BOD v Gatland- "Grudge Match"

Wheeker

:rolleyes:

If I read one more newspaper article referring to this Saturday's Ire v Wales match as a "grudge match" I'm gonna puke What a load of b******s

Just wondering what everyone else's opinion is on this is? IMO this is ancient history & in no way is a true pro like BOD even thinking about this. I must admit that when BOD was dropped for the 3rd Lions Test I was as furious as everyone else. I still think BOD would have done better than Davies, but the hurt was more to do with wanting the "fairytale" ending for BOD in a Lions shirt- the least he deserved after the previous Lions tour... & then Gatland snatched it away! However, with the benefit of hindsight I think the Irish media probably did over-react a bit &, yeah, Gatland did get a bit too much grief over it. It was, in the end, just a selection decision.

However, I for one have not forgotten what Gatland did for Irish rugby when he was coach- at the time it was probably the best rugby I had seen Ireland play in 10 years. I was very pissed-off when the IRFU shafted him. I just don't get why there is so much anti-Gatland vitriol from Irish fans. His achievements speak for themselves & as such, no matter what your view of him as a person, he must rank up there as one of the best coaches.

I am just hoping that on Sat there isn't any silly booing of Gatland. One of my proudest moments as an Irish supporter was when, despite dire warnings, we were still able to welcome England to Croke Park & allow them to sing their anthem without any bad-natured booing etc. (oh and whip their asses too!:pac:). Let's hope we can show our class once again this Sat. :cool:

.ak

The media need to spin to sell papers, nothing in it.

However, I'm sure there's a little bit in BOD that wants to show Gatland what he's got left in the tank.

Dravokivich

Sure the other 14 lads can have a day off.

Ugo Monye spacecraft experience

There's certainly an edge to it. BOD and Gatland will deny it but you can bet your arse BOD will be going into this game looking show Gatland that he's still a top quality center

AngeGal

Ugo Monye spacecraft experience wrote: »

There's certainly an edge to it. BOD and Gatland will deny it but you can bet your arse BOD will be going into this game looking show Gatland that he's still a top quality center

Exactly. Too much will be made of it this week but if Ireland do win, I think O'Driscoll will consider the victory sweeter than any other over Wales (GS Aside). It's human nature which doesn't really change irregardless of whether you're a professional or playing junior 1.

CatFromHue

There's nothing in it.

Gatland came all the way over here to talk to Tubridy on The Late Late to try and clear it up. It was a rugby decision and no more.

BOD, like every player who plays against a former coach, will want to put in a good showing of course.

CatFromHue

BOD has had enough of it anyway!

"As part of his media duties in the build-up, O'Driscoll was interviewed by Craig Doyle and BT Sport who promptly published a teaser of the chat, which will be shown later today, titled: "Brian O'Driscoll on Lions omission".

O'Driscoll was unamused, replying to both BT Sport and Craig Doyle: "Thanks for that. One question in an interview & you put it in the headline. Typical … unbelievably annoying headline. So annoyed with it. Who cares any more."

http://www.espn.co.uk/ireland/rugby/story/213563.html

Sangre

I find the whole thing embarrassing and cringe-inducing.

Yeah_Right

I think it is a bit of extra motivation for BOD. As a previous poster said, every player wants to show a former coach how good they are. Especially if that coach dropped them or never really gave them a chance. Look at Bob Casey against Leinster.

The re-action of the Irish media and fans to the dropping was laughable. I remember watching the game in a pub and when Gatland appeared on screen before the match or during the 1st half, nearly everyone in the bar was booing him. towards the end of the game a bunch of kiwis started chanting "Warren Gatland!! Warren Gatland!!" No one had a response.

Ugo Monye spacecraft experience

Sangre wrote: »

I find the whole thing embarrassing and cringe-inducing.

In what sense?

ScissorPaperRock

CatFromHue wrote: »

BOD has had enough of it anyway!

"As part of his media duties in the build-up, O'Driscoll was interviewed by Craig Doyle and BT Sport who promptly published a teaser of the chat, which will be shown later today, titled: "Brian O'Driscoll on Lions omission".

O'Driscoll was unamused, replying to both BT Sport and Craig Doyle: "Thanks for that. One question in an interview & you put it in the headline. Typical … unbelievably annoying headline. So annoyed with it. Who cares any more."

http://www.espn.co.uk/ireland/rugby/story/213563.html

He acknowledged today that is was not Doyle that wrote the headline, and that it was someone at BT Digital.

Swiwi.

Yeah_Right wrote: »

I think it is a bit of extra motivation for BOD. As a previous poster said, every player wants to show a former coach how good they are. Especially if that coach dropped them or never really gave them a chance. Look at Bob Casey against Leinster.

The re-action of the Irish media and fans to the dropping was laughable. I remember watching the game in a pub and when Gatland appeared on screen before the match or during the 1st half, nearly everyone in the bar was booing him. towards the end of the game a bunch of kiwis started chanting "Warren Gatland!! Warren Gatland!!" No one had a response.

TBH I find the last bit cringeworthy. Gatland always has something to say, and not in a good Joe Schmidt kind of a way. I hope he never gets the AB gig. Not sure why NZ fans were chanting Gatland, unless they are from the Waikato.

Yeah_Right

Swiwi. wrote: »

TBH I find the last bit cringeworthy. Gatland always has something to say, and not in a good Joe Schmidt kind of a way. I hope he never gets the AB gig. Not sure why NZ fans were chanting Gatland, unless they are from the Waikato.

A couple of them were Mooloo boys. It was just funny because of the booing earlier. Basically they were sh1t-stirring.

I agree 100% about him getting the ABs job. Not a fan.

Yamanoto

ScissorPaperRock wrote: »

He acknowledged today that is was not Doyle that wrote the headline, and that it was someone at BT Digital.

Loved his hashtag

mfceiling

What happens if Ireland win by a point on Saturday and BOD has a really poor game?

What will that prove to anyone about anything?

It's the greatest crock of horsesh*t that has ever came into being.

P_1

Presumably it sells papers and is a decent clickbait for the media to use the headline. I'd imagine BOD would like to have a great match (like he presumably always does). Hopefully we'll have heard the last of it by Sunday evening.

Sandwlch

Cant wait. Revenge is a dish best served cold, and the match result is secondary to this BOD v Gatland clash. Hoping BOD really stuffs it to him, and I'd say the whole Irish squad is really fired up to make sure that happens.