Pressure on Conor Murray to retain his position reaches its peak as Cooney-mania takes over
Ulster’s in-form halfback John Cooney continued his sensational season despite his side going down to Clermont 29-13 away in France.
The prolific try-scoring 9 bagged his ninth try of the season across the Pro14 and Champions Cup, getting Ulster off to a hot start when his opening try took the visitors out to a 10-3 lead.
It continues an emphatic purple patch of form for the 29-year-old just as incumbent Conor Murray struggles to re-gain the form that saw him considered the premier halfback in the world before his neck injury.
Murray hasn’t been poor but Cooney’s exploits have been irresistible leading to calls for the upstart halfback to made Ireland’s halfback during the Six Nations. Many Irish fans believe Cooney isn’t just the best 9 in Ireland, but the whole of Europe.
This rugby season is really showing how great John Cooney is … he is one of the best 9’s at the moment ??
— Cesca Dunne (@cesca_dunne_) January 11, 2020
John Cooney…Ireland’s Number 9, Ireland, Ireland’s Number 9 #suftum
— Ben Lambert (@benlambert514) January 11, 2020
John Cooney is literally the best player in Europe at the moment. Literally no argument to be had #SUFTUM #HeinekenChampionsCup
— Charlie Havelin (@CNHavelin) January 11, 2020
John Cooney is the best 9 in Europe #clevuls pic.twitter.com/tfPCFxhS94
— Shane Xavi O’Sullivan (@Sullyt1000) January 11, 2020
John Cooney has to start the 6 nations far and away the best SH in the country at the moment
— Neil Byrne (@neil_byrne) January 11, 2020
John Cooney > Conor Murray … Cooney has to be the starting 9 for the 6 nations this year!
— Stewart Smith (@Stew_Smith1) January 11, 2020
https://twitter.com/CianDonovan12/status/1215992811704791040
https://twitter.com/Mark1189Mark/status/1215988822577762304
Waters wet, grass is green, and John Cooney scores fucking tries
— Sam (@snichtweets) January 11, 2020
If Murray starts over Cooney we riot!!! Mans hot right now!!! #sixnations #HeinekenChampionsCup
— Liam Kearns (@Kearns1010) January 11, 2020
The fans aren’t the only ones to throw support behind Ulster’s halfback. Discussing Ireland’s squad on Off the Ball, Irish legend Brian O’Driscoll said it would be a ‘brave’ decision to leave out Cooney.
“Obviously the most talked about position is probably scrum-half. In some ways, it would be a brave call not to pick John Cooney because he’s been a stand-out performer in Europe,” he said.
O’Driscoll said Andy Farrell has to see past the tried-and-true Murray to select the form player which is Cooney.
“He knows the tried and tested through Lions tours and through huge success with Ireland what Conor Murray can deliver.
“But in reality, John Cooney is the form player that warrants selection.”
Joey Carbery to miss the entire Six Nations:
Comments on RugbyPass
AI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
25 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
25 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
45 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
58 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to comments