The UAFC

Apols if this has been covered elsewhere, but isn't the most significant thing that ROG isn't even on the bench as cover - I can't remember the last time he was fit and wasn't in the match-day 22.

Echoing BR's point, I wouldn't get your hopes up too much - nobody actually seems to be televising the game live (certainly it's not on Sky) so as keen as he might be, he's going to struggle.

So, the new season is upon us and us exiles are the playthings of the gods of broadcasting. The next fixture will be against Edinburgh and sadly S4C and BBC Wales seem to want to focus on those pesky Welshmen, leaving Setanta Ireland as the only broadcaster covering this one. Does anyone have any id...

Dexter is certainly very good - but "best thing on TV"? I think not.

For that, get yourself over to FX on Sky and pick up The Wire. Best show on TV, bar none.

Looks like a funny year coming up. France and England and Wales are all getting used to new setups and a RWC hangover. England's squad looks handy, though. Ireland will struggle with Plan A (ROG kicks it for position), Plan B (give it to BOD and he'll do some magic) and no Plan C. Italy will win a g...

For the first time since the away game at Llanelli last year, I think I'll be in O'Neills tonight with my other half.

Hope to god it goes better than the papers are predicting...

Be good to know if Waxy's are going to be showing it. Pesky Setanta Ireland...

Am I alone in thinking that shaking up the backline a bit might have been a good idea - not just based on the performances to date - but also that it's essentially the Leinster backline + Murphy and that they will be playing with their opposite numbers being marshalled by the good doctor himself, Fe...

I suspect that the whole thing is related to the French system of investigating magistrates - slightly different to the police/CPS setup here. Imagine that this is the root of the thing. This would certainly explain the fact that the local police's initial statement wasn't suggesting that they would...

Wasn't at the game myself. Can't vouch for what was said. But what appears to be the case is that a professional rugby player waded into the stands and assaulted someone. Are these facts beyond discussion? This is simply not acceptable and the player should be punished. Irishouthalf, I am afraid tha...

Yes, As good as the cheering for the boys was... the abuse I heard Ulster fans giving the bar staff (who were clearly unaccustomed to serving thirsty stout-drinkers) was shameful. I was mainly considering the wait to get from the station and to get back - the "shuttle buses" were a bit of ...

Thoroughly depressing day out. Will be posting elsewhere about Irish's woeful accommodation of the visiting support, but for now am probably more disappointed at the Ulster team's complete failure to turn up. The fact that they failed to move forward and capitalise with a 2-man advantage over the br...

Banning a journo sounds like a classic Woodward technique - at least Eddie learned something on the Lions tour last year. Shame it wasn't something useful. Has he actually justified leaving tired legs and bodies on the field when the AB's were refreshing their attack? Will be interesting to see how ...

Can't help but think that it's the end of an era (albeit one of frustration as successive managements ignored the gem they had at their disposal). The last 6N might be remembered as one where Ireland flattered to deceive, and none more tha ROG, with repeatedly pisspoor displays rewarded with the con...

An innovation of the Woodward era.

Didn't seem to do them much good, though...

...and sent them homeward to think again...