I don't think GAA or soccer people get annoyed by the "people's sport comment" We laugh it off as not true as we know our sports inside out and we're aware of our strengths and weaknesses as well as realities. Soccer people know the problems with the sport in this country and join the conversation to solve the issues; even with a sense of humour. What GAA and soccer don't like is the relentless rugby narrative to bash their sports whilst seeing nothing negative about rugby whilst trying to aggressively push rugby to be the national sport - we see the agenda, are comfortable with it as we know how traditional and entrenched our sports are in Ireland but we will stick up for our sports at the same time, comfortable in the fact GAA sports and soccer will be always be the top sports in Ireland.
I understand you debating the stats and facts on the Irish national team as this is common amongst Irish rugby people and media. But you can't argue against stats and facts. I'd like nothing more than an Irish national team to storm into a WC in form and reach a semi final or beyond.
sam1884 (UK) - Posts: 640 - 23/10/2020 09:13:02They clearly do based on the posts that were here, on other soccer and gaa forums, on social media like twitter.
There isnt any rugby narrative to bash gaa or soccer. Care to show links to this?
Who pushes rugby to be the "national sport". Whatever that means.
Gaelic football and soccer will probably always be the top sports in the country.
Even before this years WC the writing was the wall, the heavy defeat at Twickenham showed we were nowhere near the right level for a WC. From the last WC to that match we appeared to be well ahead of England and looked to the be the main contender from Europe. What happened that day showed England had been preparing for WC year; we also seen it in the 6 nations but the friendly defeat was shocking to some but not a shock; those who acknowledge
the facts on how countries work in cycles.
The problems; coaching, tactics etc weren't the problem when they arrived in Japan, Ireland stopped being contenders in Feb when their performances in the 6 nations showed opposing teams had stepped up a few levels. We were told Ireland had the best coach in the world prior to that.
Maybe Irish rugby has learnt as Farrell appears to have made some decisions on older players already (Kearney being one); yes older players could help win 1 or 2 six nations but won't be any use in 2023 so lets make the changes now and prepare - lets hope so.
Good luck to rugby, I can see you won't admit the problems with Irish rugby that is fair enough. The reason I mentioned them here is it's part of the Irish media to bash the GAA and soccer whilst not allowing any negativety about rugby with their ultimate agenda to make rugby number 1 in Ireland.
sam1884 (UK) - Posts: 640 - 23/10/2020 09:13:02The writing wasnt on the wall in 2019. To say Ireland werent preparing for the world cup is complete nonsense. Number of players capped, number of players used by Ireland was higher than before. We beat everyone including first away wins in SA, win over NZ.
Ireland were poor in 6Nations but they attempted to play different style of rugby and advance from previous year success. I will admit actual problems with irish rugby and not made up ones.

The women's team are not professional. They hold down jobs to make a living .They too are heading to Paris next week for a number of days. Given that RTÉ has been good enough to establish that GAA players could be subject to employer risk assessments it stands to reason that the women's rugby panel would also be subject to the same risk assessments. Should one of the ladies on that panel contract Covid in Paris every single member of the panel would be deemed a close contact. The trip to Paris is a risk for everyone involved on that ladies panel. In relation to rugby players not voicing misgivings about playing you missed the point I was making . Who amongst them is going to put their contract and therefore their employment at risk by voicing misgivings about playing or by refusing to play? They have families to feed, clothe and educate.
Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 5128 - 23/10/2020 10:30:05 There is plenty involved who are professional and can devote the time to play. and how do you know what the womens squad and IRFU have done to help prevent the squad from potentially contracting covid? And its squad not panel.

Georgia love their rugby but the Six Nations keep the door shut on them. Elitist sport.
Rolo2010 (Donegal) - Posts: 76 - 23/10/2020 10:54:11 Just because you love your sport doesnt mean you should be included in the top level. Loving the sport isnt good enough reason to add them to the top tier.

KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 1636 - 23/10/2020 12:10:22    2300465

sam1884 (UK) - Posts: 707 - 23/10/2020 12:39:59    2300474

There's a pro-rugby media. But who are the anti-GAA rugby journalists? Are they putting in comments like 'Great try from Sexto there. Really glad he stopped playing bogball to b become a rugger star, man!"? Where are these anti-GAA articles? If a GAA journalist posts a pro-GAA article is it also an anti-rugby or anti-soccer article? As for Ireland rugby team being world class at anytime : They were the best team in Europe a few times. Won a few games outside of big competitions against bigger names that helped the wirld ranking. Overcelebrated the win in Chicago. But New Zealand, England, South Africa and Australia go to World Cups believing they'll win it. Ireland go hoping to get to the semi final maybe and if they can avoid those 4 in the quarter finals. And that's after beating those 4 relatively soon before that. Big teams peak and do bit in big games. Ireland haven't done that enough to be classed as world class. Breezy isn't far wrong mentioning Mayo though. Like 'we'll get to the semis if we avoid Dublin or Kerry in the Super 8s' mentality. Rather than relishing the challenge from all teams.

There is hype around rugby and like it or loathe it hype is what sells jersies and puts bums on seats. You can say money makes money but the auld rugby marketing is effective. When we had a double header of Meath v Mayo and Kerry v Donegal in Croke Park it was a shame and a waste to have room for more than 20,000 supporters there. I often hear Leinster rugby plug games on the radio trying to get a few more quid in. A lot if GAA people play rugby and involved with rugby clubs too and the seasons dovetail well and players play rugby in the GAA off season. Contrary to popular belief every rugby player wasn't born with a silver spoon in his or her mouth. So I think there's money to be made and teams to be filled by not pitching one against the other in times where it's hard to get kids away from the PlayStation.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 5955 - 23/10/2020 12:47:38    2300477

Regarding the Irish media, well the Irish independent media group sponsor Munster rugby. They have a ground in Cork called Independent park. So it stands to reason they will back that game. Bank of Ireland, pour huge amounts into the game too, as does Guinness.
Allianz and Centra are big sponsors of the GAA. So GAA fans should back them imho. Lidl sponsor Ladies GAA too. Aldi are fairly big IRFU sponsors. The poor FAI have lost a lot of support and sponsors recently. With all the negative press, mainly from INM, they get.

galwayford (Galway) - Posts: 1927 - 23/10/2020 13:04:26    2300480

Is there any way to stop whatever Killingfields is doing that repost giant page loads of posts that are being replied to

Breezy (Limerick) - Posts: 1106 - 23/10/2020 13:04:59    2300481

Is there any way to stop whatever Killingfields is doing that repost giant page loads of posts that are being replied to

Breezy (Limerick) - Posts: 1008 - 23/10/2020 13:04:59 Im replying to multiple posts at the same time. You cant do that any way other than doing it the way i do as you cant multi quote on this site

KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 1636 - 23/10/2020 13:09:53    2300486

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 5955 - 23/10/2020 13:10:16    2300487

Good luck to rugby but you'll find the standard in Irish rugby will be the same in 2023 as it was in 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015 and 2019. Yes there might always be a few 6 nations championships in the intervening years and a few wins over nations like SA or NZ who are tired at the end of their season in "tests"; I call friendlies.

Until Ireland can back up their media frenzy campaign in a WC year then to me the sport is a marketing farce. Sadly nothing you say will change my mind; what will change my mind is Ireland backing up the hype when it really really matters beating teams who are at peak and not preparation/end of season mode - you can't deny the results/stats; most of the country caught onto rugby after the shocking 2019 performances from Feb right through to getting destroyed in Japan; not just by tier 1 nations either.

At least soccer commentators to be fair to them call it how it is; they aren't afraid to critique how bad we are. Rugby embarass us with their narrative of being amongst the world's best and is it any order the world laugh at us at every WC.
sam1884 (UK) - Posts: 641 - 23/10/2020 12:39:59There is countless examples of irish media being extremely realistic and critical of the irish and provincial teams. Just read brendan fanning any week and you will see ultra realism.
Saying the rugby games are friendlies is nonsense. They are only chance to play NZ or SA outside of a world cup. You may deem them friendlies but theyre hardly like pre season games and intensity, skill etc is as high as any 6 nations or world cup game. Yes Ireland do have to actually perform much better at world cups. I wont deny that but to just demean the sport as marketing farce is highly childish and immature. Saying the wins over NZ or SA away were because those sides were not prepared or anything else is just trolling.

There's a pro-rugby media. But who are the anti-GAA rugby journalists? Are they putting in comments like 'Great try from Sexto there. Really glad he stopped playing bogball to b become a rugger star, man!"? Where are these anti-GAA articles? If a GAA journalist posts a pro-GAA article is it also an anti-rugby or anti-soccer article? As for Ireland rugby team being world class at anytime : They were the best team in Europe a few times. Won a few games outside of big competitions against bigger names that helped the wirld ranking. Overcelebrated the win in Chicago. But New Zealand, England, South Africa and Australia go to World Cups believing they'll win it. Ireland go hoping to get to the semi final maybe and if they can avoid those 4 in the quarter finals. And that's after beating those 4 relatively soon before that. Big teams peak and do bit in big games. Ireland haven't done that enough to be classed as world class. Breezy isn't far wrong mentioning Mayo though. Like 'we'll get to the semis if we avoid Dublin or Kerry in the Super 8s' mentality. Rather than relishing the challenge from all teams.
There is hype around rugby and like it or loathe it hype is what sells jersies and puts bums on seats. You can say money makes money but the auld rugby marketing is effective. When we had a double header of Meath v Mayo and Kerry v Donegal in Croke Park it was a shame and a waste to have room for more than 20,000 supporters there. I often hear Leinster rugby plug games on the radio trying to get a few more quid in. A lot if GAA people play rugby and involved with rugby clubs too and the seasons dovetail well and players play rugby in the GAA off season. Contrary to popular belief every rugby player wasn't born with a silver spoon in his or her mouth. So I think there's money to be made and teams to be filled by not pitching one against the other in times where it's hard to get kids away from the PlayStation.
GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 5862 - 23/10/2020 12:47:38 Fair post greenandred.

Regarding the Irish media, well the Irish independent media group sponsor Munster rugby. They have a ground in Cork called Independent park. So it stands to reason they will back that game. Bank of Ireland, pour huge amounts into the game too, as does Guinness.
Allianz and Centra are big sponsors of the GAA. So GAA fans should back them imho. Lidl sponsor Ladies GAA too. Aldi are fairly big IRFU sponsors. The poor FAI have lost a lot of support and sponsors recently. With all the negative press, mainly from INM, they get.
galwayford (Galway) - Posts: 1893 - 23/10/2020 13:04:26 And irish independent are highly critical of Munster rugby.

KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 1636 - 23/10/2020 13:15:45    2300490

Breezy (Limerick) - Posts: 1106 - 23/10/2020 13:26:50    2300493

Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 5166 - 23/10/2020 13:37:24    2300501

SaffronDon (Antrim) - Posts: 2020 - 23/10/2020 13:38:18    2300503

sam1884 (UK) - Posts: 707 - 23/10/2020 13:41:07    2300505

Ok KillingFields it's squad not panel but you should be able to deduce what it is I'm talking about. I've already told you that only 6 players out of a squad of 38 women rugby players are professional. Despite what you may say it is a serious risk to send them to Paris in these times. Despite the best efforts of Munster Rugby and The IRFU the Munster men's squad has already experienced two outbreaks of Covid. According to RTÉ GAA players could be the subject of employer risk assessments. The overwhelming majority of the women's rugby panel could be the subject of them too. Paris is in lockdown and subject to a night time curfew. France has declared a state of emergency due to the fact that there are upwards of 30,000 new Covid cases a day.

Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 5166 - 23/10/2020 13:55:59    2300511

I respect your passion for rugby it's good to see people have such passion for their sport. I'm the same for my perferred sport. We're not going to agree which is also ok; we're all entitled to our opinion. Criticising rugby with well known facts though; not speculation isn't trolling; it's just the truth which sometimes people don't want to hear; I also understand that. Enjoy the rest of the rugby season :)
sam1884 (UK) - Posts: 642 - 23/10/2020 13:41:07where are the well known facts. apart from yet to really perform at a world cup you dont have any well known facts in your post...

KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 1636 - 23/10/2020 14:18:44    2300521

Ok KillingFields it's squad not panel but you should be able to deduce what it is I'm talking about. I've already told you that only 6 players out of a squad of 38 women rugby players are professional. Despite what you may say it is a serious risk to send them to Paris in these times. Despite the best efforts of Munster Rugby and The IRFU the Munster men's squad has already experienced two outbreaks of Covid. According to RTÉ GAA players could be the subject of employer risk assessments. The overwhelming majority of the women's rugby panel could be the subject of them too. Paris is in lockdown and subject to a night time curfew. France has declared a state of emergency due to the fact that there are upwards of 30,000 new Covid cases a day.

Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 5132 - 23/10/2020 13:55:59IRFU have policies in place and do you know more than IRFU head medics and everyone else. World Rugby, IRFU, 6 nations and the docs with each all deem it ok.
Munster covid outbreaks linked to students afaik and they are on their own chartered plane. Go to their hotel, training and the game itself. They will be in bubble so not an issue.

KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 1636 - 23/10/2020 14:27:59    2300526

This quoting here is ridiculous, it makes the content hard to read, I skip all those long quoted replies anyway.
RTE would rather promote cricket than GAA.

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 1076 - 23/10/2020 14:38:59    2300533

Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 5166 - 23/10/2020 14:40:01    2300534

sam1884 (UK) - Posts: 707 - 23/10/2020 15:02:38    2300543

It's the most significant fact of them all "Killingfields". The GAA has the pre season competitions, the national leagues but everything is geared towards the championship. The best teams tend to do well in the championship or at least get to the latter stages. The major rugby nations gear everything towards the WC; the best teams in the world do well at the WC or at least get to the latter stages at the one competition all teams are at the same level of preparation.

Facts are facts; the small percentage of rugby people in Ireland don't need convinced but the vast majority of Irish sportsfans like myself can see the facts and need convincing that Irish rugby is as strong and popular as the media tell us. My prediction is the soccer team will qualify for at least 1 WC before the rugby team get to a semi final at the rugby world cup. That's how far behind Irish rugby is in my opinion as the soccer are years from qualifying.
sam1884 (UK) - Posts: 643 - 23/10/2020 15:02:38 Irish Rugby is as strong and popular as its said
Numbers playing the game, watching the sport, all better than before.
Where is the proof "the vast majority of irish sportsfans" need to be convinced about the rugby team.

This quoting here is ridiculous, it makes the content hard to read, I skip all those long quoted replies anyway.
RTE would rather promote cricket than GAA.

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 928 - 23/10/2020 14:38:59 Whats wrong with quoting the posts you are responding to?
The post quoted is in bolded text. you cant multi quote(respond to more than one post at a time) without doing as i have done so wheres the issue?

I think the fact that of the nine major rugby playing nations who have yet to reach so much as a World Cup semi finals is a fairly salient fact. Steve Hanson's comments afternoon they thrashed us 46-14 told the truth. He spoke about the winning experience of his young players. But more importantly he spoke of the losing experiences at World Cups of our more senior players. There have been 9 World Cup competitions and Ireland have never won a single knock out game tomorrow n any of them . The World Cup is the pinnacle of world rugby. Our record is deeply disappointing.
Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 5134 - 23/10/2020 14:40:01 Saying there is only 9 major nations isnt true though. Yes we do have to show it more at a world cup. Our record at world cups is deeply disappointing but that doesnt excuse the petty childish attacks on rugby on this website.

KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 1636 - 23/10/2020 15:21:32    2300549

bloodyban (Limerick) - Posts: 1323 - 23/10/2020 15:21:43    2300550