1
'There were no cheap shots': Bruising training game versus Ulster has Ireland primed for Six Nations
We live in extraordinary times and rugby in Ireland provided an example last Sunday when Andy Farrell’s Six Nations charges went head-to-head in a ‘friendly’ against Dan McFarland’s Ulster in Dublin. Country versus province matches used to be frowned upon.
ADVERTISEMENT
It has, for instance, gone down in legend how the Ireland team picked by Warren Gatland for the World Cup in 1999 endured a torrid battle when they faced off against Munster prior to the finals 22 years ago.
Munster players were bulling at being left out of Gatland’s squad and they made sure they dished out a beating in front of a Cork attendance of 4,000, winning 26-19 and settling some selection scores. There were no prying eyes on the terraces at the IRFU HPC centre in Abbotstown last Sunday for the behind closed doors rendezvous.
However, rather than keep the Ireland players in cotton wool as would traditional be the case in the two-week lead-in to the start of the Six Nations, Farrell opted to let his squad go into the ring against McFarland’s Ulster in the hope that the head-to-head has helped then best tune-up for next Sunday’s Guinness Six Nations opener away to Wales.
Skipper Johnny Sexton wasn’t involved in the clash against an Ulster team that had a down week in the PRO14. The Ireland captain was instead wrapping up his rehab following a hamstring issue while playing for Leinster versus Munster on January 23.
1?? thing has really stood out for the ex-Ireland skipper under Faz #GuinnessSixNationshttps://t.co/wyGaV3CwYi
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 2, 2021
However, watching on from the sidelines, he liked what he saw from a team that now has Paul O’Connell on its coaching staff and he can’t wait to put some of the plays rehearsed against Ulster into action versus Wales. “It was a great hit-out,” he enthused despite it emerging on Tuesday that Caelan Doris and Quinn Roux were now out of the Ireland squad due to respective concussion and neck issues.
“I wasn’t involved in it. It was still the last stages of physio for me but the guys had a good hit out. We had two teams rotating in and out and so it was probably hard to get a bit of flow but in terms of being able to try and play some of the plays that we have prepared against live opposition that don’t know what is going on…
ADVERTISEMENT
“Often when we are training team against team, we know the plays we are throwing at each other so it is very hard for them to work and often you can get a bit anxious, do that play actually work? Whereas it was good to see against opposition that don’t know what is going on.
“We had a good hit out against them. They were brilliant. It was full-on but very respectful at the same time if you know what I mean. There were no cheap shots, there was no off the ball stuff. We have different levels of contact.
“Some guys have different interpretations of them but it was a great hit out and it was a good thing for us to go back and look at and learn some lessons so hopefully we don’t have to learn the same ones next week.”
Not everyone agreed with Andy Goode that Eddie Jones' England will bag back-to-back titles #GuinnessSixNations @TheRugbyPodhttps://t.co/7SrpmVvKRH
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 3, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
The game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
21 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets 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?
12 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.
10 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.
12 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
5 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.
25 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
5 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.
10 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…??? 🤑🤑🤑
37 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
37 Go to comments