Babbling 'brook

I think any overly homogenous group / culture CAN be problematic. Not always, and not nececessarilly in the short term but there are myriad examples of monoculture / group think failing to see or manage issues. I think people are ascribing physical softness with what Jones / Stu said and I don’t th...

I just don't see the evidence for this. We won 4 European Cups and 6 Nations with players who came through this system - nobdoy can tell me that 2011 team didn't have resilience or leadership. Same for the 2009 team. The 2018 team balls out a tough and tight game and it was Racing who bottled it. I...

Whatever you say about Jones and his trolling, he does have a point here. Lancaster in 2019: “There are so many different personality types,” Lancaster explains. “What I found over here is a lot of the players are quiet, they are detail-orientated. They are very respectful of coaches and what they s...

So we definitely need diversity of background, the more diverse and the wider the net the better for Irish rugby. I don't buy the private schools can't produce leaders. From a rugby perspective if you look at players who have captained Ireland in the last 10 years Leo Cullen, Jamie Heaslip, Peter O...

So we definitely need diversity of background, the more diverse and the wider the net the better for Irish rugby. I don't buy the private schools can't produce leaders. From a rugby perspective if you look at players who have captained Ireland in the last 10 years Leo Cullen, Jamie Heaslip, Peter O...

Jones getting a lot of heat for this, but if you read beyond the headline, I think he has a point. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2022/08/06/problem-public-school-rugby-according-eddie-jones/ https://www.rugbypass.com/news/jones-blames-public-schools-for-building-compliant-rugby-players/ Wh...

The worst NZ team I've seen in a long time. I think puts our win in a little bit of perspective.

SA no great shakes either mind, and on the positive side it shows how potent our attack can be when you look at how SA have played.

Nice Ngatai highlights reel.

We're certainly getting a powerful centre with a big boot and a good kicking game.

https://youtu.be/dn3vjOdCPag

He'll be a very useful extra carrier against bigger sides. Himself & Lowe in the backline gives a lot of power.

Schmidt should be give full leeway to have his way with that NZ ruck.

It's awful. Poor angles, no ball control when they're placing it and Smith is being served up awful stuff.

NZ are an absolute mess. Their attack is awful.

(Not something I ever though I'd be typing.)

Gloucester have seemingly signed Zach Mercer. Massive coup for them, he was by far the best player on the pitch in the Top 14 Final. That's for the 2023/24 season apparently. He still has a year left on his Montpellier contract. It's just so he is eligible for selection for the world cup. Ah I see!

Gloucester have seemingly signed Zach Mercer.

Massive coup for them, he was by far the best player on the pitch in the Top 14 Final.

Lots of Friday away games and Saturday home games which is good.

No Sunday games bar the NYD Connacht tie.

Thomond derby on Stephen's Day which is great.

Leinster Rugby Full Fixture Schedule Round 1 – Zebre Parma v Leinster – Saturday, 17 September – KO 1pm (Irish time) – LIVE on RTÉ, Premier Sports and SuperSport Round 2 – Leinster v Benetton – Friday, 23 September – KO 7.35pm – LIVE on TG4, Premier Sports and SuperSport Round 3 – Ulster v Leinster ...

When you think about it, the attrition rate on Leinster opensides is shocking; SOB missed huge chunks of his career, Leavy's career was cut short, we haven't seen Connors in a long time. It might be that the coaches have just decided its too risky to make it a central pillar of our game especially ...

You are reading what you want to see, as you are a person with a certain view. I clearly stated that I wasn’t claiming that he was good enough for inclusion in the Irish squad, or even to become first choice ahead of Farrell in the Munster squad. If a guy is coming to Munster with his profile less ...

Frisch will provide some really good depth in the middle of the park, and I doubt he is coming to Munster to just make up the numbers. He will be pushing hard for inclusion in the Irish squad for the RWC. I’m not saying that he is good enough to make it, as I have limited knowledge of the guy, and ...

Would imagine he'll go straight in and replace Scannell/Goggin in the pecking order. I think Scannell is a good player. It's extremely likely that Fekitoa is an upgrade on him [24 All Black caps in an outstandingly strong period for New Zealand, between 2014-17], but Scannell has always impressed m...

Frisch will provide some really good depth in the middle of the park, and I doubt he is coming to Munster to just make up the numbers. He will be pushing hard for inclusion in the Irish squad for the RWC. I’m not saying that he is good enough to make it, as I have limited knowledge of the guy, and ...

Interesting! He clearly has an actual real connection to Ireland. Never knowingly seen the guy play, but according to Bristol fans and Lam he's a big talent. Will be interesting to see how he's used given Farrell/Fekitoa won't be missing barring injury. He seems to be a different sort of option to b...