The UAFC

The lineout was a shocker. Serious analysis needs to be done as to the causes. Was it Rory's darts? Was it the noise in the stadium? Did Leo time his jumping wrongly? Were the French allowed to disrupt us illegally? POC's arrival seemed to make a huge improvement. SOB should never be picked at 7. He...

Forwards squad is nearly at full strength.
Questions remaining in the backs.
Should be a great game in Bordeaux.

Ireland v England is sold out already so buy on line today if you want French match tickets. I was surprised at the sales but then my sister told me she and her friends bought six for the English match on line as they would never get them for a regular six nations. The clubs don't seem to be botheri...

I think some of the comments show people expecting too much from the first warm up game, with a second XV, away from home in dull Murrayfield. First of all, the defence was excellent. Second, the returning players looked quite good. Third, no injuries. One player who stood out for me and I'm not nor...

Local knowledge: parking around the Aviva depends on which side of it you are seated as they colour segregate the crowds into different sectors. (Sorry that sounds like Alabama in the 50s but you know what I mean). No point going to lovely Northumberland Road if you are in the East Stand. :mexican: ...

If Ireland do a Lens on it and crash out at the group stage then it really would be the scaffold for Kidney. I honestly think he can do very very well, maybe even a semi? So I am not expecting Lens II. MInd you, the Aussies looked very good against the boks. There will always be new coaches. We thou...

Baggy Trousers, Yes. A poor RWC should be grounds for termination of the coach. That's what should have happened in 2007. Professional sport is a results business and qualification for the quarter finals, maybe semi finals, is what I expect the bar to be at. The RWC is the standard measure by which ...

I bet you there is a confidential clause in Kidney's contract allowing the Union to terminate his contract in the event of poor performance or poor outcome from the RWC.
It makes sense, though, to tie him up if he does well.
Lansdowne Road authorities have moved on since the EOS debacle.

time to get out of this ridiculous competition.
It's totally loaded against our lads and all they'll do is get injured.

So Heaslip is accepted as being an "exceptional" player. I think you are being a wee bit grudging up there, to coin a phrase. SOB was European player of the year, JS was outstanding in the H Cup final to name just one game, and R Kearney was class for Ireland in 09 and on the Lions. Being ...

Loves the hard:
You say Leinster hasn't produced an exceptional player in recent years.
What about Heaslip, O'Brien, Sexton and Rob Kearney? None of them rate?

Irish Independent today: The IRFU is poised to withdraw the Ireland U-20 team from the Junior World Championship from next year because of issues over player welfare and finance. The shock development comes as Ireland bids to achieve their best finish in the fledgling competition, which has been won...

5 scrumhalves?
Can't see how Murray can go with his inexperience.

What? Only one turnip
plenty of westies though.

I'm looking forward to welcoming our Ulster friends :oman: in the RDS tonight. I really hope you make a better game of it than the last time. I am quite confident that we will do the business tonight and next Saturday. we :mexican: have a team of great quality that's been on fire this year. May the ...