Irish Provinces NEWS & GOSSIP thread 2015-16-17

[Sin é]

First topic message reminder :

What it says in the title - a place to put all bits of news not worth starting a thread for the Four Proud Provinces of Ireland such as new signings, interviews that maybe of interest to others etc.

I've just added on 17 as its not a huge thread.

[Pete330v2]

I can't imagine these young lads, Herron in particular could offer less than an Ian Humphreys who'd pretty much retired at the start of this season or a Sam Windsor who either can't or won't play a bit of rugby.

[The Great Aukster]

Can they offer as much as Ian Humphreys?... Setting the bar impossibly high there Pete!

Ulster seem to becoming a bit of a repository for promising young IQ players on their development journey from across the water - Sean Dougall, Finlay Bealham, Sam Arnold, now McPhillips and Herron...

[Sin é]

I'd imagine some of them want to remain in the British educational system.

[Marshes]

Anyone watching this Connacht Grenoble game? Both teams flinging it about, great game! Matt Healy having a stormer at full back

[Rory_Gallagher]

Yes, Matt Healy is really showing his worth.

[VinceWLB]

Connacht scored some beautiful tries, shame the scoreline doesn't quite reflect that at HT.

[mikey_dragon]

Hard going Connacht - sounds like they were in try-scoring form as always. I'd love to see them go on and win the Pro12 now that they're out of this.

[VinceWLB]

At the end of the day, it's probably a good thing for Connacht to have lost yesterday if they want to do something in the pro 12, remember they aren't even qualified for the semis yet, which would be bitterly disappointing for them to miss out after the season they are having. I do think they would have won if they had send their strongest team yesterday and they wouldn't have feared Quins in the semis but this would have been at the detriment of a pro 12 semis imo, as they have a fairly tough run in and injuries are racking up.

Will be interesting to see how they respond next week against Munster.

[marty2086]

Connacht have been racking up injuries all season and still got results, what is baffling is the insistence on going for the try to win it, I know they didn't have a great 10 available to them but they should have went for the drop goal even if they missed it, its a situation they are likely to find themselves in again before the end of the season so it would have been a good dress rehearsal for them.

Its all well and good sticking to your style of play but you have to be ruthless, its what sets the All Blacks apart and other great teams in the past, when its all on the line they know what they have to do to win.

[Sin é]

They didn't have a 10 - Henshaw was covering there.

[marty2086]

They didn't have a 10 - Henshaw was covering there.

Didn't realise, I knew O'Leary had went off but wasn't sure who replaced him. Maybe they need to sign Parisse to solve that problem

[profitius]

Yes, Matt Healy is really showing his worth.

Only his second game at fullback! Immense performance from him.

[Guest]

Johan Erasmus to step in as Munsters DoR?


MunstersNewDoR?

[profitius]

Johan Erasmus to step in as Munsters DoR?


MunstersNewDoR?

Anyone know anything about him as a coach?

[Pete330v2]

Johan Erasmus to step in as Munsters DoR?


MunstersNewDoR?

Anyone know anything about him as a coach?

Only this:

When the Central Cheetahs were accepted into the Super 14, Erasmus became their first ever coach in 2006.
With the Springboks falling to five losses in a row, some media sources speculated that Erasmus had been sounded out to take over from Jake White, or at least become involved in some form. Erasmus denied that he ever received a call from SA Rugby.

[Guest]

Bit more about Erasmus here:

Erasmus

[Sin é]

Erasmus is to choose between Quins and Munster according to reports today. Papers also saying that Mark Mapletoft from Quins applied for the job as well.

[profitius]

Munster: Simon Zebo; Darren Sweetnam, Francis Saili, Rory Scannell, Keith Earls; Johnny Holland, Conor Murray; James Cronin, Mike Sherry, Stephen Archer; Donnacha Ryan, Billy Holland; CJ Stander - capt., Tommy O'Donnell, Jack O'Donoghue.

Replacements: Niall Scannell, Dave Kilcoyne, John Ryan, Robin Copeland, Jordan Coghlan, Tomás O'Leary, Ian Keatley, Andrew Conway.


I think thats approaching Munsters best available side. Sweetnam, R Scannell, J Holland, JOD are the type of quality players that Munster have not had coming through for a while.

[eirebilly]

My god, Munster's discipline is terrible. Two yellow cards have cost them 2 try's in the last 10 minutes going into half time 20-14 down. All the good work from the first 25 minutes undone by not listening and adapting to the ref.

On the plus side, J Holland is playing very well and is clearly ahead of Keatley now.

[Rory_Gallagher]

Sean O'Brien MkII for Connacht looks like a fantastic prospect. A real nuisance at 6 doing a lot of the donkey work. He has put some big tackles in on prominent Munster ball carriers. He is certainly one to watch.

[eirebilly]

He is something else isn't he Rory, defo one for the future

[eirebilly]

Hope Schmidt is watching and see's just how good Buckley is. He is a turnover machine.

[Rory_Gallagher]

Munster really need to win this game - I can't imagine a European competition without Munster.

[Rory_Gallagher]

Horrible injury to Bundee Aki and a huge loss to this Connacht team.

EDIT: What, is he the Terminator or something??

[eirebilly]

As gutted as I am at Munster's performance, I simply cant help but admire Connacht's performance. Simply better in every aspect of the game.

[Rory_Gallagher]

This is just sad to watch from a Munster perspective. They look totally depleted.

[eirebilly]

Well, all I can say is well done to Connacht, fully deserved victory and first ever double over Munster

Enjoy the win all ye Connacht fans

[Notch]

Finlay Bealham just gets better and better- and Buckley will not be ignored for much longer you sense.

[profitius]

Well done Connacht. Outclassed Munster. The result isn't at all surprising.

[Rory_Gallagher]

We could quite easily see a large Connacht representation in the pack in the not too distant future, if Schmidt were happy to allow such a thing. Buckley, Bealham, Dillane, O'Brien, Masterson, basically any of the back row options for Connacht... they all have serious potential and their best years ahead of them.

What I wouldn't do as an Ulster fan to have a few of those players in our ranks. As Notch already mentioned in the Ulster thread, how on Earth did we let someone like Finlay Bealham slip through the net? Why can't our academies produce and disciple these young players throughout their development?

[eirebilly]

BOD having a little dig at Munster. Some people have to lighten up a little, if Leinster were in the same position as Munster, I would have a dig as well

http://www.balls.ie/rugby/brian-odriscoll-munster-champions-cup/330908

[Artful_Dodger]

Heard that Chris Farrell, formerly of Ulster now playing for Bernard Jackman's Grenoble might be signing for Munster.

[profitius]

We could quite easily see a large Connacht representation in the pack in the not too distant future, if Schmidt were happy to allow such a thing. Buckley, Bealham, Dillane, O'Brien, Masterson, basically any of the back row options for Connacht... they all have serious potential and their best years ahead of them.

Judging by the Ireland u20s, theres more to come so I'd say Connacht will not be a flash in the pan. All they need to do is keep adding a bit of quality every year.

[SecretFly]

BOD having a little dig at Munster. Some people have to lighten up a little, if Leinster were in the same position as Munster, I would have a dig as well

http://www.balls.ie/rugby/brian-odriscoll-munster-champions-cup/330908

True billy. It's good to laugh - even at ourselves. It's liberating.

BUT.... after hearing a few of Brian's twitter-teases in the past, I'm just disappointed that I never remember any of them. He needs better jokes and perhaps a better paid twitterghost writer to write them for him.......................

[eirebilly]

Heard that Chris Farrell, formerly of Ulster now playing for Bernard Jackman's Grenoble might be signing for Munster.

Solid player and maybe Munster would a good team for him.

[marty2086]

Heard that Chris Farrell, formerly of Ulster now playing for Bernard Jackman's Grenoble might be signing for Munster.

Solid player and maybe Munster would a good team for him.

The same article linking him with Munster also linked him with Ulster because Ulster are in dire need of a centre.

Grenoble apparently have offered him a contract until 2019

[Sin é]

BOD having a little dig at Munster. Some people have to lighten up a little, if Leinster were in the same position as Munster, I would have a dig as well

http://www.balls.ie/rugby/brian-odriscoll-munster-champions-cup/330908

Poor from BOD as a former Ireland captain. I just can't see POC making similar digs at Leinster (or any other Munster player to be honest) if in similar circumstances. He is a bit sad these days - he was talking on Off the Ball of trying to get back at Marcus Horan for 18 months for a cheap shot. You'd think he never took any cheap shots himself.

Pathetic from him.

[Notch]

Or it was a jokey bit of slagging and a wind up aimed at the parts of twitter that take everything a bit too seriously.

I'd bet the kind of banter that goes on between the players at an Ireland camp over this sort of thing makes that look positively genteel.

[eirebilly]

BOD having a little dig at Munster. Some people have to lighten up a little, if Leinster were in the same position as Munster, I would have a dig as well

http://www.balls.ie/rugby/brian-odriscoll-munster-champions-cup/330908

Poor from BOD as a former Ireland captain. I just can't see POC making similar digs at Leinster (or any other Munster player to be honest) if in similar circumstances. He is a bit sad these days - he was talking on Off the Ball of trying to get back at Marcus Horan for 18 months for a cheap shot. You'd think he never took any cheap shots himself.

Pathetic from him.

Really don't see it like that Sin é, I see it as a bit of banter and winding up. Just a bit of friendly digging.

[LeinsterFan4life]

BOD having a little dig at Munster. Some people have to lighten up a little, if Leinster were in the same position as Munster, I would have a dig as well

http://www.balls.ie/rugby/brian-odriscoll-munster-champions-cup/330908

Poor from BOD as a former Ireland captain. I just can't see POC making similar digs at Leinster (or any other Munster player to be honest) if in similar circumstances. He is a bit sad these days - he was talking on Off the Ball of trying to get back at Marcus Horan for 18 months for a cheap shot. You'd think he never took any cheap shots himself.

Pathetic from him.

Really don't see it like that Sin é, I see it as a bit of banter and winding up. Just a bit of friendly digging.

The PC that exists in the world today never ceases to amaze me. Everyone is just waiting to be offended by something.

[eirebilly]

I think that Notch may be right when he say's that there would be all sorts of banter like that within the Irish squad.

I am a Munster fan and would have a dig at Leinster fans if they were in the same position so can easily accept it from Leinster fans and at the end of the day, BOD may have been Ireland captain but is also a Leinster fan.

[LeinsterFan4life]

I think that Notch may be right when he say's that there would be all sorts of banter like that within the Irish squad.

I am a Munster fan and would have a dig at Leinster fans if they were in the same position so can easily accept it from Leinster fans and at the end of the day, BOD may have been Ireland captain but is also a Leinster fan.

The Munster players need to hear stuff like this to help get the passion back into the team. It really does pain me to see Munster play like this as I would have grown up watching and supporting them in Europe when they used to give everything for the jersey.

[eirebilly]

I think there is passion in the Munster boys L4FL, just think they are not reaching the potential that are in them. I fully expect them to come back stronger once POM (who is a strong leader) returns to the team.

[Sin é]

BOD having a little dig at Munster. Some people have to lighten up a little, if Leinster were in the same position as Munster, I would have a dig as well

http://www.balls.ie/rugby/brian-odriscoll-munster-champions-cup/330908

Poor from BOD as a former Ireland captain. I just can't see POC making similar digs at Leinster (or any other Munster player to be honest) if in similar circumstances. He is a bit sad these days - he was talking on Off the Ball of trying to get back at Marcus Horan for 18 months for a cheap shot. You'd think he never took any cheap shots himself.

Pathetic from him.

Really don't see it like that Sin é, I see it as a bit of banter and winding up. Just a bit of friendly digging.

The PC that exists in the world today never ceases to amaze me. Everyone is just waiting to be offended by something.

If it was funny, fair enough. But its not. Whats wrong with Bucharest anyway. It couldn't be worse than Swansea or Coventry!

One of the replies to BOD's tweets was funny though - it said that it meant he wouldn't have to look at his smug face on BT.

[Sin é]

I think that Notch may be right when he say's that there would be all sorts of banter like that within the Irish squad.

I am a Munster fan and would have a dig at Leinster fans if they were in the same position so can easily accept it from Leinster fans and at the end of the day, BOD may have been Ireland captain but is also a Leinster fan.

The Munster players need to hear stuff like this to help get the passion back into the team. It really does pain me to see Munster play like this as I would have grown up watching and supporting them in Europe when they used to give everything for the jersey.

Look, Munster might be better off in the Challenge Cup for a season to build up their confidence again and regroup. Getting beaten up by the likes of Saracens, Leicester etc. etc. is not going to be good for them.

[eirebilly]

Tighten up there Sin é, its all a bit of fun and banter from BOD

[LeinsterFan4life]

I think that Notch may be right when he say's that there would be all sorts of banter like that within the Irish squad.

I am a Munster fan and would have a dig at Leinster fans if they were in the same position so can easily accept it from Leinster fans and at the end of the day, BOD may have been Ireland captain but is also a Leinster fan.

The Munster players need to hear stuff like this to help get the passion back into the team. It really does pain me to see Munster play like this as I would have grown up watching and supporting them in Europe when they used to give everything for the jersey.

Look, Munster might be better off in the Challenge Cup for a season to build up their confidence again and regroup. Getting beaten up by the likes of Saracens, Leicester etc. etc. is not going to be good for them.

I'd be more worried about the impact it will have on attendances. It will be a huge financial hit to Munster and the IRFU.

[wolfball]

I think that Notch may be right when he say's that there would be all sorts of banter like that within the Irish squad.

I am a Munster fan and would have a dig at Leinster fans if they were in the same position so can easily accept it from Leinster fans and at the end of the day, BOD may have been Ireland captain but is also a Leinster fan.

The Munster players need to hear stuff like this to help get the passion back into the team. It really does pain me to see Munster play like this as I would have grown up watching and supporting them in Europe when they used to give everything for the jersey.

Look, Munster might be better off in the Challenge Cup for a season to build up their confidence again and regroup. Getting beaten up by the likes of Saracens, Leicester etc. etc. is not going to be good for them.

I'd be more worried about the impact it will have on attendances. It will be a huge financial hit to Munster and the IRFU.

Yeah, if more than some munster fans show themselves to be fickle, attendances could plummet. On the munsterfan boards there is talk of all out mutiny from some people.

[SecretFly]

A second coming for Penney?????

"Come back, Penney", shouts the big eejit forwards, "we'll try playing on the wing again...promise...... just come back please.... "

[rodders]

A second coming for Penney?????

"Come back, Penney", shouts the big eejit forwards, "we'll try playing on the wing again...promise...... just come back please.... "

Ah here Munster forwards have always been comfortable standing out on the wing, it was the ball they didn't want.....

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