Despised as he is around these parts, I get the feeling with his omission above, we may have seen the last of DOC in an Ireland shirt. Perhaps an understrengh Irish side on the Summer tour may require him, but that will be that more than likely. He acted the gobshite far too much off the field for a lot of peoples liking with his “joker” routine but he could have been up to a lot worse I suppose. He never stood up to be counted enough when POC was around, but he was a great foil to O Connell and was a good servant over the years.
Sexton now out, torn tendon in his foot. Jackson starts, Madigan to the bench.
[FONT=arial][SIZE=13px]Last night on the Late Late Show we heard Joe Brolly speak about his decision to donate a kidney. Today it may be the Irish rugby team who do so. [/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=arial][SIZE=13px]It’s been an annus horribilis for Hibernia. A campaign that promised so much and delivered so little reaches its final chapter in Rome. [/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=arial][SIZE=13px]Ireland have been in conclave all week ahead of today’s clash at the Stadio Olimpico. Coach Declan Kidney is serving a sort of purgatory at the moment. The job seems like a poisoned chalice. Crucified by the media after the defeats to England and Scotland, the coach’s tenure is at the dialysis stage and only a thumping win is likely to be enough to altar the seemingly unstoppable drive to get rid of him. Will Nero fiddle enough with the game plan to stop him from burning in Rome? Much will depend on the reaction from the Pope-Francis duo in the Irish media. Whatever happens, this is coach’s Hail Mary play. A defeat today will certainly mean that white smoke will be emerging from IRFU Towers in the near future.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[SIZE=13px][FONT=arial]Appropriately enough in the home of the Catholic Church, there will be no Sex, with the out-half again ruled out through injury. After a much-improved display against the Gauls, his young replacement has a chance to make this a true Paddy’s Day weekend celebration and make sure that home rule is not Rome rule. But he’s being thrown into the lion’s den at the coliseum that is the Stadio Olimpico.[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=13px][FONT=arial]Speaking of the Loins, this is a final chance for several Irish to get a pizza the action ahead of the summer’s Empire tour to Australia. Our leader, Jamie Heaslip put himself back into contention last Saturday. The “Kearnivore” needs to make mince meat of some Italians this afternoon if he’s to give himself a chance. Rory must prove he’s simply the Best hooker in Rome.[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=13px][FONT=arial]If today may see the end of Kidney, it’s likely that it will also see the end of Irish rugby’s spiritual leader. We thought that BOD would go on forever, but ironically his career is likely to end in the Eternal City. But the memories he has given us will no doubt be eternal. [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=13px][FONT=arial]We’ve seen a lot of firsts in Rome lately. The first non-European Pope. The first Jesuit Pope. The first Pope to resign since 1415. 1415 today is not long away and we must hope that there will not be another first in the form of Ireland’s first defeat in Rome in the Six Nations, in our first game at the Stadio Olimpico since Packie Bonner parried the ball into the path of Toto Schillaci. It was a moral victory that night. There will be no moral victory today. We must sack Rome. [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=13px][FONT=arial]Say a little prayer to BOD for the right result.[/FONT][/SIZE]
Sexton making sure to mind himself for the job in France.
Irelands call… 
fuckin hell.
The British Loins tour is far more important.
That rendition of ireland’s call personifies rugby football
Good to see the stadium full for once seeing as nobody turns up for Serie A matches there these days.
Sidney how many Italians can we smuggle into the Loins squad?
Oh Brian… :o
O’driscoll sent to the naughty step.
We had to bail them out during the war. None.
the fucken big dozy roid head up on yer man Archer
Rugby football:D:pint:
Rocko: do we have a coffin smiley?
Low lie…
If France win by 16 Ireland get the wooden spoon right?
Allez les blues!
Italy scored 22 points and the Jackson 5 (penalties) wasn’t enough for Ireland to beat it.
would the practice of Rugby Football be popular in Italy Bomber?
That Italian side looked like a bit of a pub team with a few expats thrown in for the ride