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

IrishProd · 13-02-2014 04:14PM

mariano rivera wrote: »

(OK Mods, this a societal question more than a rugby question)

Why do the Irish Rugby team get so much publicity and the publicity they get is nearly always hugely positive?

The fact of the matter is hardly anybody plays the game, especially adults. A few pockets in Cork, Limerick, South Dublin and Protestant areas in the north. Most counties would have the ODD junior team. Compare that to the huge number of GAA teams and junior soccer teams

Most goys I know who will we watching the England game have NEVER played the game. As I would guess most people who attend the Ireland games would be the same.

Ryan Tubridy drools at the mouth whenever he interviews the goys
Brendan O’Connor telling is again what a great performance by the Irish rugby team
Hugely positive reports about our brave Irish team in print, radio & TV (Conor O’Shea I am looking at you)

Yet, the facts are:

Ireland are ranked 6th in the world. Recently up from 7th. There are really only 10 decent rugby teams in the world as such. (Any rugger bugger would tell you that)

Irelands so called Golden generation have won ONE 6 nations Championship in 30 years!

Golden Generation?

Yet Jonny, Jamie and all the goys are world class, outstanding, brave, phenomenal, fantastic performance etc.

Really?

The coverage after the LOST to New Zealand was cringe worthy . A game they LOST

Personally, I think the D4 Posh boys give the sport and team way too much positive publicity when frankly they don’t deserve it

It’s just because they are part of the same snobby/ Old School tie Club. They are all mates, you see

And we as a nation (most of whom have never picked up a rugby ball) are sucking it all up

I'm sorry but......how the fúck is that relevant?

Andy-Pandy · 13-02-2014 04:17PM

HooohRaaah wrote: »

I'm a true gael. I don't know AWEC. If he's an Ulster rugby supporter then I'd imagine he's of the Unionist persuasion.

I'm sorry, but what is a true gael? I've a Protestant father, catholic mother (both Irish), grew up in d4, went to a private school and played rugby. I'm probably on paper the kind of person you hate, but I'm not a snob, I'm not predugice in anyway. Judging people by class or where they went to school says more about the person judging than it does the judged.

orangesoda · 13-02-2014 04:23PM

HooohRaaah wrote: »

I'm a true gael. I don't know AWEC. If he's an Ulster rugby supporter then I'd imagine he's of the Unionist persuasion.

To be fair you're not a Gael, gaels lived in gaelic ireland and scotland centuries ago.

everdead.ie · 13-02-2014 04:23PM

IrishProd wrote: »

I'm sorry but......how the fúck is that relevant?

It's not just like this thread.

Heroditas · 13-02-2014 04:24PM

reprazant wrote: »

So HooohRaaah is a posh boy from South Dublin railing against other posh boys from South Dublin because they used to slag him for not playing the same sport as him?

This really is quite fantastic.

It's a long-winded tedious troll, that's what it is.
The same poster was asking when the London Irish - Leinster game was scheduled for a few years ago.

blackwhite · 13-02-2014 04:24PM

HooohRaaah wrote: »

I'm a true gael. I don't know AWEC. If he's an Ulster rugby supporter then I'd imagine he's of the Unionist persuasion.

Like Padraig Duffy you mean? I'd better tell him he's a unionist now :rolleyes:

Yeah_Right · 13-02-2014 05:22PM

I'm a foreigner living in Ireland for a few years now and I find it amazing that people would begrudge their country's national team for getting praised for winning?!?! Its bizarre. Even if you don't like the sport, why begrudge the success of those that play it or enjoy it?

I am not a fan of GAA or hurling (probably because I had never heard of it till I moved to Ireland) but I enjoy going to the pub with my mates to watch the All-Ireland semis and finals. I had a couple of great nights out celebrating Dublin's All-Ireland wins. I've been to Croke Park a couple of times. It was fun but I wouldn't say the atmosphere was anything unique or amazing compared to other big sporting events around the world.

Several people mentioned boxing. Apart from Katie Taylor, who else from Ireland has won Olympic gold in boxing? Genuine question.

Speaking of All-Ireland....... isnt rugby the only sport where all of Ireland is represented? The North and the Republic play as one team. Does that happen in any other sports?

The Lost Sheep · 13-02-2014 05:27PM

Yeah_Right wrote: »

I'm a foreigner living in Ireland for a few years now and I find it amazing that people would begrudge their country's national team for getting praised for winning?!?! Its bizarre. Even if you don't like the sport, why begrudge the success of those that play it or enjoy it?

I am not a fan of GAA or hurling (probably because I had never heard of it till I moved to Ireland) but I enjoy going to the pub with my mates to watch the All-Ireland semis and finals. I had a couple of great nights out celebrating Dublin's All-Ireland wins. I've been to Croke Park a couple of times. It was fun but I wouldn't say the atmosphere was anything unique or amazing compared to other big sporting events around the world.

Several people mentioned boxing. Apart from Katie Taylor, who else from Ireland has won Olympic gold in boxing? Genuine question.

Speaking of All-Ireland....... isnt rugby the only sport where all of Ireland is represented? The North and the Republic play as one team. Does that happen in any other sports?

Michael Carruth in 1992 same year Wayne McCullough won a silver.
No Hockey, Cricket, Rowing are just three other sports that compete on an all island basis. There is probably more than those three

Yeah_Right · 13-02-2014 05:33PM

Hockey and rowing as well!! What about at the Olympics? The North falls under the UK for that so some competing for a rowing or hockey club in the North would have to choose whether they represent Ireland or GB, right?

iDave · 13-02-2014 05:34PM

Yeah_Right wrote: »

Hockey and rowing as well!! What about at the Olympics? The North falls under the UK for that so some competing for a rowing or hockey club in the North would have to choose whether they represent Ireland or GB, right?

Don't go there. A thread on that topic alone will go for a million pages.

Yeah_Right · 13-02-2014 05:35PM

iDave wrote: »

Don't go there. A thread on that topic alone will go for a million pages.

Fair enough. Excuse the ignorant foreigner. I sometimes forget these things

mariano rivera · 13-02-2014 05:37PM

HooohRaaah wrote: »

Starting 15 vs Wales

Rob Kearney, Andrew Trimble, Brian O'Driscoll, Gordon D'Arcy, Dave Kearney, Jonathan Sexton, , Cian Healy, Rory Best, Mike Ross, Devin Toner, Paul O'Connell (captain), Peter O'Mahony, Chris Henry, Jamie Heaslip , Conor Murray

All those in bold went to a private fee paying school.
That says it all about rugby

The rugby fans (As you can see from this thread) love to pipe on about the game spreading down the country.

"Its working class in Limerick, you know

Keith Earls from Moyross, blah, blah, "

Limerick rugby players have been playing for Ireland for donkeys years. There is nothing new here. No new development

If you see the team above, the proof is in the bold type.

Even after years of the so called Golden Generation, HUGE Media coverage, HUGE corporate sponsorship, rugby apparently spreading its gospel throughout the country, its still the posh boys game

So, they next time you are shouting "Come on Ireland", which Ireland are you cheering?

Chips Lovell · 13-02-2014 05:39PM

Jesus, you mean we might be cheering for protestants? :eek: We couldn't be having that.

iDave · 13-02-2014 05:40PM

mariano rivera wrote: »

So, they next time you are shouting "Come on Ireland", which Ireland are you cheering?

The one on the pitch wearing green.

The Lost Sheep · 13-02-2014 05:42PM

mariano rivera wrote: »

The rugby fans (As you can see from this thread) love to pipe on about the game spreading down the country.

"Its working class in Limerick, you know

Keith Earls from Moyross, blah, blah, "

Limerick rugby players have been playing for Ireland for donkeys years. There is nothing new here. No new development

If you see the team above, the proof is in the bold type.

Even after years of the so called Golden Generation, HUGE Media coverage, HUGE corporate sponsorship, rugby apparently spreading its gospel throughout the country, its still the posh boys game

So, they next time you are shouting "Come on Ireland", which Ireland are you cheering?

Yes the sport is dominated still in some area's by the traditional schools and past pupils of those schools but that is changing in a big way. There is more and more coming from the non traditional area's where players started playing in their local club and a small bit with their school but primarily with their club.
The Leinster academy signed 6 players at the start of this season. 3 came from the big rugby playing schools while 3 came from the clubs/youths set up and this is likely going to be the way it is from now on.
That team is not proof at all.
The work all the provinces are putting in at grassroots, especially Leinster, will just see more and more players emerge through the clubs set up who never once stepped foot in one of the big fee paying/rugby playing schools

twowheelsgood · 13-02-2014 05:43PM

Yeah_Right wrote: »

Even if you don't like the sport, why begrudge the success of those that play it or enjoy it?

Alas, there are unsavoury elements / attitudes in all the big sporting organisations. Rugby historically was in places, a game for the well-heeled, though that is changing. There is an unsavoury element amongst the supporters of association football, perhaps more evident in other countries than here. And there is more than a whiff of cultural superiority amongst some who favour gaelic games.

Me, and most I know, happily watch / support all of them.

Mind, I think the rugby / soccer animosity is by no means unique to Ireland?

Gambas · 13-02-2014 05:43PM

Vladimir Kurtains wrote: »

Jesus, you mean we might be cheering for protestants? :eek: We couldn't be having that.

And not 'Georgie Best, poor loveable rascal' protestants either.

I am pie · 13-02-2014 05:45PM

Prejudice against people because of their educational background is mean spirited and certainly the mark of a person I'd sooner avoid, no matter if they are calling them knackers or posh boys. It is a really limited person who carries that kind of prejudice.

No better than turning your nose up at someone wearing a tracksuit than parroting on about a sportsman or womans schooling.

Pathetic.

Royal Legend · 13-02-2014 05:47PM

This is possibly partly why http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/international/2014/0213/504151-fifa-rankings/

As a rugby country we are in the top 6 in the world and possibly in the top 4 on form.

Yeah_Right · 13-02-2014 05:48PM

OP are you looking for more coverage of baseball? I only ask because your username is that of a retired Yankees pitcher.

Fratton Fred · 13-02-2014 05:50PM

mariano rivera wrote: »

The rugby fans (As you can see from this thread) love to pipe on about the game spreading down the country.

"Its working class in Limerick, you know

Keith Earls from Moyross, blah, blah, "

Limerick rugby players have been playing for Ireland for donkeys years. There is nothing new here. No new development

If you see the team above, the proof is in the bold type.

Even after years of the so called Golden Generation, HUGE Media coverage, HUGE corporate sponsorship, rugby apparently spreading its gospel throughout the country, its still the posh boys game

So, they next time you are shouting "Come on Ireland", which Ireland are you cheering?

so isn't it about time other schools started actually playing rugby, then it wouldn't be such an elitist sport.

The_Kew_Tour · 13-02-2014 05:50PM

Yeah_Right wrote: »

Several people mentioned boxing. Apart from Katie Taylor, who else from Ireland has won Olympic gold in boxing? Genuine question.

The last 2 Olympics we have won 1 Gold, 2 Silver, 4 Bronze.

1 of those Silver should have been a Gold and we were unlucky in anther fight or 2 that could have read much better.

We have produced few European Champions in past 6 years as well as Gold, Silver and Bronze Medalists in the World Championships.

MICKEYG · 13-02-2014 05:57PM

Royal Legend wrote: »

This is possibly partly why http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/international/2014/0213/504151-fifa-rankings/

As a rugby country we are in the top 6 in the world and possibly in the top 4 on form.

I assume you are looking for a reaction here. There is no comparison between the two lists.

Warper · 13-02-2014 06:04PM

AndonHandon wrote: »

Rugby is one of the few popular sports where we, as a nation, compete against other nations and are actually good at it.

Roughly about 10 teams take it seriously so to say we are quite good at something that no one plays is the same as saying USA are quite good at baseball. Plus we are not that good at it really compared to the success of others

Yamanoto · 13-02-2014 06:13PM

mariano rivera wrote: »

So, they next time you are shouting "Come on Ireland", which Ireland are you cheering?

Like most folks I'd imagine, if I see an Irish sportsman or woman doing their damnedest to achieve whatever it is they've trained for in a sport they've clearly excelled at, I'll root for 'em.

Doesn't matter what class they are, what school they went to, what sport they chose or whatever fcuking religion they happen to be.

I'm Irish & they're Irish, so I'd hope they succeed.

Rezident · 13-02-2014 06:24PM

I prefer football, always have, to this day I could not explain many refereeing decisions in rugby (when one of the girls asks, I just mutter 'coming in from the side' or 'off his feet' as if I have a clue why that penalty was given) but so many pro footballers nowadays are shameful playacters, look at Christiano Ronaldo, the ballon d'or, the best player in the world apparently, yet he rolls around the ground crying like a baby when anyone touches him. It's embarrassing. It is pathetic. How can we look up to that?

The Irish Rugby players, by contrast, take ferocious hits from other monster rugby players - like O'Driscoll did against Wales - and somehow get back up and put their bodies on the line again, risking broken bones, torn ligaments and tendons like the warriors that they are. Paul O'Connell, etc. they are warriors.

When the Irish government, and economy and banks and transport "system" and social welfare system, the weather, the insular Irish begrudgery and everything else here depresses me and makes me think that maybe I'd be better off unemployed or abroad, the Irish rugby team makes me genuinely proud to be Irish. They be legends. And they deserve more praise than they will ever get.

LorMal · 13-02-2014 06:27PM

HooohRaaah wrote: »

I wonder if Fred has ever been to Croke Park for a Dublin vs Kerry game in the Championship. Best atmosphere in the world.
I doubt many kids grow up dreaming of playing Zebre in the RDS.

'Best atmosphere in the world'.....again, really??

bennyl10 · 13-02-2014 06:28PM

HooohRaaah wrote: »

So therefore rugby is a middle to upper class game at grass roots then?
An ordinary guy from a working class family in Tallaght can't really play at a high level at school because his parents couldn't afford school fees?

Munster schools cup, castletroy and Munchins and crescent (arguably) the best schools in Limerick, among best in Munster and the country are public.. Fees make no difference if you look outside Dublin

LorMal · 13-02-2014 06:28PM

Warper wrote: »

Roughly about 10 teams take it seriously so to say we are quite good at something that no one plays is the same as saying USA are quite good at baseball. Plus we are not that good at it really compared to the success of others

We are international giants at GAA though

LorMal · 13-02-2014 06:30PM

The_Kew_Tour wrote: »

The last 2 Olympics we have won 1 Gold, 2 Silver, 4 Bronze.

1 of those Silver should have been a Gold and we were unlucky in anther fight or 2 that could have read much better.

We have produced few European Champions in past 6 years as well as Gold, Silver and Bronze Medalists in the World Championships.

Fightin' and Drinkin'......world class

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

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