Off The Ball Official Thread <Mod Note - Post #1, #533, #6651>

Say Your Number · 25-09-2019 05:59PM

Whatever about his punditry, O'Driscoll seems like a decent person, far from the obnoxious sterotype you see about rugby players, if anyone says anything negative about him as a person it reflects more on them.

aodomhnaill · 25-09-2019 06:02PM

Say Your Number wrote: »

Whatever about his punditry, O'Driscoll seems like a decent person, far from the obnoxious sterotype you see about rugby players, if anyone says anything negative about him as a person it reflects more on them.

Even though that is an exceptionally simplistic playground response, I guess that makes me ok as if you read my post again I never questioned if he was a decent person or not, nor did I suggest he was obnoxious.

dominatinMC · 25-09-2019 06:23PM

aodomhnaill wrote: »

Brian O Driscoll's problem is that he is not particularly bright, below average intelligence is being kind. Handed elite educational opportunities and amounted to sh*t back when there weren't the same demands on players. As you say, I have never once heard him say anything of interest of substance, all cliches and anecdotal waffle. He has waltzed through life and is now being tested in life after sport. He seems to be bouncing from gig to gig and they are all muck, yet he is desperately trying to stay in the limelight but that seems to be fading. His missus is not far off his performance either.

Jesus, did Brian run over your dog or something?! :pac:

Tell me how · 25-09-2019 06:33PM

aodomhnaill wrote: »

Brian O Driscoll's problem is that he is not particularly bright, below average intelligence is being kind. Handed elite educational opportunities and amounted to sh*t back when there weren't the same demands on players. As you say, I have never once heard him say anything of interest of substance, all cliches and anecdotal waffle. He has waltzed through life and is now being tested in life after sport. He seems to be bouncing from gig to gig and they are all muck, yet he is desperately trying to stay in the limelight but that seems to be fading. His missus is not far off his performance either.

Think both his parents are doctors and he was going to pursue that route himself should the rugby not have been an option.

Maybe he would have been unsuccessful but suggesting below average intelligence has no basis in reality I reckon.

aodomhnaill · 25-09-2019 06:58PM

Tell me how wrote: »

Think both his parents are doctors and he was going to pursue that route himself should the rugby not have been an option.

Maybe he would have been unsuccessful but suggesting below average intelligence has no basis in reality I reckon.

What have his parents got to do with anything? Genetics don't guarantee anything, he's living proof.

He got 200 odd points in his leaving, this by his own admission during one of those rib tickling stories of his rock years. he'd struggle to get into medicine with that haul although in his circles something might've been arranged for him. Privately educated to the hilt and that's what he can amount to? He ended up in sports management in UCD, the course organised purely to get lads in who can represent the college in whatever sport they specialise in (who have absolutely zero between their ears). Of which, I know one, failed his leaving cert outright, maths, english and irish yet strings were pulled for him and he got in on some golf merit.

This aside, he is extremely inarticulate and his analysis is...p*ss poor. Without his past, it really isn't that hard to identify someone who isn't that bright, Brian stands out a mile in this regard.

25-09-2019 07:45PM

aodomhnaill wrote: »

Brian O Driscoll's problem is that he is not particularly bright, below average intelligence is being kind. Handed elite educational opportunities and amounted to sh*t back when there weren't the same demands on players. As you say, I have never once heard him say anything of interest of substance, all cliches and anecdotal waffle. He has waltzed through life and is now being tested in life after sport. He seems to be bouncing from gig to gig and they are all muck, yet he is desperately trying to stay in the limelight but that seems to be fading. His missus is not far off his performance either.

Who piss*d in your cornflakes? That's a pretty harsh assessment of him.

RugbyLover123 · 25-09-2019 08:31PM

I would echo some of the comments regarding BODs punditry, he isn’t the worst but far from the best.

Find Keith Wood and Alan Quinlan becoming a hard listen. They always seem to be on. I know Woody was a great player 20 years ago, but they roll him out for every roadshow. Feel like I’ve heard his stories a thousand times.

I’d listen to a lot of rugby podcasts - but I’m starting to curb the coverage when Wood and Quinlan are on.

Tell me how · 25-09-2019 08:34PM

RugbyLover123 wrote: »

I would echo some of the comments regarding BODs punditry, he isn’t the worst but far from the best.

Find Keith Wood and Alan Quinlan becoming a hard listen. They always seem to be on. I know Woody was a great player 20 years ago, but they roll him out for every roadshow. Feel like I’ve heard his stories a thousand times.

I’d listen to a lot of rugby podcasts - but I’m starting to curb the coverage when Wood and Quinlan are on.

Definitely. Can't blame him but his message hasn't changed and I don't find him engaging or entertaining enough to warrant continued presence.

DOB's stance on journalists from a certain parish has been to the detriment of rugby commentators on the show.

25-09-2019 10:24PM

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Who piss*d in your cornflakes? That's a pretty harsh assessment of him.

Actually I don't think that latter post was quite as hard. TMH mentioned BOD's parents being docs and BOD having been lined up for such a career and I'm still scratching my head over that.

I think Brian O'Driscoll sounds like a really nice guy, and as a pundit, yeah he's alright. You wouldn't be asking him for help with the Crosaire if you were stuck in a lift with him though. And he doesn't hold himself up as an intellectual. There are plenty of varieties of intelligence, and O'Driscoll is clearly intelligent in ways that some of us would appear foolish beside him.

I don't think we need to pretend that he's gifted in every aspect of intelligence or try and resort to his parents careers to prove anything. The man has proven himself repeatedly in his own field, and that's good enough. He doesn't have to be a doctor or a political nerd to be highly intelligent. We already know he is intelligent, we know his is knowledgeable in his field. He's not trying to be anything else. Why should he?

BPKS · 26-09-2019 09:39AM

I wouldnt listen to much of the rugby on OTB but I'm just wondering have any of the hosts, who always are consistent in their disapproval of any form of thuggery on the field of play, asked Brian O Driscoll about the time he stamped on the Italian player. (Do a "Brian O Driscoll stamp" search).

Maybe they will wait until some Roadshow in about 10 years and Brian will come up with some witty answer about him only trying to remove a wasp from the chest of the said player and all the jocks in the audience will double over in laughter.

NeonWolf · 26-09-2019 11:43AM

ButtersSuki wrote: »

Bland O’Driscoll as I call him. Terrible pundit insofar as he never says anything insightful or of substance. I’ve had the dubious pleasure of hearing him doing after dinner speeches more than once and he’s terrible at them, just smacks of trying too hard and comes across as being very unnatural. And I’m a Leinster fan btw, before I’m accused of being an anti-Leinster Munster fan!

Watch his OTB vid on YouTube back when Bundee Aki got picked for Ireland . He speaks for about 6 minutes , says nothing pertinent to the topic and completely shirks the issue. He’s a fence sitting sycophant . I’m sick of his ilk being on these panels . Quinlan is worse. Myopic

robo · 26-09-2019 12:39PM

Leinster fan here too - and I wouldn't rate either O'Driscolls or Heaslips punditry skills, the Leinster lads are playing a PR game when doing "punditry".
He might not be everyones favourite but ROG is more honest and cares less about the PR skin than the Leinster Boyos

u140acro3xs7dm · 26-09-2019 12:50PM

robo wrote: »

Leinster fan here too - and I wouldn't rate either O'Driscolls or Heaslips punditry skills, the Leinster lads are playing a PR game when doing "punditry".
He might not be everyones favourite but ROG is more honest and cares less about the PR skin than the Leinster Boyos

BOD and Heaslip are so bland, ROG doesn't care about hurting feelings, he calls it as he sees it.

gormdubhgorm · 26-09-2019 07:10PM

Giselle Future Blouse wrote: »

BOD and Heaslip are so bland, ROG doesn't care about hurting feelings, he calls it as he sees it.

I am not really a rugby follower, but I would listen to ROG because I know he is likely to say something interesting or shoot from the hip.

Faugheen · 26-09-2019 09:26PM

Tell me how wrote: »

gluppers wrote: »

Finding Brian O'Driscoll really annoying on Off the ball. It's that smug little can't do wrong accent

I just never found him to be a strong analyst. Felt he was hesitant to call out bad play or actions by people who he still feels close to.

Ronan O'Gara doesn't have the same problem.

Agreed with O’Driscoll on the whole. He says a lot without adding much.

I don’t like O’Gara either though. I feel he takes an age to make an actual point by going off on tangents while he tries to think about what he wants to actually say.

Tangatagamadda Chaddabinga Bonga Bungo · 27-09-2019 01:46AM

Nathan sounded way too excited about Richard Keogh being caught up in a drink driving situation. Glad Kilbane could bring him back down to earth.

It's a bad thing to happen. But he didn't physically do anything bad. Please calm down.

Blanco100 · 27-09-2019 06:43AM

Giselle Future Blouse wrote: »

BOD and Heaslip are so bland, ROG doesn't care about hurting feelings, he calls it as he sees it.

Get the feeling O'Gara needs the €€€ more than BOD to be honest

u140acro3xs7dm · 27-09-2019 07:37AM

Blanco100 wrote: »

Get the feeling O'Gara needs the €€€ more than BOD to be honest

I don't see what that's got to do with the quality of punditry. I don't think ROG would be short of a few quid, he's a highly sought after coach.

Tell me how · 27-09-2019 07:51AM

Blanco100 wrote: »

Get the feeling O'Gara needs the €€€ more than BOD to be honest

Apparently he had a range of offers on the table before selecting his current role, including staying with Crusaders and the Munster job is his the day he half hints he wants it.

He's definitely not factoring his income potential into his punditry and tailoring responses to suit.

Tangatagamadda Chaddabinga Bonga Bungo · 27-09-2019 06:35PM

Blanco100 wrote: »

Get the feeling O'Gara needs the €€€ more than BOD to be honest

That's really not a fair accusation. O Gara had a really good playing career and has followed that up with a successful coaching career.

He does have a lot of kids lol. But it's highly unlikely he's hurting for money.

NeonWolf · 28-09-2019 09:43AM

Can’t wait to see the rugby pundits squirm this week . They have had this coming for a longtime with their ****e talk . Cannot ****ing wait.

28-09-2019 01:34PM

NeonWolf wrote: »

Can’t wait to see the rugby pundits squirm this week . They have had this coming for a longtime with their ****e talk . Cannot ****ing wait.

You sound delighted. Nobody was predicting a Japanese victory. Even the Scots were making jokes about Japan being a problem. A prediction that Japan might have beaten Ireland would have been unreasonable sh*te talk.

Tell me how · 28-09-2019 05:25PM

NeonWolf wrote: »

Can’t wait to see the rugby pundits squirm this week . They have had this coming for a longtime with their ****e talk . Cannot ****ing wait.

Well, it's not going to happen.
I imagine they'll use some if not all of the following arguments.

Japan fully deserved the win, they played very well.
There were some questionable home town decisions by the referee.
Japan beat South Africa in the last world cup, it's not a complete shock.
Japan said themselves they have been training for a year for this particular match.
This could be the fright they needed to motivate them to perform.
They were always going to have to play South Africa or NZ in a 1/4 final anyway.
It might be better, if you have to play NZ, to do so in a 1/4 final rather than Final.
Joe will be furious at the obvious indication they took a win for granted.
They'll be highly motivated to make up for the performance.

28-09-2019 10:49PM

Tell me how wrote: »

Well, it's not going to happen.
I imagine they'll use some if not all of the following arguments.
Japan fully deserved the win, they played very well.

There were some questionable home town decisions by the referee.

Japan beat South Africa in the last world cup, it's not a complete shock.

Japan said themselves they have been training for a year for this particular match.

This could be the fright they needed to motivate them to perform.

They were always going to have to play South Africa or NZ in a 1/4 final anyway.

It might be better, if you have to play NZ, to do so in a 1/4 final rather than Final.

Joe will be furious at the obvious indication they took a win for granted.

They'll be highly motivated to make up for the performance.

I'd add one more to that -- most of which are quite reasonable.

Ireland didn't have a bad game. They weren't lazing about; Japan were outstanding.

Tangatagamadda Chaddabinga Bonga Bungo · 29-09-2019 08:24AM

Tell me how wrote: »

Well, it's not going to happen.
I imagine they'll use some if not all of the following arguments.
Japan fully deserved the win, they played very well.

There were some questionable home town decisions by the referee.

Japan beat South Africa in the last world cup, it's not a complete shock.

Japan said themselves they have been training for a year for this particular match.

This could be the fright they needed to motivate them to perform.

They were always going to have to play South Africa or NZ in a 1/4 final anyway.

It might be better, if you have to play NZ, to do so in a 1/4 final rather than Final.

Joe will be furious at the obvious indication they took a win for granted.

They'll be highly motivated to make up for the performance.

That's a fair enough assessment.

Joe would never allow them to take a win for granted. Japan were the better team. They were relentless.

Ireland can still get first in the group. Depends on how Scotland play.

generalgerry · 29-09-2019 10:28AM

Tell me how wrote: »

Japan fully deserved the win, they played very well.

There were some questionable home town decisions by the referee.

Japan beat South Africa in the last world cup, it's not a complete shock.

Japan said themselves they have been training for a year for this particular match.

This could be the fright they needed to motivate them to perform.

They were always going to have to play South Africa or NZ in a 1/4 final anyway.

It might be better, if you have to play NZ, to do so in a 1/4 final rather than Final.

Joe will be furious at the obvious indication they took a win for granted.

They'll be highly motivated to make up for the performance.

You know I think you have just saved everybody from having to listen to the post Japan rugby coverage, that's pretty much a spot on synopsis of everything I've heard of so far. However, I'm still waiting to hear from Franno on The Stand - he is Dunphy's resident rugger expert for the duration of the tournament. He was cock a hoop after the first match and was seriously talking up the chances. It shall be humbling.

cmac2009 · 29-09-2019 01:41PM

Ryle Nugent is absolutely insufferable.

ButtersSuki · 29-09-2019 02:51PM

cmac2009 wrote: »

Ryle Nugent is absolutely insufferable.

Agreed. He was like a D4 caricature in the paper review.

CatFromHue · 29-09-2019 02:58PM

Tell me how wrote: »

Well, it's not going to happen.
I imagine they'll use some if not all of the following arguments.
Japan fully deserved the win, they played very well.

There were some questionable home town decisions by the referee.

Japan beat South Africa in the last world cup, it's not a complete shock.

Japan said themselves they have been training for a year for this particular match.

This could be the fright they needed to motivate them to perform.

They were always going to have to play South Africa or NZ in a 1/4 final anyway.

It might be better, if you have to play NZ, to do so in a 1/4 final rather than Final.

Joe will be furious at the obvious indication they took a win for granted.

They'll be highly motivated to make up for the performance.

O'Driscoll and Mal O'Kelly were just on OTB and didn't gloss over the game like you point out here or made excuses.

Aidric · 29-09-2019 08:22PM

ButtersSuki wrote: »

Terrible pundit insofar as he never says anything insightful or of substance.

I think that's his major failing. Some of the personal comments on this thread are OTT. He is a decent well meaning bloke but struggles to articulate himself. He seems almost afraid of speaking honestly for fear of upsetting someone, so ends up wrapping himself in boring cliches. To be a respected pundit you have to speak honestly.

For a guy who showed one of the best rugby brains on the pitch it's a shame he doesn't carry it through to his punditry.

Off The Ball Official Thread <Mod Note - Post #1, #533, #6651>

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