2009 - Your Year of Rugby

FridaysWell

2009 was by far the most successful year for Irish Rugby. Ever.

Grand Slam - Ireland
Churchill Cup - Ireland 'A'
Heineken Cup - Leinster
Magners League - Munster
14 B&I Lions Selections

You all know this, but what did the year mean to you? How did you feel? What did you think?

For me, I knew Ireland would win the Grand Slam after they beat France in Croke Park. That game truly showed
the direction the team would take. The rugby was good. From both sides. Its not as if France showed up without
a team! One of the best games I've watched. Rob Kearney really stood out in this game.
Then the other matches, like the dogged defence against England, and the 'sheer bloody Irish mindset(ness??)'

Then the match in Cardiff. 'Nuff said.

Next Leinster won the Heineken Cup for the first time. What saddens me is how alot of people undermine this achievement.
The team didn't get the credit they deserved from some people I thought. Media in particular :mad:
Winning 5-6 against 'Quins, going into the Semi Final against Munster. Everyone expected Munster to win. Everyone, bar a few true
blue supporters, was behind Munster. The bias in the media was so clear. I went to that match in Croker. The friend that I went with
was supporting Leinster but wasn't backing them to win. Course I knew they would win. And they did. They went above
everything that was said and believed about them and they won. Sextons drop goal?
This matured alot of rugby minds in the province and around the Country.

The Churchill Cup win and Munster's excellent Magners League campaign, along with the Lions tour, capped it all off.
The Autumn tests. Munsters amazing win against Perpigan. Connachts unbeaten run (so far) and winning away in France.
Sexton proving he is the next 10. Ian Humphries raising the red hand of Ulster. Healy. Earls. Cave.

Excellent stuff. It proves that Ireland's best sport is rugby, and we can take anyone down hehe...

Just what did this all mean to you?

Lets remember all those amazing moments and hope for alot more. There is a load I know I have missed and not written. Theres
a load of people I haven't mentioned.

But you know who else needs a shout? All the fans. The supporters. The parents, the friends, the wives, husbands, girlfriends, boyfriends,
mates, workers, enemies, randomers, all those people that went to watch Ireland play, or watch Ballymena J3 play Terenure J3.
The Coaches. All the rugby players in Ireland who made such a year possible.

Lets remember those that can't play no more. Those that are in wheelchairs because of a collapesed scrum training on a cold night.
In particular, the young chap, my mate, who got injured playing for his province, had to have surgery on his knee, and probably wont pull on
the blue of Leinster again. He has gotten so depressed. Remember him.
Because of injury. All of these people. Put out of the game they love.

Heres to 2009!


Per Ardua, ad Astra!:pac::pac::pac:

Risteard

A few ups and downs in the year. The Grand Slam, an obvious high, but then the defeat to Leinster was crushing. Though looking back, Leinster really had the Heineken Cup won in a way after that Harlequins match. It was the first time they really dogged out a match. They had done it in the Magners League the season before but this was a step up and that IMO was their best performance of the HC.

From a personal view, I lost a final with the school way back at the start of the year by 3 points. Then lost in the semi final of another competition back in March where I got injured in the first minute and haven't played since, my knee as well.

So a mixed bag. Sucks about your friend though. He sounds like he had good potential. I can understand how not being able to play rugby pisses you off. Hopefully he'll be able to get over it and get back playing again soon.

thomond2006

Given our number of professional players, having a record 7 Irish players* in a Lions Test XV was amazing, especially when you compare the Irish involvement in 1997, 2001 and 2005. If Flannery and TOL had toured, it (arguably) could have been 9.

Sums up how far Irish rugby has come since the advent of professionalism.

Also, all the OP has said above.


*Paul O'Connell, David Wallace, Jamie Heaslip, Brian O'Driscoll, Luke Fitzgerald, Tommy Bowe and Rob Kearney all started the 2nd test.

Ronan O'Gara also came on as a replacement.

phog

Yes a good year overall for Irish Rugby must have been one of the most sucessful years ever.

In Club rugby Shannon take the AIL title after a roller coaster of a game in Thomond Park.

Sundy

FridaysWell wrote: »

For me, I knew Ireland would win the Grand Slam after they beat France in Croke Park. That game truly showed
the direction the team would take. The rugby was good. From both sides. Its not as if France showed up without
a team! One of the best games I've watched. Rob Kearney really stood out in this game.
Then the other matches, like the dogged defence against England, and the 'sheer bloody Irish mindset(ness??)'

I agree with most of what you said but people who say things like that make me laugh. Even the players scoff at people who say things like that. You didnt know ireland would win you had very high expectations. As stephan jones lined up that nobody knew if ireland would win the Grand slam or not.

FridaysWell

Sundy wrote: »

I agree with most of what you said but people who say things like that make me laugh. Even the players scoff at people who say things like that. You didnt know ireland would win you had very high expectations. As stephan jones lined up that nobody knew if ireland would win the Grand slam or not.

Bru, its a matter of opinion.
Maybe what I should have said is that I felt strongly that they would go on and win the 'Slam.
Of course I didn't 'know' they were going to win. Its a figure of speech.
And eeeeeeehhhhhhhhhhhh!!! Post up something worth reading...