Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Good news everyone! The Boards.ie Subscription service is live. See here: https://subscriptions.boards.ie/

The Brian O'Driscoll thread

13

Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,249 ✭✭✭Stev_o


    I was about to agree that I think the argument that forwards make better captains is stupid but then I tried to think of great captains who played in the backs as a counter arguement and I am struggling. George Gregan is the only one who came to mind straight away.

    Augustin Pichot


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,029 ✭✭✭tbaymusicman


    i like him but think it should be paul o connels turn to captain ireland


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 87 ✭✭ManofMunster


    the back captains that spring to mind tend to be scrumhalves: pichot, gregan, galthie, nichol, farr-jones, edwards, howley and to a lesser extent dawson, van der westhuizen, yachvili. their physical proximity to the pack puts them in a better position to lead - and better gauge the physical ebb and flow of a game - than outside centre. in my opinion at least.

    munster leinster schedule clash tomorrow. annoying.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 120 ✭✭tughfc


    i would of said mortlock was a fairly good captain


  • Posts: 2,960 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    tughfc wrote: »
    i would of said mortlock was a fairly good captain


    As well as Tana Umaga


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,298 ✭✭✭freyners


    O'Driscoll shouldn't captain Ireland any more

    O'Connell is by far a better captain but i would think if O'Driscoll was relieved of captains duty he would rediscovered that magic touch that used to make him the player he once was

    He is still a brilliant defender though


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,132 ✭✭✭RugbyFanatic


    freyners wrote: »
    O'Driscoll shouldn't captain Ireland any more

    O'Connell is by far a better captain but i would think if O'Driscoll was relieved of captains duty he would rediscovered that magic touch that used to make him the player he once was

    He is still a brilliant defender though

    Out of interest who started this burden of captaincy on O'Driscoll malarky?

    Has O'Driscoll ever admitted this or are people assuming? It wasn't a burden all those years he was playing some of the best rugby in the world the fact that he is not as good as he once was is nothing to do with the burden of captaincy and everything to do with age, heavy marking and a misfiring backline all around him


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26,091 ✭✭✭✭phog


    Out of interest who started this burden of captaincy on O'Driscoll malarky?

    Has O'Driscoll ever admitted this or are people assuming? It wasn't a burden all those years he was playing some of the best rugby in the world the fact that he is not as good as he once was is nothing to do with the burden of captaincy and everything to do with age, heavy marking and a misfiring backline all around him


    TBH, I never rated him a good captain, though he had big boots to fill after Woody. He was an exceptional player and still is a very good player, did have a dip in form but has pulled himself out of that rut.

    To be even more honest I couldn't give fiddlers who's captain as long as Ireland gets back to winning ways. We've had an exceptional squad of players available for the last number of years and what have we won - 2 Triple Crowns and beat a few of the big guns in the NH and SH along the way, big deal, look at an average Wales team, they have 2 Grand Slams behind them in the same period.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,144 ✭✭✭Benny Cake


    John_C wrote: »
    O'Driscoll kicked the ball 5 times last weekend. 4 of them were very good kicks and one of them wasn't bad but was very short any easy to deal with.

    Kicks from O'Driscoll have led to 2 of Leinster's tries in this years 'ken

    O'driscoll should leave the kicking to those around him, he should know his strengths, and kicking aint one of them.............


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,658 ✭✭✭old boy


    the biggest prob with him as captain is that he is too quick to criticise on the pitch stringer in france, where od should have been in place to take the pass, having a go at bowe are two that comes to mind, sportspeople must NEVER ctiticise others on the pitch, applaud and encourage yes, I.M.O. he has lost pace, is loosing concetration, then having a go at others for their mistakes.


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,255 ✭✭✭anonymous_joe


    old boy wrote: »
    the biggest prob with him as captain is that he is too quick to criticise on the pitch stringer in france, where od should have been in place to take the pass, having a go at bowe are two that comes to mind, sportspeople must NEVER ctiticise others on the pitch, applaud and encourage yes, I.M.O. he has lost pace, is loosing concetration, then having a go at others for their mistakes.

    I disagree entirely. Criticism has to be a part of being a pro. If you can't take it, why play?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,132 ✭✭✭RugbyFanatic


    old boy wrote: »
    the biggest prob with him as captain is that he is too quick to criticise on the pitch stringer in france, where od should have been in place to take the pass, having a go at bowe are two that comes to mind, sportspeople must NEVER ctiticise others on the pitch, applaud and encourage yes, I.M.O. he has lost pace, is loosing concetration, then having a go at others for their mistakes.

    :eek: Are we talking about the same pass?

    I.M.O he is still one of Ireland's best players.


  • Moderators, Sports Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 30,007 Mod ✭✭✭✭Podge_irl


    old boy wrote: »
    the biggest prob with him as captain is that he is too quick to criticise on the pitch stringer in france, where od should have been in place to take the pass

    You're having a laugh with that. It was an appalling pass and Jesus himself couldn't have been in a position to stop the intercept.
    And of course you should criticise people on the pitch - its knowing when to criticise and when to encourage that is the skill.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 975 ✭✭✭louthandproud


    Podge_irl wrote: »
    You're having a laugh with that. It was an appalling pass and Jesus himself couldn't have been in a position to stop the intercept.
    And of course you should criticise people on the pitch - its knowing when to criticise and when to encourage that is the skill.

    Knowing how to criticise on the pitch is also important, we all know it was an appalling pass, what came next wasn't much better.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,326 ✭✭✭Serenity Now!


    old boy wrote: »
    the biggest prob with him as captain is that he is too quick to criticise on the pitch stringer in france, where od should have been in place to take the pass, having a go at bowe are two that comes to mind, sportspeople must NEVER ctiticise others on the pitch, applaud and encourage yes, I.M.O. he has lost pace, is loosing concetration, then having a go at others for their mistakes.

    Oh ffs.
    Nobody has ever had a go onfield especially skippers? You've got to be taking the proverbial there.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,132 ✭✭✭RugbyFanatic


    Knowing how to criticise on the pitch is also important, we all know it was an appalling pass, what came next wasn't much better.

    He criticised a player for a god awful pass on the pitch it was such a lapse of concentration on Stringer's part that he need to be waken up. O'Driscoll didn't go to the media after the game however and scapegoat Stringer or even mention the pass. I am sorry but a lot of people here obviously have never played serious rugby and seem to think that your captain should only encourage etc. and its such bull**** if your repeatedly making mistakes or are not in the game then your captain will make sure it doesn't happen again. This isn't U12s rugby.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,132 ✭✭✭RugbyFanatic


    Oh ffs.
    Nobody has ever had a go onfield especially skippers? You've got to be taking the proverbial there.

    He actually tried to blame O'Driscoll for the intercept so you can draw your own conclusions on that fact alone.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,738 ✭✭✭thehighground


    Oh ffs.
    Nobody has ever had a go onfield especially skippers? You've got to be taking the proverbial there.

    I've seen Contempomi rip into Sexton - and is one of the reasons why I think Sexton has obviously lost confidence imo and playing so badly.

    As regards BOD having a go at Stringer at the world cup - that would not have inspired the confidence of the other 13 to take any risks on the pitch (because if you mess up, you will probably have your captain bawling you out in front of a couple of million people). And the other thing - it was unusual for him to do that, so he was obviously rattled. What is definition of a good leader .... keeps the head when all around are losing it ... BOD was the first to lose it there!

    BOD great player - but just a good captain when everything is going well!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,298 ✭✭✭freyners


    :eek: Are we talking about the same pass?

    I.M.O he is still one of Ireland's best players.

    i could name 5 better players on the irish squad than o'driscoll
    O'gara
    O'Connell
    Kearney
    Wallace
    Reddan


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,132 ✭✭✭RugbyFanatic


    I've seen Contempomi rip into Sexton - and is one of the reasons why I think Sexton has obviously lost confidence imo and playing so badly.

    As regards BOD having a go at Stringer at the world cup - that would not have inspired the confidence of the other 13 to take any risks on the pitch (because if you mess up, you will probably have your captain bawling you out in front of a couple of million people). And the other thing - it was unusual for him to do that, so he was obviously rattled. What is definition of a good leader .... keeps the head when all around are losing it ... BOD was the first to lose it there!

    BOD great player - but just a good captain when everything is going well!

    Sorry your so far off. If you ever watch Leinster whenever Fitzgerald tries something smart and it doesn't quite come off O'Driscoll always applauds him. I don't think anyone on that pitch thought ''Oh **** better play it safe just in case the big, bad O'Driscoll shouts at me'' more so ''I better ****ing concentrate on my game''

    He wasn't rattled he was pissed off how a player could come into a world cup game with such little concentration and make such a ridiculous error.

    Edit : Your off on Sexton by the way. Nothing to do with Contepomi who actually took him under his wing more to do with Cheika bringing in Howell


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,586 ✭✭✭sock puppet


    freyners wrote: »
    i could name 5 better players on the irish squad than o'driscoll
    O'gara
    O'Connell
    Kearney
    Wallace
    Reddan

    Wtf?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,132 ✭✭✭RugbyFanatic


    freyners wrote: »
    i could name 5 better players on the irish squad than o'driscoll
    O'gara
    O'Connell
    Kearney
    Wallace
    Reddan

    I could only name 3 currently playing better than O'Gara and they are

    Kearney
    Wallace
    O'Connell


    Theres not a chance O'Gara or Reddan are playing better.


  • Moderators, Sports Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 30,007 Mod ✭✭✭✭Podge_irl


    As regards BOD having a go at Stringer at the world cup - that would not have inspired the confidence of the other 13 to take any risks on the pitch (because if you mess up, you will probably have your captain bawling you out in front of a couple of million people).

    Its not as if Stringer was trying something special that didn't quite come off. It should have been a bog standard pass and he completely screwed it up. If the rest of the team are that nervous about being shouted at then they shouldn't be professional sportsmen.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,298 ✭✭✭freyners


    I could only name 3 currently playing better than O'Gara and they are

    Kearney
    Wallace
    O'Connell


    Theres not a chance O'Gara or Reddan are playing better.
    I'll presume you meant o'driscoll there
    O'driscoll is great defender but hes lost all his attacking power.
    'gara is nearly central to all of irelands/munster scores so of course hes a better player
    Reddan has more of an attacking game than o'driscoll


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,776 ✭✭✭Noopti


    freyners wrote: »
    i could name 5 better players on the irish squad than o'driscoll
    O'gara
    O'Connell
    Kearney
    Wallace
    Reddan

    Reddan?? :pac:


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,326 ✭✭✭Serenity Now!


    I've seen Contempomi rip into Sexton - and is one of the reasons why I think Sexton has obviously lost confidence imo and playing so badly
    I've seen Nick Farr-Jones almost kick Campese up the heiny in a Bledisloe test. Bad for his confidence? Was it balls. Great players don't let the yips get to them. Ordinary players do and fade away. If the growl of a senior teammate was the reason for Sexton's form, then its up to him to get over it and prove himself.
    As regards BOD having a go at Stringer at the world cup - that would not have inspired the confidence of the other 13 to take any risks on the pitch (because if you mess up, you will probably have your captain bawling you out in front of a couple of million people). And the other thing - it was unusual for him to do that, so he was obviously rattled. What is definition of a good leader .... keeps the head when all around are losing it ... BOD was the first to lose it there!
    Its called pressure and it affects every sportster out there. As you will no doubt remember, the RWC in 2007 was not exactly a great occasion in Irish rugby union history. Even great leaders onfield such as Gregan or Johnson have flipped off.


  • Moderators, Sports Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 30,007 Mod ✭✭✭✭Podge_irl


    freyners wrote: »
    'gara is nearly central to all of irelands/munster scores so of course hes a better player
    Reddan has more of an attacking game than o'driscoll

    Your first argument is simply ridiculous. Of course O'Gara is central to a lot of scores, he's the fly-half and both Munster and Ireland play a game that very much depends on him as a playmaker (somewhat too dependent on him imo). You could equally say that BOD has scored more tries then O'Gara so is obviously a better player. They're both way too simplistic arguments.
    Your second argument is unfathomably nonsensical.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,326 ✭✭✭Serenity Now!


    freyners wrote: »
    'gara is nearly central to all of irelands/munster scores so of course hes a better player

    You're comparing apples and oranges (to coin a phrase).
    O'Gara is a pivot. He's usually the first back outside the ruck area to get the ball so he obviously gets involved. He's also the kicker.
    :rolleyes:


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,132 ✭✭✭RugbyFanatic


    freyners wrote: »
    I'll presume you meant o'driscoll there
    O'driscoll is great defender but hes lost all his attacking power.
    'gara is nearly central to all of irelands/munster scores so of course hes a better player
    Reddan has more of an attacking game than o'driscoll

    LOL.

    Also how can you say the top try scorer in the Heineken Cup has lost all his attacking power?


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 975 ✭✭✭louthandproud


    He criticised a player for a god awful pass on the pitch it was such a lapse of concentration on Stringer's part that he need to be waken up. O'Driscoll didn't go to the media after the game however and scapegoat Stringer or even mention the pass. I am sorry but a lot of people here obviously have never played serious rugby and seem to think that your captain should only encourage etc. and its such bull**** if your repeatedly making mistakes or are not in the game then your captain will make sure it doesn't happen again. This isn't U12s rugby.

    I've played AIL rugby, I accept criticism needs to be meated out, but I didn't like the nature of it in that particular case. It was probably caused by frustration more than anything, and I doubt it did anything positive for Stringer on that occasion. However I wouldn't be judging BO'D's captaincy on that one incident.

    My own opinion on the matter is that if he wants to remain on as captain he should be allowed to do so, the only reason I can think of for dropping him would be if his place in the team weren't guaranteed, and although he might not have the pace he had a few years ago, I think his place is pretty assured.

    Hence only BO'D should be deciding on weather he want to be captain for another year or not. Weather he wants it, I have no idea. Does it affect his game being captain? I seriously doubt it.


This discussion has been closed.
Advertisement