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An Tarbh
Guest
He'll probably have some competition from Horan, the lazy *******.
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M
Macsen
Guest
It's supposed to be a big storm over the weeknd with heavy rain in Dublin. I hope all the Welsh fans make it over there! And that the ball isn't too slippery.
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An Tarbh
Guest
Well if that's coming from Met Éireann then expect blue skies and sunshine!
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An Tarbh
Guest
Gatland's loyalty views rejected
Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan says Warren Gatland's comments about loyalty do not reflect on his time spent as Gatland's assistant.
Gatland controversially lost his job as Ireland coach seven years ago and O'Sullivan was named his successor.
The two go head-to-head in Dublin on Saturday with Gatland now leading Wales and the Triple Crown at stake.
The BBC's Sport Wales programme carried out a special investigation into the events surrounding Gatland's exit.
In it, he said: "I suppose, on reflection, what I didn't have there (in Ireland) and what I do have here (in Wales) is that undeniable loyalty that you might expect from people in your coaching set-up but Eddie is his own man and you've got to respect what he's achieved as a coach and the results he's got with Ireland."
Asked how he felt Gatland's comments reflected on him and his time as his assistant, O'Sullivan said: "I don't think his comments reflect on me at all.
"That's his opinion and I can't comment on his opinion. Everyone has their own opinions."
O'Sullivan also revealed the pair no longer have a relationship, but insists the two men had a good professional relationship when they were together.
He said: "I haven't seen him in six-and-a-half years, so we don't have an ongoing relationship.
"It was very good and we worked very well together."
Syd Millar, the former chairman of the International Rugby Board and Eddie Wigglesworth, the current Irish Rugby Football Union director of rugby sat on the review panel that opted to end Gatland's reign.
In addition George Hook, who worked with O'Sullivan as a senior coach at Connacht, London Irish and in the USA, said: "Warren will see this match as providing the ultimate motivation to win.
"He still wears on his sleeve the feeling that he was shafted by the IRFU and by Eddie (O'Sullivan).
"O'Sullivan is the kind of guy where the stiletto enters between your second and third intercostal.
"Gatland is more of a bludgeon over the head down a dark alley kind of a guy.
"They will hate each other until their dying day. The result on Saturday will be just as much a personal victory for them as for the men in green or red."
*See the full investigation on Sport Wales, BBC Two Wales & 2W, on Thursday, 6 March (2200 GMT).
From: BBC Sport
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Well they're certainly ratcheting up the needle just a liitle bit more ahead of this one, good to see Hook sticking his oar in, would love to see this programme tonight, hopefully it'll be available for download somewhere.
Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan says Warren Gatland's comments about loyalty do not reflect on his time spent as Gatland's assistant.
Gatland controversially lost his job as Ireland coach seven years ago and O'Sullivan was named his successor.
The two go head-to-head in Dublin on Saturday with Gatland now leading Wales and the Triple Crown at stake.
The BBC's Sport Wales programme carried out a special investigation into the events surrounding Gatland's exit.
In it, he said: "I suppose, on reflection, what I didn't have there (in Ireland) and what I do have here (in Wales) is that undeniable loyalty that you might expect from people in your coaching set-up but Eddie is his own man and you've got to respect what he's achieved as a coach and the results he's got with Ireland."
Asked how he felt Gatland's comments reflected on him and his time as his assistant, O'Sullivan said: "I don't think his comments reflect on me at all.
"That's his opinion and I can't comment on his opinion. Everyone has their own opinions."
O'Sullivan also revealed the pair no longer have a relationship, but insists the two men had a good professional relationship when they were together.
He said: "I haven't seen him in six-and-a-half years, so we don't have an ongoing relationship.
"It was very good and we worked very well together."
Syd Millar, the former chairman of the International Rugby Board and Eddie Wigglesworth, the current Irish Rugby Football Union director of rugby sat on the review panel that opted to end Gatland's reign.
In addition George Hook, who worked with O'Sullivan as a senior coach at Connacht, London Irish and in the USA, said: "Warren will see this match as providing the ultimate motivation to win.
"He still wears on his sleeve the feeling that he was shafted by the IRFU and by Eddie (O'Sullivan).
"O'Sullivan is the kind of guy where the stiletto enters between your second and third intercostal.
"Gatland is more of a bludgeon over the head down a dark alley kind of a guy.
"They will hate each other until their dying day. The result on Saturday will be just as much a personal victory for them as for the men in green or red."
*See the full investigation on Sport Wales, BBC Two Wales & 2W, on Thursday, 6 March (2200 GMT).
From: BBC Sport
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well they're certainly ratcheting up the needle just a liitle bit more ahead of this one, good to see Hook sticking his oar in, would love to see this programme tonight, hopefully it'll be available for download somewhere.
M
Macsen
Guest
Oh lord. I know there's an endless appetite for rugby news but at some point you reach the bottom of the barrel...
I don't think it's fair to judge which is the better manager after one game either. Gatland has only been in charge for a few weeks, and O'Sullivan is going through a rough patch.
I don't think it's fair to judge which is the better manager after one game either. Gatland has only been in charge for a few weeks, and O'Sullivan is going through a rough patch.
A
An Tarbh
Guest
Yeah Eddie's had six feckin years and is still to be judged :rahh:
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shazbooger
Guest
The most successful head coach in Irish rugby history. Whats to judge?
A
An Tarbh
Guest
His record against the top 7 sides and then it really doesn't stack up to much.
M
Macsen
Guest
I was wondering earlier which I'd prefer, a great team which won consistently but never put a championship to bed, or a consistently poor team which squeezed out a grand slam or championship every decade or so against the odds. Before long people are going to look back at the results of the six nations over the last two decades and conclude that Wales were better than Ireland, because they won things every now and then, despite the Irish clearly being the better team.
A
An Tarbh
Guest
I was wondering earlier which I'd prefer, a great team which won consistently but never put a championship to bed, or a consistently poor team which squeezed out a grand slam or championship every decade or so against the odds. Before long people are going to look back at the results of the six nations over the last two decades and conclude that Wales were better than Ireland, because they won things every now and then, despite the Irish clearly being the better team.
[/b][/quote]
I'd take the grand slam every time
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shazbooger
Guest
True
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stormmaster1
Guest
I was wondering earlier which I'd prefer, a great team which won consistently but never put a championship to bed, or a consistently poor team which squeezed out a grand slam or championship every decade or so against the odds. Before long people are going to look back at the results of the six nations over the last two decades and conclude that Wales were better than Ireland, because they won things every now and then, despite the Irish clearly being the better team. [/b][/quote]
true. If you look up the 6N on wikipedia and they have an ongoing results table, with France top at 60 points, Ireland on 58 points and the rest well behind, yet Ireland haven't won any silverware.
A
An Tarbh
Guest
I was wondering earlier which I'd prefer, a great team which won consistently but never put a championship to bed, or a consistently poor team which squeezed out a grand slam or championship every decade or so against the odds. Before long people are going to look back at the results of the six nations over the last two decades and conclude that Wales were better than Ireland, because they won things every now and then, despite the Irish clearly being the better team. [/b][/quote]
true. If you look up the 6N on wikipedia and they have an ongoing results table, with France top at 60 points, Ireland on 58 points and the rest well behind, yet Ireland haven't won any silverware.
[/b][/quote]
of note I'd hasten to add, oh sweet jesus a perfect sign of how bad it is when I'm clinging to a Triple Crown, if only we treated it with the disdain that England did when winning it in 2002
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stormmaster1
Guest
I was wondering earlier which I'd prefer, a great team which won consistently but never put a championship to bed, or a consistently poor team which squeezed out a grand slam or championship every decade or so against the odds. Before long people are going to look back at the results of the six nations over the last two decades and conclude that Wales were better than Ireland, because they won things every now and then, despite the Irish clearly being the better team. [/b][/quote]
true. If you look up the 6N on wikipedia and they have an ongoing results table, with France top at 60 points, Ireland on 58 points and the rest well behind, yet Ireland haven't won any silverware.
[/b][/quote]
of note I'd hasten to add, oh sweet jesus a perfect sign of how bad it is when I'm clinging to a Triple Crown, if only we treated it with the disdain that England did when winning it in 2002 [/b][/quote]
i always forget about that. The triple crown always used to as physical a trophy a the wooden spoon.
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peppers07
Guest
Lol so tru horan spends all his time on the wing for munster and ireland
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shtove
Guest
Not sure he does yet - why not pick Shanklin in the opening match? - but Gatland is feeling his way. Is there another coach in the 6N who inspires belief? Maybe in France, but that looks a bit like a committee.
Wales have had good players for a few years, but they still fewked it up - how many games has Henson played? Now they've got someone in charge who knows about balance, about winning with rockets and winning with tanks.
There will be military maoeuvres in the valleys for years to come - but at Croker this year it's a simple surrender for Wales.
C'mon Iron!
M
Macsen
Guest
Unlike Ireland? 'Fewking it up with great players since 1985'.
In all seriousness I don't think we'll win tomorrow. But the championship will be ours! Ours I say! Bwahaaha.
But let's hope the Under20 match is some indication of what happens tomorrow.
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shtove
Guest
You missed out 1986-1999: Ireland were like Scotland are today.
Unlike Ireland? 'Fewking it up with great players since 1985'.
In all seriousness I don't think we'll win tomorrow. But the championship will be ours! Ours I say! Bwahaaha.
But let's hope the Under20 match is some indication of what happens tomorrow. [/b]
Wales have had the good judgment to adopt the greatest sport as their national sport. But the way they've played it is uuuuuurghly girly - there should be so much more, something for Ireland to chase.
Tomorrow's match is a sideshow between two "celtic" nations, when it should be setting down a mark for world rugby.
M
Macsen
Guest
Why should there be? Wales are the poorest, smallest country in the six nations, and rugby is really only popular in the 40 mile stretch between Llanelli and Newport. It's success has always been tied up into the success of the heavy industry in these areas, which has all but dried up in the last three decades. Rugby being the national sport is more of a tradition and doesn't change the fact that Wales' rugby resources are pretty meagre compared to the other countries. They should be regularly proping up the six nations table, and they do.
Anyway, despite all the animosity between players and coaches befor this game everyone in Wales likes Ireland, and vice versa I hope. May the best team win.
A
An Tarbh
Guest
I'd echo those sentiments as well.
Late change for Wales with Matthew Rees coming in at hooker cause Huw Bennett is suffering with flu, Garreth Williams takes his place on the bench.
Late change for Wales with Matthew Rees coming in at hooker cause Huw Bennett is suffering with flu, Garreth Williams takes his place on the bench.
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