sides to row in behind them as fans and feeder clubs. The fact that the franchises have been so closely associated with former clubs was a disaster, and it does affect us- we need a high-quality league as a proving ground. Zebre continue to tread water, as do Edinburgh, Treviso had several years of great progress which has utterly collapsed backwards in just one year and they look set to finish last. The squeeze on the regions hurts them every year. So we have five teams going backwards, two bottom half sides flatlining and the two big Irish provinces maintaining their standards at the top. Only the growing strength of Glasgow and Ulster is good news for the Pro12 over the past few years. They are the only two sides that are actually better than they were a few years ago.

I cant say agreed with this as it looks at it in isolation not in a european context.
munster and leinster are still top european teams so no change there.
Ulster has improved to also be among the top european sides.
Glasgow have improved in the league and if a euro group could have all Rabo teams they'd do better. This year showed they still need a bit of experince in europe to progress.
Os scarlets and blues have stayed the same in europe but have been passed out in the league
Connacht and Edinburgh are getting better in league and europe but are weak mentaly so can fall apart which makes them look terrible
Dragons Treviso are around what they were though Dargons are improved on last year while treviso are not
We sometimes forget how much Zebre have improved this year but there is one telling sign is most wins have come against welsh teams

So I think from a league point of view the Welsh are getting worse and the bottom teams are still the bottom teams but the league is getting better against the other two leagues.
you would have to feel that Connacht and Edinburgh and Blues will really fancy their chances in teir two cup.

[Notch]

Golden, here's the incident;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdNQQFm5tdo&app=desktop

Can't believe they put him back on the pitch. Absolutely crazy.

[Golden]

Cheers Notch.

Yikes thats horrific. Dare I say someone should lose their job over that.

Clermont lose their unbelievable 77 consecutive home wins record to Castres

[profitius]

It looks like Tyler Bleyendaal is the new signing.

[The Great Aukster]

So is that the official stamp that neither Keatley nor Hanrahan are good enough?

[Notch]

Maybe Hanrahan is moving to 12... we can but hope! I'd love to see him get a run at 12.

The Munster faithful won't be happy with signing average super rugby players.

[ME-109]

It looks like Tyler Bleyendaal is the new signing.

Signed as a centre not outhalf, will provide some cover there as well. Will be interesting to see how he and Smith go together.

[Sin é]

So is that the official stamp that neither Keatley nor Hanrahan are good enough?

How do you make that out? Keatley was shortlisted for Munster Player of the Year (which Conor Murray won).
JJ is Munster's Young Player of the Year.

[rodders]

So is that the official stamp that neither Keatley nor Hanrahan are good enough?

How do you make that out? Keatley was shortlisted for Munster Player of the Year (which Conor Murray won).
JJ is Munster's Young Player of the Year.

Well Penney was Rabo coach of the year and they replace him so .....

[Sin é]

So is that the official stamp that neither Keatley nor Hanrahan are good enough?

How do you make that out? Keatley was shortlisted for Munster Player of the Year (which Conor Murray won).
JJ is Munster's Young Player of the Year.

Well Penney was Rabo coach of the year and they replace him so .....

Munster Rugby didn't vote Penney coach of the year (though I do think he is a very good coach).

[rodders]

Who did they vote for?

[MunsterMac]

Munster Rugby didn't vote Penney coach of the year (though I do think he is a very good coach).

I'm not so sure.

Realistically our passing, handling and back play is as poor now as it was 2 years ago.

It occurred to me Saturday night that if there'a a sharp, incisive approach that can be taken to a move or a cumbersome, blunt one Munster always seem to manage the latter.

And a lot of the young players that have come through under Penny in the last 2 years would have come through regardless of who was in charge.

Like I said I'm not sure what Penny's legacy will be to be honest.

[Sin é]

Who did they vote for?

It was Pro12 coach of the year, not Munster coach of the year.

I presume it was journalists from all countries involved plus other coaches who selected him as coach of the year. Usually, you can't vote for your own.

[Notch]

In terms of Penney, I think he is an excellent coach but I was very surprised that at the weekend he didn't target Ulster were they were weak.

Our back three was left untested in terms of their positional sense in the back field. Our defence was well organised and the wingers played their part but they were right up in the line most of the time... Munsters second try came out of some chaos with Ulster failing to clean up a loose ball that we really should have.

Our pack was very makeshift, a lot of guys who haven't played together much this season, I would have thought that they would have looked to maul them a lot more as maybe there would be a bit of disorganisation in our defence of the maul- especially once we were deprived of the bulk of Nick Williams.

The fault of Munster not winning was down to poor execution more than anything else, and individuals just not fronting up, but they could have tried some different things to exploit a weakened Ulster team. The more we realised we were able to contain them when they were trying to move the ball across the pitch the more Ulster grew in confidence.

Harsh to judge Penney on one game, I think he's an excellent coach and to be fair he has a different, more balanced game that Munster seem to save for when it really matters but sometimes his tactics don't work as well as they could.

[ME-109]

No disrespect to Ulster Notch but last Saturday was all about the players inabilities and not the coach.

[MunsterMac]

last Saturday was all about the players inabilities and not the coach.

I'm sorry but IMO that just isn't true.

When a team goes out and plays like that especially given the previous sub-standard performances the coaches have to take a large part of the blame.

Any playing staff will consist of a number of players who are intelligent, not so intelligent, self-motivated, passive, hyper, subdued, educated, not educated etc etc.

It's up to the coaching staff to take those players and prepare them as best they can for what they'll face as professional sports men.

Yes the players have to be accountable but so do the coaches.

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