Irish rugby moves further ahead of it's European counterparts!

[Bingy]

Leinsters apparent domination of the Northern Hemisphere Rugby scene is a wake-up call for the lesser leagues (English and Welsh) and the situation looks like getting worse, in the new year?
What really baffles the Rugby world is that the Irish International Rugby team is still stuck in the pre-2000 era....of Premiership 'rough and tumble' type, forward controled, English style Rugby. Leinster play a more exciting brand of the game....but Kirney FAILS to appreciate that Munster Rugby (less 1 or 2 quality performers, maybe?) is a thing of the past...but.... not in Kidneys mind? That is as it is!
Who is going to s'tep up to the plate' and provide any challenge for the rampent Leinster back line...and there will be money driven French teams 'champing at the bit' but there is no sign of any movement? We shall see?

 

[SugarRay]

Not an expert but don't the Irish sides benefit from having their sides fresh and ready for the European cup as opposed to the English and French sides who are involved in tough competitive leagues all season?

Some rugger nut was trying to explain this to me in the pub a couple of finals back.

 

[Bingy]

Not an expert but don't the Irish sides benefit from having their sides fresh and ready for the European cup as opposed to the English and French sides who are involved in tough competitive leagues all season?

Some rugger nut was trying to explain this to me in the pub a couple of finals back.

SugarRay, the amount of Rugby played in the Magners League (or whatever they are calling the League, these days) is still at a higher level to the Aviva...both in quality AND, more importantly, in 'Games Played'. The Top Welsh/Scottish and, even, Italian, teams have and it will only get better ?(for the Magner sides). COYS!

 

[SugarRay]

So he was talking nonsense then? I think his point was the aviva not having too many easy games compared to what Leinster have to contend with domestically.

 

[Welshiespursboyo]

Ospreys beat Leinster in the pro 12 final wooooooooooooooop

 

[haxman]

Jealousy is a terrible thing lads

 

[Welshiespursboyo]

I'm an ospreys fan - no need for me to be jealous

 

[mpickard2087]

So he was talking nonsense then? I think his point was the aviva not having too many easy games compared to what Leinster have to contend with domestically.

Not an expert on the rules, but I think he does have half an argument. Because of the system the Irish teams (Munster, Leinster and Ulster) are almost assured of playing in the Heineken Cup each year critics aregue that they dont have to focus too much on the league and where they place and can keep players fresh for European games, whereas in England the Premiership clubs have to slog it out each week and each year in order to finish in qualification spots and so this takes more out of the tank as the season progresses.

In theory they may have a point, but the Irish teams still tend to do well in the domestic (Celtic) league, IIRC last year 1st, 2nd and 3rd were the Irish provinces. Its only this year that Ulster finished midtable in the Celtic league, losing as many as they won, and focused on the Heineken Cup where they reached the final. In England they wouldnt have the luxury of doing this.

 

[Bingy]

So he was talking nonsense then? I think his point was the aviva not having too many easy games compared to what Leinster have to contend with domestically
Sugar Ray, The Irish teams play bwetween 30 and 40 games each year...mostly against Welsh, Frence, Scots, and Irish (the other 3 Irish sides!)...Italian teams also play in the Rabo....(which is of a higher quality to the Aviva). At the end of the day, like in soccer, success is subjective and the best teams don't always get what they deserve....what's new haha? COYS!

 

[talkshowhost86]

Having been at Twickers on Saturday I hope Harlequins' brilliant win over Leicester is the start of some big things for them. Not sure they'll be able to compete with Leinster next season but with a relatively young team, if they keep them together I think they could certainly compete with Leicester as England's most competitive team in Europe.

 

[Bingy]

My point is that the English game (Avia) is a long way behind the best in European Rugby....and nothing will change until this is accepted. That, I might add, comes from the mouth of the successful Harlequins coach....who has, long since, realised that more has to be done, IF improvement, in the Aviva, can be seen.

 

[tototoner]

Declan Kidney is the Roy Hodgson of Irish Rugby

Would like him replaced with a young dynamic coach, someone like Conor O'Shea

 

[nidge]

Scotland managed to beat Australia.

 

[mpickard2087]

Scotland managed to beat Australia.

Having seen the briefest of highlights, that looked more like a harsh winters night at Murrayfield than being played Down Under. Terrible conditions!

 

[nidge]

Having seen the briefest of highlights, that looked more like a harsh winters night at Murrayfield than being played Down Under. Terrible conditions!

So Scotland played to the conditions better than Australia did. Not our fault.

 

[mpickard2087]

So Scotland played to the conditions better than Australia did. Not our fault.

Yes fairplay for halting the run of defeats. Scotland have some good young players coming through so will hopefully become more competitive (rather than the odd game) in the near future.

As for the rest, not a good weekend. Ireland getting thrashed by NZ was probably expected, but I thought Australia had the beating of Wales pretty easily and England tried their best to match the power of South Africa but to no avail.

 

[ravo]

Wales are still the best team in Europe. How England are ahead of them in the world rankings is beyond me!

All European teams are still a long way behind the big 3 of NZ, Aus and SA...

 

[Welshiespursboyo]

Yes fairplay for halting the run of defeats. Scotland have some good young players coming through so will hopefully become more competitive (rather than the odd game) in the near future.

As for the rest, not a good weekend. Ireland getting thrashed by NZ was probably expected, but I thought Australia had the beating of Wales pretty easily and England tried their best to match the power of South Africa but to no avail.

Wales were off the pace in the first test, but easily? No. Wales should have won the second test but should and have are two very different things!

Ireland did very well against the AB's in the second test but again, like Wales, came so close and yet so far.

South Africa overpowered England again, unsurprisingly.

 

[SugarRay]

NZ were atrocious and Ireland will never have a better chance to beat them.

Wales have themselves to blame. They are not as special as they think they are/can be but they should certainly be coming away from oz with at least onw victory under their belts.

England are obviously still building and have some pretty decent foundations in place ( front row will be the best in the northern hemisphere for some time to come, get Lawes fit and playing to his potential, Ford coming through who will take the game by storm etc )

Wales are the best side in the NH right now but look at the last 3/4 games against England. 2 wins a piece out of the last 4, including a win away each and England have been in transition mode for donkeys now. I think within 2-3 years England will be the dominant force in NH rugby once more. Given the players coming through I think 2015 could well be another successful world cup for the red rose, home advantage will play a big factor too.

Oh how that would upset the celts!

 

[haxman]

Not really.