Munster aren’t that far away. But that 1% off has cost them 31 points.
The lack of kicking is putting too much pressure on them. Not having a second playmaker outside of Crowley is hurting them. The pack isn’t the problem today. And tackling out wide isn’t good enough.
I always think that New Zealand rugby maximise the amount of points they score despite not always being that good; and that Ireland typically don’t score as much as their play sometimes deserve.
Munster in this game have maximised the points they conceded.
Like they’re doing well targeting specific tacklers and going blind. But there are no kicks, and then they try to go wide at the wrong moments when they haven’t earned it.
Going wide when it hasn’t been earned is a feature of all that’s been bad about Irish rugby teams since the RWC
When Simin Zebo says “it seems like they just got a little bored doing the right thing” it really says a lot.
England U18 v Ireland U18 was a fantastic advertisement for the sport. High skill, compelling game, lead changes. The future is bright. Great drama
Nice selections. It’s an interesting group, there’s another 9/10 with realistic pro ambitions as well - not including those out through injury. I really liked the front five throughout
Wrote about Egor Chinakhov's play as of late last night. This dude is a sicko and needs to be re-signed ASAP: thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsbur...
Cian Prendergast is so underrated.
This is the best Henshaw has looked in months
The difference in entertainment level between the URC and international games has never been higher. Irish URC games have been the cure for insomnia this season at times.
The idea that neither James O’Leary nor Rob Carney were the first choice centres for Ireland U20 is both wild and very exciting.
Josh Neill is one of the few players you watch and can think: “I understand the hype”. There’s a lot to work with there.
I think in general it should be a missed tackle/yards conceded metric or something like that. Even most of Sam’s missed tackles don’t actually lose ground - albeit with a different intent to Ringrose’s
He’s also supposed to be doing it with the freedom of rushing onto a player about to receive the ball well behind the gainline and the system is supposed to protect him by covering across and tackle before reaching the gainline.
Missed tackle stats by themselves are empty enough, needs context
There are also injury doubts to McCarthy and Boyle as well. Not a great combination
Well shit
Connacht are currently up by 10 at HT.
Will they:
a) Be losing by 17 at one point?
b) be leading by 24 at one point?
c) Lose by 4?
d) all of the above?
e) have a last minute kick to win?
It’s been a while since (Irish) rugby has been as interesting or as engrossing to watch as that Leinster v La Rochelle game
It would be weird to watch it in April
The Great Escape
Losing by multiple scores to the Dragons should be grounds for folding as an entity. What an embarrassment
The current winger/centre?
I don’t think Ulster have. But Connacht have had 3. Leinster have had 2.
I need to pay more attention to Toulon. In my head La Rochelle are closer to Bordeaux and Dupont when it comes to Europe.
Are Toulon that good? What have I missed? Also the difference between where Sharks 🇿🇦 should be and where their performances put them is a giant chasm
*and performing at the same or comparable level. Is a 36 year old/almost 37 Etzebeth still 95% of what he was in 2019-2025?
I think the only threat to the Bok throne atm is age. If they maintain this level in 2027 it’ll be hard to see anyone get back up to them. Maybe France.
Ben Thomas showing the textbook definition of a straight red card.
It shouldn’t matter if there is contact or not.
I’ll see myself out
I’m more on board with the idea of a 20 minute red card knowing that a permanent red card still has its place.
For me, some yellows should be 20 minute reds, not reds being downgraded to 20 minutes.