I thought, and I have yet to find someone who agrees with me, that it was very important for Donncha to be as 'physical' as he was. While handling the ball on the ground is amateurish, it does happen, especially in such a big game. I was actually urging him on when he went for Jones after his cynical (and it was cynical) trip on ROG in the first few minutes. This game was always going to be a physical contest between two aggressive packs. Welsh captain and pack leader nastily takes our playmaker and obvious defensive weak link out of it, colossal lock forward grabs him by the collar and lets him know in no uncertain terms that if its a fight they want to make of this, a fight you'll get and we will win it. Try to bully us and we'll more than stand up to you. A very important statement at an early stage.
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.
Are you saying as a Connacht fan you didn't get a particular sense of plaeasure from beating Munster and Leinster earlier in the season?
They were sweet victories and long overdue but we're still bottom of Magners League. Its a pity there were no Connacht players on the Grand Slam team too.
What is it about soccer that makes you consider and excuse of a sport?
his very stupid push on Mike Phillips
Homer
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.
It's my personal opinion.
...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!!
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.
Thanks for the insightful reply.
I've no axe to grind as I don't like any sport but surely Baldyman your low opinion of soccer as a game is informed by the many thuggish players (esp in the English Premier) and the behaviour of some of the low life fans?
Not as much of a problem in Rugby. Do you need to maybe separate the game from the culture a bit more?
FWIW, I think the skill aspect/appreciation of talent is much more obvious in soccer when compared to rugby - I mean as long as you are built like the proverbial outhouse and can throw and catch a ball, sure anyone can play rugby ()
You covered yourself nicely there Caveat!! MR Man, TBH I'm only rising you, though I do detest the game and not for the reasons outlined above. Its sitting through a game for 90 mins and often not even seeing one score that gets me, esp.when the games that are watched and the teams that are supported are full of overpaid nancy boys. I watch hurling (on the cards again for us thank God) and rugby enthusiastically and its bloody hard to watch 90 mins of no scores, just lads rolling around in mock agony having been petted on the bottom by an opponent.
Rant over.
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