last full international game in belfast was v italy in 2007 afaik and they just played irelands call. they should have played god save the queen too technically but the irfu decided to class the game as an away game for some reason. dunno if the wolfhounds games since then had the same situation
There's 0% chance anybody is going to be playing two games in two days
If they can afford to take a bunch of lads to SA to play the Griquas, they can afford a bus to go two hours down the frigging road.
Siiiiiigh
What if a specialist position like hooker or scrum-half goes down in the captain's run in Cardiff on Friday morning and suddenly they need to yank someone back from the Ireland game to cover?
The main point is you automatically assume the worst about the IRFU.
I really don't see how playing in Dublin rather than Belfast or Limerick effects this. Unless they're getting the ferry from Dublin to Holyhead, it makes no difference.
There's direct flights from Belfast to Cardiff.
Do you really think that NZ would have refused to play the game if they were based in Limerick which is 2 hours from the airport rather than in Dublin which would be 30 minutes to the airport?
The other provinces could have benefited from an ireland game. Its fair enough to point out that this is a missed opportunity
I'm not too bothered about where it's played but to think that the All Blacks wanted this in Dublin because of a possible call up to the senior squad is clutching at straws.
Again, I don't give a sh1te where the game is and care even less about why the venue was chosen. They can play it in the Aran Islands for all I care.
I'm just bemused by the instant assumption of the worst case and subsequent frothy-mouthed rage.
The point is that those in Ulster do care where the game is played.
It's not "froth-mouthed rage" - its acknowledging a missed opportunity.
and people like you seem to think they can do no wrong.
Indeed. Man who has all full internationals played on his doorstep in his home province is sanguine about where this non-capped game is played.
That's nice for him.
???
I agree it would be great to play it in Belfast.
My point is that there might be very good reasons as to why it's in Dublin. And not just the IRFU South Dublin bullshit.
Sure there might be. There also might not be and I don't see any reason to just assume the IRFU are definitely in the right. Not like they have historically taken such opportunities.
See above.
Man lives in real world where every whim of spoilt Internet brats cannot be pandered to.
I'm not assuming anything
My entire point is that you can't.
Is that what anyone is who wishes this game was not being played somewhere on the island rather than Dublin? Ouch.
That would make life awfully boring. Also you are defaulting to assuming there is a valid reason.
I think, given history and their general approach, that the IRFU simply didn't consider playing the game in Belfast. And I think that is wrong. Call that froth-mouthed rage all you want.
Dear Jebus can the season just start already
Do we know what time the Emerging Ireland squad will be announced at?
But if people don't complain then the irfu assume that it's grand to hold all games in Dublin.
At least if people complain then the next time a game like this is held it might go to Limerick or belfast.
Not complaining because the irfu might have a valid reason that they haven't shared seems a bit stupid to me.
the last irelands men non-test rugby game held in dublin was in 2009, in Tallaght Stadium.
since then it has been in belfast, galway, limerick and cork
Oh look, are these facts!? What are they doing here? Are they lost?
Seriously though, I can see why some would be annoyed, but there often is a conspiracy theory element to a lot of this stuff. There have been games like this outside Dublin before and there will be again. I’m not sure why this one isn’t outside Dublin, but it’s not that big a deal really surely?
I presume this is including, say, U20's tho syd?
Squad named
I known its not cool to like this tour. But I think that looks like an exciting squad. It's probably not perfect, but if they can get some players through the system to become top pros, it's a great move.
I think those who have a dislike for the tour it's around the timing rather than having an emerging Ireland tour/squad
Interesting squad.
No one with more than 2 caps brought.
Outhalf is always an interesting one.
No Ben healy or Harry Byrne.
Daft tour, daft squad. a few players wasting their time there and being pulled out of settled positions in active competitions. just a stupid tour all around, one where the main coach won't even be there.
Good to see Illo there. its about time Irish rugby started to reflect the changing demographics.
bringing Frisch in is a bit of a slap in the face to better players as well.
as always a weird and inconcsistent selection
Too many Munster players. The last 10 years has told us that Munster don't produce first XXIII internationals, so what's the point in selecting so many if the aim is to develop future Ireland players?
Interesting squad, looks definitely more focused on after RWC 23 than providing players who will be involved there. It doesn’t look like it will massively impact on the URC at all. Especially given the full internationals will be available. If anything it will actually improve the quality of players available in the early season. Will give the coaches good time with some young players and figure out their work on’s.
