Flannery retiring

CIARAN_BOYLE · 22-03-2012 12:25pm

yimrsg wrote: »

In the interview in Neil3030's post, he says more or less he knew that he wasn't able to return to full fitness around December.

thanks I haven't had time to listen to that.

irishbucsfan · 22-03-2012 12:35pm

When Flannery went to see the expert in Germany I think he was told there wasn't much hope. I'd imagine they just had to sort out insurance etc.

Dempsey · 22-03-2012 1:01pm

Neil3030 wrote: »

http://media.newstalk.ie/podcast/61153/popup

Interview with Flannery there for the first 10 mins.

Sounded very deflated which is understandable. Best of Luck to him with whatever he decides to do now.

22-03-2012 2:37pm

rrpc wrote: »

Best was the better scrummager and possibly shaded it in the loose but Flannery had the best put in by a country mile. To be fair, they both pushed each other by their presence in the squad and that competition profited Ireland in the long run.

Flannery had quite a late start to his career by international standards, getting his first cap at 27. You'd wonder are there other players out there that have also been overlooked?

well donnacah ryan was 28 this may be on munster

ormond lad · 22-03-2012 2:39pm

Haley Loose Sociopath wrote: »

well donnacah ryan was 28 this may be on munster

Donnacha ryan got his 1st int cap when he was 25. got first start when 28

durkadurka · 22-03-2012 2:39pm

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

Saw in todays independent Flannery doesn't want to be one of those ex players that hang around the squad.

He seems to give Quinny a bit of a slagging for that sort of stuff - hanging around the players gym etc.

Blut2 · 22-03-2012 2:43pm

dougieruggie wrote: »

Probably the only hooker in world rugby who was late on more than one occassion for training because he was styling his hair

I dunno, don't think I'd put similar past Szarzewski!

Neil3030 · 22-03-2012 3:24pm

My prediction is that he'll coach and do a very good job.

By all accounts he made an edge for himself as a player with deeply thought out preparation and constant dedication to improving what he perceived as weaknesses in his game.

That, to me, has future coach written all over it.

[Jackass] · 22-03-2012 4:21pm

Always terrible to see a player retire due to injury, and he really missed out on a lot because of an injury plagued career.

Definitely our best hooker since Keith Wood, he had a good career and I'm sure there's a career in rugby for him beyond his playing days.

onlyrocknroll · 22-03-2012 4:38pm

If he had returned Ireland would have had serious depth at Hooker with him, Best and Strauss. I don't think that it's even remotely obvious what order those three would be in.

Wexfordboy89 · 22-03-2012 4:40pm

onlyrocknroll wrote: »

If he had returned Ireland would have had serious depth at Hooker with him, Best and Strauss. I don't think that it's even remotely obvious in order to put those three.

ya forgot Cronin although his line-out throws aren't great but hes good with ball in hand

onlyrocknroll · 22-03-2012 4:42pm

Wexfordboy89 wrote: »

ya forgot Cronin although his line-out throws aren't great but hes good with ball in hand

Certainly, but I would respectfully say that Cronin won't be benching for Ireland once Strauss is Irish qualified.

Wexfordboy89 · 22-03-2012 4:46pm

onlyrocknroll wrote: »

Certainly, but I would respectfully say that Cronin won't be benching for Ireland once Strauss in Irish qualified.

true seems like a much better allround player than cronin pity about flannery think the second bad injury he got it was gonna be hard to come back.hope the irfu get flannery training the under age sides in munster or ireland

CatFromHue · 22-03-2012 4:51pm

[Jackass] wrote: »

Definitely our best hooker since Keith Wood, he had a good career and I'm sure there's a career in rugby for him beyond his playing days.

I'm not so sure, Shane Byrne would be up there too.

durkadurka · 22-03-2012 4:55pm

Yeah I liked Shane Byrne. Great line out thrower. Worked himself up to lions starter. Went a bit downhill from there though...

Claim The Frame · 22-03-2012 5:00pm

Really sad to see him go he was a great player shame about all his injury's!

yogimotorsport · 24-03-2012 2:25am

Sad day,one of my all time favorite Munster players and he always seemed like a gentleman

pickarooney · 24-03-2012 12:09pm

durkadurka wrote: »

Yeah I liked Shane Byrne. Great line out thrower. Worked himself up to lions starter. Went a bit downhill from there though...

Saying Flannery and Byrne were the best hookers since Keith Wood isn't really saying much. Was there anyone else in between?

wp_rathead · 24-03-2012 1:11pm

pickarooney wrote: »

Saying Flannery and Byrne were the best hookers since Keith Wood isn't really saying much. Was there anyone else in between?

Jackman?

Amazotheamazing · 24-03-2012 1:19pm

pickarooney wrote: »

Saying Flannery and Byrne were the best hookers since Keith Wood isn't really saying much. Was there anyone else in between?

Sheahan, Jackman and Best. He's well above any of those, and imo, well above Byrne too.

Podge_irl · 24-03-2012 2:17pm

I don't think he is 'well above' Best at all. Comfortably better then the others though.

Fishooks12 · 24-03-2012 2:26pm

wprathead wrote: »

Jackman?

Always thought Jackman was average at best

Certainly not as good as he made him self out to be in his outrage over not getting more caps

durkadurka · 24-03-2012 2:54pm

wprathead wrote: »

Jackman?

A poor man's Woody!

RoundBox11 · 24-03-2012 3:34pm

onlyrocknroll wrote: »

If he had returned Ireland would have had serious depth at Hooker with him, Best and Strauss. I don't think that it's even remotely obvious what order those three would be in.

Tbh i'd rather see Cronin in ahead of Strauss for Ireland eventually, purely because Strauss, as good as he is, isnt actually irish :S

Imagine how much depth we'd have if Stephen Moore had of declared for Ireland also!

Tox56 · 24-03-2012 3:46pm

On this topic, Strauss was excellent yesterday, particularly in his role as the mythical seven. He won thousands of turnovers and was constantly slowing things down on the floor.

castie · 24-03-2012 3:59pm

Dont forget Fogs!

Spudmonkey · 24-03-2012 4:38pm

Saw the Fla training harder than ever in the Arena. Maybe he's having second thoughts.

onlyrocknroll · 24-03-2012 6:17pm

Podge_irl wrote: »

I don't think he is 'well above' Best at all. Comfortably better then the others though.

Best's performances during and the since the World Cup have put him roughly on par with Flannery IMO. But when they were both competing for the 2 jersey 3 years ago Flannery was a good head and shoulders above Best.

It's worth noting that Flannery would most probably have been the starting hooker during the last Lions tour back then, Best will most probably start in this tour.

24-03-2012 9:53pm

durkadurka wrote: »

A poor man's Woody!

thats like comparing a Ferrari to a pair of burnt out slippers

Brewster · 25-03-2012 9:05am

Flannery was a very good player, an excellent pro and a thoroughly decent man. He has some great displays for Ireland and like everyone else I wish him all the best. Talk of him being world class and an Ireland great are wide of mark, he may have had a world class lineout throw but that was it. Rory Best on the form of last 18 months is a comfortably better player than Flannery was at his peak in 2009 in most aspects of play most notably- leadership, scrummaging, tackling, work rate.

Amazotheamazing · 26-03-2012 12:34am

Brewster wrote: »

Flannery was a very good player, an excellent pro and a thoroughly decent man. He has some great displays for Ireland and like everyone else I wish him all the best. Talk of him being world class and an Ireland great are wide of mark, he may have had a world class lineout throw but that was it. Rory Best on the form of last 18 months is a comfortably better player than Flannery was at his peak in 2009 in most aspects of play most notably- leadership, scrummaging, tackling, work rate.

And most notably he's still a weak thrower. It's like saying a fullback is great at everything except catching, or an outhalf is great except for his kicking.

Flannery retiring

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