very true tribe- it the colour of the jersey thats the problem- ginger mc loughlin the legend once said ' a connaacht man has to be twice as good as the evuivalent in any other provience to even make the bench for Ireland' this is so so true in this instance. best is a nothing player (no disrespect to the man) and never offered anything to irish rugby, cronin is the most exciting hooker since kieth wood- he is a all action, ball carring, abbrasive forward who scores tries for fun- these are all things that best could only wish to be. alas its politics at play in operating to the quota system. i said it earlier in the week if cronin was from leinster he would definately be in and that would mean trimble wouls have to start on the wing in place of earls to fulfill the quota- its a sad state of affairs- cronin must be fumming i mean what else can he do in fairness????

liathroidboy (Mayo) - Posts: 4921 - 23/02/2011 17:10:43    874747

rugby is top dog folks- everyone will be watching ireland on sunday- there will be the proverbial one man and his dog at gaa matches on sunday probably because they dont have a tv or they didnt know ireland was playing. gaa is a distant second to rugby. i mean when you lift a paper the colum inches devoted to gaa are tiny- in fact i would even say soccer is morer popular than gaa. the media show what the people want and the people want as much rugby as they can get and care very little for the gaa. rugby is the top sporting organisation and is the ehartbest of the nation THIS IS RUGBY COUNTRY.

liathroidboy (Mayo) - Posts: 4921 - 24/02/2011 12:22:21    875298

Great result yeaterday. Hard place to go and get result so fair play to the boys.

If only we could cut out the silly errors and start Sean Cronin against Wales we do have a realistic shot of a triple crown now.

Championship is gone though, our points difference is too low and i can't see England slipping up against the Jocks, nor France losing any of their remaining games.

tribeinbrum (Galway) - Posts: 4155 - 28/02/2011 11:59:56    877820

All the Connacht boys crowing about Sean Cronin is putting me off him. I was expecting him to score 5 or 6 tries when he came on yesterday, when in fact he was worse than Best.

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12291 - 28/02/2011 12:06:20    877831

Worse then Best???

In Seans little cameo yesterday he did more than Best did all game.

I know i'm saying this through Connacht tinted eyes but i do genuinely believe our pack would benefit more with Sean in the team. In open play he's like a beserker and his throwing has improved no end. Once he moves to Leinster i fully expect him to be Irelands number one hooker.

We don't get many players at Connacht that deserve to be in Irelands first team, so when one does come along, too right we are going to be annoyed when he's left out.

tribeinbrum (Galway) - Posts: 4155 - 28/02/2011 12:19:01    877859

open to correction, but was cronin not the lad who dropped the ball in Irelands last attack agin the french?

Rhodejim (Offaly) - Posts: 2888 - 28/02/2011 12:28:11    877868

Well to my recollection his first throw was stolen and he did little else except hack the ball out of play with a minute or so left when they should've just wound down the clock with rucks.

Not having a go at him as he's a good prospect, but it just annoys me that the Connacht fans are slating Best in favour of a lad who is effectively untried at international level and crying about politics etc when the reality is surely that Kidney has a look at them in training and picks the better one. Simple as.

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12291 - 28/02/2011 12:34:32    877878

Rhodejim
County: Offaly
Posts: 2426

A jaze jim, are you thinking of Croners?

dhorse (Laois) - Posts: 11374 - 28/02/2011 12:36:39    877882

Rhodejim
County: Offaly
Posts: 2426

877868 open to correction, but was cronin not the lad who dropped the ball in Irelands last attack agin the french?

Yeah that was him but to be fair he was only on the pitch and probably wasnt that sharp so I wouldn't hold that against him.

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12291 - 28/02/2011 12:40:38    877889

I'm not slating Best, well maybe a little, but i think Sean Cronin does offer a little bit more.

To be honest if we had a fit Jerry Flannery none of them would be in an asses roar of the team.

I would like to see Cronin given a bit more time, but i'm guessing now that unless Best gets injured this won't be happening. (To be fair when he dropped the ball against the french i was calling him everything under the sun, but he had been only just brought on).

Sure whoever starts at hooker against Wales i'll still be roaring them on.

tribeinbrum (Galway) - Posts: 4155 - 28/02/2011 13:35:56    877968

Yeah that was him but to be fair he was only on the pitch and probably wasnt that sharp so I wouldn't hold that against him

Ah that doesnt wash.sure why make a sub if we are expecting the replacement to literally drop a ball when the first sign of a tackle comes near him.waste of time, best is best.

I was actually thinking of croghan not cronin dhorse...no sign of ya in Dunne's after dark sunday evening?

Rhodejim (Offaly) - Posts: 2888 - 28/02/2011 14:15:46    878038

Rhodejim
County: Offaly
Posts: 2428

878038 Yeah that was him but to be fair he was only on the pitch and probably wasnt that sharp so I wouldn't hold that against him

Ah that doesnt wash.sure why make a sub if we are expecting the replacement to literally drop a ball when the first sign of a tackle comes near him.waste of time, best is best.

I was actually thinking of croghan not cronin dhorse...no sign of ya in Dunne's after dark sunday evening?

Nayra sign, was in Derry.. Hard to get out of it..

Crogahan the epicentre of Ireland......http://www.lookaroundireland.com/offaly/croghanhill.php

dhorse (Laois) - Posts: 11374 - 28/02/2011 14:25:36    878061

cronin did excellent yesterday- throw one POC never got off the ground, throw 2 the scots read the jumper perfect- neither were any fault of cronins. he is definately needed- we deserve nothing if best plays in teh world cup- and to say politics has nothing to do withit is laughable- kidney is not going to play a team without an ulster player- as mad as this is its a shame for cronin as he is definately loosing out - if ferris was fit cronin would be starting thats the sad thibng about it

liathroidboy (Mayo) - Posts: 4921 - 28/02/2011 15:08:56    878104

Rubbish, Best actually had a good game yesterday.

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12291 - 28/02/2011 15:24:27    878133

dhorse:
Although one of these years we'l be in croke park, its A great spot to be on on march 17th, if you can get further than the fire in the ferns up there.
great history on croghan hill with St Patrick and St Bridget. Thats where she got her cloak and he founded a well there. Or thats what the Croghanites say, personnaly wouldnt believe them....

Rhodejim (Offaly) - Posts: 2888 - 28/02/2011 15:56:09    878188

I agree with ya there Breff. I have been crying out for changes but Best proved me wrong yesterday. What Kidney did yesterday with the changes yesterday was baffling! Especially taking Rog off, crazy stuff. We need to move Fitz from fullback. Even a swap with Earls might work. Earls looks our biggest threat with ball in hand and is living off scraps at the moment. I have my head in my hands when Fitz goes up for a high ball!

jonny1951 (Mayo) - Posts: 1431 - 28/02/2011 15:58:02    878192

jonny1951
County: Mayo
Posts: 619

878192 I agree with ya there Breff. I have been crying out for changes but Best proved me wrong yesterday. What Kidney did yesterday with the changes yesterday was baffling! Especially taking Rog off, crazy stuff. We need to move Fitz from fullback. Even a swap with Earls might work. Earls looks our biggest threat with ball in hand and is living off scraps at the moment. I have my head in my hands when Fitz goes up for a high ball!

Yeah. although I didnt think O'Gara had as good a game as some made out, I was surprised to see him being taken of, likewise with the other subs, (unless they were for injuries) seemed to happen too soon, as if he was responding to criticism from the France game for not making the subs sooner. I suppose he'll think he can't win.

Fitzgerald seems to be trying too hard. My pet hates at the minute are D'arcy and O'Callaghan! Both have been very ordinary for ages and seem to be guaranteed their place!

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12291 - 28/02/2011 16:07:01    878207

Rhodejim
County: Offaly
Posts: 2431

878188 dhorse:
Although one of these years we'l be in croke park, its A great spot to be on on march 17th, if you can get further than the fire in the ferns up there.
great history on croghan hill with St Patrick and St Bridget. Thats where she got her cloak and he founded a well there. Or thats what the Croghanites say, personnaly wouldnt believe them....

Wouldn't believe a word of 'em.. sure they told us that St Patrick's Ass was stolen in Rathdowney..

Which Dunnes were you encamped in? Not the Garden Centre i'd guess

dhorse (Laois) - Posts: 11374 - 28/02/2011 16:12:39    878215

To be fair Breff D'Arcy didnt have that bad a game. Leo Cullen should come in for DOC but like I said earlier, at this stage barring injuries i don't think changes will be made.

With regards to Fitzy at f/b it's plain and simple to me. He is not a fullback. He is an exceptional winger, and that is his best position and with him and Bowe on the wings we will always be in good stead. I'd be inclined to give Earls a run at it as it seems Duffy isn't being given a chance.

tribeinbrum (Galway) - Posts: 4155 - 28/02/2011 16:31:53    878251

Darcy has been very poor, Donncha to a lesser extent. I hope he isn't bowing to pressure to make changes, or else we are in bother. There is no point making changes for the sake of it.

jonny1951 (Mayo) - Posts: 1431 - 28/02/2011 16:32:44    878252