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Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

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Comments

  • #33752
    Podge_irl
    Moderators, Sports Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 32,773 Mod ✭✭✭✭Podge_irl


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122245557#Comment_122245557

    Ah ok, that's fine then.

    I'm still not conceptually a fan of these tours but it is what it is. Will be curious to see the squad.



  • #33753
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 12,836 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Ooof the Munster talking heads on twitter really don't like this tour, do they enjoy anything about Irish Rugby at this point?



  • #33754
    sydthebeat
    Subscribers, Paid Member Posts: 44,843 ✭✭✭✭sydthebeat


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122245859#Comment_122245859

    ah youre better off not even giving those idiots any views at all, everything they say is doom laden when it comes to the IRFU. They are not ireland rugby fans at all, only parochial one eyed.

    Post edited by sydthebeat on


  • #33755
    phog
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 27,239 ✭✭✭✭phog


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122245859#Comment_122245859

    Fair play make this provincial. It's not only Munster fans not in favour of the timing but if you look for something to be outraged at, you'll find it. Once you find it then you can take it elsewhere to show your outrage



  • #33756
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 12,836 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122245935#Comment_122245935

    Its more a curiosity that the 3 or 4 largest twitter accounts parrot non-stop negativity, wasn't having a go at anyone here.



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  • #33757
    AbusesToilets
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 13,966 ✭✭✭✭AbusesToilets


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122245859#Comment_122245859

    Too busy posting daily about Munster being URC champs. Relishing the prospect of softening their cough



  • #33758
    phog
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 27,239 ✭✭✭✭phog


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122245946#Comment_122245946

    Largest Twitter accounts 😂

    Definitely looking for something to be outraged by



  • #33759
    Podge_irl
    Moderators, Sports Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 32,773 Mod ✭✭✭✭Podge_irl


    MOD: Munster twitter accounts is not the topic of the thread



  • #33760
    aloooof
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,759 ✭✭✭✭aloooof


    Just not a big fan of this when it's outside the Test window and impacts some inter-pro's, at a time when we finally have a quality domestic league…

    Anyways, lets see who's picked and at least this time round, the Provinces have a lot more notice, so have more time to plan around it.



  • #33761
    phog
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 27,239 ✭✭✭✭phog


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122246253#Comment_122246253

    I've said this already but the timing is absolutely crazy, just as the URC kicks off we take out a tier of Irish players to head on a tour to SA.

    If this was Wales playing an international outside the international window this place would go into meltdown but now that Ireland have started to do it, it's becoming acceptable.

    I follow a Cheetah's fan on Twitter and he's not too happy about the timing of the tour either.

    I wonder will we see a SA tour to Ireland to play an EI team, this will be out second tour to SA



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  • #33762
    Benjamin Cold Sorbet
    Posts: 1,345 ✭✭✭ Benjamin Cold Sorbet


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122246274#Comment_122246274

    If this was Wales playing an international outside the international window this place would go into meltdown

    This is objective nonsense. Why would "this place" give a shite what Wales do?

    I don't think the timing is ideal either; would prefer it around 3 weeks sooner, but it is what it is. I still think the benefits of the tour to Ireland outweigh the negatives.



  • #33763
    Podge_irl
    Moderators, Sports Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 32,773 Mod ✭✭✭✭Podge_irl


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122246362#Comment_122246362

    I don't think we'd care too much, but people absolutely used to complain about Wales' fourth AI test removing players from the ProX and there was no shortage of schadenfreude when their fourth test against Aus results in them dropping to 9th in the rankings for the World Cup draw. Course we have followed them on that by having a fourth AI ourselves now.

    I think the timing is about the only place you could conceivably put it. Realistically you need to have the frontline players back before you can gut the provincial squads like this.

    I'm not close-minded to the benefits of it, but it just fundamentally rubs me up the wrong way.

    Post edited by Boards.ie: Mike on


  • #33764
    P.Walnuts
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 6,424 ✭✭✭P.Walnuts


    The players who go will likely be replaced by academy lads in the senior 23

    The more quality rugby we can expose these guys to is important



  • #33765
    Benjamin Cold Sorbet
    Posts: 1,345 ✭✭✭ Benjamin Cold Sorbet


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122246386#Comment_122246386

    I find that bizarre - if they want to hinder their own provinces then that's on them (they've done this in recent times too).

    The notion that we're disrespecting the league is a stretch, because the league has been utterly carried by the Irish provinces and the crowds we bring and the buzz we generate since Day 1.



  • #33766
    Podge_irl
    Moderators, Sports Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 32,773 Mod ✭✭✭✭Podge_irl


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122246482#Comment_122246482

    Well, I think it was a product of general frustration at them not taking the league seriously and undermining the whole project.

    I don't disagree on the point that the Irish have carried the league, but this is 100% disrespecting an improved league. Now you can argue it's worth it and I think there is a valid argument there even if I don't agree, but I don't think you can argue that it is not disrespecting it.

    Post edited by Boards.ie: Mike on


  • #33767
    Clo-Clo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,088 ✭✭✭Clo-Clo


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122246512#Comment_122246512

    How is it undermining the league or disrepecting it?

    The provinces can rightly be pointed at by other countries and suggest they have more investment from the IRFU, which allows them to have bigger squad

    Which is exactly why a tournament like this gives the provinces the chance to play more of that squad.

    If the IRFU pulled funding like Wales, sent all their senior players to England/France to save money while using the league as ana academy then I would agree with disrespecting

    But that's not what is happening.



  • #33768
    Podge_irl
    Moderators, Sports Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 32,773 Mod ✭✭✭✭Podge_irl


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122246532#Comment_122246532

    How is it undermining the league or disrepecting it?

    They are pulling dozens of players out of the squads in the middle of the season to play mickey mouse games in South Africa. This is on top of severely restricting the top tier of players gametime in general. The answer is rather obvious.



  • #33769
    Benjamin Cold Sorbet
    Posts: 1,345 ✭✭✭ Benjamin Cold Sorbet


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122246512#Comment_122246512

    It'll depend entirely on the results. If, like last time, we make front line internationals (who in other scenarios likely wouldn't have played these fixtures) available for them, then to me it's very hard to argue we're "disrespecting" anything.



  • #33770
    hold my beer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 3,223 ✭✭✭hold my beer


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122246554#Comment_122246554

    And yet we've 2 teams in the Semi finals this weekend. We aren't disrespecting anything.



  • #33771
    Podge_irl
    Moderators, Sports Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 32,773 Mod ✭✭✭✭Podge_irl


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122246562#Comment_122246562

    The frontline internationals would normally be back around this time anyway, so I wouldn't consider it early. I imagine the timing is done pretty much for that specific reason. Though I would wager the LvM game would normally be their first one back, they might be in a round early I guess.

    Ultimately though, for me it doesn't depend on the results. I don't like that they are doing it. I'm aware it is an essentially emotional viewpoint, but it is essentially dragging a large chunk of players out of the provinces because the IRFU just don't think the games are that important. And I think that attitude stinks.

    Post edited by Boards.ie: Mike on


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  • #33772
    Clo-Clo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,088 ✭✭✭Clo-Clo


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122246554#Comment_122246554

    Players who are squad or just out of the academy

    Players who in reality like the last time would at best maybe have a slot on a bench

    You don't like the tour, I get that, but making up it is insulting the league is nonsense.



  • #33773
    Podge_irl
    Moderators, Sports Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 32,773 Mod ✭✭✭✭Podge_irl


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122246625#Comment_122246625

    Well there was no EI tour this year for one. But that also doesn't really change anything.



  • #33774
    awec
    Administrators Posts: 56,245 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭awec


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122246661#Comment_122246661

    Of course it's disrespectful to the league, this seems pretty obvious.

    The IRFU would never, ever do this if a European game was scheduled, but they're more than happy to pull players away from league games.

    It can be true that this tour benefits Ireland, and it can also be true that this tour is another sign that the IRFU care little for the league. Imagine the RFU or FRU tried to pull players out of GP / T14 games to go play Mickey Mouse games in SA. There would be uproar because they take their leagues very seriously.



  • #33775
    hold my beer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 3,223 ✭✭✭hold my beer


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122246675#Comment_122246675

    Yes but we restricted players game time like you said. Don't see an issue with an EI tour, the players will be missing for a few weeks, and not all of them will be 1st team players.



  • #33776
    Benjamin Cold Sorbet
    Posts: 1,345 ✭✭✭ Benjamin Cold Sorbet


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122246630#Comment_122246630

    No, the frontline internationals in a non-RWC year typically didn't return before Weeks 6-7, whereas now the impacted weeks are weeks 2-4 of the URC season here, so that's definitely a little earlier than usual.

    I posted this potential squad back when news first broke about it, and while there are some concentrations in certain positions that might be unlikely, this is the sort of calibre of player likely to go IMO:

    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122160096#Comment_122160096

    I think based on that Ulster are probably worst affected (losing guys potentially like Wilson, Izuchukwu, Sheridan, McCann, etc), but will be interesting to see how it turns out as Ulster are in SA at broadly the same time as the EI tour. Happy to hear arguments for who else might be in the mix, but it doesn't look like it'll overly weaken Leinster or Munster IMO.

    Post edited by Boards.ie: Mike on


  • #33777
    Benjamin Cold Sorbet
    Posts: 1,345 ✭✭✭ Benjamin Cold Sorbet


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122246705#Comment_122246705

    The teams some of the provinces put out those game weeks will likely be stronger than the teams they'd have put out without an EI tour.

    This "disrespecting the league" thing just feels like the latest thing to complain about re the IRFU.



  • #33778
    awec
    Administrators Posts: 56,245 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭awec


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122246972#Comment_122246972

    This "disrespecting the league" thing just feels like the latest thing to complain about re the IRFU.

    It is not a new complaint, so I don't agree with your conclusion. The IRFU (and indeed the other unions) having a totally half-arsed view of the URC/ProWhatever has been a complaint for as long as I can remember.

    Post edited by Boards.ie: Mike on


  • #33779
    Podge_irl
    Moderators, Sports Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 32,773 Mod ✭✭✭✭Podge_irl


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122246939#Comment_122246939

    No, the frontline internationals in a non-RWC year typically didn't return before Weeks 6-7, whereas now the impacted weeks are weeks 2-4 of the URC season here, so that's definitely a little earlier than usual.

    The season has been shoved a bit later though. Round 6 is October 26th and the last week before the AI window. Pretty sure they'd be back well before then regardless.

    The squad looks reasonable. Personally I'd rather Prendergast was establishing himself at Leinster, and I'm sure some Ulster supporters would think the same about Izzy and McCann. I think all 3 are likely to get capped at the least against Fiji anyway.

    Post edited by Boards.ie: Mike on


  • #33780
    Benjamin Cold Sorbet
    Posts: 1,345 ✭✭✭ Benjamin Cold Sorbet


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122246991#Comment_122246991

    And yet the competition has steadily gone from strength to strength, with the Irish sides always there at the business end of the season, and near the top of the attendances charts etc too.

    I wish the Welsh, Scottish and Italians would disrespect the league as much as we do.



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  • #33781
    Podge_irl
    Moderators, Sports Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 32,773 Mod ✭✭✭✭Podge_irl


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122246972#Comment_122246972

    At least from my perspective I have very little else to complain about re the IRFU and I didn't like the EI tour the first time round either.

    It absolutely objectively had successes and I think it massively contributed to Crowley being picked against Australia. I just wish everyone took the domestic league more seriously.

    Post edited by Boards.ie: Mike on


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