The Anti-Rugby Football Thread

[TreatyStones]

@Bandage

My auld lad just told me “Sexton is afraid of his life of Bastareaud, the black from France.”

Did Eddie Breenan train under your auld lad?

[Mac]

@Fagan_ODowd

Wasps 51 -10 Leinster

I thought they had an academy that was the envy of Europe?

[Tim_Riggins]

It wasn’t the Academy who played today.

[Mac]

Would it have made a difference?

[Tim_Riggins]

A difference to what?

[Fagan_ODowd]

A difference to the hiding they got. What do you think he means?

[Tim_Riggins]

He brought up the Academy mate, the Leinster team that played last week was very different to the one who played today. The Academy commentary came after last week’s result. Like you last week he seems to have an issue the Leinster Academy being one of the best in the world. Additionally, like you he claims to not to be much of a rugby football fan but will be quick on a rugby football thread with a result or comment.

[Fagan_ODowd]

Stop the flim flam and answer the question.

[Tim_Riggins]

Do you speak for him?

[Fagan_ODowd]

I speak for all who want the question answered. Would it have made a difference?

[Tim_Riggins]

The Leinster team who played last week contained a number of 20/21/22/23 year olds. They put a lick on the defeated finalists in last year’s Aviva Premiership, a team which contained half the back line for England and one of the highest payrolls in world rugby.

The Leinster team today was filled with proven internationals and Lions who looked like they didn’t fancy getting injured before Ireland camp/

The original point was about the current Leinster Academy, it’s hard to know if young lads can make back to back performances against two teams with high payrolls and lots of internationals. They would have been more interested though certainly. Either way Leinster have lots and lots of competition for places now. Once the Six Nations finishes there’ll be more competition for places than ever, some of the 60+ cap players in that Leinster team aren’t comfortable with their Leinster places let alone their Irish ones right now and that’s a good thing for next year. It was at the end of the day, a dead rubber fixture for Leinster.

[Fagan_ODowd]

So would it have made a difference if they’d played all these academy chaps today?

[GeoffreyBoycott]

@Bandage

Maybe you or one of the rugby football aficionados could help with a query as follows:

Has the Irish national rugby football team ever won a decisive knock-out game in its history?

Not counting games in the annual spring invitational friendly round robin or group games that weren’t “do or die” in the world cup.

I think Ireland might have had to beat Georgia or Romania or someone to qualify for a world cup around a decade ago. Any other games?

You’re essentially asking a question about Ireland’s World Cup record. That subject was discussed to death in September and October. Five/Six Nations rugby and British Lions tours to the Antipodes always have and always will be far more important than the World Cup.

You’re a test cricket aficionado. The parallel is the World Cup in pyjamas as against the serious business of a test cricket series.

[Tim_Riggins]

I just gave you my answer, there must be some highlights from the games on Sky or BT right now for you to get stuck into Fagan.

[Fagan_ODowd]

You didn’t answer the question though.

[Tim_Riggins]

I did there Fagan, seeing as you are such an expert on European Rugby academies though, maybe you could give us some insight? The Wasps team who ran out today contained Brendan Macken, a cast off from the Leinster Academy. Wasps have a 3 year contract on the table for Marty Moore. They had 5 academy players in their side today.

[Fagan_ODowd]

This is hopeless.

[Tim_Riggins]

I gave you an answer Fagan, if you want to ignore it go ahead

Looking forward to your comments after you watch the Munster match tomorrow

[Fagan_ODowd]

I’ll probably watch the Stade match instead.

[Tim_Riggins]

Enjoy, looking forward to your rugby loving insight