Sean O'Brien on the Lions

First topic message reminder :

Although there might now be some headlines saying "O'Brien Blasts Lions Coaches", I don't think there's anything bitter or malicious about what he's saying. Off the Ball has audio here:

http://www.offtheball.com/Sean-OBrien-The-Lions-should-have-beaten-the-All-Blacks-comfortably-enough-new-zealand

He clearly has mixed feeling about how the tour turned out, and is trying identify where things might have gone better. His comments about over training before the first Test echo the criticism made about Graham Henry's tour in 2001.

“The first week, we definitely over-trained on the Thursday and maybe the coaches were panicking a little bit about getting the information into us. On the first week [of the first Test], we had a triple [session] day, [the] lads’ legs were heavy on the Thursday and we were playing the All Blacks on Saturday.

“We did nearly a similar thing in the last week. So maybe it’s more [from] a coaching point of view, in terms of taking lessons. Less is more sometimes on a tour like that, rather than trying to pick things up at the end of the week.

“There was probably no need for that but it’s just the way it was managed. We had said it, at the time, and they pulled back a bit. But it’s just about getting that fine balance between players and coaches and making sure the group is ready to rock.”

O'Brien says Rob Howley was unable to impose himself on the squad, and he thinks the backs were guided instead by Sexton and Farrell. If so, then that may be one factor behind Gatland's eventual decision to play both men together.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2017/09/20/lions-coaching-staff-blame-new-zealand-series-defeat-says-sean/

I expect SOB did Ireland's RWC prospects not much good either.

Gwlad wrote:I expect SOB did Ireland's RWC prospects not much good either.

Yep. Rumour is that the official criteria was largely ignored and a massive weighting given to whether any of the countries players had criticised a Lions head coach.

Not just a player though, a fellow Lion. A disgrace and brought shame on Irish rugby at the wrong time, coupled with the behavior of 2 players who I believe are on trial for r***. Irish rugby faces an image issue right now.

Gwlad wrote:Not just a player though, a fellow Lion. A disgrace and brought shame on Irish rugby at the wrong time, coupled with the behavior of 2 players who I believe are on trial for r***. Irish rugby faces an image issue right now.

Get out of the basement and take a walk chap.

Scottrf wrote:

Gwlad wrote:Not just a player though, a fellow Lion. A disgrace and brought shame on Irish rugby at the wrong time, coupled with the behavior of 2 players who I believe are on trial for r***. Irish rugby faces an image issue right now.

Get out of the basement and take a walk chap.

as usual your counter is derisory personal rubbish. And I live in a penthouse.