WWW : Connacht vs Leinster

Stheno · 27-03-2016 5:37pm

Buer wrote: »

He's obvious quality but I'd be loathe to see Aki in green after his comments on signing. He's eager to take a test jersey from whoever will give it.

With someone like Stander or Strauss, you feel the Irish jersey genuinely meant the world to them.

What did he say when he signed?

Buer · 27-03-2016 5:39pm

Stheno wrote:

What did he say when he signed?

Talked about NZ having options that were ahead of him and he would be looking to play for Ireland. But if they didn't pick him that was ok as he could play for Samoa then. Just came across very much like he sees test rugby as a way of increasing his profile.

CatFromHue · 27-03-2016 5:40pm

Stheno wrote: »

What did he say when he signed?

"It was a really tough decision.

"It's a long commitment. I put a lot of thought into it, looking at my options in terms of international rugby," Aki told Fairfax Media in New Zealand.

"Obviously the All Blacks have got their midfielders and with Sonny coming back, it's a not a bad thing for me to go. Hopefully, if I do the hard yards over there, good things will come."

"Family is everything for me," he said. Aki understands that playing international rugby for Ireland is by no means a certainty, but is determined to make a solid case for himself.

"That's a big part of my decision to move," he said. "Hopefully when the time is right and if I'm playing good footy, hopefully I can play for the Ireland international team.

"I've got to play well before that though. I'm eligible for Samoa.

"That was another big decision for myself – to see if I would play for them or not. If I play three years over there and it doesn't go well, I can always go back to Samoa.

"They are a good international team as well but I'm just trying to look after my family and myself."
http://www.balls.ie/rugby/new-connacht-centre-bundee-aki-ireland-jersey-sights/119523

Prob what alot of guys who come over think but silly to say it.

Diabhal Beag · 27-03-2016 6:38pm

I'd go a bit easy on Bundee in particular in that situation. Might seem silly for him to say that but at the same time his thought-process is to optimise his career enough to support his family back home. Probably keeping his options open at that time.

Irish Times Article

Aki’s entire family, including his two daughters, still live in New Zealand, which further indicates that rugby has provided a huge opportunity.

The more you read up on him the more you love the lad. When Blade cleared the ball at the end he grabbed the tackler by the collar rather than immediately celebrate. Thought it was a real older brother thing to do. Lovely to see.

Cosmo Kramer · 27-03-2016 6:41pm

No different to Stander, Strauss, Payne or any other project player. There's lads that would delude themselves into thinking that they're all Irish now and couldn't care less about their home countries. But if the rules allowed it and they were in line to be selected I reckon they'd all go back and play for their home nations in a heartbeat. There's nothing wrong with that of course, but it's the reality of the project player setup.

its_phil · 27-03-2016 7:24pm

Buer wrote: »

He's obvious quality but I'd be loathe to see Aki in green after his comments on signing. He's eager to take a test jersey from whoever will give it.

With someone like Stander or Strauss, you feel the Irish jersey genuinely meant the world to them.

Really don't see the difference between Aki and the two of them. Stander was a project player and more than likely had intentions of becoming an international for Ireland even before he set foot in Ireland.

Don't see why Aki is so unsuited for Ireland just because of his honesty.

its_phil · 27-03-2016 7:25pm

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

I'd go a bit easy on Bundee in particular in that situation. Might seem silly for him to say that but at the same time his thought-process is to optimise his career enough to support his family back home. Probably keeping his options open at that time.

Irish Times Article

The more you read up on him the more you love the lad. When Blade cleared the ball at the end he grabbed the tackler by the collar rather than immediately celebrate. Thought it was a real older brother thing to do. Lovely to see.

They moved over for a few weeks and then moved back.

irishbucsfan · 27-03-2016 7:26pm

I don't really see the difference between Aki or Stander either. Stander was talking about playing for Ireland before he arrived.

Bring em all on. If they'll commit to Irish rugby long term then let's be having them

CatFromHue · 27-03-2016 7:40pm

its_phil wrote: »

Really don't see the difference between Aki and the two of them. Stander was a project player and more than likely had intentions of becoming an international for Ireland even before he set foot in Ireland.

Don't see why Aki is so unsuited for Ireland just because of his honesty.

There's honesty

yeah it looks ok, i'm not too keen on it though

and there's honesty

it makes you look fat

Sean Kinsella · 27-03-2016 8:37pm

Cosmo Kramer wrote: »

I actually thought Marmion played very well overall. He brings a level of pace and speed of pass to the position that we haven't seen at international level for Ireland since Peter Stringer. There are still some deficiencies in his game but I think it's now time for Schmidt to back him as his number two scrum half and work with him to mould his game into what he wants rather than reverting back to Reddan time and again.

McGrath was awful - a long way from international standard. Given that he's only a year younger than Marmion he has a lot of ground to make up. Seems very mouthy towards officials also any time I've seen him play.

Agree about Reddan; heading for 36 and frankly, he's had his international day; Marmion should be the number 2 to Murray with immediate effect.

CMOTDibbler · 27-03-2016 9:23pm

Cosmo Kramer wrote: »

I actually thought Marmion played very well overall. He brings a level of pace and speed of pass to the position that we haven't seen at international level for Ireland since Peter Stringer. There are still some deficiencies in his game but I think it's now time for Schmidt to back him as his number two scrum half and work with him to mould his game into what he wants rather than reverting back to Reddan time and again.

Marmion was much improved from where he was before the 6N. He's shown similar levels of improvement in the past, lets hope this time it sticks. He really needs to stake his position as number 2. Reddan btw, was very good when he came on. He still has a role to play as a sub if needed. He can put in a very good 20-30 minute shift.

Cosmo Kramer wrote: »

McGrath was awful - a long way from international standard. Given that he's only a year younger than Marmion he has a lot of ground to make up. Seems very mouthy towards officials also any time I've seen him play.

Really? Bar tryimg to box kick into the wind, I thought he put on a very assured display. Extremely quick to the breakdown and snappy with his delivery. He certainly was not 'awful'.

Billysays no · 27-03-2016 9:26pm

Iompair wrote: »

A rematch in good weather and Connacht can make it 2 weeks from 3 easy Leinster were pretty poor in conditions ideally suited to their brand of rugby.

True and its what annoys me most about Irish/Leinster rugby. Weather was shocking and should have suited the crash bang of Leinster. It proves there is more to rugby than hard yards. Lams quote "The boys know I cannot stand running straight into people." says it all

TICKLE_ME_ELMO · 27-03-2016 9:26pm

CMOTDibbler wrote: »

Marmion was much improved from where he was before the 6N. He's shown similar levels of improvement in the past, lets hope this time it sticks. He really needs to stake his position as number 2. Reddan btw, was very good when he came on. He still has a role to play as a sub if needed. He can put in a very good 20-30 minute shift.

I suppose the thinking with still relying on Reddan so much in the Ireland set up could be that we never really sub Murray off unless he gets hurt or the game is well won. If it's a weekend where Marmion could be getting 80 minutes under his belt with Connacht maybe he's better off there than getting 10 minutes for Ireland.

Obviously at some point we'll have to make the transition from Reddan to someone else though. There's no word on his plans for next season?

its_phil · 27-03-2016 10:22pm

CatFromHue wrote: »

its_phil wrote: »

Really don't see the difference between Aki and the two of them. Stander was a project player and more than likely had intentions of becoming an international for Ireland even before he set foot in Ireland.

Don't see why Aki is so unsuited for Ireland just because of his honesty.

There's honesty

yeah it looks ok, i'm not too keen on it though

and there's honesty

it makes you look fat

The drop the term project player on every signing because that's the whole point. They're signed with an intention of playing for Ireland.

Nucifora may as well tell them every project players don't speak about playing for Ireland until the week of your first cap and then belt out the words to Amhran na bhFiann.

I think Aki will be just as committed to Ireland as Stander, Payne or Strauss. Four very passionate guys

CatFromHue · 27-03-2016 10:30pm

He hasn't broken any rules, prob isn't saying anything that other project players are thinking and I've no doubt if he gets the chance he'll be 100% committed. It's just the way he talked about approaching it.

He said he prob wasn't going to be an AB, if he's up to it he'd like an Ireland cap, and if all else fails he always has Samoa. That's not what International rugby is about.

At least with the other guys they won't be playing International rugby for another team as soon as they decide they won't make the SA or Ireland teams.

Billysays no · 27-03-2016 10:40pm

heres another passionate guy
http://www.sportsfile.com/id/1130770/

TICKLE_ME_ELMO · 27-03-2016 10:49pm

Billysays no wrote: »

heres another passionate guy
http://www.sportsfile.com/id/1130770/

He'll never play for Ireland with his socks around his ankles like that.

Stheno · 27-03-2016 10:50pm

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

He'll never play for Ireland with his socks around his ankles like that.

Zebo lol

TICKLE_ME_ELMO · 27-03-2016 10:55pm

Stheno wrote: »

Zebo lol

Look at the resistance to Zebo though. All these years on the fringes, eventually only getting to play in an unnatural position because Rob K and his knee socks were injured. There's no way Joe lets 2 of them in the side.

Stheno · 27-03-2016 10:56pm

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

Look at the resistance to Zebo though. All these years on the fringes, eventually only getting to play in an unnatural position because Rob K and his knee socks were injured. There's no way Joe lets 2 of them in the side.

Is it not zebos diving like a soccer player when he scores that annoys Joe? :pac:

phog · 27-03-2016 11:00pm

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

He'll never play for Ireland with his socks around his ankles like that.

Remember all the fuss about that.

Diabhal Beag · 27-03-2016 11:06pm

Fionn Carr was also held back by ankle socks IMO.

Billysays no · 27-03-2016 11:11pm

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

Look at the resistance to Zebo though. All these years on the fringes, eventually only getting to play in an unnatural position because Rob K and his knee socks were injured. There's no way Joe lets 2 of them in the side.

lets see. will he have a choice. as connacht continue their upward spiral maybe joe will accept a player with socks about the ankles from connacht? Could this be possible? Shock, horror

TICKLE_ME_ELMO · 27-03-2016 11:13pm

Billysays no wrote: »

lets see. will he have a choice. as connacht continue their upward spiral maybe joe will accept a player with socks about the ankles from connacht? Could this be possible? Shock, horror

Can you have an upward spiral?

Billysays no · 27-03-2016 11:15pm

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

Can you have an upward spiral?

fair point. We are at the top :-)

Yeah_Right · 28-03-2016 12:27am

Billysays no wrote: »

lets see. will he have a choice. as connacht continue their upward spiral maybe joe will accept a player with socks about the ankles from connacht? Could this be possible? Shock, horror

I thought the game showed why TOH and Matt Healy aren't really in the running for an Irish jersey. They were very average.

freyners · 28-03-2016 12:29am

Yeah_Right wrote:

I thought the game showed why TOH and Matt Healy aren't really in the running for an Irish jersey. They were very average.

Ah now. Matt had his worst game for connacht in a while but Toh was brilliant imo. Brilliant in the air. Countered well and put in a busy shift covering across the field. Maybe I'm missing something but fwiw he was one of our best players yesterday

CatFromHue · 28-03-2016 12:45am

I thought TOH had a good game but didn't do anything to push him ahead of any of the other full back candidates for Ireland.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO · 28-03-2016 12:49am

CatFromHue wrote: »

I thought TOH had a good game but didn't do anything to push him ahead of any of the other full back candidates for Ireland.

Outside of Zebo and Rob K I think TOH and Olding are probably the only FB's looking at breaking into the Ireland squad? Schmidt seems to look at Payne and Henshaw as purely centres and that doesn't leave a lot of options. Even with Olding it very much depends on where Ulster play him. He's probably destined for the 23 shirt.

Billysays no · 28-03-2016 1:06am

CatFromHue wrote: »

I thought TOH had a good game but didn't do anything to push him ahead of any of the other full back candidates for Ireland.

Aside from toh being excellent all game long, closely watch the last two minutes of the game. Then you see the difference over zebo and Kearney.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO · 28-03-2016 1:08am

Billysays no wrote: »

Aside from toh being excellent all game long, closely watch the last two minutes of the game. Then you see the difference over zebo and Kearney.

Wasn't he subbed off on 70 minutes?

Edit: My mistake, it was a HIA he went off for.

wp_rathead · 28-03-2016 1:10am

Didn't have his most standout performance thought TOH was fine- found touch with a beaut in the first half.

I rewatched the match today (twice, but the first was in the morning in bed when I was still drunk so doesn't really count) and Healy actually played alright, did a hand off to McFadden which was rather enjoyable - but he knocked on the ball 3 times in contact and that is inexcusable. Atleast his defence was better than it was against Edinburgh but it is the second match in a row he didn't have the greatest day..

Brown had a great impact when he came on, stealing a lineout and then hitting a ruck sending 2 leinster lads and a connacht team mate flying (he did then mess up a lineout of his own mind)

VdF had a great game I thought for Leinster, a constant nuisance.

Bundee is the bad boy Connacht needed- with himself and Quinn Roux in the pack we finally got abit of bite and some enforcers that won't let teams bully us..

Nacewa very lucky he didn't go to the bin for either high tackle on Niyi or for his deliberate slap down of a pass (his tackle on AJ was grand imo)

A big moment was with around 10mins to Leinster win a penalty and Kirchner tries to be smart and use the wind and kicks it across the pitch to find touch and it doesn't. It's then another while before Leinster get back up and start building the phases and are on the Connacht tryline.. Had it been 10minutes of that pressure who knows what would have happened..

Also, why the feck didn't Madigan go for a drop goal at the end..?

Bazzo · 28-03-2016 1:10am

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

Wasn't he subbed off on 70 minutes?

He went off for a HIA around the 65 min mark but came back on and finished the game.

wp_rathead · 28-03-2016 1:14am

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

Wasn't he subbed off on 70 minutes?

went of for 5 minutes at 65th min, came back on at 70th

Yeah_Right · 28-03-2016 2:27am

CatFromHue wrote: »

I thought TOH had a good game but didn't do anything to push him ahead of any of the other full back candidates for Ireland.

That's it. He did nothing to make me sit up and say "holy ****! This guy should be playing test rugby" He was a solid Pro 12 fullback.

CatFromHue · 28-03-2016 3:41am

wp_rathead wrote: »

Nacewa very lucky he didn't go to the bin for either high tackle on Niyi or for his deliberate slap down of a pass (his tackle on AJ was grand imo)

A big moment was with around 10mins to Leinster win a penalty and Kirchner tries to be smart and use the wind and kicks it across the pitch to find touch and it doesn't. It's then another while before Leinster get back up and start building the phases and are on the Connacht tryline.. Had it been 10minutes of that pressure who knows what would have happened..

Also, why the feck didn't Madigan go for a drop goal at the end..?

I can't remember the slap down but I thought a penalty for the high tackle was a fair call. It wasn't a clothesline and he pulled out of it straight away without causing any damage/problem to Niyi too.

As for Madigan I forgot he was playing for large parts of the game and he certainly had no interest in tackling Aki. Tbh the question of "why the feck didn't Madigan" applies to alot of things, he's been poor to average for nearly 3 seasons now.

neelia11 · 28-03-2016 8:41am

wp_rathead wrote: »

Nacewa very lucky he didn't go to the bin for either high tackle on Niyi or for his deliberate slap down of a pass

The tackle on Niyi was high but nothing more then a penalty. I remember him knocking on but didnt think it was deliberate. If that was a YC in your opinion then Marmion should have gone too then when he slapped a ball down at a Leinster scrum ???

Hagz · 28-03-2016 9:33am

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UL6nUarSDg

Hagz · 28-03-2016 9:34am

What the hell is Aki doing at the final whistle? I'm surprised McFadden didn't blow a gasket.

johnnyryan89 · 28-03-2016 11:19am

Hagz wrote: »

What the hell is Aki doing at the final whistle? I'm surprisd McFadden didn't blow a gasket.

I'd say it was to do with McFadden's attempt at tackling or getting the ball off of Marmion, probably felt it was a bit late, unnecessary or whatever seeing as the ball was out of play or he was probably telling him to get to f@ck that I'll be taking your place on the Irish team next year

MugMugs · 28-03-2016 11:26am

ClanofLams wrote: »

Did you manage to see it ok this evening? ðŸ˜…

MugMugs wrote: »

I stand erected and corrected. Uber kudos to Connacht. I put a hat on purely to tip it to you all.

Awwwwwwww man! I totally got in there ahead of you ! But fair dues for trying

wp_rathead · 28-03-2016 12:28pm

neelia11 wrote: »

The tackle on Niyi was high but nothing more then a penalty. I remember him knocking on but didnt think it was deliberate. If that was a YC in your opinion then Marmion should have gone too then when he slapped a ball down at a Leinster scrum ???

He jumped up one handed volleyball style - was no way he would be able to catch it- was deliberate. How it wasn't even a penalty is beyond me
When I say "he was lucky" to not be binned I mean I've seen yellows for both those individual infringements so to get away with both is in my opinion "lucky". I agree I don't think Niyi one warranted a yellow but I've seen them given for less..
I honestly don't remember Marmion slapping down at scrum. You mean when Reddan threw the ball to Marmion who was offside? Ye rightfully got a penalty- don't think was yellow card territory

neelia11 · 28-03-2016 12:41pm

wp_rathead wrote: »

He jumped up one handed volleyball style - was no way he would be able to catch it- was deliberate. How it wasn't even a penalty is beyond me
When I say "he was lucky" to not be binned I mean I've seen yellows for both those individual infringements so to get away with both is in my opinion "lucky". I agree I don't think Niyi one warranted a yellow but I've seen them given for less..
I honestly don't remember Marmion slapping down at scrum. You mean when Reddan threw the ball to Marmion who was offside? Ye rightfully got a penalty- don't think was yellow card territory

Reddan went to pass the ball and Marmion had gone offside and had one hand outstretched below hip height to block the pass and made no attempt to catch it.

Nacewa had his hand straight up in the air and tried to flick the ball backwards from what I can remember. Never ever a penalty

OldRio · 28-03-2016 12:49pm

neelia11 wrote: »

Reddan went to pass the ball and Marmion had gone offside and had one hand outstretched below hip height to block the pass and made no attempt to catch it.

Or in the words of the commentators. 'Reddan bought that penalty' 'Cute play' 'He's been doing that sort of thing all his career' 'Smart play by Reddan'

neelia11 · 28-03-2016 12:54pm

OldRio wrote: »

Or in the words of the commentators. 'Reddan bought that penalty' 'Cute play' 'He's been doing that sort of thing all his career' 'Smart play by Reddan'

Reddan didnt buy the penalty, it was for offside, Reddan didnt make Marmion go ahead of the ball

ClanofLams · 28-03-2016 1:00pm

MugMugs wrote: »

Awwwwwwww man! I totally got in there ahead of you ! But fair dues for trying

Haha posting a load of nonsense for the week and then a one liner about standing corrected, nah still needed to be pointed out.

OldRio · 28-03-2016 1:04pm

neelia11 wrote: »

Reddan didnt buy the penalty, it was for offside, Reddan didnt make Marmion go ahead of the ball

OK. Those commentators lied. An ex Leinster player telling fibs. Naughty him.

Bazzo · 28-03-2016 1:23pm

neelia11 wrote: »

Reddan didnt buy the penalty, it was for offside, Reddan didnt make Marmion go ahead of the ball

He 100% bought the penalty. You see the more experiences scrum halves doing it at the time. They spot someone offside and hoof the ball directly at them.

I think it's pretty clear that's what he was doing, watch it back and see where the ball would have gone if Marmion wasn't in that position, the "pass" wasn't actually aimed at any player.

I'm not criticising that tactic by the way, it's just clever play from the scrum half, but it's completely different from intentional knock ons.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO · 28-03-2016 1:26pm

Bazzo wrote: »

He 100% bought the penalty. You see the more experiences scrum halves doing it at the time. They spot someone offside and hoof the ball directly at them.

I think it's pretty clear that's what he was doing, watch it back and see where the ball would have gone if Marmion wasn't in that position, the "pass" wasn't actually aimed at any player.

I'm not criticising that tactic by the way, it's just clever play from the scrum half, but it's completely different from intentional knock ons.

It's interesting that this is a perfectly accepted tactic, the SH making sure the ref sees the player offside, and yet when someone makes sure the ref knows he's been death slammed out of a ruck it's a disgrace.

I know they're two different circumstances but the thought process is the same, is it not?

TICKLE_ME_ELMO · 28-03-2016 1:28pm

ClanofLams wrote: »

I will say that ouncer and myself rarely agree. But he's absolutely correct that Thornley barely knows what day of the week it is.

I haven't listened to it yet but I see Second Captains are discussing Connacht's "commitment to skills game when under pressure" with the one and only Gerry Thornley today. :eek:

WWW : Connacht vs Leinster

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