posted Feb 5, 2007

I rigidly disagree with navster about it being a sad day when God Save The Queen is played at Croke Park. I welcome it. Does navster seriously think that the playing of England's national anthem is going to compromise Croke Park and what it stands for? On the contary, it is Golden opportunity for Ireland to say to a visiting team from Britain: 'come in, take a seat, enjoy the game.' Ireland has come a long way since Bloody Sunday in 1920. Let us show our neighbours in Britain just how far with a unfeigned display of magnanimity...

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posted Feb 5, 2007

I am an Englishman who is unhappy that the English team are saddled with the BRITISH national anthem.Many English folk would welcome an anthem for England rather than the imperialist overtones of God Save the Queen.Let's hope that devolution will shortly free us of this dirge.

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posted Feb 5, 2007

As the dust settles on Ireland's victory over a dogged Wales outfit, we can begin to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of the Irish team. I think, as many people on this messageboard have already pointed out, that it is time to put Peter Stringer out of his misery. Granted, he is a member of the current Heineken Cup championship winning team and has been, up until now, a dead-cert in the national side. But I think it is time for a certain Isaac Boss to step in. As previously mentioned on this messageboard, all the teams (save perhaps for Italy) that Ireland still has to play in this 6 nations have exceptional scrumhalves at their disposal. Stringer is all of the following - slow, predictable, a poor kicker of the ball, a below average tackler, rarely takes the initiative (ok, he did once last year in the heineken cup final, but that's it) and crucially - a poor passer of the ball. Can Ireland succeed in the 6 nations and World Cup carrying an average player in such a pivotal position? How long are they going to wait? Lots of eyebrows were raised when Girvan Dempsey (an unexceptional and predictable player at best, who, incidentally, was out of position in defence far too often against Wales - who should have taken advantage of this, but didn't) beat Geordan Murphy to the starting 15. My point is this, if Eddie O Sullivan is willing to make calls like that one, why hasn't he replaced the below-par Stringer with Isaac Boss? Might it have something to do with the Munster connection? Isaac Boss proved his worth in the autumn internationals and breathed a breath of fresh air into the number 9 shirt. I think Ireland are going to need a few tricks up their sleeves if they are going to put one over on their French counterparts next Sunday -and replacing the lukewarm Stringer is the best thing they could do to enhance their chances of a win.

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posted Feb 5, 2007

Peter Stringer has had to put up with unfair criticism virtually as long as he has played for Ireland. He rarely gets any credit for his intelligent use of the ball. Remember it was his kick over the top that led to Irelands first try yesterday. As for the 'Munster Connection' how does that explain Donnacha O'Callaghan being kept out of the Irish second row by Malcolm O'Kelly, even after he was selected for the Lions. Peter Stringer is a vital contributor to Ireland and Munsters success. He is street wise and has bundles of experience. Issac Boss has skill but has a way to go before he can match Peter for experience and smarts.

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posted Feb 5, 2007

I mentioned in an earlier comment that if the All Blacks were picking a team to play next week, any of their players who had a shocker would be dropped immediately. No question about it. Stringer is defintely a weak link at probably the most important position to feed the best back line in the world. All I am saying is that if we had Peel or Ellis in our team we would have that extra dimension which we dont have now. We have to think of the world cup where Ireland will be faced with the best teams in the world. We need a scrum half who is not easily pushed around like Stringer and prone to serious mistakes when he is put under serious pressure. OK he has had great games for Ireland but are we to progress and aim for perfection or will we just take the risks and hope for the best. As for the comments relating to Croke Park .. this stadium belongs to the Irish people and not a small group of bigots. The rebuilding of this stadium was funded by huge Government grants over the years and contributions by people who value any sport no matter who it is played by or from where it originated. Con Houlihan wrote a great article about the origins of GAA football, a mixture between soccer and rugby. As a nation Ireland has grown up and only a small minority of people have their heads stuck in the sands of history

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posted Feb 5, 2007

Navster, try not to be a bigot all your life...there's a big wide world out there, pity the Old guard in the GAA like you just want to bury your heads and ignore the fact...personally I can't wait to singing our national anthem at the top of my voice with 80000 other true sports fans!
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I'm all for soccer and rugby in Croke Park but believe me im not a bigot.But I think it is disrespectful that God Save The Queen will be played at Croke Park after the history of what happened at that stadium.Sure,we should move on but have some respect for those and relatives of those who were killed at Croke Park and in Dublin.It's a GAA stadium at the end of the day

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posted Feb 6, 2007

Navstar, to take this line of reason to a conclusion, West Germany should never have been allowed to play their anthem at Wembley. England or the US anthems should never be played in Germany or Japan. In fact anthems would eventually be banned from stadiae the world over. Time to put the past to rest.

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posted Feb 6, 2007

I think sunday's game is a good indication that the appointment of Stephen Jones as captain was the first of many mistakes taken by a coach, who still puts club loyalty before sensible selection. Jones sat too deep and allowed the Irish defence ,plenty of time to line up any attackers, for good tackles giving them the chance to turn the ball over. Both illegally and legally but thats rugby...if the attacking team sit too deep and the fowards take too long to get to the break-down then complaints about refereeing decisions go out the window. We were niave with our tactics and Jones should have seen this,as the world class outside half he is...but a captaincy has maybe put a little too much other pressure on him and his game has suffered. if your outside half doesn't play well the attacking options are limited.... if he is the captain also, the team suffers as a whole...in the internationals late last year injury was to blame...perhaps lose of form should be considerd? On a positive note at least the weather was good for the game and it was the Irish we lost to not the English.

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posted Feb 7, 2007

The key games will be decided amongst IRELAND, FRANCE AND ENGL.

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posted Feb 8, 2007

I've just seen the game on video...the Irish positively sizzled with commitment, the Welsh were a fraction off the pace, in attack and defence, and the ref should be downgraded to officiating the queue for the toilets at half time. What a fool - forgot his yellow card, his rule book and his brain.

All three 'favourites' need to get a whole lot better to get past the quarters in RWC 07. As for the 6 nations my money is on England

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