What is it about soccer that makes you consider and excuse of a sport?
It's my personal opinion.
his very stupid push on Mike Phillips
Homer
I agree, that was needless and churlish. Consistency of refereeing would have seen Wales penalised too for Adam Jones' (albeit attempted) pat on the head for Marcus Horan.
I personally think O'Driscoll has been playing well for the past 2 seasons but that the team around him were just not clicking or performing. For example I saw him as the only Irish player that played well in the World Cup despite being double marked and targeted in many matches (including the Bayonne match !).
Firstly he moved from 1st centre to 2nd centre this season and that helped his game - the reason he went to 1st centre were various (injuries to potential 1st centres like Darcy, to defend the 10 channel etc). 2nd centre is his best position.
Secondly when the team was not performing he was doing mainly defensive duties - he was (and still is) acting like a third flanker and doing all the dirty work trying to regain posession. His defensive work and ground work in past 2 seasons and indeed this season was unreal. Yet the people that are 'new' to rugby think he is poor unless he is scoring free running tries.
Thirdly, we are playing more keep-ball rugby with Kidney, more like the Munster gameplan. This gives us a platform and time to plan the attacks instead of kicking the ball away too often.
O''Driscoll scored 4 tries (I think) - 1 was an interception (he had a few of those this season, some vital). 1 was a classic centre burst and side step against France. 2 were Flanker/Forward tries from the base of the ruck on the line. I think there is a forward in Brian bursting to get out. Heaslip tongue-in-cheek said in an interview after England game that they were sickened to see a Back secure the try after all the hard work done by the Pack. What amazed me is that only 3 people in Cardiff knew O'Driscoll was going for a try when he did - himself, the ref and the welsh guy.
I am a Connacht fan so no allegiances. Bit sad to see the Munster-Leinster animosity appearing again on this thread so soon after a Grand Slam. Its so Irish.
First off, I don't think there's any animosity here, more ruing what could have been in years gone by had the animosity not existed. Munster and Leinster kicking lumps out of each other on the pitch is good for Irish rugby once they can, as Irish players, play with and
for each other in the green jersey. That's what they've finally done this season.Should they meet in the HC semi (here's hoping!), I don't think you'll see ROG jumping the hoarding should he score a try!
O Driscoll has been immense since he first put on the jersey. You're right, he hasn't played badly in the last few years, his defensive capabilities and his workrate have never diminished, far from it. Let's face facts - ROG is a gaping hole that's there to be exploited by the opposition, O Driscoll was his bodyguard. That's why it was so worrying to see the slight frame of Paddy Wallace put at inside centre - two gaping holes!! O Driscoll is unbelievable at staying on his feet and turning ball over in the tackle, just ask Gavin Henson (will he ever wear a Welsh jersey again???)
Connacht have ben a fantastic side given the almost laughable support they get from the IRFU.Fair play for beating Munster in the League, it was well deserved, ye destroyed us TBH. I'd like to see the young out-half (can't remember his name, think he's actually from Leinster) given a chance to show what he can do on a bigger stage under the influence of ROG as he seems to be one of the very few young 10s in the country who has potential.
