The Official Irish Rugby Thread

[EnergiseR]

James Lowe 4 Ireland

[ASMO]

Edgey :D

[EnergiseR]

It's something all the Irish posters can get behind

[HighKingLeinster]

James Lowe 4 Ireland

This is a perfectly cromulent 1st post for this mighty thread. Although the Robbie Diack gif could have worked well

[EnergiseR]

Fixed. Terrible oversight on my part

[HighKingLeinster]

Fixed. Terrible oversight on my part

Nice. I think every thread should begin with it

[Lazy couch potato]

What a time to be alive

[fishfoodie]

Damn.

Now I need to work an ass grove into a new forum

[NotNaki]

... on a cold and grey Dun Laoghaire mornin’
another little safe space is born
In the ghetto
<backing singers> Irish rugby ghettoooooo

[irishrugbyua]

:D

[irishrugbyua]

Japan and Fiji are expected to be confirmed as the two guest nations to join the Six Nations sides in an inaugural eight-team tournament in November and December.

[shabadoo]

Japan and Fiji are expected to be confirmed as the two guest nations to join the Six Nations sides in an inaugural eight-team tournament in November and December.

That going to be pretty cool tbf.

[EnergiseR]

We better absolutely bum the Japs

[Jim Lahey]

You kuntz.
I just couldn’t get through a work day without PR.

[EnergiseR]

Exactly. I'd have to actually keep an eye on the children

[Jim Lahey]

I know I should reduce the size of my signature but its pretty damn glorious. Could watch him swatting Kiwis all day

[Lazy couch potato]

There’s going to be ridiculous amounts of sport vying for attention at that time.

[Liathroidigloine]

I assume no one is telling Jumper about this?

[Lazy couch potato]

Japan and Fiji are expected to be confirmed as the two guest nations to join the Six Nations sides in an inaugural eight-team tournament in November and December.

I know everything’s up in a heap but where are the available dates for all these extra games. Obviously these are bigger ticket items than pro14. Do they run at the same time ?
With wall to wall gaa As well as the usual Wendy ball at the same time it’s going to be a real fight for eyeballs

[Kanbei]

Hello everyone. I am eagerly anticipating more seasons of Ulster building up the fans expectations before collapsing into despair as usual.

Will be fun though

[URH]

I couldn’t stay away, you glorious bunch of plum

In hindsight, I should have claimed the Jumper username

[Liathroidigloine]

That Diack gif. You can see Trimble getting ready to celebrate, the hands start coming up and then all of a sudden he has to try and get the big donkey over the line. It is truly magnificent.

[anonymous_joe]

I couldn’t stay away, you glorious bunch of plum

In hindsight, I should have claimed the Jumper username

Or Sewage.

[irishrugbyua]

PR appears to be working fine again..

[Zig]

If Leinster walk this season it won't feel like an honest Championship. 2020 will always be tainted. But we'll take it.

[Jim Lahey]

PR appears to be working fine again..

It takes a lot for me to change my habits.
I’m never looking back.

[lemonhead]

Finally, a page 2.

Need some rugby back on the box before Nama thread starts getting notions.

[PornDog]

If Leinster walk this season it won't feel like an honest Championship. 2020 will always be tainted. But we'll take it.

I wouldn't mind seeing Ulster win it - would be most amusing to add another asterisk to their collection. :P

[Lazy couch potato]

Here lads in an effort to get some actual rugby conversation started (page 2 FFS) Anyone prepared to predict an Irish team for our inevitable rwc qf defeat in 2023

I suspect

Killer
Kelleher
Furlong
Ryan
Henderson
Baird
Doris
Penny
Casey
Carbery/Byrne
God knows
Ringrose
Lowe
Larmour
stockdale

At this stage I’m uncomfortable to predict a lot of positions. Loosehead isn’t great killer has come on a lot and it’s unlikely Healy will still be around.
Murray won’t be any slower in 3 years so will probably travel but I’d hope Casey will start to oust him

10 is a dangerous situation. Very likely sexton will get another 2 years but not actually make the rwc. Byrne the older in pole position to get loads of top level gametime as Leinster march on, I just don’t think he has the athleticism for the top level. Byrne the younger looks a better athlete And a better longer term fit but will he get enough euro minutes to be the starting Irish ten. Carbery has the goods but his frailties are frankly worrying. JJ will start next season as 10....carbery needs to be starting week in week out.
Frawley is an interesting one but is he a 10/12 or 15.

Back 3 will have whatever mix of Lowe stockdale Conway or larmour. As a Bolter I think balacoome and Shane daly are about to really break through.

12 is a disaster in my opinion.

[Immaculate Pasta]

Porter at 1, someone from Academy will step up. Hawkshaw at Leinster for example if he shakes off injury will get a lot of game time at Leinster at 12 and who knows where that could lead.

[PornDog]

only 2+1 from Munster?!?

Oh how the mighty have fallen

[Lazy couch potato]

only 2+1 from Munster?!?

Oh how the mighty have fallen

I think a good few will travel to France if I’m honest but less likely to make the first 15

[Jim Lahey]

Agreed that 12 is our weakest position.

-Henshaw is limited there and injury prone.
-Aki is usually solid and provides effective bosh but I’d like to see us move away from Schmidtball.
-Don’t think McCloskey, Marshall, Farrell or Scannell have the goods for test rugby, while being effective for their provinces.

If we continue with our “only the 10 can be a playmaker” approach then Aki works. But we will fail miserably against any reasonable rush defence. Now if you slotted Joey in at 15, or another baller that can step in at 10 a la Damien MacKenzie then you can play more effectively with Aki and Ringrose imo. For the record I don’t see Larmour as that player, but he could switch to wing.

[Lazy couch potato]

Frawley at 12 is a hope. Or maybe at 15. Either way he might provide the Secondary playmaker role. With the makeup of the elite players available to Cullen No 11 Lowe 14 larmour 15 frawley might well be the best use of his cattle. I think a lot will depend on whether irfu allow a Back 3 signing for Leinster. There or 9 are probably the only areas of need for ye pricks where there isn’t a readymade star coming through.

I don’t see carbery at 15 unless jack Crowley explodes on the scene at Munster and forces a rethink (unlikely I think ) Plus if Casey is getting starts based on the speed of his delivery I can’t see either jvg or Farrell being comfortable with another very light weight defender.

I can see stockdale starting at 15 in Ulster and growing hopefully into that role.

[Locke Lamora]

Here lads in an effort to get some actual rugby conversation started (page 2 FFS) Anyone prepared to predict an Irish team for our inevitable rwc qf defeat in 2023

I suspect

Killer
Kelleher
Furlong
Ryan
Henderson
Baird
Doris
Penny
Casey
Carbery/Byrne
God knows
Ringrose
Lowe
Larmour
stockdale

At this stage I’m uncomfortable to predict a lot of positions. Loosehead isn’t great killer has come on a lot and it’s unlikely Healy will still be around.
Murray won’t be any slower in 3 years so will probably travel but I’d hope Casey will start to oust him

10 is a dangerous situation. Very likely sexton will get another 2 years but not actually make the rwc. Byrne the older in pole position to get loads of top level gametime as Leinster march on, I just don’t think he has the athleticism for the top level. Byrne the younger looks a better athlete And a better longer term fit but will he get enough euro minutes to be the starting Irish ten. Carbery has the goods but his frailties are frankly worrying. JJ will start next season as 10....carbery needs to be starting week in week out.
Frawley is an interesting one but is he a 10/12 or 15.

Back 3 will have whatever mix of Lowe stockdale Conway or larmour. As a Bolter I think balacoome and Shane daly are about to really break through.

12 is a disaster in my opinion.

Luke McGrath at 9
COB at 12 could be an option
Connors over Penny

I presume you're talking about Harry Byrne at 10?

[Immaculate Pasta]

Still no agreement reached in IRFU discussions with players over salary cuts. The players are out of line here. They under perform anyway

https://the42.ie/5138555

[iarmhí]

When does season start? Would love some live rugby to watch

[Immaculate Pasta]

When does season start? Would love some live rugby to watch

I think there is a plan for interpro series in Aviva with no fans, last week of August

[Locke Lamora]

will be interesting to see what Noel Reid does next ....

I see Tuilagi is also leaving Leicester

[iarmhí]

will be interesting to see what Noel Reid does next ....

I see Tuilagi is also leaving Leicester

Heading to the money and sun? Toulon?