… and comes up with the same XV for Ireland’s final Rugby World Cup group game against Argentina. Well almost. Trimble is this week’s scapegoat and drops to the bench while Geordan Murphy returns to the first team for the injured Dempsey. Meanwhile, the hacks scent blood in the water and futher pieces like this by Ciaran Cronin, must surely be inevitable: One of the key skills of good man-management is the ability to put oneself in the shoes of …
Going through security at Paris Charles de Gaulle last night, I saw this guy just up ahead who was a ringer for Keith Wood, the former Irish rugby captain. Turns out it was him, and we ended up sitting one seat apart on the plane. We had a fair old conversation about the ongoing controversy over Ireland’s Call. He’d been talking to someone before the match, who’d suggested a song called “The Isle” (I think. I wasn’t taking notes, and …
As Mick said earlier, “L’Instant de la vérité arrive…” Fingers, and everything else, crossed then. Have to say, though, the French team win the pre-match singing contest.. Allez les verts! Le crunch game begins. Half-time France 12 – 3 Ireland, four penalties for France and a drop goal by O’Gara. Tense isn’t the word, and mistakes on both sides, but the ill-disciplined play by Ireland has been the main difference so far. Full-Time France 25 – 3 Ireland. Really, what …
With an almost spooky prescience, Pete seemed to figure straight away that my first sojourn in the French capital might begin with a liquid lunch. Just met a guy from Holywood with his family, all decked out in Green. Small world!! Given the team’s form, you have to clutch at whatever straws float past. This from Vincent Hogan in the Independent is good enough to be going on with: As former international, Thomas Castaignede, observed yesterday: “It will be like …
Spare a thought for Mick this morning, he should be in Paris by now, drinking preparing for tonight’s crunch game against France. At the BBC’s World Cup blog Bryn Palmer gives five reasons why Ireland can win.. although he’s not completely convinced they will. Perhaps the thought of Wales being the only home nation to go through to the next round might act as an additional spur… and RTÉ’s match preview ends on this note With Ireland’s form and morale …
I’m going to try and do a vox pop in Paris tomorrow on what Irish rugby fans really do think about Ireland’s Call. Shane Hegarty’s picked up some hostility towards it in within the pages of today’s Irish Times, and on RTE. Frank McNally is possibly on to something when he notes that “…as a song to unify Ireland’s two communities, it has succeeded well, if only because music-loving Catholics and Protestants seem to hate it equally.” Mick FealtyMick is …
Call it desparation if you like, but everyone but the French seem to have written off Ireland’s chances in Paris tomorrow night. Raphael Ibanez: “I do not believe that they are a team in decline. Maybe they are suffering but that only makes them more dangerous.” He’s a club team mate of O’Sullivan’s surprise new scrum half choice, Eoin Reddan: “…he is a very provocative player, who likes to take control of a game and who gets his forwards very …
And I thought we Ulster folk were prone to frequent bouts of paranoia… Gerry O at the Fear of God blog has a great clip the Last Word show which has a quote from Neil Francis, who reckons Denis Hickie (winger) was dropped in favour of Andrew Trimble (also a winger) because, wait for it, Rory Best (hooker) injured his finger. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics …
The 1991 Gordon Hamilton try courtesy of Nick Hoult. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty
Worryingly there’s still 10 minutes to go in the France/Namibia game.. and the score is 82-3 in favour of the host nation. Just to remind everyone [as if you need to – Ed], Ireland managed to beat Namibia by 32-17.. although it’s worth pointing out that the Namibians have had a man sent off against France – in the 19 minute of the first half. But it’s still a boost for France.. just before they seek to put their campaign …
As I was saying, Ireland to face Georgia, and it’s close to kick-off time. Earlier today New Zealand dealt mercilessly with Portugal who to their credit played bravely throughout, despte the scoreline. And Wales ruffled the Aussies but paid the price for a poor first half performance. So pour yourself a stiff drink and settle in for the evening.. it could be a bumpy ride. “We`ve spent the summer preparing but not playing rugby.” Well it’s time to start playing …
Mick had asked whether England were “ripe for a thrashing?” The answer would appear to be “Yes”. Nervous times for the Irish squad as they await the hard-hitting Georgian team on Saturday evening. Conor O’Shea’s gives his opinion on Ireland’s tournament [so far] here. Georgia, of course, are no South Africa, but they could cause a skittish Ireland team problems. Pete Baker
There was no shortage of pessimism around after Ireland’s disappointing opener, but it is early days yet. Getting through without injury and the full five points may be the only bright side we should care about at the moment, but as Andy Robinson noted last Saturday, Ireland have the toughest task ahead of them of all the Northern nations. And the ‘war’ for us, has not yet begun: England and Wales have the best draws in this World Cup. Ireland …
An average (and a lucky one) performance from Ireland, and some are talking of a team that may have peaked a season or two too early. Fear of God has some telling stats from the match. ‘Territory: Ireland 41% Namibia 59%‘. And, more tellingly: ‘Errors: Ireland 18 Namibia 8‘. Richard Hookham only rates O’Driscoll, Trimble, Horan, Easterby, Stringer and Leamy above 5. Biggest disappointments: Paul O’Connell’s lack of authority and a no show from David Wallace. Ronan O’Gara also had …
Ireland fans are singing in the team in Bordeaux… you can follow it on Five Live, or on line here. Namibia are the lowest ranking team in the finals… Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty
By all accounts it wasn’t a good match, and they are vulnerable against ‘real’ opposition, but are they ripe for a thrashing? It could be just the pre-tournament hype telling again (although reliance on ‘old talent’ like Catt and Dallaglio tells its own story). Bryn Palmer has Olli Barkley standing head and shoulders above the rest. Today’s matches continue the minnow theme Wales v Canada in Nantes, 13:00; South Africa v Samoa in Paris, 15:00; and Scotland v Portugal in …
Keep an eye on Scrumbag’s poll on who’s likely to qualify in Pool D (aka The Pool of Death)… At the moment 16 punters (47%) reckon it’s going to be Ireland 1; Argentina 2. Eddie O’Sullivan is taking it one game at a time, and refusing to play the bonus points game. If RTE thinks the French result is bad for Ireland, for now, Bernard Laporte is holding on to what he can from that Argentinian match. Mick FealtyMick is …
Hmmm New Zealand (43) 76; Italy (7) 14… and our score at Ravenhill last month: Ireland 23-20 Italy. Never mind big scores against Namibia and Georgia, we just need to hit some convincing form… to close the gap… Tags: Rugby World Cup; World Cup 2007; Irish Rugby Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, …
Canterbury, the New Zealand company who developed and made Ireland’s rugby shirts, claim that it should give “a three percent boost in performance”, courtesy of the ionised energy fabric. Apparently the All Blacks were not impressed enough to buy them in. But Total Flanker is a ‘believer’ (via Ruggerblogger’s blogwatch) and recommends bunging “a few quid on Australia, South Africa, Ireland Scotland and Japan”. Aye, right you be! Rugby World Cup;World Cup 2007; Irish Rugby Mick FealtyMick is founding editor …
Last night’s opener for the Rugby World Cup was a cracker (nice wee blow by blow by Hayden). Though as Bryn Palmer points out, it should not have been such a surprise: “Argentina had beaten France in four of their last five meetings, and that sole French victory came by a single point.” Victory in world rugby means adapting your game to each team as they arise, so we should be cautious about extrapolating too much from this turn of …
