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'Does Andy know there are 3 other provinces to choose from?': Reaction to Ireland team
Ireland’s Leinster-heavy squad has received a lot of attention online ahead of their trip to Rome this weekend in the Guinness Six Nations.
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Andy Farrell has selected eleven players from the province in his starting XV, which includes an all-Leinster backline for the third time in Ireland’s history, and first time in almost a century.
Leinster are sitting at the top of the Guinness PRO14 currently, but are being pushed all the way by Ulster in Conference A, while Munster and Connacht both sit at the summit of Conference B. Leo Cullen’s side are not dominating Irish, and indeed European, rugby in the same way they have over the past five years, which is perhaps why this selection has caused so much bemusement as not one Connacht player has managed to make the matchday 23.
One of the three starting Munster players is Dave Kilcoyne, who usually starts on the bench behind Cian Healy, who is a substitute for only the third time in his last 20 Tests.
There will always be contentious calls, but Farrell is clearly seeking some continuity in his backline, and there is no better way to do that than teaming up players who are familiar with one another. Moreover, picking players from the form team in the country is seldom a cause for concern, but Ireland fans clearly feel there should be greater representation.
Any Ireland selection these days is greeted by rants regarding John Cooney’s absence, and this one is no exception, particularly in light of the injuries at scrum-half. At this moment in time, those complaints do not appear to be bearing much fruit.
Ireland are searching for their first win of the Championship after losses to Wales and France in the opening two rounds. Farrell has not been too experimental with his selection as a win looks to be his only priority.
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There's been an all Leinster backline in a test twice before but NOT for a very long time. Against South Africa on 30 November 1912 and against Wales on 14 March 1931.
— Stuart Farmer (@Stu_Farmer) February 25, 2021
Does Andy know that there is 3 other provinces to choose from? #ITAvIRE https://t.co/cUhEFkGNEp
— Ben Walsh (@walshben11) February 25, 2021
Ireland could have every single professional 9 injured and Farrell would probably still pick the waterboy for Blackrock over Cooney. https://t.co/Z9LzBTznyr
— Stu (@DisgruntledTurk) February 25, 2021
Best of luck to Leinster this weekend against Italy. Another strange lineup. With regards the World Cup, surely a 9-10 of Cooney and Harry Byrne is worth a try at some stage. Cooney flying this year and Burns/R Byrne don't look up to it. https://t.co/woH1uem6de
— Kevin Moran (@kevcmoran) February 25, 2021
11 Leinster players starting on the Irish rugby team this weekend vs Italy. They might as well play in blue!
— Sean C Duke (@ScienceSpinning) February 25, 2021
You’d swear Leinster were european champions, 30 points ahead in the pro14 and had just win the world cup. 11/15 when the provinces have never been so evenly matched
— Oplgndbs (@finn_sisk1) February 25, 2021
From the 3 proud provinces of Ireland
— Philip O Reilly (@oreillyphilip) February 25, 2021
Leinster v Italy coming this weekend ?. Despite all advances in last twenty years in terms of being able to see every game from multiple angles, still seems like chances of international involvement much reduced if you don’t reside in the capital. https://t.co/0qELQZbW2h
— Ollie Crowe (@olliecrowe_ie) February 25, 2021
@leinsterrugby wear green now? Mad how Lowe and Gibson Park get rewarded for being at fault for conceding tries the last day out. Again, this coaching ticket proving beyond doubt that they're simply not up to it! #IrishRugby #sixnationsrugby https://t.co/2CwWSBqqmG
— Conor Counihan (@ConorCounihan) February 25, 2021
Looks like its Leinster against Italy this weekend. Such a lack of creativity in these selections. Screams of panic.
— simondo (@sidavidkelly) February 25, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
Lets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
10 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
10 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to comments