Summer Tour to New Zealand and Australia

I see what youā€™re doing - making up facts to suit your own argument. Youā€™ve been reading Kevā€™s posts for too long sid

Yes, I did. Relevant posts quoted on the Heineken Cup thread. You are wrong and you donā€™t have any rugby football knowledge other than seemingly repeating soundbites you hear from other people, usually mixing up the message and making flawed conclusions.

You canā€™t make up facts. A fact is a fact. Anyway, you are trying to detract from what is a fine achievement for a team and a coach who have been written off more times than I care to recall. Irish begrudgery at itā€™s finest.

England are now genuine World Cup contenders. In rugby. Take discussion of the other sport to the other thread.

Kev makes up facts - and theyā€™re not facts.

England played well against what was an under performing Australia team. Credit Johnson for the way they played and heā€™s bought himself more time but they wonā€™t be winning any world cup with the likes of Mike Tindall playing at 12.

England have already won a World Cup with Mike Tindall at 12.

Correct, and they wonā€™t be winning any more with him there

You might almost say that Kev is a spoofer

Autumn in Ireland - August, September, October.

Good bit from December. You were also talking about getting Tommy Bowe in for Leinster, you were not talking about Shaggy being finished for the Ireland ā€œBā€ team.

Please apologise when you get a minuteā€¦

Iā€™m obviously talking about Shaggy, BOD, Dā€™Arcy. Iā€™m not saying ā€œDrop them nowā€!!! But iā€™m just wondering out loud is thats what happening. Iā€™m not slagging anyone off, it could be an unfortunate set of circumstances. Less so in Munster where i believe both long term props play way too much.

Have to give it to you there larry, he was impressive, ran good lines, tackled well. Never will be totally convinced how important a kicker at 12 is, but i think he should start next week. Heā€™ll still get run over Larry, but like ROG its something we have to deal with.

ā€˜Start of the seasonā€™ you said. Autumn internationals are played in November - itā€™s much of a muchness; I was referring to the Heineken Cup games pre Christmas and the period when he was being lauded, despite those of us with an actual knowledge of the game being aware that he was actually struggling quite badly. Boweā€™s mention was in the context of replacing Horgan. I look forward to you backing down with grace rather than trying to ā€˜winā€™ an internet battle that youā€™ve been proven to have been incorrect about.

Magnificent win for Johnnon & this fine body of Englishmen in Sydney this morning. As has been identified, England with their World Cup winning nous will be a real threat for the World Cup in the old colony of New Zealand.

30 isnā€™t all that old for a tighthead relatively speakingā€¦He seems to be our only option to be honest as Hayes just isnā€™t up to it anymore, Court seems more comfortable at loose and Mike Ross seems to be struggling for form at Leinster and isnā€™t making much of an impressionā€¦Buckley will have to get the nod for the Autumn internationals and the six nations as he needs big game experience at this level, as does Sextonā€¦the more betterā€¦Whether Mushie is good enough or not is another question, i have a feeling the answer is the latter

Nah heā€™s not. A man his size should be shoving other lads around but he seems too timid or something. His scrummaging technique leaves a lot to be desired Iā€™m told. They should handpick a bunch of Academy lads from all 4 provinces and send them off to play in Argentina and South Africa for a year or two like Cian Healy did. He still has a lot to learn but heā€™s the only decent prop we have under the age of 30 which is very fookin worrying!

Iā€™d agree with that puke. He probably isnā€™t up to it but weā€™ve run out of time for uncovering anyone else and Hayes is finished so itā€™s time to change it.

I would have serious time for Darragh Hurley and he looks to have a decent bit of potential but he keeping picking up injuriesā€¦Something needs to be done alright Mac, in fairness to Brent Pope he made a valid point that a player like Sean Oā€™Brein would be a front row forward if he was from South Africa or New Zealandā€¦

Whatever happened Peter Bracken, he seemed to just disappear aftr winning a HC with Wasps

As a prop I always find it funny to hear non ABC members talking about scrummaging technique etc. Bit like me trying to give my tuppence worth on running lines from backs

I remember Pope saying that alright.

Did Bracken have a pop at Eddie Oā€™Sullivan in a paper or something? Seem to remember some article with him blasting Oā€™Sullivan for never picking UK based players. Where is Bracken now?

No heā€™s not, Daragh Hurley is a super prospect. Has been training for last 4 months so hopefully is over the injuries. He played for Munster in 2008 but then had a horrific back injury which nearly ended his career, He is top notch. Heā€™s about 25. There are others as well, its just the gap in age is quite big. 30 is far from too old, but unfortunately his scrummaging is unlikely ever to improve that much due to his height. Heā€™s not really built for it by all accounts.

He regulary blows guys out of the way, so iā€™m not sure what games youā€™ve been watching.

Yeah I always laugh at lads talking about technique cos its something I know fuck all about. Embarrassing that Rocko was beating on a run up Mt. Fingal by a prop forward and he supposed to be a running back.

I agree with Mac in that I think our young props need to go to the southern hemisphere to learn how to push harder.