Is there a pro-Munster Bias in the Irish Media?

Madworld

I don't really want this to get into a Leinster V Munster píssing contest, because it believes it involves all the other provinces also.

However the more I read element of the Irish media the more apparent to me that there is most definitely some sort of bias in the media, specifically regarding up and coming players.

For example Peter O Mahoney. Great young player. But in the past two weeks I have seen two different write ups on him praising him on how he will be the next great Irish 7. Its been the same with all the youngish players who have came through the Munster ranks. Keith Earls the next Brian O'Driscoll, Conor Murray the Irish scrum half for ten years, Felix Jones, Simon Zebo etc.

Now all the above are good solid players. However in the likes of Ruddock, Ryan and O'Brien are superior young back row players to likes of O'Mahoney, yet we still see all this hype. Am I being paranoid here regarding the media or do other people agree with me?

molloyjh

Ah no I don't think there is really. SOB has been raved about for a while now, Mike Ross was getting plugged in the media before getting a look in at international level and if you look at some of the promos re Irish rugby at the moment (there's 1 ad in particular, can't remember what for) Sexton is getting plenty of notice too.

I remember last season there was a lot of talk about Ryan and Ruddock in particular in the press, I just think at this stage they aren't considered new kids. They've been in Magners/Pro12 and Ryan even featured in HEC games already. Ferg was getting a lot of good press in the first half of the season too last year.

There's a lot of talk about POM at the moment - I must confess to having seen little of him so I don't know if it is warranted or not. But then we do have a slight tendancy to build up the talent coming through. Wait until Conway gets a string of games at senior level (injury permitting). He'll get plenty of column inches himself.

Teferi

Leinster fan here. Absolutely not.

And even if there was, all the talking would be done on the pitch. Can't imagine the players would care.

Madworld

I agree there will be hype about up and coming talent but for the likes of O'Brien its warrented.

However it seems to me that the Irish Press will hype a young player beyond belief if there from down south.

If O'Halloran, Griffin, Ryan, Ruddock, Dom Ryan, Spence had of been playing down south last year it seems that they would have been hyped an awful lot more by the Irish Media and possibly have been in with a chance with making the WC squad like Murray and F Jones.

totallegend

I think certain journalists have preferences definitely, one of the guys who did a profile on POM springs to mind, but I don't think it's prevalent throughout the media. Certainly a few years ago, when Munster were more dominant, it may have been the case, but not really any longer.

Good effort at cranking up the hype for Friday anyway!

Fishooks12

Naming all the upcoming Munster players being championed by the media doesn't constitute an argument

Dominic Ryan, O' Malley, Conway and the other young Leinster players get the same, if not more coverage

Peter O Mahoney is getting a bit more lately due to the fact that he's playing so well

Riskymove

I think it depends on the media!

You dont see too much coverage of Munster in the Herald!

Likewise there would usually be more Munster focus in the Examiner (having said that there is an interview with Shane Horgan about Leinster in today's examiner)

also

Keith Earls the next Brian O'Driscoll, Conor Murray the Irish scrum half for ten years

can you point to an article that says either of these things? aren't you yourself exaggerating the content

wixfjord

There certainly 100% was, but I don't think so anymore tbh.

CIARAN_BOYLE

Madworld wrote: »

I don't really want this to get into a Leinster V Munster píssing contest, because it believes it involves all the other provinces also.

However the more I read element of the Irish media the more apparent to me that there is most definitely some sort of bias in the media, specifically regarding up and coming players.

For example Peter O Mahoney. Great young player. But in the past two weeks I have seen two different write ups on him praising him on how he will be the next great Irish 7.

Now all the above are good solid players. However in the likes of Ruddock, Ryan and O'Brien are superior young back row players to likes of O'Mahoney, yet we still see all this hype. Am I being paranoid here regarding the media or do other people agree with me?

O'Brien is an established starter, Ryan and Ruddock both got HEC game time last season while POM looks like being the next big thing.

Anyway Ruddock and Ryan both pieces done on them in sunday papers last weekend

CatFromHue

For a long time Leinster used to be the team to kick around.

Not anymore though.

Cpt_Blackbeard

The hype surrounding a player will generally explode when its in a position where the province haven't produced much talent, or when its one provinces youngster gunning for the Irish jersey ahead of an established player from another province.

All the POM articles I've seen have been written by Gerry Thornley. He just seems to be getting a little moist over POM for whatever reason. I wouldn't agree that the 2 Leinster lads are better players, POM was the U20s captain the year before they were so he isn't an unknown. I don't know who is the best of them but, POM will be the first to break into the Irish setup as, he will be getting a lot more games this season.

All the Earls hype came once the Fitzgerald hype went away. It was fully justified imo, he was the most exciting back Munster had produced in years so hype was sure to follow him. There was an heir of expectancy in the ground every time he got the ball, which is very rare in Irish rugby.

The Murray hype is understandable as he is the first 9 who looks like a prospective lion (TOL aside) to come through in donkeys years. If you want to see crazy hype surrounding a young 9, just look at your own Luke McGrath. Again, that is to be expected as its been years since Leibster produced even a PRO12 standard 9.

I've never experienced the Zebo hype and the Jones hype goes back to his Churchill cup showings as a Leinster player.

Again, its just easy for a Leinster supporter to see the talk of a Munster player as just being hype, where they will be ignorant to the hype surrounding their own players as, they watch the Leinster lads each week - Replace province names as necessary.

I'd almost say that we see more Ulster hype than anything. But, again that is because they have some exciting players coming through to replace average established ones.

little173

Nope, not even worth debating actually, thinking about it probably borders on the paranoia.

Podge_irl

No, definitely not.

There most definitely was though.

profitius

Hype usually happens when a good young player comes along that is better than whats there already or at least with potential to be. Last season there was alot of hype around Fionn Carr because he stood out at Connacht but at Leinster he doesn't stand out.

POM is potentially a good international player in an area where we're weak in this country. He is playing well and thats why he is getting some attention.

OP, you could say that over the last 2 years Dom Ryan and Ruddock got way more hype than POM.

tolosenc

Yes, but it's nowhere near what it used to be.

Fireball07

There really isn't. Not any moreso than Leinster anyway.


Possibly Connacht and Ulster get less limelight...but I don't think there's any particular bias. Dominic Ryan and Ruddock got plenty of hype...I'm sure Hagan will pretty soon.

wixfjord

Fireball07 wrote: »

There really isn't. Not any moreso than Leinster anyway.


Possibly Connacht and Ulster get less limelight...but I don't think there's any particular bias. Dominic Ryan and Ruddock got plenty of hype...I'm sure Hagan will pretty soon.

What could be said is that there are more Munster leaning pundits on T.V. than Leinster ones. 4 in particular I can name, O Brien, Hook, McGuirk and Sheahan and all at the height of the game in Ireland.

There certainly always was without doubt a poke fun at Leinster agenda in the media prior to the first HEC win, and even soon after it, but that has changed recently.

The whole thing of the "Dublin based media loving the city slickers" as purported by southern fans was never an issue in rugby in the pro era as far as I remember. The whole "mythical Munster, real men, New Zealand, Thomond Park mystique, miracle match" etc etc was overplayed, but in fairness, not to the same degree any more, and Munster were the first to do it from the South so it was newer at the time.

[Jackass]

Ha, it's funny, but for absolute YEARS there was a massive pro-Munster, anti-Leinster style of reporting in the media. To a large extent this has disappeared, but for a while it would be reported if Munster lost to a poor English side away that "Heroic Munster undone at the last", whereas a similar loss for Leinster would read "Leinsters lack of passion costs dear".

It was comical really.

Funny how in the weekend papers, a 3 quarter page spread was given to Munsters hopeless win at home to the weakest side in the league in a boring, uneventfull, tryless match, with Leinsters 5 try match with a lead that changed hands 7 times in the game was given a small footnote to the side. The title read "Munster earn hard fought victory" and had nothing negative to say about their inability to break down a well organised, but ultimately very poor Italian side, where Leinster were critiszed a lot in their article with the away win to a much better side.

On foot of the Munster game I thougt the only difference between a Munster Heineken Cup lineup and the weakest team in the league, at home, was Ronan O'Gara, and if Aironi had taken their reasonably straight forward kicks at goal, the scores would have been level, but some horrific attempts at goal cost Aironi whilst O'Gara's accuaracy was as good as usual, and got me wondering what kind of team will Munster have when O'Gara's ever decreasing ability is finally lost, so I was very surprised by their glowing article.

I often think that Munster young players are hugely overrated by the media. With the exception of Earls coming through a few years ago, not one Munster academy product would get into a Leinster match day 23.

But just my thoughts on media views of Munster / Leinster vs my opinion.

wixfjord

[Jackass] wrote: »

Ha, it's funny, but for absolute YEARS there was a massive pro-Munster, anti-Leinster style of reporting in the media. To a large extent this has disappeared, but for a while it would be reported if Munster lost to a poor English side away that "Heroic Munster undone at the last", whereas a similar loss for Leinster would read "Leinsters lack of passion costs dear".

It was comical really.

Funny how in the weekend papers, a 3 quarter page spread was given to Munsters hopeless win at home to the weakest side in the league in a boring, uneventfull, tryless match, with Leinsters 5 try match with a lead that changed hands 7 times in the game was given a small footnote to the side. The title read "Munster earn hard fought victory" and had nothing negative to say about their inability to break down a well organised, but ultimately very poor Italian side, where Leinster were critiszed a lot in their article with the away win to a much better side.

On foot of the Munster game I thougt the only difference between a Munster Heineken Cup lineup and the weakest team in the league, at home, was Ronan O'Gara, and if Aironi had taken their reasonably straight forward kicks at goal, the scores would have been level, but some horrific attempts at goal cost Aironi whilst O'Gara's accuaracy was as good as usual, and got me wondering what kind of team will Munster have when O'Gara's ever decreasing ability is finally lost, so I was very surprised by their glowing article.

I often think that Munster young players are hugely overrated by the media. With the exception of Earls coming through a few years ago, not one Munster academy product would get into a Leinster match day 23.

But just my thoughts on media views of Munster / Leinster vs my opinion.

I think posters like yourself and myself may have been brainwashed by that famous LF thread which picked up on ever little slight against Leinster and pro Munster Jackass, but you're right, it definitely did exist.

Then you had lovely fellows like Niall Kiely in the Times and a certain G. Thornley who only served to exacerbate matters with highly inflammatory articles, written to annoy it seems.

profitius

The Irish media is very politically correct. Maybe they feel they need to be nice or Munster people will take offense? I don't think lavishing a team with praise does them any good. Also the media tend to see things in black and white.

Behind it all maybe they're Leinster fans who were frustrated with Leinster? For a period Munster were the better team and were successful and Leinster, despite being good on paper underachieved.

Over the last few years I've been critical of Munster and praising Leinster. Its not Leinster bias its more to do with pointing out where one side is better than another.

PhatPiggins

Whats the ratio of Munster to Leinster journalists?

tolosenc

Just lookign at the list of televised games this year. RTE have shown 1 Leinster game this year, and will show the Stephen's day interpro. Munster up to the same point will have had 4 games on RTE (1 interpro).

That said, I remember Munster lads on here last year complaining that RTE was all Leinster and no Munster...

Cpt_Blackbeard

[Jackass] wrote: »

I often think that Munster young players are hugely overrated by the media. With the exception of Earls coming through a few years ago, not one Munster academy product would get into a Leinster match day 23.

Thats a bit rich considering that Cronin was poached this season...

jacothelad

Cpt_Blackbeard wrote: »

Thats a bit rich considering that Cronin was poached this season...

I don't think it matters a lot whether he was poached, boiled or scrambled. There was considerable hype surrounding him by certain sections of the media. Excluding Fla. he is about the 4th or 5th best hooker in the country.

[Jackass]

Cpt_Blackbeard wrote: »

Thats a bit rich considering that Cronin was poached this season...

Well, without getting off topic too much, there have always been one or two Munster lads who make up squad numbers in Leinster as they are Irish, but usually older guys as stop gaps before the academy players come through.

Cronin in fairness will play a fair bit of rugby at Leinster, but I think we would be more than fine without him. The oppisite being guys like Keatley and Jones at Munster (so far) who are the big star up and coming players coming through with the hopes of a provence on their backs, then of course there have been the guys like J. Murphy, Ronan, Hurley, Dowling etc. etc.

GerM

Cronin was told to leave Connacht if he wanted to further his international career. I'm not sure if Schmidt even wanted him specifically.

Cpt_Blackbeard

[Jackass] wrote: »

Well, without getting off topic too much, there have always been one or two Munster lads who make up squad numbers in Leinster as they are Irish, but usually older guys as stop gaps before the academy players come through.

Cronin in fairness will play a fair bit of rugby at Leinster, but I think we would be more than fine without him. The oppisite being guys like Keatley and Jones at Munster (so far) who are the big star up and coming players coming through with the hopes of a provence on their backs, then of course there have been the guys like J. Murphy, Ronan, Hurley, Dowling etc. etc.

Hopefully Keatley will only be a stopgap until Hanrahan makes himself known but, I am a big fan of Keatley and feel that he is the perfect replacement for Warwick and possibly ROG in the long term.

I'd consider Reddan and Ross much more important to Leinster's aspirations but, this will only turn into a píssing contest. No point in earning another lifetime ban from the forum.

The way I view it:
Munster can't produce outside backs or props (recent problem) so they import players.
Leinster can't produce props (until recently), hookers, locks or nines, so they import players

GerM

PhatPiggins wrote: »

Whats the ratio of Munster to Leinster journalists?

Majority of journos would definitely be Leinster. Farrelly is the only one that's unashamedly Munster and he's very Cork-centric in his views.

The interesting thing is that a lot of journalists aren't actually from a rugby background at all. Thornley was a tennis and League of Ireland football reporter, Gavin Cummiskey was GAA I think, Johnny Watterson was a hockey international player and reporter. I think a lot of them are fairly impartial to be honest but the quality of their reporting can be dubious to say the least.

CatFromHue

They've had more ex players and had them quicker into the mainstream media. Guys like Quinlan, Corkery, Sheehan, and to a lesser extent Galway would for the most part show Munster in the best possible light. Leinster players haven't been as quick to go into media, Costello and more recently Jackman have had some success, and these guys would equally try and show Leinster in the best light. So by virtue of numbers it could be argued that there is. I don't think this is what the OP meant though. I'm guessing he meant the non affiliated writers.

It's pretty hard to quantify if there is a pro Munster bias in the media. Below are two searches I did for Peter O Mahony and for Dominic Ryan on the Irish Independent website. You can see the results for yourself. Whether this is a Munster or Peter O Mahony thing I don't know.

http://www.independent.ie/search/?rows=100&c=Rugby&mc=Sport&q=DOMINIC+RYAN
http://www.independent.ie/search/?rows=100&mc=Sport&c=Rugby&q=PETER+O%27MAHONY

Edit: The Dom Ryan link wasn't working and used capitals as per Cpt Blackbeards comment below.

This is of course not exactly indept research but interesting all the same.

Cpt_Blackbeard

CatFromHue wrote: »

They've had more ex players and had them quicker into the mainstream media. Guys like Quinlan, Corkery, Sheehan, and to a lesser extent Galway would for the most part show Munster in the best possible light. Leinster players haven't been as quick to go into media, Costello and more recently Jackman have had some success, and these guys would equally try and show Leinster in the best light. So by virtue of numbers it could be argued that there is. I don't think this is what the OP meant though. I'm guessing he meant the non affiliated writers.

It's pretty hard to quantify if there is a pro Munster bias in the media. Below are two searches I did for Peter O Mahony and for Dominic Ryan on the Irish Independent website. You can see the results for yourself. Whether this is a Munster or Peter O Mahony thing I don't know.

http://www.independent.ie/search/?rows=100&mc=Sport&c=Rugby&q=dominic+ryan
http://www.independent.ie/search/?rows=100&mc=Sport&c=Rugby&q=PETER+O%27MAHONY

This is of course not exactly indept research but interesting all the same.

Try putting Dominic Ryan in capitals...

dazmetron

Cpt_Blackbeard wrote: »

The hype surrounding a player will generally explode when its in a position where the province haven't produced much talent, or when its one provinces youngster gunning for the Irish jersey ahead of an established player from another province.

All the POM articles I've seen have been written by Gerry Thornley. He just seems to be getting a little moist over POM for whatever reason. I wouldn't agree that the 2 Leinster lads are better players, POM was the U20s captain the year before they were so he isn't an unknown. I don't know who is the best of them but, POM will be the first to break into the Irish setup as, he will be getting a lot more games this season.

All the Earls hype came once the Fitzgerald hype went away. It was fully justified imo, he was the most exciting back Munster had produced in years so hype was sure to follow him. There was an heir of expectancy in the ground every time he got the ball, which is very rare in Irish rugby.

The Murray hype is understandable as he is the first 9 who looks like a prospective lion (TOL aside) to come through in donkeys years. If you want to see crazy hype surrounding a young 9, just look at your own Luke McGrath. Again, that is to be expected as its been years since Leibster produced even a PRO12 standard 9.

I've never experienced the Zebo hype and the Jones hype goes back to his Churchill cup showings as a Leinster player.

Again, its just easy for a Leinster supporter to see the talk of a Munster player as just being hype, where they will be ignorant to the hype surrounding their own players as, they watch the Leinster lads each week - Replace province names as necessary.

I'd almost say that we see more Ulster hype than anything. But, again that is because they have some exciting players coming through to replace average established ones.

Might this have something to do with it? Gerry needing a new favourite!

wixfjord

CatFromHue wrote: »

They've had more ex players and had them quicker into the mainstream media. Guys like Quinlan, Corkery, Sheehan, and to a lesser extent Galway would for the most part show Munster in the best possible light. Leinster players haven't been as quick to go into media, Costello and more recently Jackman have had some success, and these guys would equally try and show Leinster in the best light. So by virtue of numbers it could be argued that there is. I don't think this is what the OP meant though. I'm guessing he meant the non affiliated writers.

It's pretty hard to quantify if there is a pro Munster bias in the media. Below are two searches I did for Peter O Mahony and for Dominic Ryan on the Irish Independent website. You can see the results for yourself. Whether this is a Munster or Peter O Mahony thing I don't know.

http://www.independent.ie/search/?rows=100&c=Rugby&mc=Sport&q=DOMINIC+RYAN
http://www.independent.ie/search/?rows=100&mc=Sport&c=Rugby&q=PETER+O%27MAHONY

Edit: The Dom Ryan link wasn't working and used capitals as per Cpt Blackbeards comment below.

This is of course not exactly indept research but interesting all the same.

What is the point of those two searches? I don't get it?

Amazotheamazing

I genuinely don't think there is a bias, Luke Fitz and Kearney had far more hype in recent years (tbf, one delivered on it) than almost any other young player.

Hugh Farrelly is really bigging POM up, not so sure he's that good myself.

CatFromHue

wixfjord wrote: »

What is the point of those two searches? I don't get it?

There are more interviews/articles specifically on O Mahony than on Ryan. I don't think there is any on Ryan actually.

Have a look through the two searches and guess who has started 21 games and come on in another 10 for their team.

Whether this is to do with Peter O Mahony or the Irish Independent is another matter.

wixfjord

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

I genuinely don't think there is a bias, Luke Fitz and Kearney had far more hype in recent years (tbf, one delivered on it) than almost any other young player.

Hugh Farrelly is really bigging POM up, not so sure he's that good myself.

Well except Earls.

But anyway, we're getting towards hype, not bias. Would you not agree Amazo that Munster were always the media darlings, and still are in many commentators minds, particularly on T.V.?

Jess16

To be honest I think the pervasive reporting of Munster rugby in the media was mainly due to the sudden proliferation of their fans. By that I mean, that rugby has had a comparatively stronger presence in Dublin for a much longer time than it has anywhere else in the country and therefore didn't have the same novelty factor or newness that it brought to Munster.

Similarly, I think now that rugby has become more mainstream in Munster, the media no longer feel the same need to report on it to the extent that they once did.

Amazotheamazing

wixfjord wrote: »

Well except Earls.

But anyway, we're getting towards hype, not bias. Would you not agree Amazo that Munster were always the media darlings, and still are in many commentators minds, particularly on T.V.?

No more so than Leinster, you mustn't have noticed the pages even Leinster schools rugby gets in the Irish Times, impressive for a competition that holds Irish rugby back.

Quint2010

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

No more so than Leinster, you mustn't have noticed the pages even Leinster schools rugby gets in the Irish Times, impressive for a competition that holds Irish rugby back.

Eh?

Amazotheamazing

Quint2010 wrote: »

Eh?

I don't think knock-out rugby is the best way to develop young players, I also think the win at all costs mentality can hinder the development of skills. You see guys like Macken who had good schools "careers" who have shocking skills.

But anyhow, I don't expect the people who place too much emphasis on it to agree with me, judging by the thread on it here, it's important to a good few people.

CatFromHue

Jess16 wrote: »

To be honest I think the pervasive reporting of Munster rugby in the media was mainly due to the sudden proliferation of their fans. By that I mean, that rugby has had a comparatively stronger presence in Dublin for a much longer time than it has anywhere else in the country and therefore didn't have the same novelty factor or newness that it brought to Munster.

Similarly, I think now that rugby has become more mainstream in Munster, the media no longer feel the same need to report on it to the extent that they once did.

I don't think there was any newness that Munster brought to Limerick anyway. I'm not sure about the rest of Munster. Remember the AIL was going very strong before the provincial teams took over and these teams used to get huge attendances plus big TV and media coverage. Shannon, Garryowen, and Young Munster were very successful and had a huge fan base. For a city of Limericks size these teams combined created a huge fan base that Munster could tap into.

Quint2010

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

I don't think knock-out rugby is the best way to develop young players, I also think the win at all costs mentality can hinder the development of skills. You see guys like Macken who had good schools "careers" who have shocking skills.

But anyhow, I don't expect the people who place too much emphasis on it to agree with me, judging by the thread on it here, it's important to a good few people.

Yeah I would agree with you that the schools cup itself is not a great way to develop rugby but schools rugby is much more than that. Leinster have U16, U17, U18 and U19 teams that are made up primarily from schools that are competing for the schools cup-but the season pretty much lasts nine months of the year. The schools interpro's now take place in early september with players training a month in advance of this. There is plenty for irish rugby to be thankful for when it comes to schools rugby-and not just in Leinster.

Hagz

Leinster would never be as good without the knockout tournament of schools rugby. I don't care what anyone says.

How else would you structure it?

irishbucsfan

I have to say that I've always wondered why the Leinster schools cup gets so much more coverage than the MSC? Is the standard in Leinster better or is it just Donnybrook media syndrome?

CIARAN_BOYLE

irishbucsfan wrote: »

I have to say that I've always wondered why the Leinster schools cup gets so much more coverage than the MSC? Is the standard in Leinster better or is it just Donnybrook media syndrome?

More people in Leinster more marketable

Hagz

irishbucsfan wrote: »

I have to say that I've always wondered why the Leinster schools cup gets so much more coverage than the MSC? Is the standard in Leinster better or is it just Donnybrook media syndrome?

I don't think it's got to do with the standard of rugby, although I've never watched the MSC so I can't compare. These are 3 reasons that spring to mind.

1. Because most the schools are Dublin based schools, it's a very local and tribal tournament. It adds to the excitement.
2. The way the youth have embraced it has raised it's popularity. Most young guys who go to a private school in south dublin want to play SCT rugby. Without sounding strange, it's widely perceived as "cool". Some people may hate that, but it's true for the most part.
3. Rugby is way more popular that GAA in south-side dublin.

Also, Boyle pretty much summed up the most important point.

In terms of TV coverage, I think Setanta cover it in detail cause they guy who owns Setanta is ex-Rock.

Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

ormond lad

Quint2010 wrote: »

Yeah I would agree with you that the schools cup itself is not a great way to develop rugby but schools rugby is much more than that. Leinster have U16, U17, U18 and U19 teams that are made up primarily from schools that are competing for the schools cup-but the season pretty much lasts nine months of the year. The schools interpro's now take place in early september with players training a month in advance of this. There is plenty for irish rugby to be thankful for when it comes to schools rugby-and not just in Leinster.

Youths and Schools players play in the same underage squads at 19s and 20s, they are in different squads at 16/17/18s.

Hagz wrote: »

Leinster would never be as good without the knockout tournament of schools rugby. I don't care what anyone says.

How else would you structure it?

heineken cup format. group stage followed by knockout games.
[COLOR=red]that gives each school a miminum of 3 or 6 games depending on if you have home/away games[/COLOR]
All the schools play at the minimium 10-12 friendlies in october, november, december, january as warm ups for the cup. If at least 4 of those dates were changed to group games combined with the 5-6 weeks in which the senior cup is played theres loads of time

irishbucsfan wrote: »

I have to say that I've always wondered why the Leinster schools cup gets so much more coverage than the MSC? Is the standard in Leinster better or is it just Donnybrook media syndrome?

more people, bigger market. People like tony ward writing in the papers. He has coached in the competition and has a vested interest in it

Jess16

CatFromHue wrote: »

I don't think there was any newness that Munster brought to Limerick anyway. I'm not sure about the rest of Munster. Remember the AIL was going very strong before the provincial teams took over and these teams used to get huge attendances plus big TV and media coverage. Shannon, Garryowen, and Young Munster were very successful and had a huge fan base. For a city of Limericks size these teams combined created a huge fan base that Munster could tap into.

Well of course but Limerick is only one county and even then the attendances that you're referring to only attracted a very specific demographic of people. Cork was and is a predominantly GAA county though on the back of Munster's success, rugby has since enjoyed a more mainstream status which is where I think the increased media presence stems from

Hagz

ormond lad wrote: »

heineken cup format. group stage followed by knockout games.

Yeh I guess that would be more fairs come to think about it. Still, I wouldn't say it's held back Irish rugby. It's undoubtedly one of the reasons Leinster's academy is envied across Europe.

thomond2006

The papers seem to be biased towards the province that is doing well at the time. Reading the plaudits towards Munster in 2008, you'd have sworn they'd found a cure for cancer, nevermind won the HEC.

matthew8

The RTE commentators seem fairly Munster-biased but that's about it really. I remember back in 2008/2009 there was a ridiculous bias and you would swear that Munster represented 31 of the Irish counties. Leinster were hardly even seen as Irish. They were written off, it was ridiculous. I remember Leinster being slammed for only beating Castres 33-3 while Munster were praised for their losing bonus point effort in the same week against Clermont. After the 2009 semi the bias seemed to stop massively and I haven't noticed too much bias since. The Leinster fans in particular seemed to take a lot of stick, I don't really know why, we were seen as posh while those thousands of Munster fans travelling to away games were decent, hardworking working class fans with a genuine love of the game.

As for talking up the young guys, of course Munster journos will talk up their young guys, as will Leinster journos with their guys.

One piece of bias that still annoys me is how the Thomond Park silence is praised yet no one ever mentions the respect fans in the RDS have for the kickers.

Amazotheamazing

matthew8 wrote: »

One piece of bias that still annoys me is how the Thomond Park silence is praised yet no one ever mentions the respect fans in the RDS have for the kickers.

Because the tradition had died out in Irish stadia except Thomond Park, fair play to Leinster for bringing it back but don't go around pretending it was always there.