Stop. Cooney was not really an option for Ireland, it, in no way supports the decision to move Ruan Pienaar on.
Was Cooney good at Ulster, definitely, but so too was Pienaar. No one advanced from Ulster to really contest for a place in the Ireland team that Pienaar would have blocked had Ulster been allowed to keep him.
I find it amusing that anyone thinks the IRFU would care one iota about Ulster fans in their decision making.
He played for Ireland and was in plenty of squads. So from an IRFU point of view they moved out a NIQ and replaced with an Irish player who made it into squads and played for Ireland.
It has nothing to do with the appointment and I wasn't the one who suggested it. Humphreys is been appointed I guess for his experience etc
I'm well aware he was tried and got caps but he never really in contention for the first 23 in the Irish Team so Pienaar wasn't hold anyone back in an Irish context
I know you weren't, I wasn't expecting an answer from you, I just happened to quote your post as it was the last one on the subject!
Btw, Ulster plucked Cooney from Connacht (after he transferred there from Leinster) when they lost Pienaar, it's not like they developed him. If Cooney was as good as you think, he'd have got those caps while playing for Connacht.
I really don't see any upside to the IRFU by forcing Ulster to release Pienaar.
In fairness he was behind Murray who was one of the best scrum halfs in the world during that period. Few rumours he didn’t see eye to eye with certain players and coaches which may also have been a contributing factor to not making as many squads as his form warranted.
Cooney was a huge success at Ulster and was as influential for them over a period of years as Pienaar was IMO. On performances he should have been a live option ahead of McGrath and Marmion, but there’s other elements to selection that we’re not privy too.
From what I remember, Pienaar was on the decline in his final few seasons at Ulster and Cooney's arrival gave them a shot in the arm.
Overall, it's been a fantastic two seasons for the Ireland team. A series victory over New Zealand and a Grand Slam marks this as our most successful period ever and is one every player and fan should be rightly proud of.
I don't think we could have done much more to prepare for the World Cup either. Farrell revitalised a flagging side post 2019 WC and made us one of the world's best again. His selection decisions were mostly on the money and he held fast to his desire for an athletic, technically excellent pack with passing options from 1-8. If you don't fit what he wants you're out. I'm not saying this as a way to re-litigate old decisions, but you can absolutely see why he didn't select Jean Kleyn for instance. He isn't a player that fits the mould of lock Farrell was looking for.
I think we're well positioned going forward, but we need to start looking at a back up to Andrew Porter especially. I think he's a world class player, but we've flogged him for Leinster and Ireland in recent years. He shouldn't be asked to play 70+ minutes every game. We'll need to make a decision at blind side flanker and 10 as well. But we've enough talent coming through that I'm not very concerned.
I think we're well positioned going forward, but we need to start looking at a back up to Andrew Porter especially. I think he's a world class player, but we've flogged him for Leinster and Ireland in recent years
I agree, but at least with Ireland this is because the replacements are simply not good enough and no amount of game time was going to change that. It's not something an international coach can fix.
Well deserved.
Five Irish in the team of the year - joint highest with France and both knocked out in quarters.
What a mess World Rugby made of the draw. Having a draw three years out is inexusable.
Well deserved and I'm delighted for him but they were hardly going to give it to Rassie
Well deserved recognition for Farrell and those players. They've all been fantastic. Keenan should be at 15 ahead of Ramos as well.
Not least because he wasn't nominated.
Not sure how Furlong managed to get in at 3. He had a pretty injury hit year. Delighted for the guys who made the team and Farrell.
Furlong has no business being on a team of the year. Keenan robbed, comfortably the best FB in the world.
I know Cooney history. He was surplus in Leinster and not sure how he got on at Connacht to be honest.
The upside is they have another Irish qualified player available to ireland.
He was next in line. An injury to Murray at the time and Cooney would have been in the team. He was also in the training squad for the 2019 World Cup, he was always around the squad and then dropped back when JGP and Casey came into the squad
Lol
Another IQ player available? Cooney was available if he stayed at Leinster or Connacht, Ulster only took him because of the Pienaar decision forced on them by Nucifora.
There was no net gain here for Ireland.
What an incredibly humble man.
There's at least 4 coaches who deserve that award more
Ah go away with you ye grinch, you used to be a half decent poster, now your just a thing that pops up in here posting tripe to wind people up
Oh wow ! Jovial contentment at meaningless awards. There’s a shock
Didn't think this sort of abuse was allowed here
I'm genuinely shocked you thought this, I just assumed you would be here shouting your praise from the rooftop as that's more like you.
I think it's well deserved
Oh poor you being called a grinch! Don't worry I won't be able to read your posts from now on
Mod: No back-seat modding, and no telling another poster you are putting them on ignore.
Rawalui, Nienabar, Cheika, Foster, Lagisquet and Borthwick all deserved coach of the year ahead of Farrell.
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