i heard he was being given the freedom of Botanic gardens to move to a province that can afford him. Makes sense to me. Call it a straight swap for Tadgh Beirne
What on Earth are you talking about
I agree with a lot of that however why would a true 'alpha' need a title?
Ireland constantly speak about the leadership team within the squad, not a single 'alpha'. The role is nearly 100% ceremonial so it shouldnt really bother folks who gets it once they're able to deal with the ref.
My consistent concern about who gets it is the potential knock on impact if or when a change is needed. If POM's form drops during his captaincy, like it has during multiple points in his fantastic career, does AF have the Gatland size balls to drop him despite the captaincy or is he stuck to sentimentality again. If he does the former then what is the blowback. AF didn't need to put himself in this position.
Wasn’t the easter rising in dublin? I don’t really get that one.
Interesting squad. We try to win every six nations and that’s reflected in the squad.
Captain of a rugby team, ceremonial, WTF. Really important, in so many different aspects. Since POM won't play 80 mins in any game, a few people can be tried as vice captain. It's only when someone is put in the role you'll see will they grow into it. Occasionally a natural leader puts their hand up early in their career.
Please enlighten me on what I'm missing.
Outside of speaking to the ref, tell us the differences in POMs involvement on the pitch and in training in the upcoming 6 nations as captain vs what he was doing during the world cup as a member of the senior leadership team?
You mean you read his username and then continued?
Id love to have so much time on my hands.
Captain decides what options the team takes with a penalty, kick for 3 points, go to the corner, tap and go, scrum. Just an example. They may also be doing the lineout calls or their can be a separate pack leader doing that. In todays game, managing the ref and their expectations is crucial.
You don’t seem too busy considering you’re posting on an internet forum before 9pm? Saved all the lives, cured all the diseases at this stage I guess?
POM and other senior leaders regularly gave input into penalty decisions, so no change there unless it comes to overruling the group.
Captaincy has zero impact on who calls the lineout.
My original post you responded to noted speaking with the ref, so not idea why you're including that now.
Any other examples?
Thats it.
Deleted post mod warning.
Captain may ask others for their input, but he decides. I included the liason with the ref because it's a key role, which you minimised Fox. It's a constant function throughout a match. for many players that would distract from their own game as well.
Way back, during a RWC, Munster played Ospreys in TP on the evening that Ireland played Wales in the RWC. Both Munster and Ireland lost. The Irish game could well have been a RWC QF.
Later that night Anthony Foley, a guy who I had huge respect for and who had more rugby knowledge than any other person I'd ever met was asked about POM who played for and possibly captained Munster that evening, Foley, replied he's the real deal and he'll captain every team he'll play for.
I'm delighted to see him get the role of captain for his country. An honour he truely deserves
No, no and no again. Concentrate on the tournament you're playing this year. Its not as if we've won a pile of SNs.
How did I minimize it? I went out of my way to call it out as the key skill to be a captain, the only thing that people should care about:
The role is nearly 100% ceremonial so it shouldnt really bother folks who gets it once they're able to deal with the ref.
You've provided zero examples different to my original statement that you replied 'WTF' to, outside of an incredibly rare scenario where the captain decides to overrule the other leaders on the pitch. Given that POM rarely lasts 80 minutes, it is unlikely he'll even be on the field for decisive decisions towards the end of the game so any positive he brings to this will be limited.
Was just looking over the highlights of the interprovincial matches.
Have to think this went a long way towards some players not getting selected
https://youtu.be/YGZ6LupN0uI?feature=shared
I fully get your points around how it's weaponised by fans online etc, and the troll accounts and spoofers like OTB etc, but I don't think any of that stuff filters down into the squad.
I think Farrell will have to have given some thought to POM's age, recent injury profile and the fact that he surely wants to get minutes into and get a look at the other options over the next 12 months, so it mightn't be that shocking not to see POM even start all 5 games in the 6N, regardless of form or fitness.
I get the point as well on an 'alpha' character not necessarily needing the title, but I still think ultimately the captain in most squads is kind of evident within the team environment. Tadhg Beirne's comments on POM's role last week for Munster in the lead up to and during the Toulon game effectively kind of said the same.
I don't see how that type of negativity doesn't filter back to the team either directly or indirectly. What impact it has I don't know but why sign yourself up for it?
Feel your example from last week proves my point. POM was able to have that big impact without being captain.
Who?
The chap who sh*t the bed on a certain try and the 10 whom was charged down beforehand…,
No, i meant who has to think that went a long way towards deciding he didnt get selected?
Mod edit: Post removed.
Shocking effort by Coombes.
Generally not the way to goes in Ireland though. There are many things that happen in France that just don't happen in Ireland, captaincy seems to be one of them. Sexton was captain far beyond his sell by date if you ask me, yet he retained the arm band. Rotating captaincy or campaign captaincy is attractive but its just very unlikely that Farrell will go for it, no more than provinces go for it. Leinster currently is an example with the comical dual captaincy stuff where refs are dismissing one captain in favour of another, not very alpha. That won't last long and they will revert to their norm of having a captain until he's carried out on his shield. Taking the captaincy off BOD was so rare that it was a major story.
POM as alpha rather than a number of others stretches credulity. This is an international rugby team, its comprised of 23 of the best rugby players in the country, many if not most have experience as captains. There is not a shortage of alpha personalities among the group. And I think you are overestimating how prominent the captains influence is within the group, there are many leaders who aren't captain but who are respected by virtue of their experience, their work ethic, their personality and ability as a mentor, etc etc. The captain in these sorts of environments is rarely if ever truly exceptional. The main job that matters to the team is the ability to squeeze a percentage point or two out of refs while decision making (penalties, corner, etc) is often by consultation. Communication is the beginning and end of it.
POM has been in outstanding form and led his team to winning the URC last season.
No player should be un droppable, even the captain but there isnt a single professional athlete at the top level for ad long as Pete has been playing who has never had a bad day at the office.
POM is a natural leader and the team clearly look up to him.
The captain leads the players out into the pitch, he gives the team talk before the game, at half time and after the game. It's a very important role. Aside from liaising with the referee
Not to mention coming back from a really bad ACL injury
Great call by Farrell to make POM Ireland captain. Others have had their chance and sh1t the bed.
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