Greatest Irish rugby team ever

[ronk]

I think given the fixture list, quality of opposition and standard of performance attained that this is now the best ever Irish team.

[Sionnach]

I think given the fixture list, quality of opposition and standard of performance attained that this is now the best ever Irish team.

Hard to argue against.

[paddyor]

I think given the fixture list, quality of opposition and standard of performance attained that this is now the best ever Irish team.

I think defo the best tight 5 and halves.

[FLIP]

Certainly the greatest coach, and greatest captain, as well as the greatest team given those criteria.

[Ruckedtobits]

Don't let go down this Cul de Sac. Impossible assessment. Different times, different opponents etc. Statistically, we had the most comprehensive series of victories of our three Grand Slams. That's as far as it is possible to say.

[blockhead]

Best Irish team since 2009.

[CiaranIrl]

Better front row and half backs than 09. Back three about even. Second row is debatable.

If Joe Schmidt coached us in the 2000s, we would have 3 or 4 grand slams. He's the biggest difference.

[simonokeeffe]

We were very lucky with injuries in 2009

We probably had harder Scottish and English teams this time too

[Oldschool]

Wouldn't like to demean the achievements of either this GS winning team or the 2009 one.
The point about the coach is well made but even so DK still managed to win a GS with players whose best years were behind them.
EOS should have and didn't.
You need a bit of luck along the way too.
We were unlucky to lose two 13 but very lucky that our best 13 returned from injury at precisely the right time.
EOS was unlucky, that loss to France in Croker in particular.
Anyway a GS is a GS and something for any player winning one to treasure.
Spare a thought today for Jamie Heaslip and Sean O'Brien.
JVDF and Rhyd Ruddock too.
Even Simon Zebo regardless of the reason.
Also Messrs Farrell and Lancaster whose input directly and indirectly has been significant.

[RoboProp]

When you think about EOS and the players he had, and what they actually won (nothing); and then you see him on the box criticising Joe...yeah.

[simonokeeffe]

When you think about EOS and the players he had, and what they actually won (nothing); and then you see him on the box criticising Joe...yeah.

Yup
One that sticks in my head, is the game we lost in Cardiff in 05, gameplan seemed to be pass it straight to BOD and nobody else every time. Was obvious AF and Welsh defence just mobbed him all day

Wasnt like Hickie or Murphy werent dangerous options

To be more upbeat, we easily have 15 players who have or very well may have 100 caps

Best Cronin Healy McGrath Furlong Porter Ryan (c) Henderson Leavy Murray Sexton Henshaw Ringrose Kearney Earls

[berniemac67]

He's the biggest difference.

Agreed there.

[Dave Cahill]

When you think about EOS and the players he had, and what they actually won (nothing); and then you see him on the box criticising Joe...yeah.

They won the triple crown three times - now I realise that the revisionist view is that this isn't worth anything, but it involved beating the then current world champions three times in four years, it was something that Ireland hadn't done for 18 years and at the time was considered a massive leap forward for Irish rugby along with us being ranked as high as third in the world

On top of this we began to beat southern hemisphere opposition, we hadn't beaten Australia since the 60s in Dublin and the 70s at all until we won in 2002 , we hadn't beaten South Africa in Dublin since the 60s until 2004.

Theres a view out there that Irish rugby started in 2009 (or 2006 depending which side of the mason dixon line you're from) and that everything from before that is of little or no value and has no relevance to today. Thats simply not true. Joe Schmidt is the best coach Ireland has ever had. This Grand Slam is the greatest achievement in the history of the Irish national team. But these things don't happen in isolation.

[RoboProp]

When you think about EOS and the players he had, and what they actually won (nothing); and then you see him on the box criticising Joe...yeah.

They won the triple crown three times - now I realise that the revisionist view is that this isn't worth anything, but it involved beating the then current world champions three times in four years, it was something that Ireland hadn't done for 18 years and at the time was considered a massive leap forward for Irish rugby along with us being ranked as high as third in the world

On top of this we began to beat southern hemisphere opposition, we hadn't beaten Australia since the 60s in Dublin and the 70s at all until we won in 2002 , we hadn't beaten South Africa in Dublin since the 60s until 2004.

Theres a view out there that Irish rugby started in 2009 (or 2006 depending which side of the mason dixon line you're from) and that everything from before that is of little or no value and has no relevance to today. Thats simply not true. Joe Schmidt is the best coach Ireland has ever had. This Grand Slam is the greatest achievement in the history of the Irish national team. But these things don't happen in isolation.

Nothing revisionist from me regardingTriple Crowns, I simply don't rate them if they don't come with the Championship in the bag.

My first 5N was in 85, which was great. I've been there for good times and bad times, and will be there when the bad times happen again. I enjoyed Eddie's first triple crown but after that, it was way too little for the talent he had. Eddie squandered the golden generation to second place. Close, but as they saying goes, close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. Am I being a bit harsh on EOS? Probably, but we probably could have come second with those players with Oldschool as backs coach, me as defensive coach and you as head coach

[Peg Leg]

Leinster

[RoboProp]

Leinster

We lacked the forward steel, but then one day an Aussie appeared with powers of hawk, wolf, puma and bear
Protector of peace, mystic man from afar. He championed our pack Michael Cheika!

[Peg Leg]

Leinster

We lacked the forward steel, but then one day an Aussie appeared with powers of hawk, wolf, puma and bear
Protector of peace, mystic man from afar. He championed our pack Michael Cheika!

Let's not forget his robot steed

[Oldschool]

When you think about EOS and the players he had, and what they actually won (nothing); and then you see him on the box criticising Joe...yeah.

They won the triple crown three times - now I realise that the revisionist view is that this isn't worth anything, but it involved beating the then current world champions three times in four years, it was something that Ireland hadn't done for 18 years and at the time was considered a massive leap forward for Irish rugby along with us being ranked as high as third in the world

On top of this we began to beat southern hemisphere opposition, we hadn't beaten Australia since the 60s in Dublin and the 70s at all until we won in 2002 , we hadn't beaten South Africa in Dublin since the 60s until 2004.

Theres a view out there that Irish rugby started in 2009 (or 2006 depending which side of the mason dixon line you're from) and that everything from before that is of little or no value and has no relevance to today. Thats simply not true. Joe Schmidt is the best coach Ireland has ever had. This Grand Slam is the greatest achievement in the history of the Irish national team. But these things don't happen in isolation.

Nothing revisionist from me regardingTriple Crowns, I simply don't rate them if they don't come with the Championship in the bag.

My first 5N was in 85, which was great. I've been there for good times and bad times, and will be there when the bad times happen again. I enjoyed Eddie's first triple crown but after that, it was way too little for the talent he had. Eddie squandered the golden generation to second place. Close, but as they saying goes, close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. Am I being a bit harsh on EOS? Probably, but we probably could have come second with those players with Oldschool as backs coach, me as defensive coach and you as head coach

Reckon you and me would do fine without a head cosch.
We could share the forwards coaching duties.
You could look after the scrum and maul defence.
I always ran a good lineout and if you're talking rucks then no better man for sharpening studs.
However I think a Triple Crown deserves to be acknowledged as an achievement in it's own right.
TCs are not won that frequently to be dismissed and certainly not by Ireland.

[RoboProp]

Leinster

We lacked the forward steel, but then one day an Aussie appeared with powers of hawk, wolf, puma and bear
Protector of peace, mystic man from afar. He championed our pack Michael Cheika!

Let's not forget his robot steed

Knoxy Knoxy!

[Ruckedtobits]

Leinster

We lacked the forward steel, but then one day an Aussie appeared with powers of hawk, wolf, puma and bear
Protector of peace, mystic man from afar. He championed our pack Michael Cheika!

Knoxy Knoxy!

Don't mention the name.

But don't forget the contributions of Alan Gaffney, Jono Gibbes, John Plumtree and the five honchos who made the difference in small margins over the past two seasons: Andy Farrell, Simon Easterby, Richie Murphy, Greg Feek and Martin Murphy - Analyst supreme who's work so often confirms suspicions and rules out luck.

This fortress took some building and the main Architect deserves to be high on the pedestal but he was surrounded by Master Builders.