I just can't see ROG taking the Irish job. He can have nearly any job he wants, why would he take a job where all the greats have and will continue to retire over the next couple of years with unproven players coming in.
That sounds like any test side in the world…
Fair enough if thats the contractual thing as you say.
Do you think the vast majority of the Irish capped players would have gone on that summer tour if there was no Lions??
name all these times. I honestly can’t remember too often.
Paris in 2014 perhaps when Furlong was a young one, RWC QF 23 and then last Autumn were the 3 that stand out. 2 of those were almost solely down to Porter boring in and getting penalised by an English ref.
the 2017-2019 frontrow was one of the best scrummaging units in world rugby.
Yeah, they gave out another 13 new caps on a tour to NZ last year, details of the arrangment below
France to omit Top 14 finalists for New Zealand tour
Nope, I think we would have gone pretty strong against Georgia in particular.
Maybe it should have been held in Dublin based on ticket sales to date - it's tracking to have c. 4-5k people at the game.
What do you reckon the attendance was in the RDS vs the All Blacks in 2022, say?
I've no idea - enlighten us.
He said recently he would'nt take the Wales job and there's no way the French would hsve him, he still seems himself as an international coach but needs to prove himself with a lesser nation.
18,500 according to Google. "The Ireland A v New Zealand XV match played at the RDS Arena in Dublin on November 4, 2022, was a sold-out event, with an attendance of approximately 18,500. The match, which served as a warm-up for the Autumn Nations Series, saw the New Zealand XV defeat Ireland A 47-19."
I'm all for spreading those types of games around but if only 4,500 attend, a game shouldn't be held in Limerick again for a while and Belfast should be used. You'd get more in attendance for a Blackrock Michael's SCT game. 4,500 is a tiny number for an Ireland England game, be it the A teams or not.
Roughly 10-12k.
So if you're going to suggest maybe it should have been in Dublin based on ticket sales:
There are obvious and straightforward answers to all of these questions if you wish to seek them…
It definitely wasn't sold out, I think google AI is letting you down there. I dare say it's mistakenly reporting the capacity, not the attendance.
No, revenue absolutely isn’t the sole criteria or even a significant criteria in hosting these A games IMO. But, regardless of anything else - 4-5k is a paltry attendance.
If that’s the best that can be achieved here, then I don’t see the rationale in bemoaning how long it’s been since a game was hosted in Limerick.
You’re probably right, but it wasn’t 10k-12k either. Just watched the highlights (completely forgot this game happened) and looks like around 15k in attendance. The above is irrelevant anyway, 4500 people shouldn’t be rewarded with the next game if another A fixture is announced. Belfast should get the next fixture if that attendance comes to pass.
The IRFU need to get up of the arses and advertise the game, there's been close to zero mention of it anywhere local unless you were following Munster on X or Instagram. In saying that I still haven't made up my mind on whether I'm going or not
Everything is always the fault of the IRFU.
4-5k is terrible. think it will be good bit better than that with on day sales/walk ups but these games shouldnt be in Dublin ever IMO when we cant get senior internationals elsewhere. they should be in Belfast/Galway/Limerick/Cork ahead of Dublin every tume.
We've had some lesser games in Creggs like Connacht A and Connacht academy which got big crowds. This is in the middle of nowhere with no good road for miles. A game in Galway would attract a big crowd. I'd say the same for great rugby towns like Limerick and Cork too.
When you think about it you are totally correct. We could decide to completely reshape Irish rugby and select a team that is totally different but would it achieve better results? So I agree. I don't believe it would.
You have many posters who provide statistical analysis of one player over another player and most seem to agree which suggests that the team picked has the best statistical chance against this French team. And to be fair the betting companies use a similar statistical model to provide their odds and they are not normally proven wrong.
So I have to take a bow and say I am completely wrong in my analysis. You could change everything but ultimately nothing would change. That is of course until you change your outlook. So rather looking at statistical data would it be worth looking at a different approach
My suggestion is a squad of 60 that is provided to Ireland all the way through preseason. So you are looking at probably 4 to 5 weeks. And the management team get to work with them and use or discard as needs be. To have 1 weeks work with the players before the 6 nations provides no margins. And the players in return get good quality preseason training
Negative Andy Farrell has to work for a few extra weeks for his salary,😂
So take 60 players out of a pool of 160 players available to the provinces to train with Ireland?
Then go back to the provinces with no idea how they are playing or what tactics they have worked on?
A receipt for disaster for Ireland and for the provinces.
I expect it'll be more with walk-ins on the day (possibly even moreso if we get a good result 2moro night) but I'd have no issue with it going to the Kingspan either.
The main crux of my argument is echo'ing Lost Ormond said above, about getting these games outside Dublin.
It's a pity Edwin isn't a tight head prop.
One more sleep.
Wishing everyone a very Happy Sixnas
It just doesnt seem right.
Also being an idiot who figured "sure what would I miss flying on a Thursday night" i will miss most of the game.
Crowley is Ireland’s Marcus Smith. A reliable utility player who can slot in at fullback or first centre if needed. He is also a guy who has a really good running game, decent step and brave in the tackle. I think Crowley will always be in the 22/23 jersey because of this, but IMO it’ll always be either Harry Byrne or Prendergast starting at 10.
This site is gone mental, I'm getting notifications from this thread about posts 7 days ago.
Yeah, its falling apart in terms of notifications.
