A whiff of Cordite

[tate]

GT is on leave, according to Monday's IT. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/spo ... 18575.html

[TerenureJim]

GT is on leave, according to Monday's IT. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/spo ... 18575.html

Yeah but it's an odd time to be taking leave considering that the upcoming back to backs are probably the defining games of the HEC group stages and by knock on then the QF seedings and perhaps 6nations call ups.

Anyways I know we do give him a good bit of slagging and can disagree with his views (most notably in relation to the Leinster Fans V Munster Fans trouble nonsense) but he is the top jurno in the country for the sport and when he's on his game and going easy on certain clichés then he can be a fantastic read. Not to mention the quality of his penmanship on Trevor Brennan's autobiog.

Maybe he's just in the Canaries or in NYC doing some Christmas shopping.

[fourthirtythree]

"gardening leave" is it???














Resisting temptation to talk about IT sports writers on extended leave...

[cormac]

"gardening leave" is it???














Resisting temptation to talk about IT sports writers on extended leave...

He's being rested as part of the IRFU journalist programme. He had a tough world cup and needs the rest now if he's going to last til the end of the season.

[tate]

GT is on leave, according to Monday's IT. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/spo ... 18575.html

Yeah but it's an odd time to be taking leave considering that the upcoming back to backs are probably the defining games of the HEC group stages and by knock on then the QF seedings and perhaps 6nations call ups.

Anyways I know we do give him a good bit of slagging and can disagree with his views (most notably in relation to the Leinster Fans V Munster Fans trouble nonsense) but he is the top jurno in the country for the sport and when he's on his game and going easy on certain clichés then he can be a fantastic read. Not to mention the quality of his penmanship on Trevor Brennan's autobiog.

Maybe he's just in the Canaries or in NYC doing some Christmas shopping.

Hopefully nothing more serious than that.

[TerenureJim]

"gardening leave" is it???














Resisting temptation to talk about IT sports writers on extended leave...

Careful now

[Vamos los azules]

He's being rested as part of the IRFU journalist programme. He had a tough world cup and needs the rest now if he's going to last til the end of the season.

[Donny B.]

He's being rested as part of the IRFU journalist programme. He had a tough world cup and needs the rest now if he's going to last til the end of the season.

Ha! Brilliant. If only it were true and they'd stand down the brigade of clowns at the Indo indefinitely!

[suisse]

Take a bow, Johnny Watterson.

FAO: LeRouxIsPhat - I enjoyed your mocking of Paul Kimmage's articles. Well, the great man's style lives on. I'm convinced, now, that rugby journalists are not paying attention to this message board!

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/spo ... 00006.html

Nor did he hedge his bets or run through the options in his head. His mother was Irish so there was no passport problem. His father was English so that was squared and in a few more years he would have qualified for Wales through residency. There were options. Easterby said: “No thank you, Mr Woodward, I’m going to stick with Ireland.”
.......
.......
.......
Easterby’s commitment now with wife Sara, the daughter of former Welsh international and Lion Elgan Rees, two Welsh-speaking children, Soffia and Ffredi, is unquestioned. He has 65 Irish caps and two Lions caps. Life is good for the blindside, who said, “no thank you Mr Woodward”

A legend! (Watterson)

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Why thank you suisse!

I genuinely thought you'd written the first paragraphy yourself there (possibly while drunk), awful stuff!

[sontaran man]

"gardening leave" is it???














Resisting temptation to talk about IT sports writers on extended leave...

Careful now

Is gardening leave "de rigueur"?

[Mackman15]

For christ sake, can't a man be Hors de Combate once in while before the conspirators crawl out of their cave?

[tate]

For christ sake, can't a man be Hors de Combate once in while before the conspirators crawl out of their cave?

there's more than just a whiff of cordite to this one, the air is positively acrylic. When has a senior writer for a sport gone on leave in the middle of a season before? Especially a week before the double-headers in the HC.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Maybe he's just due some holidays after being in NZ? Hopefully it's nothing worse anyway.

[TerenureJim]

Still no sign of Gerry back in the pocket in this morning's paper. Really does seem to be an odd time to be taking a break when the quarterfinalists will more than likely be decided next weekend and all we'll have in January is the home/away breakdown.

[Apocrypha]

Wouldn't be surprised to see him join the London Times.

Especially, given their rugby op-eds are currently written by a man with a visceral hatred of Ireland and the Irish.

[fourthirtythree]

Still no sign of Gerry back in the pocket in this morning's paper. Really does seem to be an odd time to be taking a break when the quarterfinalists will more than likely be decided next weekend and all we'll have in January is the home/away breakdown.

As leRoux pointed out: he probably normally takes his holliers in July/August but couldn't this year. Give him a break!

[TerenureJim]

Still no sign of Gerry back in the pocket in this morning's paper. Really does seem to be an odd time to be taking a break when the quarterfinalists will more than likely be decided next weekend and all we'll have in January is the home/away breakdown.

As leRoux pointed out: he probably normally takes his holliers in July/August but couldn't this year. Give him a break!

Not getting on his case just missing his articles as the rugby doesn't seem to get quite as comprehenisve coverage in the IT when he's not around. Also wouldn't be too happy if he was to move employers as I'm not a fan of the foreign press in general as editorially I find a lot of journalists have to write as they are directed in that type of press. The IT does seem to offer more leaway as regards opinions and quality balanced and informd reportage.

[Broken Wing]

Let's at least wait until tomorrow's On Rugby column before sending out the search parties.

[Scott]

Let's at least wait until tomorrow's On Rugby column before sending out the search parties.

Wouldn't even send up a flare for the guy. Blandest articles that offer zero insight or analysis - reads like he runs every word by 10/12 Lansdowne Road before his editor. Useless rugby jurnalist.