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A bit like the Philadelphia Eagles, the IRFU 'drafting' and acquisition of players has been top notch. Look at the quality and deliverance from Bundee Aki, Gibson-Park, Lowe and Hansen. Keep 'drafting' NZ backs is what I'd say, and someday somewhere we'll reach a World Cup semi. Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 3943 - 14/02/2025 12:04:03 2590945 Link 0 |
Alot if that was down to having good teams who didn't suffer injuries to significant players, and getting the luck of the draw. They won 2 grand slams in a row after the 2011 world cup, they won a grand slam in 2019 also. 1987 they did really well to beat a string French team in the QF, although they shared the 5 nations title with them that year. At the end of the day none of my Welsh friends celebrate getting to a Semi-final in any case. Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 14656 - 14/02/2025 12:21:31 2590947 Link 0 |
The Big Club are massive.
MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13788 - 14/02/2025 12:28:57 2590953 Link 0 |
Since when is reaching a semi final in a minority sport considered a great achievement? If you build from it it's important. If you don't you might as well have gone out in the first round. Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 3338 - 14/02/2025 12:59:37 2590962 Link 0 |
Looking forward to seeing the split number of fans on Sunday. Will it be 50:50..??? Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 4110 - 14/02/2025 13:03:13 2590963 Link 0 |
Exactly, whereas the rugby folk go crazy here when we reach a rugby world cup and I recall a player crying on the field when we beat a team in the world stage maybe two world cups ago. There's always excuses pumped in when the Irish team inevitably fills the togs at quarter final stage. Just not a serious rugby country with tradition...unlike Wales boxtyburgerbuns (Leitrim) - Posts: 115 - 14/02/2025 13:27:54 2590970 Link 0 |
Hope he's a brighter star than Evan Ferguson anyway, the last great white hope.
Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 3943 - 14/02/2025 13:44:36 2590977 Link 0 |
We were always the underdogs at Rugby. That's why I don't get the underachiever narrative from some posters. We are massive overachievers at rugby.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 14656 - 14/02/2025 13:46:46 2590978 Link 0 |
At least the Welsh team is mostly Welsh lads. Irish Rugby is like Kilmacud Crokes :-)
BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 3389 - 14/02/2025 14:10:53 2590989 Link 0 |
Ales had 7 to our 8 in the Autumn Internationals just gone. And our 8 includes 2 or 3 who qualify by Irish blood.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 14656 - 14/02/2025 14:42:13 2591003 Link 0 |
Wales have had plenty of kiwis in recent years just that they are so poor at moment can't attract them. They have a lad playing who got capped by England a decade ago. jm25 (Galway) - Posts: 1324 - 14/02/2025 15:03:17 2591008 Link 0 |
Ferguson has been blighted with injury problems to be fair…. but this guy is smaller in stature and plays in a way that belittles his very young age… I see him going a long way if he stays grounded
ForeverBlue2 (Cavan) - Posts: 3450 - 14/02/2025 15:47:42 2591016 Link 0 |
Worse than Crokes! They only have two or three.
BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 3389 - 14/02/2025 15:49:20 2591018 Link 0 |
Fake News!
Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12244 - 14/02/2025 15:50:51 2591019 Link 0 |
Bet there's more in their top 40 players who aren't born in Dublin
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 14656 - 14/02/2025 17:14:12 2591033 Link 0 |
But true… not fake
ForeverBlue2 (Cavan) - Posts: 3450 - 14/02/2025 17:49:45 2591038 Link 0 |