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Replying To Galway9801:  "Casual rugby fan here but are we not getting a bit too hung up on this New Zealand thing, a great rugby nation but just one nation none the less?

I couldn't give a damn if for example the Irish soccer team beat Brazil in a "test" game if they didn't back it up with winning a tournament soon after."
People who admittedly dont support/follow rugby that much are very dismissive of rugby calling these games "tests". why do you get so wound up by it?
New Zealand are the bench mark. this was a first test series defeat at home for them in around 30 years or so.
Ireland became only fifth team to defeat the All Blacks down there in a Test series and the first to do so in the professional era.
Hopefully we do build on this as we will have to beat New Zealand or France(in a french hosted world cup) in a world cup quarter final
Rugby treats these games far more serious than many soccer internationals so the comparison with brazil in soccer is irrelevant.

KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 3510 - 16/07/2022 18:15:38    2432382

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Replying To KillingFields:  "People who admittedly dont support/follow rugby that much are very dismissive of rugby calling these games "tests". why do you get so wound up by it?
New Zealand are the bench mark. this was a first test series defeat at home for them in around 30 years or so.
Ireland became only fifth team to defeat the All Blacks down there in a Test series and the first to do so in the professional era.
Hopefully we do build on this as we will have to beat New Zealand or France(in a french hosted world cup) in a world cup quarter final
Rugby treats these games far more serious than many soccer internationals so the comparison with brazil in soccer is irrelevant."
Wound up? Pot /kettle there. I was only making an observation.
Most other sports would see these contents as glorified exhibitions but if the cultures different in rugby then do be it.
Sorry for being born like.....

Galway9801 (Galway) - Posts: 1708 - 16/07/2022 18:42:22    2432384

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Replying To Galway9801:  "Wound up? Pot /kettle there. I was only making an observation.
Most other sports would see these contents as glorified exhibitions but if the cultures different in rugby then do be it.
Sorry for being born like....."
Other sports have different traditions. theyre not friendlies. theyre far older than a world cup. we've been playing test matches against New Zealand since 1905. The world cup has only existed since 1987. there is a lot more to rugby than succeeding in a world cup which the dismissers of rugby dont seem to get.
these tests are so far from exhibitions. its rather sad people seem to think that.

KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 3510 - 16/07/2022 19:55:18    2432397

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Replying To KillingFields:  "Other sports have different traditions. theyre not friendlies. theyre far older than a world cup. we've been playing test matches against New Zealand since 1905. The world cup has only existed since 1987. there is a lot more to rugby than succeeding in a world cup which the dismissers of rugby dont seem to get.
these tests are so far from exhibitions. its rather sad people seem to think that."
It isn't sad, Rugby has grown it's interest and fanbase and I understand the significance of test match rugby, but I'm a casual rugby fan, like millions of others we'll never look past genuine competitions like the 6 nations and World Cup.

For the traditional rugby fan they might look at it differently but I still think in the professional era the World Cup has taken over as the pinnacle of the sport, that is where Ireland need to step up, the potential is there if they manage the four year cycle in the same way other rugby nations do. I think we've peaked a year early again.

sam1884 (UK) - Posts: 999 - 16/07/2022 20:16:20    2432400

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Replying To KillingFields:  "Other sports have different traditions. theyre not friendlies. theyre far older than a world cup. we've been playing test matches against New Zealand since 1905. The world cup has only existed since 1987. there is a lot more to rugby than succeeding in a world cup which the dismissers of rugby dont seem to get.
these tests are so far from exhibitions. its rather sad people seem to think that."
Forget about your friendly matches, what about the real good chance of two Irishmen winning the open golf 2 years in a row. Harrington won 2 in a row. This could be 6 Irish winners in 15 years.

Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2014 - 16/07/2022 21:26:23    2432410

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Replying To sam1884:  "It isn't sad, Rugby has grown it's interest and fanbase and I understand the significance of test match rugby, but I'm a casual rugby fan, like millions of others we'll never look past genuine competitions like the 6 nations and World Cup.

For the traditional rugby fan they might look at it differently but I still think in the professional era the World Cup has taken over as the pinnacle of the sport, that is where Ireland need to step up, the potential is there if they manage the four year cycle in the same way other rugby nations do. I think we've peaked a year early again."
What do you mean by we'll never look past genuine competitions like 6 nations and world cup

Ireland do need to step up at a world cup and to be fair in the last couple of world cup campaigns beforehand we did all the right things but disappointed in the tournaments themselves.
we are still very much evolving who we play and how we play and its a bit much to be crystal balling and saying we have peaked too early. still plenty of room for improvements in how we played before november, the 6 nations next spring and then the tournament in france in 14 months time

KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 3510 - 16/07/2022 21:31:26    2432411

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Replying To KillingFields:  "Other sports have different traditions. theyre not friendlies. theyre far older than a world cup. we've been playing test matches against New Zealand since 1905. The world cup has only existed since 1987. there is a lot more to rugby than succeeding in a world cup which the dismissers of rugby dont seem to get.
these tests are so far from exhibitions. its rather sad people seem to think that."
But they are really. If they aren't friendlies what competition are they?

oneoff (UK) - Posts: 1380 - 16/07/2022 21:39:52    2432413

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These rugby series are highly prestigious as are all 'test' matches. You just have to look at the meltdown New Zealand are having because of it.

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8592 - 16/07/2022 21:44:10    2432414

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Replying To KillingFields:  "What do you mean by we'll never look past genuine competitions like 6 nations and world cup

Ireland do need to step up at a world cup and to be fair in the last couple of world cup campaigns beforehand we did all the right things but disappointed in the tournaments themselves.
we are still very much evolving who we play and how we play and its a bit much to be crystal balling and saying we have peaked too early. still plenty of room for improvements in how we played before november, the 6 nations next spring and then the tournament in france in 14 months time"
I'm just a casual fan but I meant the 6 nations and World Cup have become such huge, lucrative tournaments in the professional era, I'm delighted Ireland won today by the way.

As for the World Cup you know more than me, but we clearly haven't did everything right before World Cups. It is more than just disappointing at them, in my opinion we haven't got the four year cycle right compared to other countries. Even today, despite all the positives there were Irish players who looked to be struggling in that second half, 14 months and a lot of rugby is a long time before the tournament even starts. We're ready for a World Cup and if it was this autumn we could maybe win it, but that's because most other teams aren't ready.

Lets hope 2023 is different but what we're seeing now is very similar to 2010, 2014 and 2018, the year before a WC.

sam1884 (UK) - Posts: 999 - 16/07/2022 22:03:39    2432417

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Replying To oneoff:  "But they are really. If they aren't friendlies what competition are they?"
Theyre part of the Ireland-New Zealand 2022 test series. Look at how jubiliant Ireland were/are after winning the series and the criticism new zealand are getting for losing.

KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 3510 - 17/07/2022 10:31:50    2432435

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Replying To oneoff:  "But they are really. If they aren't friendlies what competition are they?"
Does it matter. theyre a lot more than friendlies. look at how the irish reacted after winning. Look at how new zealand, fans its media are all treating the loss.
they exist far longer than world cups.
theyre more than friendlies. theyre test matches. the ultimate top level of the sport

KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 3510 - 17/07/2022 11:03:04    2432439

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Number 2 ranked team in the world wins away to number 4 ranked team in the world.

Should be a bit as expected no? Especially considering the recent record between both teams.

Number 2 ranked team has also won 4 of the previous 7 meetings against number 4 ranked team before yesterday's match (admittedly 1 of the 3 defeats came in the only game that mattered in the grand scheme of things).

Whatever happened on previous tours, or whoever New Zealand have been unbeaten by, or unbeaten in so long for in the past shouldn't come into it. Limerick haven't beaten Kilkenny in an All Ireland Final since the 70's but it doesn't make them underdogs today.

As a few have alluded to you'd hope it's not another false dawn heading into a World Cup next year.

if_in_doubt (Kildare) - Posts: 3685 - 17/07/2022 11:47:06    2432443

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theyre more than friendlies. theyre test matches. the ultimate top level of the sport
KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 2708

The ultimate top level of the sport.

Where should the 6 Nations and World Cup be ranked then?

if_in_doubt (Kildare) - Posts: 3685 - 17/07/2022 11:50:47    2432444

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Replying To sam1884:  "I'm just a casual fan but I meant the 6 nations and World Cup have become such huge, lucrative tournaments in the professional era, I'm delighted Ireland won today by the way.

As for the World Cup you know more than me, but we clearly haven't did everything right before World Cups. It is more than just disappointing at them, in my opinion we haven't got the four year cycle right compared to other countries. Even today, despite all the positives there were Irish players who looked to be struggling in that second half, 14 months and a lot of rugby is a long time before the tournament even starts. We're ready for a World Cup and if it was this autumn we could maybe win it, but that's because most other teams aren't ready.

Lets hope 2023 is different but what we're seeing now is very similar to 2010, 2014 and 2018, the year before a WC."
A bit like Armagh in the Ulster Championship

FoolsGold (Cavan) - Posts: 2763 - 17/07/2022 12:21:57    2432446

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The Golf should be good today at The Open. McIlroy in with a real chance though Hovland is due for a huge win. World Number 1 Sheffler is hanging around too as is Dustin Johnson.

Trump2020 (Galway) - Posts: 2120 - 17/07/2022 12:56:17    2432458

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Replying To Trump2020:  "The Golf should be good today at The Open. McIlroy in with a real chance though Hovland is due for a huge win. World Number 1 Sheffler is hanging around too as is Dustin Johnson."
Just a pity Lowry dropped so many in his last 9 yesterday.

Neartheborder (Derry) - Posts: 56 - 17/07/2022 13:46:41    2432464

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Replying To KillingFields:  "Does it matter. theyre a lot more than friendlies. look at how the irish reacted after winning. Look at how new zealand, fans its media are all treating the loss.
they exist far longer than world cups.
theyre more than friendlies. theyre test matches. the ultimate top level of the sport"
Must have missed the cup presentation. How many teams were involved?

Neartheborder (Derry) - Posts: 56 - 17/07/2022 13:50:09    2432467

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Replying To Saynothing:  "Forget about your friendly matches, what about the real good chance of two Irishmen winning the open golf 2 years in a row. Harrington won 2 in a row. This could be 6 Irish winners in 15 years."
I'm worse than Spillane, I could stop a train. Better not say who I think will win football next week.

Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2014 - 17/07/2022 18:39:17    2432532

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There was a cup presentation.

DuhallowRed (Cork) - Posts: 268 - 17/07/2022 19:11:48    2432546

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Replying To Neartheborder:  "Must have missed the cup presentation. How many teams were involved?"
There was a cup presentation

DuhallowRed (Cork) - Posts: 268 - 17/07/2022 19:13:30    2432547

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