A whiff of Cordite

[RoboProp]

The42's description of Munster's comeback was a bit much:

"History has been filled with great comebacks, Elvis at Las Vegas, Liverpool at Istanbul. Now this"

They could have at least included the greatest comeback of all time.

Mate, the meeja making a mess over Munster minutiae is most mundane

[domhnallj]

The42's description of Munster's comeback was a bit much:

"History has been filled with great comebacks, Elvis at Las Vegas, Liverpool at Istanbul. Now this"

They could have at least included the greatest comeback of all time.

I think they probably view that as the biggest capitulation of all time.

[Serb]

The42's description of Munster's comeback was a bit much:

"History has been filled with great comebacks, Elvis at Las Vegas, Liverpool at Istanbul. Now this"

They could have at least included the greatest comeback of all time.

In fairness, that intro was clearly tongue in cheek. It was a decent comeback, there have been many that were better.

Actually, it reminded me of a far better comeback: Leinster vs Connacht in December 2018. 17 points down with 10 minutes left, Andrew Porter muscles over for the third try in that period with the clock in the red. That was outrageous.

https://youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu ... HFsjqjH98E

[mildlyinterested]

edit . nvm

[Laighin Break]

Some sense spoken by Andrew Trimble (on The42) on the whole "should an exception me made for Zebo" rubbish:

https://www.facebook.com/11096771896572 ... 929668737/
(Additional rubbish in the comments though)

[riocard911]

Some sense spoken by Andrew Trimble (on The42) on the whole "should an exception me made for Zebo" rubbish:

https://www.facebook.com/11096771896572 ... 929668737/
(Additional rubbish in the comments though)

Brilliant clip. I recommend it to anyone, who hasn't heard it. Thanks for posting!!!

[Oldschoolsocks]

Some sense spoken by Andrew Trimble (on The42) on the whole "should an exception me made for Zebo" rubbish:

https://www.facebook.com/11096771896572 ... 929668737/
(Additional rubbish in the comments though)

Brilliant clip. I recommend it to anyone, who hasn't heard it. Thanks for posting!!!

ditto

[joooooe]

Some sense spoken by Andrew Trimble (on The42) on the whole "should an exception me made for Zebo" rubbish:

https://www.facebook.com/11096771896572 ... 929668737/
(Additional rubbish in the comments though)

Brilliant clip. I recommend it to anyone, who hasn't heard it. Thanks for posting!!!

He talks sense and it is refreshing to hear among the media scramble to create a story. What I haven't yet heard mention of, however, is that it is much harder to bring Zebo in to the international squad (compared to Sexton) because of his availability. Sexton insisted on having in his Racing contract a provision that allowed him to be released for international matches and training camps. He likely took a financial hit in order to include this. Zebo, AFAIK, doesn't have this. He wouldn't have been available for yesterday's match v Italy, for example. He would also have to be released back to Racing during "rest" weeks in the international window, and he couldn't attend in-season training camps.

The whole discussion is hot air. And here I am contributing to it...

[riocard911]

Some sense spoken by Andrew Trimble (on The42) on the whole "should an exception me made for Zebo" rubbish:

https://www.facebook.com/11096771896572 ... 929668737/
(Additional rubbish in the comments though)

Brilliant clip. I recommend it to anyone, who hasn't heard it. Thanks for posting!!!

He talks sense and it is refreshing to hear among the media scramble to create a story. What I haven't yet heard mention of, however, is that it is much harder to bring Zebo in to the international squad (compared to Sexton) because of his availability. Sexton insisted on having in his Racing contract a provision that allowed him to be released for international matches and training camps. He likely took a financial hit in order to include this. Zebo, AFAIK, doesn't have this. He wouldn't have been available for yesterday's match v Italy, for example. He would also have to be released back to Racing during "rest" weeks in the international window, and he couldn't attend in-season training camps.

The whole discussion is hot air. And here I am contributing to it...

I feel your pain!!!

[Twist]

Some sense spoken by Andrew Trimble (on The42) on the whole "should an exception me made for Zebo" rubbish:

https://www.facebook.com/11096771896572 ... 929668737/
(Additional rubbish in the comments though)

Brilliant clip. I recommend it to anyone, who hasn't heard it. Thanks for posting!!!

He talks sense and it is refreshing to hear among the media scramble to create a story. What I haven't yet heard mention of, however, is that it is much harder to bring Zebo in to the international squad (compared to Sexton) because of his availability. Sexton insisted on having in his Racing contract a provision that allowed him to be released for international matches and training camps. He likely took a financial hit in order to include this. Zebo, AFAIK, doesn't have this. He wouldn't have been available for yesterday's match v Italy, for example. He would also have to be released back to Racing during "rest" weeks in the international window, and he couldn't attend in-season training camps.

The whole discussion is hot air. And here I am contributing to it...

That’s a really good point though, haven’t heard anyone mention it in the media

[curates_egg]

You have to love this.
Sexton, asked by some hack about POM:
“You love talking about the Munster lads.”
https://twitter.com/patmccarry/status/1 ... 36960?s=20

[Xanthippe]

You have to love this.
Sexton, asked by some hack about POM:
“You love talking about the Munster lads.”
https://twitter.com/patmccarry/status/1 ... 36960?s=20

What is it they say about speaking truth to power!!!

[neiliog93]

hahaha brilliant

[hugonaut]

He talks sense and it is refreshing to hear among the media scramble to create a story. What I haven't yet heard mention of, however, is that it is much harder to bring Zebo in to the international squad (compared to Sexton) because of his availability. Sexton insisted on having in his Racing contract a provision that allowed him to be released for international matches and training camps. He likely took a financial hit in order to include this. Zebo, AFAIK, doesn't have this. He wouldn't have been available for yesterday's match v Italy, for example. He would also have to be released back to Racing during "rest" weeks in the international window, and he couldn't attend in-season training camps.

The whole discussion is hot air. And here I am contributing to it...

I'm not criticising you, but it really is hot air. A good few, if not most, of the Irish rugby media are talking about it as though it's up for grabs. It's just not. Selecting Irish-based players is a keystone of IRFU policy.

Sexton signed with Racing in January 2013. Nucifora took on the job as IRFU Performance Director in April 2014. Guess how many Irish players who have signed for foreign teams since Nucifora took over have been in an Irish training squad, never mind a team? Zero.

The IRFU f*cking up Sexton's contract negotiations in 2012 – Sexton details his side of the story extensively in his book – was a significant contributing factor to Nucifora's role being created.

Before then the union had a Director of Rugby [Eddie Wigglesworth], a High Performance Manager [Collie McEntee] and a different person handling contract negotiations [HR Director Maurice Dowling] ... and they lost contractual control of the most important player in the team that generates the vast majority of their organisation's income because they waited until three months of the season to pass before opening negotiations. And then they low-balled him.

[Dave Cahill]

Sexton signed with Racing in January 2013. Nucifora took on the job as IRFU Performance Director in April 2014. Guess how many Irish players who have signed for foreign teams since Nucifora took over have been in an Irish training squad, never mind a team? Zero.

The IRFU f*cking up Sexton's contract negotiations in 2012 – Sexton details his side of the story extensively in his book – was a significant contributing factor to Nucifora's role being created.

Before then the union had a Director of Rugby [Eddie Wigglesworth], a High Performance Manager [Collie McEntee] and a different person handling contract negotiations [HR Director Maurice Dowling] ... and they lost contractual control of the most important player in the team that generates the vast majority of their organisation's income because they waited until three months of the season to pass before opening negotiations. And then they low-balled him.

Just to be a pedant, I think it would be more accurate to say that the Sexton farrago accelerated the filling of the Performance Director role, it had already been created in 2005(!) but never filled(!!), and there was no particular urgency from the Union in filling it until summer 2012 when it was finally advertised nearly two years (!!!) before an appointment was made

[hugonaut]

Just to be a pedant, I think it would be more accurate to say that the Sexton farrago accelerated the filling of the Performance Director role, it had already been created in 2005(!) but never filled(!!), and there was no particular urgency from the Union in filling it until summer 2012 when it was finally advertised nearly two years (!!!) before an appointment was made

The good old days.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Don't know why I do this to myself but I read Cummiskey's stuff yesterday...what an attitude that guy has. For a start, everything was negative, not just about Ireland but every story in the "fun" section was too. Everything he said was so snide, even just the player ratings. I don't have the exact quote in front of me but his comment on Ross Byrne was something like "kicked his points, whoop de doo". I can see why Rob told him to f%~k off in Japan and I'd love if the IRFU and the IT did too. He pointedly referred to Bealham being Australian as well.

I don't think I've ever come across a sports journalist who hates the sport they cover quite as much as he does. I could understand if he was a football journalist in the UK where there are so many opportunities, but for him to have one of the biggest gigs like that in a small pond like ours just blows my mind.

[riocard911]

Don't know why I do this to myself but I read Cummiskey's stuff yesterday...what an attitude that guy has. For a start, everything was negative, not just about Ireland but every story in the "fun" section was too. Everything he said was so snide, even just the player ratings. I don't have the exact quote in front of me but his comment on Ross Byrne was something like "kicked his points, whoop de doo". I can see why Rob told him to f%~k off in Japan and I'd love if the IRFU and the IT did too. He pointedly referred to Bealham being Australian as well.

I don't think I've ever come across a sports journalist who hates the sport they cover quite as much as he does. I could understand if he was a football journalist in the UK where there are so many opportunities, but for him to have one of the biggest gigs like that in a small pond like ours just blows my mind.

Dreadful stuff. ************ must be turning in his grave!!!

[bgmusic]

Are you sure he is deceased?

[riocard911]

Are you sure he is deceased?

I'm not, would you believe? After I'd written that about "turning in the grave" I tried to double check and couldn't find confirmation for what was an assumption on my part. I'd delete that comment now, if I knew how. Maybe the moderator(s) could be so kind?.....