A whiff of Cordite

[RoboProp]

In yesterday’s Sunday Times Stephen Jones picks his ‘best in the world XV’, as do Stuart Barnes and Peter O’Reilly.
Interestingly, Jones picks 6 Leinster players in his 15, along with Ian Henderson. Five of the Leinster six would be guessable – Sexton, Doris, Furlong, Kelleher and Porter. The sixth is a surprise. Ahead of Dupont – chosen indeed by Barnes and O’Reilly – Jones has chosen no other than Jamison Gibson-Park as the best scrum half in the world in November 2021!
Delighted for JGP, but maybe Jonesy overdid the Brains Bitter on Saturday?

Jones singing the praises of Irish players? Is this a portent of the apocalypse? I've not read him in umpteen years, so maybe he's changed his tune, but leopard spots comes to mind

[fourthirtythree]

If he was always wrong in the past, he is always wrong now. Trust the process.

[Oldschoolsocks]

If he was always wrong in the past, he is always wrong now. Trust the process.

[riocard911]

For those haven't seen it, Joe Marler's post-Boks-match presser is fabulous.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvmQ1EyyIXU

I'd love someone to send this to Lansdowne Road and UCD. I watch regularly our lads in front of the microphone in blue and green and all the time they're 100% on message, repeating the same old, worn-out clichés about "taking each match as it comes", "respecting the opposition" and of course, that hardy perennial "training is going great". Like I give a monkey's how training went; all that counts is the performance on matchday. Fair play to Joe Marler; at least one active professional rugby player has understood, that he's in the entertainment business, and speaks in a way that resonates with fans and doesn't bore them to death.

[Oldschoolsocks]

For those haven't seen it, Joe Marler's post-Boks-match presser is fabulous.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvmQ1EyyIXU

I'd love someone to send this to Lansdowne Road and UCD. I watch regularly our lads in front of the microphone in blue and green and all the time they're 100% on message, repeating the same old, worn-out clichés about "taking each match as it comes", "respecting the opposition" and of course, that hardy perennial "training is going great". Like I give a monkey's how training went; all that counts is the performance on matchday. Fair play to Joe Marler; at least one active professional rugby player has understood, that he's in the entertainment business, and speaks in a way that resonates with fans and doesn't bore them to death.

Reminiscent of James Lowe calling everyone bollixes, breath of fresh air if you ask me

[The Doc]

For those haven't seen it, Joe Marler's post-Boks-match presser is fabulous.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvmQ1EyyIXU

I'd love someone to send this to Lansdowne Road and UCD. I watch regularly our lads in front of the microphone in blue and green and all the time they're 100% on message, repeating the same old, worn-out clichés about "taking each match as it comes", "respecting the opposition" and of course, that hardy perennial "training is going great". Like I give a monkey's how training went; all that counts is the performance on matchday. Fair play to Joe Marler; at least one active professional rugby player has understood, that he's in the entertainment business, and speaks in a way that resonates with fans and doesn't bore them to death.

His podcast is good as well - refreshingly it's not about rugby

[Ruckedtobits]

Smart man Joe. Investing in his future, when JoePublic will provide the bread, not the RFU

[wixfjord]

Very good interview with Mick Dawson on The42 - https://www.the42.ie/mick-dawson-the42-5619525-Dec2021/

Between him, Leo and Stu it always strikes me that we have three leaders with low ego, which can only be good.

[riocard911]

Very good interview with Mick Dawson on The42 - https://www.the42.ie/mick-dawson-the42-5619525-Dec2021/

Between him, Leo and Stu it always strikes me that we have three leaders with low ego, which can only be good.

Great read. The argy-bargy bit about Cheika is funny. Hope MD gets the IRFU gig, if he wants it, that is.

[Oldschool]

In yesterday’s Sunday Times Stephen Jones picks his ‘best in the world XV’, as do Stuart Barnes and Peter O’Reilly.
Interestingly, Jones picks 6 Leinster players in his 15, along with Ian Henderson. Five of the Leinster six would be guessable – Sexton, Doris, Furlong, Kelleher and Porter. The sixth is a surprise. Ahead of Dupont – chosen indeed by Barnes and O’Reilly – Jones has chosen no other than Jamison Gibson-Park as the best scrum half in the world in November 2021!
Delighted for JGP, but maybe Jonesy overdid the Brains Bitter on Saturday?

Jones singing the praises of Irish players? Is this a portent of the apocalypse? I've not read him in umpteen years, so maybe he's changed his tune, but leopard spots comes to mind

Love him or hate him, he thinks long term.
The Lions coaching job is up for grabs.
He'd certainly be in the running.
Getting some of his ducks or leprechauns in a row maybe.

[fourthirtythree]

Not Eddie. The troll.

I take whatever Eddie Jones says very seriously, with the caveat that he's a liar.

[Oldschoolsocks]

Very good interview with Mick Dawson on The42 - https://www.the42.ie/mick-dawson-the42-5619525-Dec2021/

Between him, Leo and Stu it always strikes me that we have three leaders with low ego, which can only be good.

great read, thanks for posting

[paddyor]

https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/ru ... 62575.html
Leinster could “game the system” by convincingly beating a really poor bath side twice. Not sure that’s gaming the system Robert. I wonder was that him or some chippy editor from cork.

[fourthirtythree]

https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/ru ... 62575.html
Leinster could “game the system” by convincingly beating a really poor bath side twice. Not sure that’s gaming the system Robert. I wonder was that him or some chippy editor from cork.

Scoring a shedload of points is "gaming"? I think the gentleman needs to be reintroduced to the concepts "winning", "game" , and "sport".

[Oldschoolsocks]

https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/ru ... 62575.html
Leinster could “game the system” by convincingly beating a really poor bath side twice. Not sure that’s gaming the system Robert. I wonder was that him or some chippy editor from cork.

so beating your opposition is gaming the system now?

jaysis wept

[fourthirtythree]

The system is a game, If we win it's gaming because our success would be ludic rather than narrative. Our cousins own that.

[Xanthippe]

https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/ru ... 62575.html
Leinster could “game the system” by convincingly beating a really poor bath side twice. Not sure that’s gaming the system Robert. I wonder was that him or some chippy editor from cork.

Well its the exact same article as is in The Guardian so I'd say it's Kitson himself and not an editor from De Examiner

[Oldschoolsocks]

Is that a normal thing where de paper just prints articles from the grauniad?

[ronk]

Is that a normal thing where de paper just prints articles from the grauniad?

Sin de cait yon

[Dave Cahill]

The headline on the same article in the Guardian...

Leinster and Toulouse stand out in uneven and unusual Champions Cup