RWC – Here we go…..
Ok – I hope everyone’s awake for the biggest game in Irish and Welsh rugby history!
Enjoy….
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Books
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The ANC, the IRA and the rise of influence of the left within Sinn Fein…
World by Storm has a nice piece up on the IRA’s role in helping MK, the armed wing of the ANC, in the 1980s. In particular he sees a strange alchemy at work there: …if one can think of a clearly legitimate contemporary struggle it was that against apartheid and it is to the credit [...] read our review »
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“Unionism Decayed 1997-2007″ by David Vance: book review
I initially wrote this when the book was first published three years ago; whilst certain elements of it now sound dated, its basic premise that the period of 1997-2007 was a period of irreversible decay for Northern Irish Unionism can still be argued as a valid opinion. My own feeling is that it did indeed [...] read our review » -
“Good Friday. The death of Irish Republicanism” by Anthony McIntyre: a review
This was a book that I first reviewed at the same time as “Unionism Decayed” back in 2008. Like Vance’s work, it is the author’s portrayal of a defeated political movement or ideal and as a Unionist it was instructional to read an interpretation of the immediate post-Agreement period from the other side of the fence. [...] read our review »
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Thanks Seymour!
I wondered before the game if the hard feelings Gatland felt after been shafted by the IRFU and Eddie O Sullivan may hamper his judgement in the lead up to the match .
Obviuosly not ….. and the twinkle in his eyes after Wales scored their tries showed how much he relished getting one over his former employers .
I do respect this Wales team, Seymour. I really hope they make the final. But I believe Ireland are rightly renowned as chokers.
We had ample opportunites to score tries. We made far too many unforced errors and none of our best players played near their full capacity – which we needed in our biggest rugby game possibly ever.
They can’t sit in the dressing room and say they played their best and lost. They didn’t. Maybe I’m biased. but I think we had better players out there than Wales with Heineken cup medals etc…
There is nothing to rival the Marseillaise… Another big game coming up!!
Yeah on ITV+1 – still 12 minutes to go….
Good grief – I’m supporting england!
Only kidding – Allez la France!
England sliding out of the World cup after just half an hour 16-0 down. No way back, I would suggest.
France look a totally different outfit today. When they play like this they’re quality.
Looks like Pienaar had it right. Without hitting the tryline early and often, England will lose.
That is the end of England’s World Cup campaign.
The inquest will now begin.
English fans would not mind if they lost to France in a thrilling encounter. France, after all, have always had a deep pool of rugby talent. However, France are not a well-drilled outfit at the top of their game and the English know their team can play much better.
Apart from that, I think Johnson made a serious blunder by not selecting Fluty to be selected for the squad.
The 2011 semi final line up now looks like 1987 one but lets hope that Wales make it to the final.
Stunning performance from Wales. halfpenny, priestland and roberts were sensational. But hats off to gatland – a tactical masterclass. Too often Wales throw the ball about but they played a wonderful kicking game and played their fancy rugby for ireland’s half. Gatland sure smoked poor kidney on the tactics front…
ROG was hectic – looked as though he was kacking himself from the start. I guess the ghosts of world cups past still haunt him.
France looked half decent – I’d love to see Wales get through but france have the firepower to beat them. was Roberts injured? He needs to be 100% = he always puts wales on the front foot.
Wrong tactics, wrong #10, too predictable. Wales knew exactly what we would do and countered it. That said they’re some team and with an average age of 12 (sbs pls chck) frightening to think how good they’ll be next time round. One consolation, Rory Best’s performance indicates we must have the world’s best physios.
Only just resurfaced after the early start, can’t believe so many of you were fit to comment during.
The main thing I’ll say is I wish O’Gara had watched that annoying advert where the sushi chefs discuss the benefits of kicking for points over playing line-out margins. 4 good penalty opportunities were given over to chasing the try in the first half.
I can’t help but wonder if making it duller should have been the chosen option. But boy are the Welsh on form.
Alas hindsight is 20:20.
That Pocock is playing South Africa by himself.
How on earth did Australia win that???
South Africa 76% possession.
Territory sorry.
And Argentina score…..what’s going on ???
History has partially repeated itself. The same four countries that played in the 1987 semi finals are playing in the 2011 semi finals.
Republic of Ireland’s rugby team gets chinned and Slugger O’Toole hangs black flags from Unity Flats.