[danthefan]

Originally Posted by Cpt_Blackbeard

If McLaughlin could play at lock, Leinster wouldn't have needed Thorn. The only people who seem to think that he was a possibility in the second-row are the ones who thought he should have went to the WC ahead of Ryan/Tuohy/McCarthy.

Selecting McLaughlin for the second test was an odd decision as both POM and Henry had better seasons than him. Admittedly, he did do well in that test. The less that's said about his "performance" in the third test the better.

You could say the exact same about POM, who was a joke. We should round up the people who wanted Heaslip dropped for POM. Were you one of those?

In fact you could say it about basically any player on the pitch. Everyone was rubbish. Why McLaughlin needs to be singled out is beyond me. Especially considering he put in by far the best performance of the tour between himself, POM and Henry.

[GerM]

Originally Posted by Cpt_Blackbeard

Selecting McLaughlin for the second test was an odd decision as both POM and Henry had better seasons than him. Admittedly, he did do well in that test. The less that's said about his "performance" in the third test the better.

McLaughlin was comfortably the best performer of the three for the last few months of the season. I say that as someone who is on the record as being of the opinion that he'll never be of the standard required to be a regular international starter.

[danthefan]

Originally Posted by GerM

McLaughlin was comfortably the best performer of the three for the last few months of the season. I say that as someone who is on the record as being of the opinion that he'll never be of the standard required to be a regular international starter.

Indeed, he really stepped it up. He was outstanding in the HEC final.

[Cpt_Blackbeard]

Originally Posted by danthefan

You could say the exact same about POM, who was a joke. We should round up the people who wanted Heaslip dropped for POM. Were you one of those?

In fact you could say it about basically any player on the pitch. Everyone was rubbish. Why McLaughlin needs to be singled out is beyond me. Especially considering he put in by far the best performance of the tour between himself, POM and Henry.

I could say it about nearly any player, but I was already talking about McLoughlin so it made sense to comment on him; no need for the hyper sensitivity. POM had a poor game, but McLoughlin was our worst forward on the day. He was anonymous for the most part, other than probably missing a tackle for everyone he made, from what I remember of the game.

[danthefan]

Originally Posted by Cpt_Blackbeard

I could say it about nearly any player, but I was already talking about McLoughlin so it made sense to comment on him; no need for the hyper sensitivity. POM had a poor game, but McLoughlin was our worst forward on the day. He was anonymous for the most part, other than probably missing a tackle for everyone he made, from what I remember of the game.

Ok. Course he was. Carry on.

[TheKeenMachine]

Originally Posted by Cpt_Blackbeard

If McLaughlin could play at lock, Leinster wouldn't have needed Thorn. The only people who seem to think that he was a possibility in the second-row are the ones who thought he should have went to the WC ahead of Ryan/Tuohy/McCarthy.

Selecting McLaughlin for the second test was an odd decision as both POM and Henry had better seasons than him. Admittedly, he did do well in that test. The less that's said about his "performance" in the third test the better.

Signing a World Cup winning All-Black ahead of moving your first choice blindside to lock is a no-brainer. McLaughlin is a key component of the Leinster side at 6, of course when Brad became available the Leinster coaching staff would swoop - who wouldn't? And to say that POM had a better season than Locky is untrue - he was one of Leinster's best players this season. Also, you're making it sound like the third test was his fault. Take off the red glasses. POM - and most others for that matter - were equally poor.
@Podge Yes, and McLaughlin deserves to be ahead of POM at 6.

[Cpt_Blackbeard]

Originally Posted by TheKeenMachine

Signing a World Cup winning All-Black ahead of moving your first choice blindside to lock is a no-brainer. McLaughlin is a key component of the Leinster side at 6, of course when Brad became available the Leinster coaching staff would swoop - who wouldn't? And to say that POM had a better season than Locky is untrue - he was one of Leinster's best players this season. Also, you're making it sound like the third test was his fault. Take off the red glasses. POM - and most others for that matter - were equally poor.

Talk about over-reacting. At least we're back to the usual dynamic where I'm forbidden from criticising the performance of any Leinster players.

[leftleg]

Originally Posted by Cpt_Blackbeard

criticising the performance of any Leinster players.

That's actually all you do so sorry but you reap what you sow blackbeard;

[TheKeenMachine]

Originally Posted by Cpt_Blackbeard

Talk about over-reacting. At least we're back to the usual dynamic where I'm forbidden from criticising the performance of any Leinster players.

I'm not forbidding you from criticising Leinster players, but maybe, just maybe, you could concede that Munster players do have their faults, and when criticising McLaughlin player over his performance in arguably the worst game in Irish rugby history, try not to forget that the Munster player you're arguing is better had just as bad a game, rather than conveniently leaving that point out.

[Cpt_Blackbeard]

Originally Posted by TheKeenMachine

I'm not forbidding you from criticising Leinster players, but maybe, just maybe, you could concede that Munster players do have their faults, and when criticising McLaughlin player over his performance in arguably the worst game in Irish rugby history, try not to forget that the Munster player you're arguing is better had just as bad a game, rather than conveniently leaving that point out.

I said POM was poor in the 3rd test.

[Tox56]

Originally Posted by Cpt_Blackbeard

Talk about over-reacting.

Immediately followed by:

At least we're back to the usual dynamic where I'm forbidden from criticising the performance of any Leinster players.

C'mon captain, at least put some effort into it

[Podge_irl]

Originally Posted by TheKeenMachine

@Podge Yes, and McLaughlin deserves to be ahead of POM at 6.

I agree. But as far as I'm concerned McL either starts at 6 or isn't in the 22. I think POM is a better squad player in that regard.

I also think POM could be better at 6 if he focuses on that role at Munster and cuts out the completely unnecessary "niggle" he brings to the game.

[thebaz]

Originally Posted by Cpt_Blackbeard

At least we're back to the usual dynamic where I'm forbidden from criticising the performance of any Leinster players.

why is that ?

[CatFromHue]

Originally Posted by Podge_irl

I agree. But as far as I'm concerned McL either starts at 6 or isn't in the 22. I think POM is a better squad player in that regard.

I also think POM could be better at 6 if he focuses on that role at Munster and cuts out the completely unnecessary "niggle" he brings to the game.

Yeah I agree. At international level McL isn't up to at second row but could do a job at 6.

It will be interesting to see how and where POM plays next season for Munster. Honestly he passed me by for the first half of last season so for the second half of the season I was watching him play all over the place.

Regarding the niggle he was a lucky boy with his knee drop on the Ospreys 8 in the Rabo SF. If that was noticed, which it should have been, he was looking at missing the Ireland tour in my book. Completely pointless and I'm sure the Ospreys 8 had the last laugh on the day!

For the third test all the players bar Ryan and Healy were sh*t. Honestly though I never want to hear of it again......ever Sat 11 Nov 2000 against Japan when we won 78-9 was the last time an Irish team was involved in a 60 point win. I remember cos I got hammered the night before and had to hop off the Nitelink to puke on Merrion Square, I'd no money left so had to "borrow" a bike and cycle home. I missed the Japan game as I was leaving the bike back

[justsomebloke]

thread locked as it as run it's course.

Cpt_Blackbeard with your ban and infraction record in this forum ANY future indiscretion will lead to a straight 6 month ban at the least