Philip Conway

@Rugby_Scoop @Dunleavb Oh come on, if you genuinely can’t tell the difference then stop commenting on rugby, you don’t get it.

@Dunleavb So this should’ve been chalked off too, right?

#RugbyScoop | ITALY COMPLETELY ROBBED! There’s no way this is not a try. Hollie Davidson should overrule the TMO here based on the evidence of physics. The assistant referee is also in a good position to make the call.

@marnie2k @swenderix @IrishRugby @VodafoneIreland @canterburyNZ @SixNationsRugby *Gibson-Park

@swenderix @IrishRugby @VodafoneIreland @canterburyNZ @SixNationsRugby crowley got on and you started playing rugby lad

W in Dublin.

@CorkGourmetGuy @IrishRugby Dave, the chef from Cork, reckons he knows more about selecting a flyhalf than world player of the year, Jonny Sexton and Lions coach Andy Farrell. Tell us your credentials for this call!

Sam Prendergast starting is a fucking joke. Farrell is hoping that an Ireland win will cover up for the massive shortcomings in his game. He's already wasted one 6 Nations due to his obsession with Prendergast & is now prepared to waste another. Farrell needs to go @IrishRugby

@CiaronNoble98 @offfieldrugby I’m using Portugal as an extreme example. We are, but against a bigger side, you lose front foot ball and can’t show flair. Next week against Italy, you might see your flair again (tough after a demoralising loss)

@discoconway @offfieldrugby No disrespect to Portugal, but comparing them to ireland is a stretch. We’re a top tier nation. Also, my original point was that I enjoy watching that type of rugby as it showcases the sport in the best way. Nothing to do with Ireland as such.

From an Irish perspective, this is obviously a hard watch. But the way France play the game is the proper way it should be done. Heads up rugby, play what’s in front of you. None of this, predictable systematic approach.

@CiaronNoble98 @offfieldrugby Size enables flair. You need go forward ball. Portugal have flair. Show it against their peers. Then ship 100 points against Ireland (who show flair against Portugal)

@offfieldrugby @discoconway Can’t agree on the size comment. Flair isn’t about size. You either have it or you don’t

@offfieldrugby @CiaronNoble98 Except that Leinster have traditionally been top points scorers in URC and ERC for years. Ulster are top points scorers this year. So, they’re coached it. Eventually, you come up against a big size and can’t execute.

@CiaronNoble98 @discoconway Disagree Philip It’s how players are coached from a young age, and how they are brought up to play the game, which largely determines how they play and their skillsets as adults. French kids get coached to play like that. Irish kids learn structure and get told not to offload.

@CiaronNoble98 We have flair players, but at international level you need size to get you that chance. France have the size, we don’t. Against a South Africa, France suddenly don’t have the size and struggle.

@discoconway Very fair point. We don’t really produce those flair players, I wouldn’t say kids are being coached to embrace that side past school. But I’m just making the point that it’s a joy to watch and the way rugby should be played. In my opinion.

@HeTalksRugby “Let’s Talk Rugby,” please don’t. To present an argument of “refused” please name who he refused. Fourth choice LH? Other lads have been around the squad for a while.

This Ireland team look miles off it. France just too strong in every department. This in all honesty has been coming, Farrell refused time & time again to blood new caps into this ageing team, no surprise when he finally has to due to injury, they don’t look up to it.

@RaghallaighJ Unfortunately, you’ve posed the question wrong. In previous years, yes, Leinster were that good to deserve the disparity. Unfortunately, now, the other provinces are not good enough that Leinster deserve the disparity.

Leinster 2nd — 13 players Ulster 4th — 3 players Munster 5th — 5 players Connacht 12th — 2 players are Leinster really that good to deserve such a disparity in caps? i don’t think so

Scott Penny should be starting for Ireland next weekend - @jim_demps logic!

@FMC_Rugby Guy who dishes it out all game long gets it back? Hardly surprising! I mean, Pollock was still acting the prick while 50 points down! Were your rugby values giving out about him?

I know if anyone deserves the verbal it’s Pollock but is there really any need for LBB to scream in his face at this point? Call me a rugby values tosser but you’re 30 up at home and obviously winning, it’s a bit much

@T2Rugby Your question is flawed. Carberry, Leinster didn’t think he was a 10. Madigan and Byrne, Leinster were ready to let them go based on their ability. Sexton was at Racing, a team Carter had similar performance with. Says more about them. Plus, Russell delivered nothing.

Question: how come Leinster 10s never seem to be good abroad? Ian Madigan was main back up 10 for Ireland when he left for a big money move to Bordeaux in his prime age 27 in 2016. Yet he ended up just as back up to a Kiwi journeyman Simon Hickey and after one season got jettisoned to Bristol where he ended up just a back up to a young Callum Sheedy. Joey Carbery was once the heir to Sexton yet has made little impact at Bordeaux despite being in what should be his prime years and now being released at the end of the season. Their fans regularly bemoan the drop off whenever Jalibert is missing (in his most recent match Carbery got hauled off at 47 minutes). Ross Byrne was the main back up 10 for Ireland's greatest ever team in 2023. Again in what should be his prime years as a 10 at age 30 he is currently making little impact at Gloucester. Few would have him as one of the form 10s in the Prem and Austin Healey was urging them to give Charlie Atkinson a chance at 10 instead the other week (tbf unlike others on this list he has time to turn it around). Then of course even Johnny Sexton, despite being inarguably one of the greatest European 10s of the pro era who instrumental in Leinster & Ireland's greatest ever teams, yet failed to make an impact when he tried to make it in Top 14 (in contrast to other great modern European 10s like Finn Russell or Jonny Wilkinson). So in the last 12 years the leading Leinster/Ireland 10, and his main back up in the 2015, 2019, & 2023 World Cup teams have all tried moves abroad in close to pretty much the prime years of their career and all have been ineffectual poor value for money flops (the most successful Leinster bred 10 abroad is probably AJ MacGinty and he was actually a scrum half in the Leinster system and only switched to 10 after moving to USA). All these players were good and played roles in URC or Champions Cup successes so any idea why so little success and poor value for money when moving abroad? Does the Leinster system just produce 10s who are not very flexible and adaptable to different systems? Are they just not as good as thought and more of their success due to easier rides as part of a dominant Leinster team?

@ArthurLynch6 @offtheball Funny that in the year since Nucifora left the role, Ireland has never looked so vulnerable!

@offtheball That’s what has cost you European titles. Now there is a guy called David Humphries actually doing his job (unlike his predecessor) so Irish rugby should get stronger and this will be less of an issue for you.

🗣️ "Nobody is going to give us anything are they?" 🗣️ "Connacht will be just as motivated... huge amount of Leinster guys involved" Leinster head coach, Leo Cullen, talks about the challenges of rotation in the squad and former Leinster players spreading across the provinces. #Rugby on Off The Ball with @BankOfIreland | #NeverStopCompeting

@DropkickMangan He didn’t perform very poorly. Sure, a few mistakes but that’s to be expected.

@discoconway Yes. A rookie, in almost any professional sport, would get very harsh feedback if they performed really poorly… like, that’s a no brainer 😆

I am bias, but that Munster/Leinster game was very poorly reffed. Let it get out of control. Didn’t call many things. Then would call other things really late. Took a great game and vanquished all the life from it

@CorkGourmetGuy Now do Crowley!

All I hear when Doris talks to the ref is "Sir, Sir, some of the bold boys were smoking behind the bike sheds and when I told them to stop they used a bad word Sir" #MUNvLEI #SUAF

@jim_demps You’re right. Performing against the B team of the second from bottom premiership club definitely entitles an international call up! Your selection policy is impressive.

With the current injury list at fullback for Ireland Andy Farrell could do a lot worse than bringing in Iron Mike Haley. He’s literally always class. I mean Andy won’t, but he should. Doubt Farrell has even seen him play.

@scrumming_ten Love it, getting the ref complaints in before the game has even started! Saffer twitter rugby fans are ridiculous.

It will be interesting to see what tactics Rassie Erasmus deploys on Saturday night Ireland have a history of sealing-off at the breakdown and deliberately collapsing opposition mauls

@adammoursy @AlanCarthy27246 Both equally as ineffective but ROG did it until he retired. Don’t remember Munster fans worrying about it back then!

@AlanCarthy27246 O’Gara would’ve at least made himself a speed bump. Sam is like a ghost in defence

Prendergast shouldn’t be playing test rugby until he learns how to tackle. It’s comfortably his worst skill - I’m not sure I’ve ever seen anyone as bad at test level #IREvAUS