The Rugby Thread (Part 1)

13 points bandage…i would be very confident that we will get within it

Jaysus, ye clare lads never forgot yere tradition…praying for a rainy day when superior opposition are in town.

Puke

I’d be surprised if they don’t finish 20 ahead of us, I think you’re being overly optimistic, nothing like fighting talk from the irish to raise the hackles of the ABs.
I think they’ll open a serious can of whoop on us

WBY

Vincent Hogan rather than Declan Kidney will take the blame if we get hammered.

wha the fook?

yeah,what the fook bandage?

We = Ireland

Ireland?

Kidney wont shirk the blame if we get beat

Im a little nervous to be honest. If it was a competitive game, I would have no doubt that New Zealand would hammer them.

But a friendly is a different matter altogether.

I take NZ to win but Ireland may stay within the handicap

[quote=“W.B. Yeats”]Puke

I’d be surprised if they don’t finish 20 ahead of us, I think you’re being overly optimistic, nothing like fighting talk from the irish to raise the hackles of the ABs.
I think they’ll open a serious can of whoop on us

WBY[/quote]

Hope your wrong WBY but I was looking at the last few AB teams who beat us last night and my initial impression is that this team was maybe slioghtly weaker than normal, unfortunately I was probably wrong.

This is a strong team we are facing.

Might just be my blind faith in Kidney, Im dure he will have something up his sleeve!

Also I heard on the radio through a bit of a fog this morning that Doug Howlett is going to respond to the Haka tuesday night with a haka of his own? Anyone else here this or is it bull? Not sure I think its a good idea, but it would be a great spectacle alright

From the IT, nothing story I think

RUGBY DIGEST: HOW SHOULD a team face the haka? Clive Woodward clearly got it wrong. The Australians have ignored it in the past to purposely enrage them.

Ali Williams told us earlier this week that staring them down merely ignites their anger. The Willie Anderson tactic back in 1989 was entertaining but the Irish pack paid a hefty price.

An Adidas gig in Westmanstown yesterday gathered a gaggle of GAA stars, some All Blacks and some Munster players set to face a New Zealand XV at Thomond Park next Tuesday.

Doug Howlett being the main attraction. The record try scorer for New Zealand is in a strange position this week but on the haka subject he left it open for the three Kiwi’s Rua Tipoki, Lifeimi Mafi and himself to face the haka with a haka.

Would this not be an insult? "No, it wouldn’t.

"It will be an interesting one. I’ve performed it many a time (in 56 Tests) but never been in front of it. I might have to consult our resident Maori Rua Tipoki and come up with the correct response.

“It depends how you have been brought up and your understanding of the Maori culture and haka really. Back home it is not uncommon to haka back, probably the correct response. Teams have faced us in a line, other teams carry on with their warm up Again, it is personal to the team.”

Is it an insult to ignore? “The way the haka is for us now, the All Blacks, it’s done for personal reasons. That takes away the confrontational element with the opposition.”

There are other matters to attend to before the tourist decamp to Limerick. We asked Howlett if this Ireland team can finally end the 21-game losing run.

“I think it will be a tough game, actually. I feel the All Blacks will come out on top but they will have to work on the result.”

And what about team-mates Keith Earls and Toms O’Leary, two players he has seen first hand mature into Test players.

“Keith always had that ability to spot a gap and take it. He has come on in leaps and bounds. It’s good to see him in the framework because I feel what Irish rugby needs is a game breaker. Someone like Keith and Luke Fitzgerald and Rob Kearney. They’ve got three good players coming through. Declan (Kidney) has obviously backed Toms. He is a competitive little man and he certainly will die wondering come Saturday.”

[quote=“dancarter”]
Also I heard on the radio through a bit of a fog this morning that Doug Howlett is going to respond to the Haka tuesday night with a haka of his own? Anyone else here this or is it bull? Not sure I think its a good idea, but it would be a great spectacle alright[/quote]

It would be a great spectacle and I don’t think the All Blacks should have a problem with it after Howlett service to his country down through the years.

ya would be class, howlett tipoki and mafi as well dont forget!

I think the plan is silence for the haka and as soon as its finished appluase and respond with TFOA, shite song but the place will be rocking no doubt

[quote=“dancarter”]ya would be class, howlett tipoki and mafi as well dont forget!

I think the plan is silence for the haka and as soon as its finished appluase and respond with TFOA, shite song but the place will be rocking no doubt[/quote]

Are you going Dan? It’s an awful shame that it’s on a School night

Presume the midweek game is being televised live? Is it clashing with the football friendly?

its on RTE, tues night, think the football is Wedn no?

Was tellin gpuke last night, no sniff of tickets for weeks, months even.

Got offered one last night, but I have a lof of appointments made for tue & wedn in work. Trying to reschedule but not sure its happening for me.

Gutted, I was grand until the chance of going was dangled in front of me

Can’t Bandage fill in for you in work? I’m sure he’ll be compliant if you ask nicely.

On the International, i was confident for last few weeks, but looking at the NZ team is a bit scary. Don’t think Dempsey is the right call, you need game breakers to have any chance, he certainly isn’t that. But i also feel the NZ preperation has been so much better, Canada was a farce for Ireland. We’d be better playing Argentina (win or loose) first as it turns out.