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Replying To updwell:  "100% right Barney and we should all boycott that fascist regime hosting the soccer WC as well."
Mexico? Why what have they done? I'll be happily watching as I'm able to keep sports and politics separate.

SouthGalway (Galway) - Posts: 203 - 15/02/2026 14:10:29    2656538

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Replying To updwell:  "100% right Barney and we should all boycott that fascist regime hosting the soccer WC as well."
Nope. Dont be soft.

eddieSize5Balls (Donegal) - Posts: 292 - 15/02/2026 15:20:34    2656553

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Replying To BarneyGrant:  "Over the demand for a boycott of the Israel match?

If an Irish team can play England, then really there's no argument is there?

(Not saying they ought not to of course! Sport boycotts only harm the sportspeople, not the regimes. Having Olympics on China and World Cup in Qatar undermine any moral stance on the part of anyone who took part in those.)"
Good point well made.

Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2565 - 15/02/2026 15:29:27    2656558

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Replying To zinny:  "Leinster have won one European Cup in 13 years, so what exactly was working for them so well? It was a time when you would say Ireland was at its peak. Leo Cullen has been head coach for 12 of those 13 years. Lancaster was not the head coach and neither is Nienaber. The scribes you are talking about are so typical of whats wrong with Irish rugby - it cant be our fault so stick the head in the sand and ignore it. How many of the scribes have called for Cullen to be sacked?"
Cullen should have been fired 4 or 5 years ago. Leinster were on a par with many top international teams and won nothing. Why he's still head coach of Leinster is anyone's guess

cluichethar (Mayo) - Posts: 613 - 15/02/2026 17:52:52    2656606

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Killingfields,I've listened to a lot of rugby talk in past 2 days..everyone agrees that Crowley should start at 10 but does he suffer by the fact he covers 3 positions?
If they go for 2 backs then prendergast doesn't cover enough in the backs.
The front row is a huge problem,looks as if furlong starts but what can be learned from playing him?will he make it to World Cup?
For me Mc Carthy hasn't done near enough to be included,so beirne comes in..
Think he will bring vanderflier back,timony deserves a chance but feel he won't start again.
The number 8 I'd pick would be Conan but Dorris being captain nearly named him as definite starter..thought cormac iz did very well but feel he will miss out to..
I'm delighted to see changes but a few of them would never have happened only for the unropable players getting injured.
I fear an England backlash..

CTGAA10 (Limerick) - Posts: 2652 - 15/02/2026 19:55:17    2656658

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That French team are brilliant to watch. Love the foot passing.

Wonder is there any Dub ancestry there!

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 4027 - 15/02/2026 22:49:04    2656690

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Replying To BarneyGrant:  "That French team are brilliant to watch. Love the foot passing.

Wonder is there any Dub ancestry there!"
Barney, for what it's worth game on game I would put Scotlands performance way ahead of that of the French, seriously a joy to watch.

supersub15 (Carlow) - Posts: 3364 - 16/02/2026 10:46:23    2656738

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Replying To BarneyGrant:  "That French team are brilliant to watch. Love the foot passing.

Wonder is there any Dub ancestry there!"
I doubt it, the French seem to have the wrists to hurl.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 4560 - 16/02/2026 11:06:45    2656742

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Replying To supersub15:  "Barney, for what it's worth game on game I would put Scotlands performance way ahead of that of the French, seriously a joy to watch."
Only saw bits of it, They do seem to have reinvented themselves. Game itself can be great to watch when played with such flair.

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 4027 - 16/02/2026 12:15:42    2656765

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Replying To Pope_Benedict:  "I doubt it, the French seem to have the wrists to hurl."
Touché!

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 4027 - 16/02/2026 12:16:31    2656766

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Replying To supersub15:  "Barney, for what it's worth game on game I would put Scotlands performance way ahead of that of the French, seriously a joy to watch."
I don't think it's worth much, to be candid about it. Let's see how the France/Scotland clash shakes out. We'll believe you, if we see it there.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 4560 - 16/02/2026 12:24:57    2656768

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Replying To BarneyGrant:  "Only saw bits of it, They do seem to have reinvented themselves. Game itself can be great to watch when played with such flair."
Well said.

supersub15 (Carlow) - Posts: 3364 - 16/02/2026 14:06:09    2656800

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Replying To CTGAA10:  "Killingfields,I've listened to a lot of rugby talk in past 2 days..everyone agrees that Crowley should start at 10 but does he suffer by the fact he covers 3 positions?
If they go for 2 backs then prendergast doesn't cover enough in the backs.
The front row is a huge problem,looks as if furlong starts but what can be learned from playing him?will he make it to World Cup?
For me Mc Carthy hasn't done near enough to be included,so beirne comes in..
Think he will bring vanderflier back,timony deserves a chance but feel he won't start again.
The number 8 I'd pick would be Conan but Dorris being captain nearly named him as definite starter..thought cormac iz did very well but feel he will miss out to..
I'm delighted to see changes but a few of them would never have happened only for the unropable players getting injured.
I fear an England backlash.."
i dont think Crowley suffers from his versatility. Front row isnt a major problem and Furlong may make world cup but likely as a squad member as we'll have 3 tightheads minimum in the squad.
McCarthy needs cut his major problem of giving away too many stupid penalties anyway
Where would you play izzy?

KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 3927 - 16/02/2026 18:11:59    2656859

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I'd like to see him at 6..however with all the possibilities before him,unlikely to happen..thing with furlong everyone knows what he is able to do so why not go with clarkson or bealham.

CTGAA10 (Limerick) - Posts: 2652 - 16/02/2026 20:41:04    2656898

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Replying To Pope_Benedict:  "I doubt it, the French seem to have the wrists to hurl."
Couple of boys on here certainly have the wrists.

Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2565 - 17/02/2026 07:49:48    2656932

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Ireland need to keep refreshing the team - those Leinster lads have had their day and proven they cant get it done.

Id be going with

Jamie Osborne; Robert Baloucoune, Garry Ringrose, Stuart McCloskey, James Lowe; Jack Crowley, Jamison Gibson-Park, Jack Conan, Nick Timoney, Cormac Izuchukwu, Tadhg Beirne, Edwin Edogbo, Furlong, Sheehan, Clarkson,

Subs
Loughman, Stewart, Furlong. Ryan, Ahern, Doris, Doak, Frawley

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1680 - 18/02/2026 13:25:00    2657127

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Replying To tirawleybaron:  "Ireland need to keep refreshing the team - those Leinster lads have had their day and proven they cant get it done.

Id be going with

Jamie Osborne; Robert Baloucoune, Garry Ringrose, Stuart McCloskey, James Lowe; Jack Crowley, Jamison Gibson-Park, Jack Conan, Nick Timoney, Cormac Izuchukwu, Tadhg Beirne, Edwin Edogbo, Furlong, Sheehan, Clarkson,

Subs
Loughman, Stewart, Furlong. Ryan, Ahern, Doris, Doak, Frawley"
You went to a lot of trouble here, so no doubt you'll be keen to know that you're starting Furlong, and also naming him on the bench.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 4560 - 18/02/2026 14:39:08    2657150

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Replying To tirawleybaron:  "Ireland need to keep refreshing the team - those Leinster lads have had their day and proven they cant get it done.

Id be going with

Jamie Osborne; Robert Baloucoune, Garry Ringrose, Stuart McCloskey, James Lowe; Jack Crowley, Jamison Gibson-Park, Jack Conan, Nick Timoney, Cormac Izuchukwu, Tadhg Beirne, Edwin Edogbo, Furlong, Sheehan, Clarkson,

Subs
Loughman, Stewart, Furlong. Ryan, Ahern, Doris, Doak, Frawley"
Ieinster lads who have grand slams urc and European cups cant get it done what would you say for players from other 3 provinces

jm25 (Galway) - Posts: 1949 - 18/02/2026 15:37:12    2657161

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Its crazy Ireland let the coach take a year out. With Changing rules and falling behind on current trends you need to stay on top of things not take a year out.

combo (Galway) - Posts: 27 - 18/02/2026 16:12:16    2657176

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