We are so back! Or are we?
Improved player performances, lineout, handling, execution in the red zone, all good stuff! But I’m surprised by just how positive the media reaction as been, Australia were very poor and I doubt what Ireland did well translates to the Springboks… 🧵
Improved player performances, lineout, handling, execution in the red zone, all good stuff! But I’m surprised by just how positive the media reaction as been, Australia were very poor and I doubt what Ireland did well translates to the Springboks… 🧵
November 18, 2025 at 9:35 AM
We are so back! Or are we?
Improved player performances, lineout, handling, execution in the red zone, all good stuff! But I’m surprised by just how positive the media reaction as been, Australia were very poor and I doubt what Ireland did well translates to the Springboks… 🧵
Improved player performances, lineout, handling, execution in the red zone, all good stuff! But I’m surprised by just how positive the media reaction as been, Australia were very poor and I doubt what Ireland did well translates to the Springboks… 🧵
That’s a step in the right direction, Australia were terrible though. Might be a long day next Saturday, hopefully they can go up a few gears still. JGP @15 👀
November 15, 2025 at 10:02 PM
That’s a step in the right direction, Australia were terrible though. Might be a long day next Saturday, hopefully they can go up a few gears still. JGP @15 👀
Think I’ll stop by World Rugby’s HQ on my way to the Aviva, just to see if I can buy any of the lads a beer, cracking work they’re doing
a man with a watch on his wrist is covering his mouth
ALT: a man with a watch on his wrist is covering his mouth
media.tenor.com
November 15, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Think I’ll stop by World Rugby’s HQ on my way to the Aviva, just to see if I can buy any of the lads a beer, cracking work they’re doing
The aging Irish squad doesn’t appear to me to be solely a top down problem. Ireland is simply a sample of the provincial squads…
Average Age 1st 23’s:
Ireland: 28.6 (this weekend)
Leinster: 28.8
Munster 28.9
Connacht: 28.1
Ulster: 27.3
Ireland: 29.1 (vs NZ)
- removing NIQs
Average Age 1st 23’s:
Ireland: 28.6 (this weekend)
Leinster: 28.8
Munster 28.9
Connacht: 28.1
Ulster: 27.3
Ireland: 29.1 (vs NZ)
- removing NIQs
This is it. It's a top down problem.
November 15, 2025 at 8:07 AM
The aging Irish squad doesn’t appear to me to be solely a top down problem. Ireland is simply a sample of the provincial squads…
Average Age 1st 23’s:
Ireland: 28.6 (this weekend)
Leinster: 28.8
Munster 28.9
Connacht: 28.1
Ulster: 27.3
Ireland: 29.1 (vs NZ)
- removing NIQs
Average Age 1st 23’s:
Ireland: 28.6 (this weekend)
Leinster: 28.8
Munster 28.9
Connacht: 28.1
Ulster: 27.3
Ireland: 29.1 (vs NZ)
- removing NIQs
Euro 2028 Games:
Aviva Stadium Dublin: 7 games
Principality Stadium Cardiff: 6 games
Ireland batter Wales, YET AGAIN 💪
Shove your roof!
Aviva Stadium Dublin: 7 games
Principality Stadium Cardiff: 6 games
Ireland batter Wales, YET AGAIN 💪
Shove your roof!
November 13, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Euro 2028 Games:
Aviva Stadium Dublin: 7 games
Principality Stadium Cardiff: 6 games
Ireland batter Wales, YET AGAIN 💪
Shove your roof!
Aviva Stadium Dublin: 7 games
Principality Stadium Cardiff: 6 games
Ireland batter Wales, YET AGAIN 💪
Shove your roof!
After development tours, capping any young French fella that moved, Fabien Galthie has come to the obvious and correct conclusion, just play King Charles Ollivon wherever you need him 🤷🏼♂️
November 13, 2025 at 11:19 AM
After development tours, capping any young French fella that moved, Fabien Galthie has come to the obvious and correct conclusion, just play King Charles Ollivon wherever you need him 🤷🏼♂️
Thornley’s Ireland 23… some interesting, some not so much.
Unless they significantly improve the lineout, handling and carrying I doubt a few changes in personnel really matters…
Unless they significantly improve the lineout, handling and carrying I doubt a few changes in personnel really matters…
November 12, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Thornley’s Ireland 23… some interesting, some not so much.
Unless they significantly improve the lineout, handling and carrying I doubt a few changes in personnel really matters…
Unless they significantly improve the lineout, handling and carrying I doubt a few changes in personnel really matters…
Lots of discussion about the Irish pack’s ability to win offensive collisions and ability to get over the gainline… so what the best carrying pack available?
J Boyle, D Heffernan, S Wilson
F Wycherly, I Henderson
J Van Der Flier, J Conan, T Aherne
- Per Opta 24/25 season stats
J Boyle, D Heffernan, S Wilson
F Wycherly, I Henderson
J Van Der Flier, J Conan, T Aherne
- Per Opta 24/25 season stats
November 11, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Lots of discussion about the Irish pack’s ability to win offensive collisions and ability to get over the gainline… so what the best carrying pack available?
J Boyle, D Heffernan, S Wilson
F Wycherly, I Henderson
J Van Der Flier, J Conan, T Aherne
- Per Opta 24/25 season stats
J Boyle, D Heffernan, S Wilson
F Wycherly, I Henderson
J Van Der Flier, J Conan, T Aherne
- Per Opta 24/25 season stats
Per the Irish Times, Ireland A will play England A, at Thomand Pk, the week before the 6N, Friday 30th Jan.
URC fixtures that weekend:
Munster @ Glasgow
Connacht @ Zebre
Leinster @ Edinburgh
Ulster v Cardiff
URC fixtures that weekend:
Munster @ Glasgow
Connacht @ Zebre
Leinster @ Edinburgh
Ulster v Cardiff
November 11, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Per the Irish Times, Ireland A will play England A, at Thomand Pk, the week before the 6N, Friday 30th Jan.
URC fixtures that weekend:
Munster @ Glasgow
Connacht @ Zebre
Leinster @ Edinburgh
Ulster v Cardiff
URC fixtures that weekend:
Munster @ Glasgow
Connacht @ Zebre
Leinster @ Edinburgh
Ulster v Cardiff
Winning next week is possibly a bad thing for Ireland, likely cements Aus as #2 seeds at the WC, we have the freest of free hits here… am hoping for a team like…
McCarthy, Sheehan, Clarkson,
Aherne, Beirne,
Timoney, Doris, Prendergast
Casey, Crowley
McCloskey, Farrell
Lowe, ToB, JoB
McCarthy, Sheehan, Clarkson,
Aherne, Beirne,
Timoney, Doris, Prendergast
Casey, Crowley
McCloskey, Farrell
Lowe, ToB, JoB
November 9, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Winning next week is possibly a bad thing for Ireland, likely cements Aus as #2 seeds at the WC, we have the freest of free hits here… am hoping for a team like…
McCarthy, Sheehan, Clarkson,
Aherne, Beirne,
Timoney, Doris, Prendergast
Casey, Crowley
McCloskey, Farrell
Lowe, ToB, JoB
McCarthy, Sheehan, Clarkson,
Aherne, Beirne,
Timoney, Doris, Prendergast
Casey, Crowley
McCloskey, Farrell
Lowe, ToB, JoB
World Rugby trying to get those poor South African’s again I see
November 8, 2025 at 9:01 PM
World Rugby trying to get those poor South African’s again I see
Looking forward to listing to this BBC pod, this week… Scotland were bang in this match for 2m 41s, just need to add that other 76mins next time to make history
Great podcasting this from the BBC, the boys rank where Scotland’s win this weekend over New Zealand, sits in the pantheon of great Scottish wins. Some might call that premature, but when you’re able to back it up, it ain’t arrogance!!!
@edjenx.bsky.social
podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/r...
@edjenx.bsky.social
podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/r...
November 8, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Looking forward to listing to this BBC pod, this week… Scotland were bang in this match for 2m 41s, just need to add that other 76mins next time to make history
Great podcasting this from the BBC, the boys rank where Scotland’s win this weekend over New Zealand, sits in the pantheon of great Scottish wins. Some might call that premature, but when you’re able to back it up, it ain’t arrogance!!!
@edjenx.bsky.social
podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/r...
@edjenx.bsky.social
podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/r...
November 7, 2025 at 9:42 AM
Great podcasting this from the BBC, the boys rank where Scotland’s win this weekend over New Zealand, sits in the pantheon of great Scottish wins. Some might call that premature, but when you’re able to back it up, it ain’t arrogance!!!
@edjenx.bsky.social
podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/r...
@edjenx.bsky.social
podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/r...
South Africa will beat France this weekend, by 10+, France are just missing too many players.
But! I’d be worried looking at this if I were a Bok fan… France are 3.5 years younger, key Bok players will age out soon and there is nothing in the URC to compare to the young Top14 talent 🤷🏼♂️
But! I’d be worried looking at this if I were a Bok fan… France are 3.5 years younger, key Bok players will age out soon and there is nothing in the URC to compare to the young Top14 talent 🤷🏼♂️
November 6, 2025 at 9:06 PM
South Africa will beat France this weekend, by 10+, France are just missing too many players.
But! I’d be worried looking at this if I were a Bok fan… France are 3.5 years younger, key Bok players will age out soon and there is nothing in the URC to compare to the young Top14 talent 🤷🏼♂️
But! I’d be worried looking at this if I were a Bok fan… France are 3.5 years younger, key Bok players will age out soon and there is nothing in the URC to compare to the young Top14 talent 🤷🏼♂️
Excited for France v SA at the weekend… 6 Nations Champs v Rugby Championship Champs… a score to settle from the 2023 RWC… a team and their supporters that really, really cares, plays a team that really, really doesn’t give a shit… Vive la France 🧵
November 4, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Excited for France v SA at the weekend… 6 Nations Champs v Rugby Championship Champs… a score to settle from the 2023 RWC… a team and their supporters that really, really cares, plays a team that really, really doesn’t give a shit… Vive la France 🧵
Since when did total URC mins in the season become the metric by which some Irish fans deem if a player is allowed to play for Ireland?
Jack has the most minutes at 10 and the most wins at 10 this season, so we should definitely start him right?
That’s Jack Murphy btw… didn’t think so.
Jack has the most minutes at 10 and the most wins at 10 this season, so we should definitely start him right?
That’s Jack Murphy btw… didn’t think so.
October 30, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Since when did total URC mins in the season become the metric by which some Irish fans deem if a player is allowed to play for Ireland?
Jack has the most minutes at 10 and the most wins at 10 this season, so we should definitely start him right?
That’s Jack Murphy btw… didn’t think so.
Jack has the most minutes at 10 and the most wins at 10 this season, so we should definitely start him right?
That’s Jack Murphy btw… didn’t think so.
This is 🌶️
Fekitoa claiming he signed a big contract and THEN had a medical, claims Munster tried to back out on bogus medical findings 🍿
Was told before he ever showed up on his first day, that he could move on.
Publicly it was all blamed on his wife 😬
www.independent.ie/sport/united...
Fekitoa claiming he signed a big contract and THEN had a medical, claims Munster tried to back out on bogus medical findings 🍿
Was told before he ever showed up on his first day, that he could move on.
Publicly it was all blamed on his wife 😬
www.independent.ie/sport/united...
Malakai Fekitoa interview: ‘Six months before arriving, Munster said they were going to cancel my contract’
Malakai Fekitoa is just in the door after a busy day of training when he takes our call from his home in Treviso.
www.independent.ie
October 29, 2025 at 12:52 PM
This is 🌶️
Fekitoa claiming he signed a big contract and THEN had a medical, claims Munster tried to back out on bogus medical findings 🍿
Was told before he ever showed up on his first day, that he could move on.
Publicly it was all blamed on his wife 😬
www.independent.ie/sport/united...
Fekitoa claiming he signed a big contract and THEN had a medical, claims Munster tried to back out on bogus medical findings 🍿
Was told before he ever showed up on his first day, that he could move on.
Publicly it was all blamed on his wife 😬
www.independent.ie/sport/united...
Glasgow v Bulls… can they both lose?
October 24, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Glasgow v Bulls… can they both lose?
Wessels ban now official, perhaps the communication is brief as this can be appealed, but it appears quite unwise not to explain the evidence upon which this is based.
www.unitedrugby.com/latest/disci...
www.unitedrugby.com/latest/disci...
October 23, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Wessels ban now official, perhaps the communication is brief as this can be appealed, but it appears quite unwise not to explain the evidence upon which this is based.
www.unitedrugby.com/latest/disci...
www.unitedrugby.com/latest/disci...
Munster battered Leinster last weekend… lots of frustration amongst Leinster fans, lots of articles and podcasts discussing Leinster’s underlying problems…
Just heard a podcast pretending that Leinster fans & media are making excuses for them. Whatever sells subscriptions I guess 🤔
Just heard a podcast pretending that Leinster fans & media are making excuses for them. Whatever sells subscriptions I guess 🤔
October 23, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Munster battered Leinster last weekend… lots of frustration amongst Leinster fans, lots of articles and podcasts discussing Leinster’s underlying problems…
Just heard a podcast pretending that Leinster fans & media are making excuses for them. Whatever sells subscriptions I guess 🤔
Just heard a podcast pretending that Leinster fans & media are making excuses for them. Whatever sells subscriptions I guess 🤔
Rumours flying around about a big ban for Wessels and Josh Murphy being free to play Munster this weekend. SA fans in full meltdown and Rassie stoking the flames… this is 2025’s “see you in the final” 😂
October 23, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Rumours flying around about a big ban for Wessels and Josh Murphy being free to play Munster this weekend. SA fans in full meltdown and Rassie stoking the flames… this is 2025’s “see you in the final” 😂
Leinster’s team to play Zebre will be so inexperienced, missing 26 players… something like:
Jerry Cahir, McKee, Slimani
Deeny, Mangan,
Penny, Deegan, Soroka
McGrath, Byrne,
Tector, Cooney,
A Osbourne, McErlean, J Kenny
Smyth, Usanov, Sparrow, Spicer/Ronan, Culhane, Connors, Gunne, Gabriel
Jerry Cahir, McKee, Slimani
Deeny, Mangan,
Penny, Deegan, Soroka
McGrath, Byrne,
Tector, Cooney,
A Osbourne, McErlean, J Kenny
Smyth, Usanov, Sparrow, Spicer/Ronan, Culhane, Connors, Gunne, Gabriel
October 21, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Leinster’s team to play Zebre will be so inexperienced, missing 26 players… something like:
Jerry Cahir, McKee, Slimani
Deeny, Mangan,
Penny, Deegan, Soroka
McGrath, Byrne,
Tector, Cooney,
A Osbourne, McErlean, J Kenny
Smyth, Usanov, Sparrow, Spicer/Ronan, Culhane, Connors, Gunne, Gabriel
Jerry Cahir, McKee, Slimani
Deeny, Mangan,
Penny, Deegan, Soroka
McGrath, Byrne,
Tector, Cooney,
A Osbourne, McErlean, J Kenny
Smyth, Usanov, Sparrow, Spicer/Ronan, Culhane, Connors, Gunne, Gabriel
Sport gives a rhythm to life… eg in rugby we have Autumn internationals, winter European games, 6N in spring, European knock outs coming into summer…. Munster’s win at Croker has elevated the Thomond Pk rematch to a completely new level… big date in the calendar now
October 21, 2025 at 7:58 AM
Sport gives a rhythm to life… eg in rugby we have Autumn internationals, winter European games, 6N in spring, European knock outs coming into summer…. Munster’s win at Croker has elevated the Thomond Pk rematch to a completely new level… big date in the calendar now
Average age of the Springbok squad named today for the Autumn Internationals?
29.2 years old.
Their reserve panel of young, up and coming players will be 31.0 years for the RWC (29.0 today).
Average age of Ireland’s squad 28.0 years old.
Age ain’t our issue, talent and opportunity is!
29.2 years old.
Their reserve panel of young, up and coming players will be 31.0 years for the RWC (29.0 today).
Average age of Ireland’s squad 28.0 years old.
Age ain’t our issue, talent and opportunity is!
Rugby’s generation game… a lot of negativity about Ireland’s squad age building towards the 2027 RWC, is that negativity supported by data? 🧵
October 20, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Average age of the Springbok squad named today for the Autumn Internationals?
29.2 years old.
Their reserve panel of young, up and coming players will be 31.0 years for the RWC (29.0 today).
Average age of Ireland’s squad 28.0 years old.
Age ain’t our issue, talent and opportunity is!
29.2 years old.
Their reserve panel of young, up and coming players will be 31.0 years for the RWC (29.0 today).
Average age of Ireland’s squad 28.0 years old.
Age ain’t our issue, talent and opportunity is!