Respected Martin Johnson for that, as he said people go to see the match and not the ceremony beforehand which lasts for ever. England gave Ireland a bit of a hammering I seem to recall

pplocal (Tyrone) - Posts: 5878 - 18/03/2011 19:02:08    891423

Ulsterman
County: Antrim
I hope O'Driscoll and the team don't let England and Johnston bully them before and during the game. The time when John Bull offended and disrespected Mary McAleese was a total national embarrassment as the Irish players stood back and let it happen.


ireland displayed great decorum on that occasion which if they had not done at that time then the ill mannered behaviour of the english visitors would not have been the focus of attention all over the world.

BufordTJustice (USA) - Posts: 669 - 18/03/2011 19:07:15    891425

PP,

Does your Rangers/Ulster flag double up as your England rugby/soccer flag or vice versa?

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9816 - 18/03/2011 19:10:46    891433

I don't know booboo, can't imagine O Driscoll wants someday fumbling balls inside him, however a change might mean O Driscoll has to play 12, probably not something he wants to do. Can't understand how Fitzgerald looses out and D'Arcy doesn't though.

roundball (Tipperary) - Posts: 2514 - 18/03/2011 19:16:06    891440

Aye buford they showed great decorum but others might say they bottled it entirely. Oh and that great decorum resulted in a 30 point hammering as well. It was a great stroke on England's part but very, very humiliating and embarrassing for Irish people.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9816 - 18/03/2011 19:20:31    891445

A few things to ponder.

In Irish SPORTING circles we love English rugby, because in the dark days of the early 1970s, when we had a team good enough to win a slam, they were the ONLY team who would travel to Dublin. Wales and Scotland both cried off, and indeed England travelled twice in the one year to help with the cause of Irish sport. Once a boycott started in one sport, it would have spread. That is why we like England.

Having said that we need to stuff them tomorrow, and might have picked the team to do so. As Breffni pointed out Sexton destroyed them last year, Fitzgerald is not a full back, and Trimble has the size and bulk to combat Cueto.

I expect Ireland to win.

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 18/03/2011 19:21:33    891446

The 2003 England team deserved their Grand Slam. They'd been knocking on the door of it for years, and went on to win the '03 World Cup. This England team on the otherhand, that Johnson has put together in a year or two, hasn't earned the Grand Slam tag in my view, and it will be embarrassing for the competition if they take it away tomorrow.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 4094 - 18/03/2011 20:47:27    891510

tribeinbrum
County: Galway
Posts: 376

891300 Nothing wrong with a bit of mad mental thinking though!!!!!!!

I'm more worried about finding pubs open at stupid o'clock to see the games. I'm sure our first two games (albeit against the Yanks and the Russkies) are 6 o'clock jobs. and if we do make it through to a 1/4 final i think the way it's sheduled we will be in a 6.30 slot........ Not good........I'll be hammered before mass!!!!!!!!

Is there not a stay safe programme operating in your parish?

dhorse (Laois) - Posts: 11374 - 18/03/2011 21:52:44    891573

patrique
County: Antrim
Posts: 12039


I hope you're right but my money is on the pigdogs this time round. emotion + gambling = tears

Con Cavan (Cavan) - Posts: 894 - 19/03/2011 10:24:39    891594

I'm A fan of Sexton but he is not ready for this level of rugby. He shouldn't be even starting. Kidney is mad to make that discision.

loyalroyalgal (Meath) - Posts: 39 - 19/03/2011 10:31:47    891596

ULsterman
County: Antrim
Posts: 3375

891405
I hope O'Driscoll and the team don't let England and Johnston bully them before and during the game. The time when John Bull offended and disrespected Mary McAleese was a total national embarrassment as the Irish players stood back and let it happen

Well said and if anything like that happens again, the Irish players should walk off the field and let them play on their own. That would put a spanner in the works and it should have been done in 2003.

MARNELL (Westmeath) - Posts: 728 - 19/03/2011 10:34:54    891598

my prediction for today's game is

Ireland 12 47 England

BufordTJustice (USA) - Posts: 669 - 19/03/2011 12:44:41    891636

The Irish players were more at fault than their English counterparts. If they had simply stood the other side of England there would have been no problem. The whole thing was a storm in the teacup and I don't see how walking off and forfeiting the match would have been the right thing to do

pplocal (Tyrone) - Posts: 5878 - 19/03/2011 12:45:38    891637

Ireland 14 -- 27 England !!

Cavan_Slasher (Cavan) - Posts: 10253 - 19/03/2011 12:52:57    891638

Who was it had o'Gara playing in the other games?

We could have won the slam only for that.

Total silence in Munster.

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 19/03/2011 17:51:57    891728

patrique
County: Antrim
Posts: 12049

891728
Who was it had o'Gara playing in the other games?

We could have won the slam only for that.

Total silence in Munster.

It's not a case of either or. We need Sexton and O Gara. Think Sexton should start in the WC though, with the cool head of O Gara to bring in for the last 20.

roundball (Tipperary) - Posts: 2514 - 19/03/2011 19:29:16    891773

I think I WILL gloat!!!!!!!!


12/03/2011 21:27:11
freetaker1
County: Limerick

Seriously when will people figure out that sexton is utterly useless simply is a lost rabbit in lights under pressure.


14/03/2011 09:59:28
tribeinbrum
County: Galway

Jonny Sexton should be nowhere near an Ireland jersey next Saturday. The decision why O'Gara was taken off is a confusing one, even if it was pre-arranged due to the type of game it was was.


16/03/2011 14:30:18
Cork_boy
County: Cork

In fairness, you dont have to be from Munster to know Sexton isnt ready for rugby at this Level.
In ROG we trust!!

19/03/2011 12:44:41
BufordTJustice
County: USA

my prediction for today's game is

Ireland 12 47 England




Isn't it great lads, Sexton and Ireland to the fore.

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 19/03/2011 20:20:09    891794

19/03/2011 10:24:39
Con Cavan
County: Cavan
Posts: 429

891594
patrique
County: Antrim
Posts: 12039


I hope you're right




Con, ask anyone on here.

i am ALWAYS right.........

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 19/03/2011 20:21:11    891796

Goodbye! Martin Johnson your boys were Punch drunk! Grand Slammed! and K.O that'll teach you Johnson maybe you learned something mannerly on this recent visit . Ireland every man stood tall great show lads!.

fortyfive (Tyrone) - Posts: 5929 - 19/03/2011 20:34:11    891807

patrique
County: Antrim
Posts: 12055


I've asked around and was told that the amount of times patrique has been wrong could be counted on the hand of an alco carpenter. Thats a betting slip I had no problem tearing up!!

What a show by Ireland

Con Cavan (Cavan) - Posts: 894 - 20/03/2011 16:28:40    892136