The D4 Media/ Posh Boys and Irish Rugby – Spoon feeding the masses

I can categorically confirm that the majority of women who watch the sport do so to perve on the likes of the Kearney brothers and Tommy Bowe. And they're only half the men compared to the likes of Rory Best and John Hayes......

In all seriousness though, I have really tried to put bias aside and get into rugby. I really have. But I just don't buy into the whole fanfare associated with it. For example, during the summer, undoubtedly the biggest Irish sporting news story was Drico getting dropped for the Third test. There was even some media outlets in the build-up to last weekend's match painting the game as Ireland's revenge on Gatland. Three Irish players started that Third Test, Sexton scored a try, and it was record victory for the Lions (Gatland clearly got his selection spot on). But yeah, brush that under the carpet and stick up for O'Driscoll who any level-headed and sensible rugby fan would acknowledge was going to be third choice leading up to the Series (only started first two games because Roberts got injured). Didn't like how he carried himself in the post-match celebrations either (carrying his baby daughter around, stealing the show). You wouldn't see an oft-maligned, former Irish soccer captain from Cork act that way.

One more thing, the Irish rugby media are as bad as the English soccer media are during the World Cup. They have beaten a bad Scotland team and a Welsh team that under-performed on the day, and now they are being built up as world beaters. It's actually gone to the stage that I hope England beat them next day out just to shut up Gerry Thornley, George Hook and Ryle Nugent.

A hooligans game played by gentlemen

The Pheasant2 wrote: »

I always love the D4 label that ignorant people opposed to rugby attach to the sport:

Hilarious considering that Jonny Sexton is the only player from the matchday 23 versus Wales that is actually from the Southside of Dublin (and not even Dublin 4 at that!)

What I find amazing is how so many lads lose their native accents in favour of a southside one as soon as they make it in rugby!

castletownman wrote: »

I can categorically confirm that the majority of women who watch the sport do so to perve on the likes of the Kearney brothers and Tommy Bowe. And they're only half the men compared to the likes of Rory Best and John Hayes......

In all seriousness though, I have really tried to put bias aside and get into rugby. I really have. But I just don't buy into the whole fanfare associated with it. For example, during the summer, undoubtedly the biggest Irish sporting news story was Drico getting dropped for the Third test. There was even some media outlets in the build-up to last weekend's match painting the game as Ireland's revenge on Gatland. Three Irish players started that Third Test, Sexton scored a try, and it was record victory for the Lions (Gatland clearly got his selection spot on). But yeah, brush that under the carpet and stick up for O'Driscoll who any level-headed and sensible rugby fan would acknowledge was going to be third choice leading up to the Series (only started first two games because Roberts got injured). Didn't like how he carried himself in the post-match celebrations either (carrying his baby daughter around, stealing the show). You wouldn't see an oft-maligned, former Irish soccer captain from Cork act that way.

One more thing, the Irish rugby media are as bad as the English soccer media are during the World Cup. They have beaten a bad Scotland team and a Welsh team that under-performed on the day, and now they are being built up as world beaters. It's actually gone to the stage that I hope England beat them next day out just to shut up Gerry Thornley, George Hook and Ryle Nugent.

I do agree with you that the hype can get a bit grating at times with the likes of Thornley and 'Fester':rolleyes: going into overdrive. You see Irish fans getting offended then when foreign journalists don't rate them in the same light. I remember in 2010 they played Scotland in CP in the last game of the 6 nations, they'd blown the championship but a Triple Crown was still on, all week long the media spoke as if it was already achieved, Scotland were totally written off and dismissed. I remember Dan Parks speaking of how the Irish arrogance fueled their preparations that week and they duly went on and won.

A bit more humility and cop on is required at times, someone like Thornley should know better as he was covering the sport in the 90s when we were considered the whipping boys of Europe.

winter_swimmer wrote: »

the point is that dismissals of soccer as a wimps game are bullplop

Coming from a rough area doesn't mean your some sort of hard man. Falling around the place pretending to be injured definitely doesn't. You only have to go back a week and a half to see chico flores rolling around holding his face when Andy Carroll brushed the top of his head to see a glaring example of why a lot of people give out about football and that's leaving aside all the general diving and injury faking in all the other games.

WesternZulu wrote: »

The rugby team get lauded by the media for winning feck all.
The soccer team gets abused by the media for winning feck all.

They are different segments of the media, different writers. They write for their market. Football fans have a pent up anger and like to see people being abused (hence the popularity of Dunphy, Giles etc). Rugby fans find it unbecoming and can see a person behind the player.


But sure you know that already.

castletownman wrote: »

It's actually gone to the stage that I hope England beat them next day out just to shut up Gerry Thornley, George Hook and Ryle Nugent.

That's more likely to have the opposite effect

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

Coming from a rough area doesn't mean your some sort of hard man. Falling around the place pretending to be injured definitely doesn't. You only have to go back a week and a half to see chico flores rolling around holding his face when Andy Carroll brushed the top of his head to see a glaring example of why a lot of people give out about football and that's leaving aside all the general diving and injury faking in all the other games.

It's a shame alright, it creeped in over the years to the game, southern European and South American influence. The English game of the post war years didn't see it, John Giles said his autobiography that even if you were genuinely shook you'd get back up because you'd never give the opposing player the satisfaction of knowing he'd hurt you. A man's game, that culture is lost.

These days I see young lads in the U8's at my local club throwing themselves around the place looking for frees. No matter how much they're roared at and berated they still do it.