posted 4 Weeks Ago

Dempsey’s try in Twickenham was special. One of the best Irish tries of the pro era.

Great stuff Gibbo – look forward to reading everyone’s memories of these great player.

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posted 4 Weeks Ago

Girvan Dempsey v England 2004. Their 1st defeat at home since they'd won the WC. Great team try.Big Mal involved.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdWnhH_Pj74

Another one by him at Croker. 2007
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rxc4j-1RKvs&feature=related


Murphy was never even near solid or effective enough to replace The Swerve. Far better international player. Proven over time.

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posted 4 Weeks Ago

I disturse,

Dempsey for great defence good attack.

Murphy for a good defence and great attack

I like Dempsey don't get me wrong he was slightly better in the defence than Murphy, but Murphy was still solid in defence but added a big more going forward.

think that Murphy missed a lot of caps due to O'Sullivan just picking the same players time and again, when an attacking edge would have better suited alot of games.

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posted 4 Weeks Ago

Kingshu1
Murphy would fit better into a French team, for example, where the unexpected was expected! Dempsey was in a line of "solid" Irish FBs - utterly dependable last line of defence. Irish rugby has been such that that was what was needed, the old Corinthian /amateur style of giving it a lash was the Irish style coming into the pro era. This didn't suit the professional era and the mindset needed adjustment away from it. Once the adjustment is complete, we can go for an "exciting" FB who would do the unexpected. However we are not there yet. This can be seen with the apparent restrictions which are placed on Rob K. We KNOW he can run with the ball to devastating effect, yet, when he played for Ireland last year did we see it? Not as often as the fans would have liked (we had seen it in the summer tour of 2008, and again this year on the Lions tour). I think that was the main reason Dempsey was preferred to Murphy - suited the transitional stage Irish rugby was in.

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posted 4 Weeks Ago

Fair comment, Kingshu mate. There are Murphy & Dempsey camps with valid reasoning why. Just think Murphy is so much better playing for Tigers. He's a different player with them.

Never really showed consistently for Ireland and cost us too many vital games. That's why he was left out so much for Dempsey - who never really let us down.

Great player and I admire him a lot. Maybe with a different Irish coach he would have been picked for certain matches that suited his style of play more. I agree with you.

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posted 4 Weeks Ago

favourite ever mal moment:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4o0jcCS7fo

HIS try!

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posted 4 Weeks Ago

Genuinely poignant moment for me.

Can't believe the Grivster and Mal are moving on...there since the '90s.

I still remember my friend and I crying our eyes out after the '99 loss to Wales...Mal was there that day I think....

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posted 4 Weeks Ago

I was never a fan of Girvan Dempsey but at least his defence was solid. Murphy just seemed to lose all rugby sense in defence for Ireland despite his brilliance for Leicester. I really don't think Murphy was ever the same international player after his leg break, before which I though he was Ireland's next big thing.

The fact is, it doesn't matter now as Kearney is far better in both attack and defence that Murphy or Dempsey.

IMHO

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posted 4 Weeks Ago

Have to say I'd forgotton just how good that Dempsey try in Twickenham was - if Serge Blanco had scored a try like that after a sweeping length of the pitch move involving backs and forwards the rugby world would have been drooling. Fantastic stuff.

Sorry to see him and Mal go but it's a logical progression. DK has done what needs to be done - brought in some young talent, left out some other young talent that can be brought along with the A's.

All in all, apart from the shortage of quality in the front row, we're in good shape for the years ahead

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posted 4 Weeks Ago

have to say this isn't the page for the Murphy or Dempsey debate, we should have been having it 5 years ago.

No this is the page where we thank Dempsey for his solid service at the back, he still has a job to do for Leinster for a few years yet, and he was even on the wing v Ulster.

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