Maybe they just were never good enough?
Eh, Kev, youâre not allowed make that kind of a comment about Irish rugby players.
MacâS logic doesnât really make any sense, as usual. Despite clearly having no idea on how sport works, he does keep coming back for more.
[SIZE=13px][FONT=Verdana]Surprised to see no comment about Irelandâs fixture schedule for the 2015 World Cup. [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=13px][FONT=Verdana]France in Cardiff on October 11th is obviously the crucial match and the final one of the whole group phase. France will go into that final group match on the back of a 10 day break whereas Ireland will be coming off the back of playing [/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=13px][FONT=Verdana]Italy in Stratford a week earlier. [/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=13px][FONT=Verdana]Irelandâs fixture schedule will work against them in my view as the two toughest matches are last. That means whether Ireland win the group or not (and they wonât), the quarter-final will be the third match in a row where a supreme effort is needed. [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=13px][FONT=Verdana]This worked against Ireland in 2003 when the last two group matches were against Argentina and Australia and the players had to give everything. By the time of the quarter-final Ireland were a spent force and were fodder for France.[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=13px][FONT=Verdana]Itâs much more advantageous to have at least one of the tough matches early in the group in my opinion as it gives more recovery time.[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=13px][FONT=Verdana]If Ireland lose to France on the Sunday and finish second in the group, the quarter-final against New Zealand (who will have had an extra two days rest) will be the first quarter-final, with just six days recovery time. That could get ugly. [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=13px][FONT=Verdana]Even with a group win, a supreme effort will be needed for the third week in a row. Thatâs not the situation you want to be in as regards scheduling. [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=13px][FONT=Verdana]Italy will have really tested themselves against France on September 19th but will have a 15 day gap between the Ireland game on October 4th. Thatâs an advantage for them, I think. [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=13px][FONT=Verdana]Australia have a similar problem to Ireland as regards fixtures (albeit theyâll have one day extra rest). That wonât make a difference as far as actual qualification from the group is concerned but may prove a problem if they reach the quarter-finals. Wales and particularly England are better off in that regard.[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=13px][FONT=Verdana]It augurs well for a home victory. [/FONT][/SIZE]
Weâll have an astute coach getting the best out of the team by then Sidney, weâll beat France, France will then pull a France and beat New Zealand (which we will never have a chance of doing) and it will have been the best rugby World Cup ever -incredible scenes.
Ireland will win the group and lose the quarter-final to Argentina. France will then advance to the final against England, where they will lose 6-5 with Owen Farrell turning in a Man of the Match performance, and Mike Catt making a fairytale return as the game-closing substitute.
That sounds about right alright. Would wilkinson not return to kick the winning drop goal? He has the temperament. You canât buy his kind of experience you know.
Greatest rugby player of all-time.
The World Cup needs johnny wilkinson.
England needs Jonny Wilkinson, Britain needs Jonny Wilkinson, the world needs Jonny Wilkinson. A thoroughly alright sort.
You just donât get it Kev
Geordan Murphy is retiring from rugby at the end of the season. Leaves with a decent haul of medals with Leicester, should have had more Irish caps, but the injury against France in the WC warm up knocked him back a lot and the missed tackle v France was never forgiven by Eddie.
Put up the video of Wilkinson getting knocked out by some big cunt.
Whatâs this now?
Some class rugby skill, i.e. a fat cunt ran at him and flattened him.
Just carried out a quick google :o
Heâs like one of those fellas that jumped up on your car in Super MarioKart and youâd hammer L1 and R2 to make them bounce off 
Supposedly returning to his first love Gaelic football now that his rugby career is over
Thatâs called doing âgo-forward ballâ.
Howlett retiredâŚ
How much did he earn while here? His wife told me he planned to stay on another year earlier in the year, but I guess he just couldnât put up with the bandwagon any more.