Autumn Nations Cup aka 8 Nations

[TopPoster]

Fecks. None. Given.

#FreeTheUlster3
#FOFIRFU-BOI

[Don_Alfonso]

"Rory Best? Ah, sure he's past it - can't throw straight, slow - what does he even bring to the team?"

https://www.the42.ie/ireland-captain-th ... 5-Nov2020/

[Aird]

Interesting to read the 42 ‘s various articles and the comments where some comments call for Stockdale to be returned to his province but our Captain who seems to be a loose cannon at the moment gets a continued sojourn. No mention of his decisions to go for the corner in attempt to score tries when all they needed was a 6 points difference to win the 6N and no mention of the financial cost of his decisions to the IRFU.
You can imagine the outcry if Rory Best had made those decisions.
It is also interesting the views expressed that perhaps the Cooney decision by Coach Farrell was influenced by the Captain seeing Cooney as a threat. It seems a bit unreal but stranger things have happened, certainly hard to understand the omission of Cooney.
Let’s hope that Lowe’s defence is up to International standard against Wales. I can understand the desire to cap Lowe but I think Conway has been hard done by it. Lowe could have started on the bench and then brought on.

[Snipe Watson]

Does anyone care, even slightly about this series?

I don't.

[Neill_M]

These games have zero ranking impact re RWC draw with the rankings for the draw next month locked in at Jan 1st 2020. Free hit games etc, more concerned with Ulster taking advantage of the tournament with their limited call ups to go from 5-0 to 8-0 hopefully.

[rumncoke]

Sexton's attitude and ego are both and asset and a liability -- to much self confidence and ego -- to listen to others and too domineering for some to contradict him for a leadership group to develop.

As a later article in 42 states unfortunately there is no alternative at 10 (thanks to a later day Kitty O' Shea and the Irish desire to persecute the innocent)

Irish team selections for a number of years have ,as far as I 'm concerned , have been dominated by the opinions of influential players especially regarding those positions where there are a number of options available to the coach .
The influence is exerted to some extent in the initial welcome into the squad and the ease with which players can socialise with each other , ie leinster players socialise easily in the Ireland camp -- likewise Munster players, due the numbers -- Players from Ulster and Connaught if not natural match day 23 members could sense a possible cold shoulder. The person with the most influence on the welcome would be the Captain.

And to be honest I can't see Sexton being an easy person to socialise within an intense rugby circle.

[SparkyClarky]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/54934182

What the heck? Anybody got any clue?

[germcevoy]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/54934182

What the heck? Anybody got any clue?

Henderson has a 'medical issue'. Stockdale calf problem.

[TopPoster]

And Burns injuries now too FFS.

[waggonsroll]

When was the last time an Irish team took the field with no Ulsterman in the starting XV? When Billy came on it didn't take too long for them to break him.

[Lurgan Lad]

Only watched the 2nd half, forgot it was on, wish I hadn't bothered.

[Hans Indaruck]

Chris Farrell - forever an Ulsterman

[justinr73]

Although, ironically, he probably shouldn’t be in the team.

[big mervyn]

Chris Farrell - forever an Ulsterman

Always. 100% more of an Ulsterman than Billy, the English supporter with a Cork granda, and 100% more Irish than Lowe - Christ, I thought he was going to kiss the feckin badge when he scored at the death

[big mervyn]

Although, ironically, he probably shouldn’t be in the team.

Stander, Aki, Lowe, Herring (and probably Billy) shouldn't be in the team.