POC the return...

bamboozle

Paul O'Connell is lining out for Young Munster's against Shannon at Coonagh tomorrow night in the AIL.

great news, no doubt there will be a large Limerick crowd to witness his return.

Some great AIL fixtures this weekend, Clontarf V Lansdowne at Castle Avenue on Sat is going to be a cracker between the 2 Division 1B heavyweights.

Digifriendly

bamboozle wrote: »

Paul O'Connell is lining out for Young Munster's against Shannon at Coonagh tomorrow night in the AIL.

great news, no doubt there will be a large Limerick crowd to witness his return.

Some great AIL fixtures this weekend, Clontarf V Lansdowne at Castle Avenue on Sat is going to be a cracker between the 2 Division 1B heavyweights.

Dungannon have beaten both this season and Div1B is looking very tight so difficult to predict who is going to come out on top.

bamboozle

Digifriendly wrote: »

Dungannon have beaten both this season and Div1B is looking very tight so difficult to predict who is going to come out on top.

Dungannon have been at home for both of those games, top 3 teams are looking like Clontarf, Buccs and Dungannon, for all the silly money being thrown around by Lansdowne its not translating into results on the pitch.

twinytwo

all i can say is...


YAY!!

phog

bamboozle wrote: »

Paul O'Connell is lining out for Young Munster's against Shannon at Coonagh tomorrow night in the AIL.

great news, no doubt there will be a large Limerick crowd to witness his return.

Some great AIL fixtures this weekend, Clontarf V Lansdowne at Castle Avenue on Sat is going to be a cracker between the 2 Division 1B heavyweights.

I think it's on in Thomond Park, it might be better check before heading to Coonagh.

LeeroyJones

This autumn series has highlighted just how much of an invaluable player he is.

whysomoody

bamboozle wrote: »

Dungannon have been at home for both of those games, top 3 teams are looking like Clontarf, Buccs and Dungannon, for all the silly money being thrown around by Lansdowne its not translating into results on the pitch.

yeah I was surprised at that, they had such a good squad last year.

thebaz

best of luck to POC - Ireland need him back asap

[Jackass]

LeeroyJones wrote: »

This autumn series has highlighted just how much of an invaluable player he is.

No it hasn't, it's highlighted how incompitant Declan Kidney's selection policy is and highlighted (as if any further conformation was needed) how out of depth Mick O'Driscoll is at international level.

Cullen should have played, Toner could have played, and there was always the likes of Ryan or even Casey to turn to - but the tried and tested failing of Mick O'Driscoll was a solid fixture. Who needs a squad when you know a Magners League player who's getting old and not up to it, who you used to work with...But we wont go there...

It will be interesting to see the pace of PO'Cs playing comeback. Best of luck to him. Turned out to be a very serious injury and I hope he gets his full fitness of old back, as he's a player you have to respect, great competitor and an asset to the game.

phog

[Jackass] wrote: »

No it hasn't, it's highlighted how incompitant Declan Kidney's selection policy is and highlighted (as if any further conformation was needed) how out of depth Mick O'Driscoll is at international level.

Cullen should have played, Toner could have played, and there was always the likes of Ryan or even Casey to turn to - but the tried and tested failing of Mick O'Driscoll was a solid fixture. Who needs a squad when you know a Magners League player who's getting old and not up to it, who you used to work with...But we wont go there...

It will be interesting to see the pace of PO'Cs playing comeback. Best of luck to him. Turned out to be a very serious injury and I hope he gets his full fitness of old back, as he's a player you have to respect, great competitor and an asset to the game.

MOD has shown that he was well capable of covering for POC, he won 2 or 3 MOTM games for Munster while in as his replacement.

As far as I recall Toner got a game during the AIs.

Casey.........well it looks light his day has gone, last 2 if not 3 coaches haven't selected him.

Cullen, I think he was just a bit too late returning from injury and his form must be below par as proven in his most recent game for Leinster they lost at least 3 of their own lineouts adn he got carded for a lineout offence.......But we wont go there...

bamboozle

phog wrote: »

MOD has shown that he was well capable of covering for POC, he won 2 or 3 MOTM games for Munster while in as his replacement.

As far as I recall Toner got a game during the AIs.

Casey.........well it looks light his day has gone, last 2 if not 3 coaches haven't selected him.

Cullen, I think he was just a bit too late returning from injury and his form must be below par as proven in his most recent game for Leinster they lost at least 3 of their own lineouts adn he got carded for a lineout offence.......But we wont go there...

in his 2 games v's SA and NZ MOD secured 3 clean lineout takes. He was also hugely responsible for our inability to take restarts.

MOD is capable of filling in at Magner's league standard but above that he gets shown up. A good performance against a disinterested Toulon 2nds team should be ignored, the capitulation of the munster lineout v London Irish is a better barometer of MOD's abilities.

phog

bamboozle wrote: »

in his 2 games v's SA and NZ MOD secured 3 clean lineout takes. He was also hugely responsible for our inability to take restarts.

MOD is capable of filling in at Magner's league standard but above that he gets shown up. A good performance against a disinterested Toulon 2nds team should be ignored, the capitulation of the munster lineout v London Irish is a better barometer of MOD's abilities.

Nonsense, it's amazing really, everytime Munster win the opposition is disinterested but when we're beaten it by world beaters.:eek:

I recently saw some analysis (in the Irish Times, I think) where only one of the re-starts against the ABs could be laid on the door of MOD but dont let the facts get in the way of knocking a good player.

stejkenny

phog wrote: »

Nonsense, it's amazing really, everytime Munster win the opposition is disinterested but when we're beaten it by world beaters.:eek:

I recently saw some analysis (in the Irish Times, I think) where only one of the re-starts against the ABs could be laid on the door of MOD but dont let the facts get in the way of knocking a good player.

Who's talking about restarts; what about the messing in the line out against SA; as well as the mess of restarts against the all blacks. All the forwards are to blame and hes included there; to be fair DOC has been below form as well.

Fair enough he worked his socks off but MOD simply isn't good enough.

Analyse it all you like; hes not good enough for international games. even the dogs on the street could tell you that.

I find this rather like the John Hayes debate; boring and stale and in my view quite obvious. ML player Yes; International player No; just my opinion and nothing to do with provincial bias as all i want to see is the best for the boys in green not red or blue.

Bogsnorkler

Anyway..............................................

It'd say there'll be a massive crowd out to see POC back. Tis not very often that the top players tog out for their clubs anymore, which i find a bit sad.

phog

stejkenny wrote: »

Who's talking about restarts; what about the messing in the line out against SA; as well as the mess of restarts against the all blacks. All the forwards are to blame and hes included there; to be fair DOC has been below form as well.

Fair enough he worked his socks off but MOD simply isn't good enough.

Analyse it all you like; hes not good enough for international games. even the dogs on the street could tell you that.

I find this rather like the John Hayes debate; boring and stale and in my view quite obvious. ML player Yes; International player No; just my opinion and nothing to do with provincial bias as all i want to see is the best for the boys in green not red or blue.

Retarts? Did you read the post I quoted in my reply.

I disagree, in my view I think he is well up for International games and it seems to be a view that others take too

whysomoody

Bogsnorkler wrote: »

Anyway..............................................

It'd say there'll be a massive crowd out to see POC back. Tis not very often that the top players tog out for their clubs anymore, which i find a bit sad.

I completely agree, its a shame only the munster squads utilise this, Leinster will only use A matches which is a shame really. I'd love to see O'Driscoll out with UCD or D'arcy out with Lansdowne. It would help to bridge the gap a bit better.

bamboozle

phog wrote: »

Nonsense, it's amazing really, everytime Munster win the opposition is disinterested but when we're beaten it by world beaters.:eek:

I recently saw some analysis (in the Irish Times, I think) where only one of the re-starts against the ABs could be laid on the door of MOD but dont let the facts get in the way of knocking a good player.

dont let the facts get in the way of your argument,

Munster played a toulon team which made 10 changes to their first choice starting team from the previous week
Mick O'Driscoll won 1 lineout against NZ
he won 2 lineouts against SA
Ireland won 9/12 lineouts against NZ
Ireland won 6/12 lineouts against SA
that's 15/24 lineouts secured in the 2 games MOD was calling the lineout.

no matter how great you play around the park and how many yards you carry the ball, if you cant do the basics of your position you should be on the pitch.

bamboozle

whysomoody wrote: »

I completely agree, its a shame only the munster squads utilise this, Leinster will only use A matches which is a shame really. I'd love to see O'Driscoll out with UCD or D'arcy out with Lansdowne. It would help to bridge the gap a bit better.

things are changing a bit under Joe Schmidt, Shaune Berne played for Old Belvedere 2 weekends ago. Ruddock has turned out for St. Marys, Stephen Keogh, David Kearney, Dominic Ryan has turned out with lansdowne and Paul O'Donoghue and Harris Wright have played with clontarf this season.

however Munster have been great letting their front line players use the AIL in their return from injury and long may it continue.

stejkenny

bamboozle wrote: »

dont let the facts get in the way of your argument,

Munster played a toulon team which made 10 changes to their first choice starting team from the previous week

They had games against Stade, Toulouse and Perpignon after thats game; it was nearly all reserves; Kinda puts things in perspective; I mentioned hes a good ML player but international player he is not; But it wont stop some people defending him to the hilt. shocking if you ask me.

LeeroyJones

[Jackass] wrote: »

No it hasn't, it's highlighted how incompitant Declan Kidney's selection policy is and highlighted (as if any further conformation was needed) how out of depth Mick O'Driscoll is at international level.

Cullen should have played, Toner could have played, and there was always the likes of Ryan or even Casey to turn to - but the tried and tested failing of Mick O'Driscoll was a solid fixture. Who needs a squad when you know a Magners League player who's getting old and not up to it, who you used to work with...But we wont go there...

It will be interesting to see the pace of PO'Cs playing comeback. Best of luck to him. Turned out to be a very serious injury and I hope he gets his full fitness of old back, as he's a player you have to respect, great competitor and an asset to the game.

I'm by no means MOD's biggest fan, but he shut his critics up against the All Blacks and put in a great performance when we all had him written off. Kidney made the right call there.

Regarding Cullen, we have no idea of what his fitness levels are like. We have read plenty on club coaches selecting players who are unfit and who are we to say Schmidt hasn't been selecting Cullen prematurely. Perhaps Kidney who, unlike all off us, is dealing with him day-in, day-out is in a better position to judge his fitness better than we can.

Toner, while he did well against Samoa, is too light to play against the All Blacks. He's great at lineout time, but when I take my Leinster shades off I must admit that he is not by no means the finished article in defence, at the break down and certainly no ball-carrier.

He didn't have the option of Ryan. Ryan got gametime against both the Boks and Samoa and has been suspended since-hardly Kidney's fault.

The Casey issue is there, I admit. I would have really liked to have seen him have a go.

All in all, POC is a player who is sorely missed by Munster and Ireland and there are few players in the world who could replace him. Unfortunately, of those who can replace him to the extent where he wouldn't be missed aren't Irish. It doesn't matter how much we moan and groan about Kidney, POC is the best we have.

stejkenny

I dont rate MOD but at the same time with POC absence, MOD is the only player left that can fill the void as Cullen isnt up to speed fitness wise. He has his limitations ala set piece but did work his socks off but o Connells return cant come quick enough.

phog

bamboozle wrote: »

dont let the facts get in the way of your argument,

Munster played a toulon team which made 10 changes to their first choice starting team from the previous week
Mick O'Driscoll won 1 lineout against NZ
he won 2 lineouts against SA
Ireland won 9/12 lineouts against NZ
Ireland won 6/12 lineouts against SA
that's 15/24 lineouts secured in the 2 games MOD was calling the lineout.

no matter how great you play around the park and how many yards you carry the ball, if you cant do the basics of your position you should be on the pitch.

If you want to compare ML form to International form look at Leo in Leinster's most recent game they lost at least 3 lineouts and he was sinbinned for a lineout offence, using that sort of barometer that hardly the signs of an Internaional player. But I guess the Dragons are up there with the ABs and SA for quality

Digifriendly

whysomoody wrote: »

I completely agree, its a shame only the munster squads utilise this, Leinster will only use A matches which is a shame really. I'd love to see O'Driscoll out with UCD or D'arcy out with Lansdowne. It would help to bridge the gap a bit better.

Was BOD not Blackrock ?

stejkenny

phog wrote: »

If you want to compare ML form to International form look at Leo in Leinster's most recent game they lost at least 3 lineouts and he was sinbinned for a lineout offence, using that sort of barometer that hardly the signs of an Internaional player. But I guess the Dragons are up there with the ABs and SA for quality

Cullen has been injured and well off the pace; playing him in the internationals was never an option hence MOD playing; but with a fully fit Cullen back i would definitely say good bye to MOD; but im not the coach and he chooses the players; MOD did play well against the Ab's and so does deserve being in the squad at least.

[Jackass]

phog wrote: »

If you want to compare ML form to International form look at Leo in Leinster's most recent game they lost at least 3 lineouts and he was sinbinned for a lineout offence, using that sort of barometer that hardly the signs of an Internaional player. But I guess the Dragons are up there with the ABs and SA for quality

:rolleyes:

So are you saying that MOD is a better player than Cullen? Or even Casey? And what's the point in playing MO'D v All Blacks, Toner should have started v South Africa, as he is a lineout specialist (one of the best lineout operators in the country, in fact) and MOD showed his class b South Africa by being mauled alive -a one armed midget would have been just about as effective in the lineout as MO'D was that day - and granted he did ok v All Blacks - set piece aside, but he's a woeful player at international level, and it's worth playing eith Cullen, the guy who has a shout of starting for Ireland when all are fit, or Toner, give him a game as he's best available line out option v SA and up against the best second row partnership in the world, you can't buy experience like that.

Wasted oppertunity after wasted oppertunity.

And defending MOD as an international standard player is literally laughable.

ScrubsfanChris

What is this thread about again?

But seriously, good luck to POC and be back in a Munster jersey soon.

whysomoody

bamboozle wrote: »

things are changing a bit under Joe Schmidt, Shaune Berne played for Old Belvedere 2 weekends ago. Ruddock has turned out for St. Marys, Stephen Keogh, David Kearney, Dominic Ryan has turned out with lansdowne and Paul O'Donoghue and Harris Wright have played with clontarf this season.

however Munster have been great letting their front line players use the AIL in their return from injury and long may it continue.

Digifriendly wrote: »

Was BOD not Blackrock ?

No, he started in UCD, was famously moved to centre there by John McClean to whom he still credits much of his success, and then moved to blackrock, never played a game with them, and moved his affiliation back to UCD again - still is. Kearney is also still a UCD registered player.

phog

POC made a welcome return to rugby this evening in TP, his team losing buy the narrowest of margins to Shannon. He looked in good form and hungry for the game but I think he will need a few more games to ease himself back to H/C standard. He went down immedaitely after one carry or tackle and the whole ground held their breath, thankfully, it looked like a contact lens was the problem but the doc did check him out too. Fingers crossed that he'll be ok.

thomond2006

phog wrote: »

POC made a welcome return to rugby this evening in TP, his team losing buy the narrowest of margins to Shannon. He looked in good form and hungry for the game but I think he will need a few more games to ease himself back to H/C standard. He went down immedaitely after one carry or tackle and the whole ground held their breath, thankfully, it looked like a contact lens was the problem but the doc did check him out too. Fingers crossed that he'll be ok.

Re POC great to hear.

What was the attendance like?
Did Gareth Quinn McDonagh play for Shannon? If yes, what do you make of him?
http://www.munsterrugby.ie/rugby/academyprofiles.php?player=97081&includeref=dynamic

phog

phog

thomond2006 wrote: »

Re POC great to hear.

What was the attendance like?
Did Gareth Quinn McDonagh play for Shannon? If yes, what do you make of him?
http://www.munsterrugby.ie/rugby/academyprofiles.php?player=97081&includeref=dynamic

Attendance - not sure but certainly was a bigger crowd than at most AIL matches even with it clashing with a Munster game on TV. Very hard to guss as I was in the terrace and you cant see the people on the stand from the terrace. My guess from looking at the crowd on the way out would be around 2,500 but that clould be so afr off the mark.


McDonagh - dont think he took to the field.

whysomoody

phog wrote: »

Attendance - not sure but certainly was a bigger crowd than at most AIL matches even with it clashing with a Munster game on TV. Very hard to guss as I was in the terrace and you cant see the people on the stand from the terrace. My guess from looking at the crowd on the way out would be around 2,500 but that clould be so afr off the mark.


McDonagh - dont think he took to the field.

2,500 thats huge!

bamboozle

whysomoody wrote: »

No, he started in UCD, was famously moved to centre there by John McClean to whom he still credits much of his success, and then moved to blackrock, never played a game with them, and moved his affiliation back to UCD again - still is. Kearney is also still a UCD registered player.

Rob Kearney's club is UCD, i was talking about his bro david who's with Lansdowne.

I certainly remember one AIL match between Clontarf and Blackrock where BOD was at 13 for Rock with his mate (groomsman at his wedding) Donny Rossi at 13 for Clontarf

great to see POC back

TheSpecialOne

Think the crowd was close to 4,000 going by match report http://www.irishrugby.ie/rugby/21107.php

phog

TheSpecialOne wrote: »

Think the crowd was close to 4,000 going by match report http://www.irishrugby.ie/rugby/21107.php

€10 entry by 4,000 = €40,000 for Shannon, they must be delighted that Paulie made his return for this game.

thomond2006

Munsterfans posters are adamant it was only 2,000-2,500 attendance.

In any case, great income for Shannon.