What chance BOD playing another season to finish at the WC?

Mr Boom Boom

If BOD has a very good 6 nations is there anything stopping him staying on for one more year to play in the World Cup next year?

Chabals Beard

Mr Boom Boom wrote: »

If BOD has a very good 6 nations is there anything stopping him staying on for one more year to play in the World Cup next year?

No.

durkadurka

No chance id say

smndly

None unfortunately. Let's just hope he has a brilliant 6nations.

bleg

Slim to none.

Tox56

Another World Cup means another 2 pre-seasons. It's not happening

Rightwing

Mr Boom Boom wrote: »

If BOD has a very good 6 nations is there anything stopping him staying on for one more year to play in the World Cup next year?

We'll see if he's up to it at 6N level, if so, wouldn't rule it out.

Tin Foil Hat

Zero.

JPCN1

While I'd love to see it but it will be most certainly be a year too far. I just hope he goes out with a Championship win this year.

Henshaw looks like an excellent prospect or Fitzgerald.

padser

JPCN1 wrote: »

While I'd love to see it but it will be most certainly be a year too far. I just hope he goes out with a Championship win this year.

Henshaw looks like an excellent prospect or Fitzgerald.

Payne more likely

stephen_n

Given his form so far this season, it's definitely a year too far.

Yamanoto

This one's for you OP....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSGl3d4KOMk

Busted Flat.

He is like Graybo, he will haunt our screens, the likes never now when to get off the stage. Such is Ireland.

Podge_irl

Busted Flat. wrote: »

He is like Graybo, he will haunt our screens, the likes never now when to get off the stage. Such is Ireland.

It would be hard for that to be more stupid.

BOD is retiring at the end of the season. End of and with no doubt. I'm not massively confident but I hope he has a hell of a 6N to sign off with.

vienne86

No - he'll go at the end of the season, I'm convinced....unfortunately. Anyway, the guy deserves a happy and healthy retirement.

Longfordian in London

He has just turned 35 , I do appreciate he has been playing at the highest level for 15 + years , and the demands the modern game has on the body with huge hits , it all depends how he goes this year , put yourself in his position , just say he comes through the 6 nations campaign injury free and a decent campaign under his belt.
Many factor would come into play, if Leinster are in HC final in May , it may be more difficult
He would have to assess has he the appetite and physical capacity for another 6 nations next year.
It's a massive incentive ....is all I'm saying ... I do acknowledge its a long shot for the great man , but I just wouldn't rule it out

accensi0n

Why is everyone answering the question backwards?

The answer is yes.

philthrill69

http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12556/9143732/super-rugby-former-south-africa-victor-matfield-out-of-retirement

Mr Boom Boom

Looks like Joe is starting the campaign !!

http://www.independent.ie/sport/schmidt-sees-life-in-brian-29974254.html

Neil3030

Why not give him 6 months off after this season, with a view to starting a preseason in Dec/Jan of 2014/2015, which would carry him through to the WC?

.ak

He's already said he's giving it up at the end of the season.

Busted Flat.

It is time to give way too new blood, but then again Irish rugby were never interested in that, due to the fear of making a wrong decision. He is the oldest player in the 6 nations. Its a young mans sport not a career launch pad.

Mr Boom Boom

.ak wrote: »

He's already said he's giving it up at the end of the season.

Yeah but things can change - see link above to victor matfield coming out of retirement for the WC

ElChe32

I'd say there's about 4.67% chance.

awec

No IMO. Time for him to call it a day at the end of the season.

Gambas

Mr Boom Boom wrote: »

Yeah but things can change - see link above to victor matfield coming out of retirement for the WC

Look at Thorne, or Shaw or POC. Locks are different. Amble around the park, clear out the odd ruck, bit of jumping and catching now and then. It's laziness that forces most of them to quit.

As for BOD, he's been poor more times than I'd like to remember in the past year or so. Time to let him go.

rrpc

Please stop!

He's retiring at the end of this season. He's been asked this question so many times now, it must be getting tiresome.

Joe Schmidt has enough time to bring his successor in. Not a lot of time, but enough.

Ugo Monye spacecraft experience

He'll call it quits at the end of the season and it will be the right time imo. Much and all as I love ROG he probably went on a season too long (performance in France aside) and I don't want to see the same thing happen to BOD

Sulla Felix

I think he'll call it quits and when you consider that he's played first team rugby for nearly his entire career it's some legacy. If anything I think we could have eased him off into the subs last year or at least this year, if only to help get some regular starts blooded for his position. No ignominy in being a super sub for the twilight of a career.

thebaz

I'm probably on my own here , but would love to see it - I remember being shot down here before for suggesting Schmidt would take over Ireland, so hopefully it comes to pass again - his experience would be invaluable , and for him , he deserves better, than so many shattered dreams at WC time - it is the ultimate in rugby - and I believe with Schmidt in charge , and BOD used very sparcely , we could get that semi spot , that he more than anyone deserves.

awec

Lad I really think this is pie in the sky stuff. He would have to get through a whole other season with Leinster, and another set of AIs and another 6 nations. Too much to ask and he could end up wrecking himself.

I think we can all see at the moment that he is not what he was, he just doesn't make the same breaks any more. I'm sure the mind is still there but the body just isn't up to it.

This is it for him, and then it's time to move on and try and find the next BOD.

Better to go out on a high than play on for romance reasons when all you'll be is a targetted weak link.

Molester Stallone

Perhaps he could do a Richie McCaw & take a little break & come back for one last hurrah before the WC.
Personally I hope he doesn't as it could be one season too far, but if he has a cracking 6 nations, he may have a rethink

marc96

Mr Boom Boom wrote: »

Yeah but things can change - see link above to victor matfield coming out of retirement for the WC

Victor matfield will not wear the green and gold again.will sit on the bench for the bulls

Ugo Monye spacecraft experience

He won't be starting when Payne is IQ on current form so I don't see him getting any better in two years time. He's leaving at the right time thankfully

CatFromHue

How many games has Payne actually played at 13?

It's a different position completely than 15 and at International level it's a step up again.

thebaz

Molester Stallone wrote: »

Perhaps he could do a Richie McCaw & take a little break & come back for one last hurrah before the WC.

thats what I would love , forget tours , AI's, but I can not emphasis how valuable his experince is - sure he doesn't make breaks like in his prime , but really he hasnt done that for nearly a decade - its his organisation of defense that is simply sublime - what I most admire about him, is he has re-invented himself completly as a player , from the midfield dancer of his prime - to a midfield general supreme

CatFromHue

Midfield Dancer, I like it!

"Hold me closer, Midfield Dancer" :P

thebaz

CatFromHue wrote: »

Midfield Dancer, I like it!

"Hold me closer, Midfield Dancer" :P

I meant that in a good way , he moved with the grace of a butterfly - never seen a centre like him the way he shimmied - now it is all grunt , but in a great way

CatFromHue

So did I.

It's a good description.

It's just also like an Elton John song......Tiny Dancer!

Molester Stallone

CatFromHue wrote: »

So did I.

It's a good description.

It's just also like an Elton John song......Tiny Dancer!

And Darcy can be his David Furnish?

trackguy

I don't want him to play another year. He's taken enough punishment and it's time for him to retire and the team to rebuild.

To state the incredibly obvious, he owes us nothing.

I hope Leinster & Ireland can help him get a successful send-off.

Neil3030

All these posters caring about his well being. Pfft. Get the little bugger out there until important bits start falling off, says I.

We need a bloody good war to sort out this sissyness.

aha_sender

BOD has given it all to the Irish team and also Leinster. The Great centre hero of the Irish team for years, but nostalgia is not needed. He is not bad but next be a year to far. Thanks bod hopefully grand slam to send him off in style.

Amprodude

No he's finished. Not the player he was but what a talent he was.

Busted Flat.

Amprodude wrote: »

No he's finished. Not the player he was but what a talent he was.

He is not finished his photo shoots yet, the lying on the field for a couple of minutes on Saturday may not have been captured just right. This is the second time this position has been tried maybe third time lucky.

SNAKEDOC

If there ever was a best time to let him retire it is now. The game against scotland and against wales too showed how adaptable the team has become. When paul went for the scots game the team just adapted likewise with the clearing of the bench during the game on saturday, and with so many places having double or triple replacements that are fighting for a starting slot the team is in a good place so when he does go the team wont be too bad off and i think this next world cup will show a supreme irish team. We'll be singing the praises of POM next.

padser

SNAKEDOC wrote: »

If there ever was a best time to let him retire it is now. The game against scotland and against wales too showed how adaptable the team has become. When paul went for the scots game the team just adapted likewise with the clearing of the bench during the game on saturday, and with so many places having double or triple replacements that are fighting for a starting slot the team is in a good place so when he does go the team wont be too bad off and i think this next world cup will show a supreme irish team. We'll be singing the praises of POM next.

I'm sorry being able to best Scotland at home without POC doesn't exactly show "how adaptable the team has become". It just shows that with a decent coach you can beat teams that are worse than you even when you are missing a few players.

We probably will be singing the praises of POM next (he has had an excellent first few games) but the quality of our backrow doesn't really have a huge bearing on whether or not BOD should / will retire.

Anyway, I agree with the majority of posters in that I don't see him deciding to stay. He hasn't had the most amazing season and I agree that the years do seem to be catching up to him. I think he would make a good shot at keeping his 13 jearsey against Payne (mostly for the reasons mentioned that Payne is actually a full back!) for one year. Payne would probably offer more in attack but defending in the centre is very much a product of experience and I think for that BOD might keep the jearsey,

It's all moot, he had given no indication he may stay.

ScissorPaperRock

padser wrote: »

I'm sorry being able to best Scotland at home without POC doesn't exactly show "how adaptable the team has become". It just shows that with a decent coach you can beat teams that are worse than you even when you are missing a few players.

We probably will be singing the praises of POM next (he has had an excellent first few games) but the quality of our backrow doesn't really have a huge bearing on whether or not BOD should / will retire.

Anyway, I agree with the majority of posters in that I don't see him deciding to stay. He hasn't had the most amazing season and I agree that the years do seem to be catching up to him. I think he would make a good shot at keeping his 13 jearsey against Payne (mostly for the reasons mentioned that Payne is actually a full back!) for one year. Payne would probably offer more in attack but defending in the centre is very much a product of experience and I think for that BOD might keep the jearsey,

It's all moot, he had given no indication he may stay.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uBup3TUDWY

SNAKEDOC

Link is blocked man

ScissorPaperRock

SNAKEDOC wrote: »

Link is blocked man

That's weird. I'm in Ghana at the moment and it works here, but it's strange that whomever uploaded it made it available here but not in Ireland.

It was basically a highlights video of Payne with the Auckland Blues,Canterbury Crusaders,Waikato Chiefs, Northland Taniwha and New Zealand Barbarians, showing that he's had quite a bit of experience at 13.

.ak

Works fine for me.