I meant more so non Irish refs reffing the interpros
Pretty sure that Murphy has his affiliation through the Munster branch which means that the league sees him as a neutral between Leinster and Connacht.
Don’t get why there isn’t a rule on this already. Most professional sports have rules in place to get neutral refs involved. Screams to me of a money saving scheme, just so the league doesn’t have to pay for flights
If we could start getting non irish refs for Interpro games that would be great
Rejoice, Frank Murphy will be in charge on Friday...
Ya think he's back in training but will be a while yet before he's match ready
Spotted Shane Delahunt in the training photos. Big boost, thought he was out for a good while longer.
Tbh it’s much more impressive hitting the posts, should be double points
I heard him promise he's going to keep hitting the post until people stop putting a "h" in his name. :L
I had a notion that he was conscious he's on course to become Connacht's all-time leading points scorer and it got in his head a bit.
Interestingly he hit the same post he hit first 2/3 times before the match, from roughly the same position. I joked to the bro he'd hit it again (not actually thinking it) and he did! It was my fault lads
It's just something that stuck in my head when he left. He only did 9 years in Ireland.
Actually just checked he did 9 seasons but 10 years. That said I really doubt he paid much if any tax in the year from October 2012 to December 2012 to benefit from tax relief for that year.
Interesting on the tax relief, I know he had kept the house in Galway as he aimed to return here at some point.
Joyce for Fifita'a, we'd have to release Dowling which is harsh..
OR definitely assign Murphy as 6, release Booth and have room for Roux!
Very interesting but :
Booth and Dowling have 10 years in front of them, Roux has 1 last (33)
And Murphy would have less gametime stuck behind Prandergast. Though the latter is less and less available because of Ireland.
So I can see it happening.Whether Roux nowadays is still worthing it is another question...
Well he only has a 1 year deal in Bath.
He also has another year of eligibility for Irish tax relief on retirement for sports person so it probably makes financial sense for him to come back if there is an Irish offer that is competitive.
Flashes of good old Connacht (1st try for example) but still erratic and handling not what it used to be yeah.
Connacht have focused on defence (slightly improved), scrum (improved) and lineout (massively improved).
They forgot about rucks, Marmion/Reilly had to jump in it so often because there were not protected.
Anybody hear anything about Quinn Roux coming back to Ireland next year? Surely couldn’t have roux and Joyce coming to Connacht next year?
Arguably most impressive part of Connacht's performance last night was the line out, especially considering the quality of some of the Munster players defensively from touch. Heffernan had a really solid and accurate game, and Thornbury and Dowling were both superb.
Yeah noticed that in Castres too, he does not fear big defenders contact at all ball in hands!
I was really pleasantly surprised by how physical Hawkshaw carried last night. He's far from a big guy for a 12, but had some really big direct carries where he made big yards.
Bundee will retire in 2023 and Daly is closing 30's. No surplus there, depends on Bolton steping up too though
Between hawkshaw and forde id Be concerned if I was Daly. Two good options coming through
Hawkshaw at 12 was good, think there may be potential in a 10/12 duet.
He gets in his own head. Always needs to land the first one. Thought he was pretty good in open play and Connachts attack looked far more threatening with him there
Right time to play RWC 2027. August of this year
Has no 7's/U20 past to prevent that.
Of course a long time to go and he may be a "Heenan", good but injured... Wait and see..
I wonder if -pure theory for now- he can be included in Emerging Ireland tours before to prepare a potential RWC a few months before?
Unofficial team after all...
The old man was in early to the game and watched him miss 4 practice kicks in a row. Obviously was in his head during the game.
Watching the Leinster game now......be afraid, be very afraid 😨
Watched the match back there. Not going to go in on Carty as it was his first game back from injury but feel if he had his kicking boots on early doors could have been a big score. Munster were dreadful and the Two places kicks and kick to touch in the first half let them back in. Was a kick that went dead early in the second half too.
Beirne had a huge turnover after a nice break from porch/Hansen/fitz that should have ended with a score too. He’s head and shoulders above the rest of the Munster team mates.
Big performance from the pack was happy with them. Back line looked better two, Fitz largely had a good match from 15, one knock on. Huge 50:22 for Finlay’s try, left boot option was great from 15. Hawkshaw looked good at 12, tan done very hard lines.
From the pack though Finlay, Thornbury and Dowling were the most impressive. SHL has a strong first start. Finlay showed incredible drove for his try. Think it was one of heff’s best games in a long time, don’t think he missed a line out.
Penalty against Jack just before half time to put Munster ahead clocked a bit harsh, Jack was slow getting up but don’t think he was interfering with a clean out. Few dodgy calls from busby.
Feel like there wasn’t a drop off when the subs came on which was great to see. Boyle of the bench has a great impact. Great defence around the 60 minute mark not to give away penalties.
Things not perfect in attack, hopefully the win will boost confidence and things start to stick a bit more. Feel that there was a bonus point lost that could prove costly later in the year.
Being honest getting a losing bonus point next week would be a good result, but anything can happen in an inter-pro. I’d look to stay largely the same team wise. Bring in Dooley and Murphy to start for Buckley and oliver, with SHL at 7. Would bring Pendergast, blade and DTM onto the bench if they’re available.
Prendergast won’t start against Leinster, would say the bench at most. DTM likely there too.
Josh murphy will most likely come in at 6
I’m confused the Shamus Langton part... how old is he now? Wikipedia says 22. When will he become Irish qualified? Will it not be sometime in 2027?
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