Contentious Justin Marshall article on Leinster win/IR v NZ

[simonokeeffe]

throwing this up as it strikes me as BS or banter overplayed, contentious part in bold at the bottom
full version here: http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/opinion/69 ... confidence

Leinster coach Joe Schmidt must now surely be in consideration for the Blues job next year. Leinster are only the second club to win successive cup finals and Schmidt, a former Blues assistant, is clearly making an impact.
Then there's Brad Thorn's achievement in adding a European Cup to his legacy as a World Cup winner, Australian league rep, State of Origin winner, NRL premiership victor and Super Rugby title winner.
That he could step straight out of Japanese rugby and play at the highest level in Europe is a reflection on Thorn's professionalism and preparation.
I've talked to people close to the club who say his contribution has been immense.

Leinster has an Irish test loosie with a reputation among his team-mates for being way too opinionated, especially during training.

The story goes that Brad Thorn had been there for only two weeks when at training one night the loosie started having too much to say again.

Thorn apparently withdrew that gnarled head of his from out of a scrum and in that gravelly voice nobody can imitate: "Save the energy for the scrum mate. I can't even feel any weight from you. Less talk, more pushing mate!"

I also can't help but think of the Blues when I tell that story. They don't necessarily need Thorn next year (although they could do worse in the market), but they certainly need some Brad Thorn attitude and his type of player.

1. Can't see coaches esp Jonno Gibbes putting up with stuff like that from forwards
2. Can't see Leinster squad not quickly taking anyone like that down a peg or two, nor Leo not dealing with it
3. Locky is literally a choirboy, SOB too honest/hard working, Ruddock too Junior, if Heaslip was gobby they'd hardly let him captain the team, same with Jennings who's always been leadership material/works hard

Am heartbroken I can't find this on Youtube but there is footage of Marshall playing for Montpellier (I think) getting so annoyed with a refereeing decision he jumps up and down on the spot throwing a trantrum

[[Jackass]]

would loosie refer to loose head prop, i.e. Cian Healy?

I think the anicdote is more to portray Brads lack of taking sh*t from anyone, and not suggesting there's unrest in the camp and someone is an ar$ehole, it's kind of a joke I think. Someone thought they were a smart arse and Thorn put them in their place. Nothing in it.

[ronk]

Sounds like normal banter from a close knit squad.

There might be an element of man bites dog about a lock complaining about a prop not pushing but in fairness Thorn would be exactly that kind of lock and it's the sort of comment that would light a rocket in a prop coming from a scrummaging 2nd row.

[berniemac67]

would loosie refer to loose head prop, i.e. Cian Healy?

I think the anicdote is more to portray Brads lack of taking sh*t from anyone, and not suggesting there's unrest in the camp and someone is an ar$ehole, it's kind of a joke I think. Someone thought they were a smart arse and Thorn put them in their place. Nothing in it.

think he meant loose forward. i.e. back row.

[artaneboy]

would loosie refer to loose head prop, i.e. Cian Healy?

I think the anicdote is more to portray Brads lack of taking sh*t from anyone, and not suggesting there's unrest in the camp and someone is an ar$ehole, it's kind of a joke I think. Someone thought they were a smart arse and Thorn put them in their place. Nothing in it.

think he meant loose forward. i.e. back row.

This is from a gobby opinionated scrum half, writing gossip from hear-say from the other side of the world, bigging up Thorne's contribution. It's froth- could be partly or wholly true- or total rubbish. But there's nothing wrong with it eitherway, except if you take it seriously.

[berniemac67]

would loosie refer to loose head prop, i.e. Cian Healy?

I think the anicdote is more to portray Brads lack of taking sh*t from anyone, and not suggesting there's unrest in the camp and someone is an ar$ehole, it's kind of a joke I think. Someone thought they were a smart arse and Thorn put them in their place. Nothing in it.

think he meant loose forward. i.e. back row.

This is from a gobby opinionated scrum half, writing gossip from hear-say from the other side of the world, bigging up Thorne's contribution. It's froth- could be partly or wholly true- or total rubbish. But there's nothing wrong with it eitherway, except if you take it seriously.

exactly

even the meaningful comment on the HEC in NZ is rather shite

[Frederico]

I have a very good idea who it was. Nothing wrong with a gobby loosie in the side, nothing wrong with someone being brought down to size every now and then either. All sides have differing pesonalities....I've worked / played in successful teams who have had their fair share of dickheads...Don't see why our favourite team should be any different.

No prizes for guessing who Marshall's sources are within the set up either. Shame on him for as good as knifing them with that article.

[Taffy Dub]

I would imagine it was jamie that was doing the talking! he does seem to like to talk a lot he was probably doing Thorn's nut in!

[hugonaut]

I have a very good idea who it was. Nothing wrong with a gobby loosie in the side, nothing wrong with someone being brought down to size every now and then either. All sides have differing pesonalities....I've worked / played in successful teams who have had their fair share of dickheads...Don't see why our favourite team should be any different.

No prizes for guessing who Marshall's sources are within the set up either. Shame on him for as good as knifing them with that article.

Sh*t like this happens in training every week. You want people to be keyed up if they're playing a big match at the weekend, and we've essentially been playing big matches every weekend since Thorn arrived.

As Federico says, it's not Marshall's place to go spilling the beans on what happened in Leinster training. I can't imagine that whoever told him intended it for publication.

[rosscarrick]

I have a very good idea who it was. Nothing wrong with a gobby loosie in the side, nothing wrong with someone being brought down to size every now and then either. All sides have differing pesonalities....I've worked / played in successful teams who have had their fair share of dickheads...Don't see why our favourite team should be any different.

No prizes for guessing who Marshall's sources are within the set up either. Shame on him for as good as knifing them with that article.

Sh*t like this happens in training every week. You want people to be keyed up if they're playing a big match at the weekend, and we've essentially been playing big matches every weekend since Thorn arrived.

As Federico says, it's not Marshall's place to go spilling the beans on what happened in Leinster training. I can't imagine that whoever told him intended it for publication.

I agree, this happens in all team sports and it can happen for no reason - it doesnt have to be a consistant thing!
Wouldnt worry about any part of this - the writer, Leinster or the players!

[Edna Kenny]

Shame stuff like that get's published, I'm sure it wasn't intended to be by whoever told Marshall. The thing I would take from that is the real benefit of bringing in these experienced overseas players. When Brad Thorn comes in I'm sure everyone wants to impress him. If he sees something he thinks isn't right he'll say so and the chances are that everyone will listen. By all accounts Brad has been unbelievably helpful in training up players in the squad.

[Lar]

I have no doubt Brad Thorn has been the consummate pro in training. He was been excellent on the pitch for us and his presence has been a huge boost for the limited time we have had him. Would we have won the Cup without him? We'll never know but he played 80 minutes in both the semi and the final and his physical presence in the scrum and at the breakdown has been huge. For a man whose lineout work was supposed to be a weakness he was no mug there either.

I suppose its only to be expected but I thought his participation in the post-match celebrations was muted. He can't feel truly part of the squad when he knows he hasn't been involved for that long and won't be here next season. I thought he looked like he was 'crashing' a party that he was only invited to because he had to be. I thought BOD (ever the pro even when celebrating) went out of his way to be as inclusive of Thorn as possible.

A fan's favourite no doubt though. I will always be thankful for the time he has given us.

[johng]

would loosie refer to loose head prop, i.e. Cian Healy?

I think the anicdote is more to portray Brads lack of taking sh*t from anyone, and not suggesting there's unrest in the camp and someone is an ar$ehole, it's kind of a joke I think. Someone thought they were a smart arse and Thorn put them in their place. Nothing in it.

think he meant loose forward. i.e. back row.

Then he wouldn't have said THE Loosie. He meant Ciano. (Maybe it was Jack McGrath )

I would imagine it was jamie that was doing the talking! he does seem to like to talk a lot he was probably doing Thorn's nut in!

See. Just 2 posts on here and the story has taken a whole new direction.

Imagine how many directions it took from what actually happened to Justin Marshall.

It is either true. (who gives a sh1t) total bullsh1t. (again who gives a sh1t) or most likely. partially true, i.e. misquoted/banter/taken out of context. (yet again who gives a sh1t)

That team who played on Saturday showed not a chink of disharmony.

All Marshall has done is shown his own lack of class by publisinig it. (Not really a big deall though)

Bottom line.......Who gives a sh1t?

[Copacetic]

He meant a loose forward, lets just say it's very unlikely he meant he couldn't feel a loosehead prop pushing him.

[Darce]

A loose in NZ is a back row. Nothing to do with Props.

[Frederico]

I have no doubt Brad Thorn has been the consummate pro in training. He was been excellent on the pitch for us and his presence has been a huge boost for the limited time we have had him. Would we have won the Cup without him? We'll never know but he played 80 minutes in both the semi and the final and his physical presence in the scrum and at the breakdown has been huge. For a man whose lineout work was supposed to be a weakness he was no mug there either.

I suppose its only to be expected but I thought his participation in the post-match celebrations was muted. He can't feel truly part of the squad when he knows he hasn't been involved for that long and won't be here next season. I thought he looked like he was 'crashing' a party that he was only invited to because he had to be. I thought BOD (ever the pro even when celebrating) went out of his way to be as inclusive of Thorn as possible.

A fan's favourite no doubt though. I will always be thankful for the time he has given us.

He cut a fairly solitary figure in the aftermath of the World Cup win as well so I don't think there is much to read into it. Judging by the number of pictures of him posing with the cup, I'd say he feels like the cat who got the cream. He did come over and applaud and do his customary fist pump in front of us afterwards....I was right in front of him when he did something similar in Suncorp, Brisbane in 2005 when Queensland beat New South Wales with an intercept try in the first State of Origin match that year.

He's done a great shift for us and I don't think we would have got past Clermont without him, especially the last tackle of the game.

[johng]

OK fair enough.

[Oldschool]

I have no doubt Brad Thorn has been the consummate pro in training. He was been excellent on the pitch for us and his presence has been a huge boost for the limited time we have had him. Would we have won the Cup without him? We'll never know but he played 80 minutes in both the semi and the final and his physical presence in the scrum and at the breakdown has been huge. For a man whose lineout work was supposed to be a weakness he was no mug there either.

I suppose its only to be expected but I thought his participation in the post-match celebrations was muted. He can't feel truly part of the squad when he knows he hasn't been involved for that long and won't be here next season. I thought he looked like he was 'crashing' a party that he was only invited to because he had to be. I thought BOD (ever the pro even when celebrating) went out of his way to be as inclusive of Thorn as possible.

A fan's favourite no doubt though. I will always be thankful for the time he has given us.

We'd have won the final without him, but would we have got to it, that's the question Frederico is right!
Brad is the real deal, without a doubt. He's probably reinforced Joe's philosopy in the overall squad in the three months he's been here.

[simonokeeffe]

Like I said struck me as a bit sensationalist/an exaggeration, semi obscure source so thought I'd put it up. Slight tangenital reason for posting it was Marshall likely to be the co-commentator on Irelands tests v NZ

RE Joe and the Blues job, Joe is seeing out his remaining season at least and Blues coach will need to be in situ by December/Jan, but other threads up about it

[Lar]

We'd have won the final without him, but would we have got to it, that's the question Frederico is right!
Brad is the real deal, without a doubt. He's probably reinforced Joe's philosopy in the overall squad in the three months he's been here.

Yup - those were my thoughts too.