A nice little pat on the head there.
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All we need now is a best supporters award…very surprised to see Furlong there, I thought he was very average any time I saw him compared to previous years.
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The fella with the green mankini should get one
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It drives lads mental the six nations is a bigger competition than the World Cup.
More…
….anyone wanna finish this one for me?
Pieter Steph Du Toit has been blaggarded here.
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Yeah sure he was injured for a fair chunk of the 6 Nations. Finlay Bealham started the France game iirc.
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Pat Spillane: Rugby pundits are just cheerleaders – this World Cup was another failure for Ireland
No holding back over Rugby World Cup near miss
Pat Spillane
October 30 2023 05:23 PM
Now that the dust has settled on Ireland’s exit from the Rugby World Cup, I want to reflect not just on the team’s failure, yet again, to advance past the last eight, but also on how their exit was treated by the Irish media.
The coverage left a lot to be desired. I’m more convinced than ever that rugby commentators and analysts are just like their horse racing counterparts. They are cheerleaders for their sport.
Here is my unbiased analysis of how Ireland performed at the World Cup.
For starters, let’s call a spade a spade. At most there are six, maybe seven, world-class rugby nations.
Yet the stark reality is that Ireland have failed in every World Cup tournament since the inaugural one in 1987 to get past the quarter-finals. It is a terrible record.
Ireland might have achieved notable wins in the autumn series and beat New Zealand in a Test series down there last summer – but those games, like the 2016 fixture in Chicago in which Ireland also beat the All Blacks, are glorified challenge matches.
The World Cup is the real deal and Ireland, despite being the number one ranked team on the planet, fell again at the quarter-finals. In anybody’s language, this outcome must be classified as a failure.
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Unfortunately, none of the rugby commentators want to dwell on this failure.
Instead they extol the merits of morale victories, gallant defeats and, of course, never fail to applaud the all-singing, all-dancing Irish supporters.
By the same token, hats off to the IRFU on maximising their commercial income from the tournament while promoting their star players at every opportunity.
No wonder the majority of Irish teenagers list rugby players like Johnny Sexton, Bundee Aki or Peter O’Mahony as their role models. They see and hear them on television.
Meanwhile, outside Dublin, I doubt if too many 12 to 17 year olds would recognise the three most decorated footballers of all times – Stephen Cluxton, Mick Fitzsimons and James McCarthy. And they certainly wouldn’t recognise their voices.
Is there any chance of GAA stars becoming more accessible any time soon? Frankly, I doubt it, which is a great shame.
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Pat speaks a lot of sense there, particularly his dig at the horsey set. Rubby has a lot of problems but it’s still miles off the type of weirdos creaming themselves over Gordon Elliot.
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Nobody wants to see Clucko on television, least of all Clucko.
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‘Glorified challenge matches’
He had to go and say it didn’t he.
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Furlong & Doris? 
GTs team of the tournament is pretty balanced I have to say…but then he gives a pat on the head to the supporters and I’m lost as to his point about sledging but it’s basically bad when the all blacks do it, hilarious when a green jersey does it?
Gerry Thornley’s Rugby World Cup team of the tournament
Best try, highs and lows and the most memorable quotes from France 2023
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The Webb Ellis Cup is lifted by South Africa’s flanker and captain Siya Kolisi as he celebrates winning the Rugby World Cup final against New Zealand. Photograph: Franck Fife/AFP via Getty Images
Tue Oct 31 2023 - 06:00
15 - Hugo Keenan (Ireland)
Hugo Keenan played every minute of Ireland’s Rugby World Cup campaign. Photograph: Billy Stickland/Inpho
As safe as houses, as usual, Keenan played every minute of Ireland’s five games, making 59 carries and five clean line breaks, as well as scoring three tries. He hardly ever makes a mistake and his positional play, ground coverage, fitness and work-rate are exceptional. Might Ireland be getting even more from him?
14 - Will Jordan (New Zealand)
Will Jordan of New Zealand equalled the Rugby World Cup record of tries scored at a single tournament. Photograph: Billy Stickland/Inpho
Jordan and Damian Penaud both were at the upper end of the try-scoring charts, with eight and six, and made the most breaks, 12 by the Kiwi and 13 by the French winger. Admittedly, their tallies were inflated by dipping their bread against Namibia, a woeful Italy, and Uruguay, who were more competitive. Nor did did Penaud rise to the occasion in the quarters or Jordan in the final, but the latter’s tally did equal the World Cup record. He would have broken it if Richie Mo’unga opted to pass to him in space against Argentina.
13 - Waisea Nayacalevu (Fiji)
Fiji’s Waisea Nayacalevu celebrates during his side’s quarter-final against England. Photograph: Mike Egerton/PA Wire.
An exceptionally natural and gifted player, who has ploughed a brilliant long furrow in the French club game, the Fijian captain beat people up for fun, was a potent runner and epitomised everything brilliant about the flying Fijians.
12 - Bundee Aki (Ireland)
Ireland’s Bundee Aki on route to scoring a try against New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals. Photograph: Dan Sheridan/Inpho
At 33 and in the form of his life. If Ireland had beaten the All Blacks he could well have been player of the tournament. Only Ardie Savea (82) made more carries in more matches played than Aki’s 81. Played every minute of Ireland’s five games and didn’t do him any harm, only Penaud and Jordan had more than Aki’s ten clean breaks and five tries.
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The Counter Ruck: the rugby newsletter from The Irish Times
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11 - Cheslin Kolbe (South Africa)
Cheslin Kolbe of South Africa celebrates with the The Webb Ellis Cup following the Rugby World Cup final. Photograph: Dan Mullan/Getty Images
Didn’t scale the heights of four years ago yet still scored crucial tries against Ireland and France, and made several more key interventions, especially in defence, if not always legal. Why doesn’t rugby look closer at highly questionable charge downs? Finished the final with his head buried under a towel in the sin-bin, but his one-handed knockdown may actually have won the Boks the final.
10 - Richie Mo’unga (New Zealand)
New Zealand outhalf Richie Mo’unga was a key member of their deadly attack throughout the Rugby World Cup. Photograph: Miguel Medina/AFP via Getty Images
He’s always been a classy performer but along with Aaron Smith and Ardie Savea, Mo’unga became one of the All Blacks’ cornerstones. Sliced and diced a few midfields too, not least Ireland’s, and his creation of Smith’s overruled try in the final would have been one of the all-time final plays. Mention too for Owen Farrell, the tournament’s leading points scorer, as well as the others of the Six Nations olde guard, Dan Biggar and, of course, Johnny Sexton.
9 - Aaron Smith (New Zealand)
Aaron Smith played his last game for the All Blacks during Saturday’s Rugby World Cup final defeat to South Africa. Photograph: Hannah Peters/Getty Images
One could certainly make a case for Antoine Dupont as the best player in the world, albeit he had a quieter game in the opening win over New Zealand than when pulling the strings against South Africa. But Smith’s speed to the breakdown and laser-like passes were as sharp as ever, and he was unluckily denied a fifth tournament try in the final.
1 - Ox Nche (South Africa)
Ox Nche (right) had his biggest impact in the scrum as part of South Africa’s bomb squad replacements. Photograph: Billy Stickland/Inpho
By rights, Andrew Porter would be in this team but for Wayne Barnes’ scrum interpretations. He started all five Irish games and his 287 minutes was more than Nche’s output (251) over the South African’s seven games, five of them off the bench. But there’s no doubt his scrum work was the most telling contribution of any loosehead, even if Nepo Laulala kept him quiet in the final.
2 - Peato Mauvaka (France)
France hooker Peato Mauvaka celebrates scoring a try against South Africa in the Rugby World Cup quarter-final. Photograph: Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP via Getty Images
Julien Marchand’s injury would have damaged most teams but Mauvaka’s electric performances - footwork, acceleration, strength and five clean line breaks - made light of it. The balding, bearded Portuguese hooker Mike Tadjer was one of the outstanding figures of the World Cup, and that amazing kick clearance against Fiji was one of the moments if the tournament.
3 - Frans Malherbe (South Africa)
South Africa’s Frans Malherbe was among the top tacklers of his side’s Rugby World Cup final victory. Photograph: Mike Egerton/PA Wire.
An impact replacement in their Tokyo triumph, four years on Malherbe was the rock in the South Africa scrum, starting five of his six appearances and playing a total of 321 minutes. Probably doesn’t get the respect he deserves. Malherbe made 15 tackles in his 66 minutes in the final, a tally bettered only by three teammates.
4 - RG Snyman (South Africa)
South Africa’s RG Snyman celebrates with his wife Saskia after winning the Rugby World Cup final. Photograph: Dan Sheridan/Inpho
The Bomb Squad had such a telling effect on this World Cup that it didn’t seem unreasonable to include two of them. Every time he came on, you knew that with his explosiveness and his octopus-like offloading, he would make a huge impact. Whatever Eben Etzebeth and Franco Mostert were doing, Snyman had to come on. Stay fit RG. Touch wood.
5 - Theo McFarland (Samoa)
Samoa’s lock Theo McFarland claims a lineout during his side’s clash with England. Photograph: Sameer Al-Doumy / AFP via Getty Images
Carried on his form in the warm-up against Ireland when he almost single-handled ate into the Irish lineout, doing more of the same in Samoa’s pool games and was inventively used as an effective target for cross kicks.
6 - Pieter-Steph du Toit (South Africa)
South Africa’s Pieter-Steph du Toit was named man of the match during the Rugby World Cup final. Photograph: Dan Sheridan/Inpho
Included due to his stunning performance in the final when making that astonishing haul of 28 tackles. Jordie Barrett will have visions of the flanker looming into view as he’s about to move the ball for many, many moons to come. Typified their match-winning mentality too. Manuel Ardao was the stand-out player for an Uruguayan team which was great value.
7 - Ben Earl (England)
Ben Earl was far and away England’s standout player during the Rugby World Cup. Photograph: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
Strictly speaking, Earl was the answer to England’s prayers as a ball-carrying number eight given the off-colour Billy Vunipola was their only specialist in that position. Earl played in every game, starting all but the 71-0 win over Chile, and along with carrying for 64 metres, his seven clean breaks were the most of any forward in the tournament.
8 - Ardie Savea (New Zealand)
Ardie Savea was named World Rugby men’s player of the year on Sunday. Photograph: Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP via Getty Images
As ever, one of the strongest positions, with Earl, Gregory Alldritt, Caelan Doris among the competition, but Savea went to new levels of darkness and brilliance in dragging the All Blacks up field continuously, especially in the final. Just never stopped showing up. His 82 carries were the tournament’s highest, and he scored three tries and had eight offloads.
Try of the tournament: Bundee Aki (Ireland) v New Zealand, quarter-finals
In the 27th minute of the game, Ireland were trailing 13-3 and in need of inspiration. They began to build phases, Dan Sheehan showing his footwork after Mack Hansen linked with him, and a few phases later James Lowe stepped infield to feed Aki. Gathering the high ball there seemed little on, until the Irish centre beat Rieko Ioane and Shannon Frizell with his footwork and fended Ardie Savea for a stunning score.
Tournament High
Viewed through the prism of green-tinted glasses for sure, but it has to be the estimated 50-60,000 Irish supporters singing Zombie in the immediate aftermath of the wins over Scotland and South Africa in the Stade de France.
Such was the fervour with which The Fields of Athenry was sung at one point during the latter match that some Springboks supporters actually responded with applause.
For such a small island where rugby is the fourth most popular team sport, it was remarkable that Ireland were the best supported away team in France 2023. Matches were akin to home games, and the colour, chanting, singing and sheer energy they brought to those games was off the charts.
[ How did the anti-IRA Zombie by The Cranberries become an Irish rugby anthem? ]
Maybe you had to be there not to be one of the begrudgers, and the world service feed said it best when they said nothing at all, ie by deciding to stop talking and let the celebrations speak for themselves for a minute or so.
There’s never been anything quite like it at Irish games abroad.
Rieko Ioane of New Zealand celebrates victory at full-time following his side’s victory over Ireland at the Rugby World Cup. Photograph: Hannah Peters/Getty Images
Tournament Low
On-field animation/celebrating and sledging have, alas, become an increasingly staple part of rugby’s diet, and in the heat of the moment, probably every team is guilty of it, with Ireland no exception. But Owen Farrell would have been forgiven for headbutting Willie le Roux when the South Africa fullback sprinted into his face after the semi-final full-time whistle.
As disrespectful was Reiko Ioane cupping his fingers at the Irish crowd when the final whistle went after the titanic quarter-final against the All Blacks. Worse, and more disrespectful, was Ioane saying to Sexton as the two teams shook hands something along the lines of enjoy the flight home.
The All Blacks can be a bit sanctimonious about their high standards on and off the pitch, and the New Zealand Rugby Union even has a policy of ‘no dickheads’, which seemed all the more hypocritical in those moments.
Quotes of the tournament
“I am very powerful but I do not yet control the weather. It is a bit above my pay grade.” – Argentina head coach Michael Cheika on whether he wanted rain for their semi-final.
“He’s got real BMT [big-match temperament], a big set of nuts on him and plays pressure situations really well.” – Ulster-bound South Africa prop Steven Kitshoff on Handré Pollard after his match-winning penalty two minutes from the end of their semi-final win over England.
“When you are actually out on the field it is pretty normal, it’s just rugby, man. Once you are in the cathedral you just get going and trust your process. The trust the guys have in myself and the trust I have in them…if you miss it, it’s not the end of the world for us, we don’t see it that way.” – Handré Pollard after returning from injury and extending his run of successful kicks in the knockout stages to nine (a couple of them from 50 metres).
“For me now, it will be remembered as a nice place to kick. Not all stadiums are like that unfortunately. I will have fond memories of this place for sure.” – Pollard again, who has landed his last 18 kicks at the Stade de France dating back to 2017.
“Sport can be cruel sometimes, I guess that’s why we love it.” – Ireland head coach Andy Farrell after their epic quarter-final defeat by New Zealand.
“We didn’t die wondering.” – New Zealand scrumhalf Aaron Smith after their 12-11 defeat in the final by South Africa when playing over an hour with 14 men
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David Clifford was a failure in the All-Ireland final - he was smoked by Mick Fitz - but Pat Spillane extolled the virtues of him getting possession of the ball in order to kick it wide as a fucking gate.
In anybody’s language, David Clifford failed. But Pat will never fail to applaud his all-singing, all-dancing dribbles past pub players with four bellies hanging off them, in glorified parish sports days.
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Such was the fervour with which The Fields of Athenry was sung at one point during the latter match that some Springboks supporters actually responded with applause.
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Fuck you have to love how a whole country is stepping in on Rassies behalf to troll a sporting world.
RASSIE
RASSIE
RASSIE!!