In BOD we thrust: SFI Tribute

[POL]

One of the greatest Irishman sportsmen of all time, pay thanks here

[chabal]

great drop goal today, man of the match too, he is a remarkable player when on form

[Corcaigh32]

You meant trust? Or do you actually thrust in BOD? Which goes with the whole rugby thing I suppose.........;)

[POL]

Blackrock should be proud today, a true servant to Arish rugby, a day when the Munstershire lidginds went missing again

[devvy devverson]

Blackrock should be proud today, a true servant to Arish rugby, a day when the Munstershire lidginds went missing again

definately the view of a loser.
where is the irish coach from again?

granted rog was a disaster but the rest of the reds did alright.

england..... jesus they cant even win when they act like total thugs. what fans could be proud of a team who behave like that? thuggery. couldnt really bring it violence...... just constant cheating and unsporting behaviour. the guy with the microphone...... what did he do to deserve a "tackle"?
what an undignified bunch of tramps led by a scumbag.

[rebelicecreamman]

Always had great admiration for bod. may not be my first choice captain, but he delivered once again. Has always had buckets of courage and class. F**k the begrudgers and the d4 stereotypers. The man is a hero. Ignore the static/interference and the lazy journalism.

[Alan Smith]

Had him as first try scorer. Therefore, my bets & pints for the Carling Cup final tomorrow are all covered.
Thanks BOD

[Coogee]

Blackrock should be proud today, a true servant to Arish rugby, a day when the Munstershire lidginds went missing again

BOD was immense...best of the rest were Hayes, O Connell, Ferris and Wallace so youd hardly say the Munster liginds went missing now would you

[mr m]

I know fuck all about the game of rugby and even though BOD talks like a big girls blouse, he puts his body on the line like he just don't care. Amazed at what he put his body through tonight. Incredible sportsman.

Loves the hurling and all but you have to respect the rugger buggers. Watch a 'SOCCER' game after a decent hurling/rugby game and you would be disgusted at the what that particular sport has to offer. It really is a disgusting business.

The ghoys are a pretty decent old bunch all the same.

[mightyquark]

BOD really seems to save his best for the English.would ya blame him with servants to the crown like Pol supporting them.

[Coogee]

I know fuck all about the game of rugby and even though BOD talks like a big girls blouse, he puts his body on the line like he just don't care. Amazed at what he put his body through tonight. Incredible sportsman.

Loves the hurling and all but you have to respect the rugger buggers. Watch a 'SOCCER' game after a decent hurling/rugby game and you would be disgusted at the what that particular sport has to offer. It really is a disgusting business.

The ghoys are a pretty decent old bunch all the same.

too true mr m....just watching match of the day there and after watching how BOD put his body on the line today it would make you turn off the tv in disgust at lads rolling around crying like little girls...soccer is becoming a sham of a sport

[tim the trip]

i fucking hated him after the lyons "spear" rigmarole. in fairness, i have seen worse deaths in gyms and pitches upand down the country.

but the last world cup,he was the star of a under preforming irish side.in the hein cup games for leinster he their backbone, and today he was outstanding. a true irish warrior.

still talks like a fag though...

[tim the trip]

too true mr m....just watching match of the day there and after watching how BOD put his body on the line today it would make you turn off the tv in disgust at lads rolling around crying like little girls...soccer is becoming a sham of a sport

ite hurley and rugby.no questions. fucking top games, top teams.

soccerball is skillfull, but gay. bogball, is just fucking stupid.

[Corcaigh32]

H-u-r-l-i-n-g ..........say it with me ;)

[Lamps]

What an athelte, what a big game player, what a leader of men, what a human being.

If Arland actually manage to win something this year, then its completely down to one man. ROG shat the course as usual. Can't believe some muppets thought that other serial bottler O'Connel should have been made captain.

I salute you BOD.

[tim the trip]

H-u-r-l-i-n-g ..........say it with me ;)

not in the northside biy.

[Corcaigh32]

Ahh come on I was up in Piarsaigh's this morning, kids under the age of 4 call it hurley, Northsiders call it hurling or the beautiful game. ;)

[mightyquark]

What an athelte, what a big game player, what a leader of men, what a human being.

If Arland actually manage to win something this year, then its completely down to one man. ROG shat the course as usual. Can't believe some muppets thought that other serial bottler O'Connel should have been made captain.

I salute you BOD.

Any pics?

[DogTheLangerHunter]

Have ROG's testicles been recovered yet after today's showing.

[STEVIEG]

too true mr m....just watching match of the day there and after watching how BOD put his body on the line today it would make you turn off the tv in disgust at lads rolling around crying like little girls...soccer is becoming a sham of a sport

Some people are getting a bit carried away with the myths and listen a bit too much to Ryle Nugent IMO


Soccer is a sport played in practically every country by every type of people, not just a few countries; and crosses more boundaries-some of the snobbery and bullshit that we hear about the so-called gentlemans sport, where people regularly gouge each others eyes out and bite each others ears, is pathetic really!

That said, good game by O'Driscoll and good win by Ireland
O'Gara steadied himself in a bad game to get the decisive kick btw

Kidney is smart enough to make sure they don't bottle it now IMO

[Mick Lyons]

I said to the lads with me in the pub.
"It doesn't matter if ROG missses 6 kicks in a row, Paddy Wallace will not get a chance".
And I was right.

[Coogee]

What an athelte, what a big game player, what a leader of men, what a human being.

If Arland actually manage to win something this year, then its completely down to one man. ROG shat the course as usual. Can't believe some muppets thought that other serial bottler O'Connel should have been made captain.

I salute you BOD.

poor effort at a wum there lamps...O connell has been the stand out lock of the six nations so far

[mirps]

i fucking hated him after the lyons "spear" rigmarole. in fairness, i have seen worse deaths in gyms and pitches upand down the country.

but the last world cup,he was the star of a under preforming irish side.in the hein cup games for leinster he their backbone, and today he was outstanding. a true irish warrior.

still talks like a fag though...

Fucking A! That Lyons "spear" was a joke. He was just lucky he wasn't playing for Barrys at the time. It'd have been lights out then...

High five?!?

[Coogee]

Some people are getting a bit carried away with the myths and listen a bit too much to Ryle Nugent IMO


Soccer is a sport played in practically every country by every type of people, not just a few countries; and crosses more boundaries-some of the snobbery and bullshit that we hear about the so-called gentlemans sport, where people regularly gouge each others eyes out and bite each others ears, is pathetic really!

That said, good game by O'Driscoll and good win by Ireland
O'Gara steadied himself in a bad game to get the decisive kick btw

Kidney is smart enough to make sure they don't bottle it now IMO

not questioning soccers popularity...its obvious thats its the biggest sport on the planet...was a fan myself growing up but have lost interest in the last 5/6 years mainly due to the diving, feigning injury,yellow cards for tackles that wouldnt have been free kicks 20 years ago etc.....

[st finnbar]

One of the greatest Irishman sportsmen of all time, pay thanks here

so the sfi want everyone to thrust in bod:p, theres respect, but i think sfi gone a bit gay like :crazyeye:

[DogTheLangerHunter]

not questioning soccers popularity...its obvious thats its the biggest sport on the planet...was a fan myself growing up but have lost interest in the last 5/6 years mainly due to the diving, feigning injury,yellow cards for tackles that wouldnt have been free kicks 20 years ago etc.....

Hi Pur Belay.

So you prefer the heavy petting foreplay that is rugby?

[Coogee]

Hi Pur Belay.

So you prefer the heavy petting foreplay that is rugby?

so your denying the fact that modern premiership players are cheating puffs who cry every time someone tackles them....

[DogTheLangerHunter]

so your denying the fact that modern premiership players are cheating puffs who cry every time someone tackles them....

Literally yes,because I can't remember anyone crying after a tackle during any Premiership match I've watched.

Now if you wanted to make a smart argument(which clearly you don't)you'd say that the Premiership(not so much soccer in general)has lost a lot of its physicality over the past fifteen years or so.And you;d be right,but the quality and skill level on show is much better and that's what I watch soccer for,the skill,something that is attractive to watch.You seem to remember the days of idiots like Vinnie Jones actually get paid to play soccer and the days where the most skillful player would be about 3 stone overweight as if they were good things.Yes,of course diving is annoying and shit,but it's not like things can't be done about it.

Your argument is shit.Is being about 5th best at a sport that around 12 countries play really that much of an achievement?

Soccer lacks physicality at the breakdown I suppose......

[mirps]

Literally yes,because I can't remember anyone crying after a tackle during any Premiership match I've watched.

Now if you wanted to make a smart argument(which clearly you don't)you'd say that the Premiership(not so much soccer in general)has lost a lot of its physicality over the past fifteen years or so.And you;d be right,but the quality and skill level on show is much better and that's what I watch soccer for,the skill,something that is attractive to watch.You seem to remember the days of idiots like Vinnie Jones actually get paid to play soccer and the days where the most skillful player would be about 3 stone overweight as if they were good things.Yes,of course diving is annoying and shit,but it's not like things can't be done about it.

Your argument is shit.Is being about 5th best at a sport that around 12 countries play really that much of an achievement?

Soccer lacks physicality at the breakdown I suppose......


My own opinion is that football was much, much better when 'idiots like Vinnie Jones' actually got paid to play. I cannot bring myself to watch a full game of football anymore. Yes, soccer lacks physicality at the breakdown. It lacks physicality in every single part of the game. Except in throw ins. Cheers Rory.

[ho chi feen]

In BOD we thrust

Get a room, FFS.

[antipop]

More of the SFI moving the goalposts i think you can't win with them, let them enjoy their safe haven that its this website.

They say munster are crap,bottlers yadda yadda, they win a few trophies , suddenly they take issue of how "un cork" they are, or how shit the what ever the final was.

First time i have heard the SFI sing BOD praises (if only to wum). He got a lot of critism justifiably, he is making up for it now.

[Rebelred]

First time i have heard the SFI sing BOD praises (if only to wum). He got a lot of critism justifiably, he is making up for it now.
BOD has consistently received praise on here from the SFI over the years, yesterday he proved that he has more class and bottle than the rest of that side put together!

[KD Langer]

rugby is a stupid fucking game.......

[MonTheHoops]

He was right too, knowledge is a wise tomato.

[tim the trip]

Some people are getting a bit carried away with the myths and listen a bit too much to Ryle Nugent IMO


Soccer is a sport played in practically every country by every type of people, not just a few countries; and crosses more boundaries-some of the snobbery and bullshit that we hear about the so-called gentlemans sport, where people regularly gouge each others eyes out and bite each others ears, is pathetic really!

That said, good game by O'Driscoll and good win by Ireland
O'Gara steadied himself in a bad game to get the decisive kick btw

Kidney is smart enough to make sure they don't bottle it now IMO


thats why soccer is the most popular game in the world stevie.
any pussy can play it.:lol!:

[KD Langer]

thats why soccer is the most popular game in the world stevie.
any pussy can play it.:lol!:

yep tim. any pussy can play it. it takes a tasty snatch to play it well though:)

[tim the trip]

Fucking A! That Lyons "spear" was a joke. He was just lucky he wasn't playing for Barrys at the time. It'd have been lights out then...

High five?!?
high five! i like you.

fucking spear my whole. a spear is a wwe move. he was overturned and dropped on his back.
how many judo clubs and akido clubs in this country have women taking massive falls like this 2 rtimes a week in the name of training? theres 3 in cork.

but to be fair, he took his lumps today.

[tim the trip]

yep tim. Any pussy can play it. It takes a tasty snatch to play it well though:)

:d

[Coogee]

Literally yes,because I can't remember anyone crying after a tackle during any Premiership match I've watched.

Now if you wanted to make a smart argument(which clearly you don't)you'd say that the Premiership(not so much soccer in general)has lost a lot of its physicality over the past fifteen years or so.And you;d be right,but the quality and skill level on show is much better and that's what I watch soccer for,the skill,something that is attractive to watch.You seem to remember the days of idiots like Vinnie Jones actually get paid to play soccer and the days where the most skillful player would be about 3 stone overweight as if they were good things.Yes,of course diving is annoying and shit,but it's not like things can't be done about it.

Your argument is shit.Is being about 5th best at a sport that around 12 countries play really that much of an achievement?

Soccer lacks physicality at the breakdown I suppose......

if you read my previous post dog i said one of the reasons i dont like the premiership anymore is that you now get yellow cards for tackles that would not have been free kicks 20 years ago....i agree that the skill levels are better now mainly due to the influx of foreign players to the premiership...still watch a bit soccer but not as much of a fan as before...at times i just cant stand the antics of the modern game, players feigning injury to get players sent off, players diving everytime they get in the box, players abusing referees

[MonTheHoops]

if you read my previous post dog i said one of the reasons i dont like the premiership anymore is that you now get yellow cards for tackles that would not have been free kicks 20 years ago....i agree that the skill levels are better now mainly due to the influx of foreign players to the premiership...still watch a bit soccer but not as much of a fan as before...at times i just cant stand the antics of the modern game, players feigning injury to get players sent off, players diving everytime they get in the box, players abusing referees

That's been going on for donkeys years, it's not a new phenomenon. It's over 20 years since the greatest player ever cheated his way to a World Cup final.

[Coogee]

That's been going on for donkeys years, it's not a new phenomenon. It's over 20 years since the greatest player ever cheated his way to a World Cup final.

in fairness it has gotten alot worse....are you telling me that the yellow crad dished out week in week out in the premiership nowadays would have been yellow cards 20 years ago...alot of them would not have been free kicks...another thing i cant stand lately is that if you lay a finger on a keeper its a free kick...i played up front for my local side years ago and you could at least challenge a keeper...its ridiculous to watch a 6ft 4 keeper come for a ball now and when he gets a slight nudge he falls down like a sack of spuds looking for a free kick...whatg has ahappenend to the keeps who'd take a cross and smash whoever was in their way

[Youghal Exile]

Brian O'driscoll is a man not wortthy of sharing the same pitch as bums like o'connell' stringer o'gara and flanerry.To those people on a limerick site giving out about Brian O'Driscoll being made captain ye got yere answer yesterday:lol:

[Eoin]

Worst. Thread. Ever.

[ho chi feen]

Worst. Thread. Ever.

Agreed. :sleeping:

[BlueSkies]

high five! i like you.

fucking spear my whole. a spear is a wwe move. he was overturned and dropped on his back.
how many judo clubs and akido clubs in this country have women taking massive falls like this 2 rtimes a week in the name of training? theres 3 in cork.

but to be fair, he took his lumps today.

Listen to this guy!

[cantankerous bastard]

I dont really get this thread or line of wummery, are the munster fans on this site supposed to hate BOD?

I want ireland to win the grand slam, I want irish players to play well, so the SFI and myself are in agreement that its great to see BOD playing well. Am I supposed to be irate about him being good? You lads are losing the plot.

For the record I wanted O'Connell as captain and I stand by that as BOD was not producing the goods for Ireland for a long time. This season he's had a massive kick up the arse and it seems to have done him the world of good. There's no doubt he has re-earned that armband and I'm perfectly happy to admit it. I think Kidney very deliberately left the captaincy announcement a week to let BOD know he's not infallible, and the message hit home and he's stepped up to the plate again.

POC has had massive performances throughout the 6N too, and I think he will get the lions captaincy. But I'm as happy as anyone to see BOD return to form.

[Redshirter]

BOD was immense...best of the rest were Hayes, O Connell, Ferris and Wallace so youd hardly say the Munster liginds went missing now would you

And the worst of the rest were ROG , TOL , PW .

[Lamps]

Simple fact of the matter is if BOD wasn't playing, then Arland would have lost to France and England and string of piss O'Connell wouldn't be talking of going on any plane to SA let alone being captain.

Remember 2 years ago, BOD was injured against France in Croker? What was the only game Arland lost that year? Yup.
BOD is Arland. Its about time people fessed up to that

[captainshamrock]

O'Connell was a poor captain a few years ago, especially with Ireland. Last year he improved this a lot and isn't susceptible to the brain farts he used to have. Would have no probelm with him as captain now but with BOD back in form there is no reason to try this.

[leftback]

when I saw the 2 teams hoof the ball up and down the pitch 10 times in a row during the 1st half i had to look away as I couldn't take it anymore. The only thing worse is when they kick it out and the crowd applaud. If I kick the ball out of play playing soccer or gaa I'd get taken off;-)...just don't understand it. Surely the object of any sport is to express oneself by taking on your opponent etc. (e.g the wonderful lionel messi)..not just lumping it into the crowd ??!

[Eoin]

when I saw the 2 teams hoof the ball up and down the pitch 10 times in a row during the 1st half i had to look away as I couldn't take it anymore. The only thing worse is when they kick it out and the crowd applaud. If I kick the ball out of play playing soccer or gaa I'd get taken off;-)...just don't understand it. Surely the object of any sport is to express oneself by taking on your opponent etc. (e.g the wonderful lionel messi)..not just lumping it into the crowd ??!

Wow, what an original argument, did you think that all up by youself?

[duffer31]

in fairness it has gotten alot worse....are you telling me that the yellow crad dished out week in week out in the premiership nowadays would have been yellow cards 20 years ago...alot of them would not have been free kicks...another thing i cant stand lately is that if you lay a finger on a keeper its a free kick...i played up front for my local side years ago and you could at least challenge a keeper...its ridiculous to watch a 6ft 4 keeper come for a ball now and when he gets a slight nudge he falls down like a sack of spuds looking for a free kick...whatg has ahappenend to the keeps who'd take a cross and smash whoever was in their way

eerrrraaa get over it man. the game evolves like. they used to drink 20 pints playing snooker and darts as well which made it more fun. put away your connect 4 and come in to the next century and while im at it (few people know this to be fair) the keeper is afforded special protection in the 6 yard box. its the only reason it exists besides kick outs. are you tom from guess who?

[The Black Knight]

One of the greatest Irishman sportsmen of all time, pay thanks here

It was an incredible performance on Saturday. George Hook summed him up perfectly afterwards. He was awesome.

[Edmund Blackwater]

If I was Arish, I'd say a prayer to the black protestant God in thanks for BOD. Great performance which dragged a ragtag side to victory. He deserves a slam, can't say the same for the rest of the rabble on the team.

[cantankerous bastard]

If I was Arish, I'd say a prayer to the black protestant God in thanks for BOD. Great performance which dragged a ragtag side to victory. He deserves a slam, can't say the same for the rest of the rabble on the team.

Classy :rolleyes:

[tim the trip]

If I was Arish, I'd say a prayer to the black protestant God in thanks for BOD. Great performance which dragged a ragtag side to victory. He deserves a slam, can't say the same for the rest of the rabble on the team.


plenty of the earl of devonshire black prods along the blackwater .

[POL]

up there with Ruby Walsh and Sean Kelly at this stage

[Edmund Blackwater]

I think Dunphy will be mentioning him amongst the pantheon of the greats next CL night. The acid test for a legend.

[POL]

I think Dunphy will be mentioning him amongst the pantheon of the greats next CL night. The acid test for a legend.

he listed out a load of Irish legends on newstalk with Eamon Keane the other day, BOD was on the list

[Edmund Blackwater]

he listed out a load of Irish legends on newstalk with Eamon Keane the other day, BOD was on the list
and ROG?
Surely ROG?

[POL]

and ROG?
Surely ROG?lacked character I think

[Lamps]

BOD did it for the lads. I'm going to open that bottle of red that I've been saving for the day that the Arish finally stopped holding him back enough, not for want of trying. They tried their best to foil the great man, with ROG once again bottling world cup style as predicted, but he was not to be denied. I heard this evening he was man of the match in every game, and is likely to win his 3 player of the tournament in 4 years.

I salute you BOD. You are a ledge.

Just finished watching the game there. Pure muck apart from BOD heroics. Next up the premiership and glass jaw.

Could be some day for sport in Arland.

[Langer Dan]

Fair play to Drico, he fronted up, made the hard yards, showed physicality at the breakdown and obviously had the prescence of mind to spend the extra hours on the training ground with Paddy Power to show him how it's done.

A great day for to be Arish, if only the rest of those mullockers could show half as much heart.

[Lamps]

BOD equals Honesty. Talent. Heart. Brilliance.

[st finnbar]

BOD equals Honesty. Talent. Heart. Brilliance.

and a die hard man u fan:D

[Lamps]

and a die hard man u fan:D

He's from Dublin isn't he.

There are some decent manyoo fans you know.

[tim the trip]

Fair play to Drico, he fronted up, made the hard yards, showed physicality at the breakdown and obviously had the prescence of mind to spend the extra hours on the training ground with Paddy Power to show him how it's done.

A great day for to be Arish, if only the rest of those mullockers could show half as much heart.

drico, poc, o gara for taking the knocks and the kick, and tommy b for the dancing.

[Rebelred]

The ultimate leader of men?

http://dynimg.rte.ie/000229c4-690.jpg

[DogTheLangerHunter]

It's amazing how ROG's schoolgirl like defending put Ireland in some serious jeopardy and people still herald him as a lidgind.

Those Munstershire savages are some blinkered lot.

[Castlehaven Erbel]

O'Gara stands unbowed to join the Irish immortals

Wales 15 Ireland 17

By Chris Hewett at the Millennium Stadium


Monday, 23 March 2009


DAVID ASHDOWN

The two sides contest a high ball at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday

enlarge
How do we begin to measure it, this momentous achievement for Irish rugby? History is the most obvious yardstick – 61 years is a heck of a long stretch between Grand Slams – but it is also the most misleading. As Declan Kidney, the head coach of the new champions, was at pains to point out, it is now dangerously easy to belittle the efforts of generations who travelled this road without quite reaching the end, and to forget how close his own team came to failure. Who would be speaking of history's fulfilment had the last Welsh kick of this wonderful Six Nations finale sailed on the lightest of spring breezes for another 61 inches?


It is better, surely, to judge Ireland's triumph squarely in terms of the here and now, the only place that really matters to the finest players – those who, when a contest reaches its point of no return, have the skill, the technique, the courage, the nerve and the chutzpah to take possession of the moment. In Cardiff on Saturday night, Ronan O'Gara joined the ranks of the finest.

O'Gara? The same O'Gara who had missed match-winning kicks and slipped off match-saving tackles in Heineken Cup finals, who had been among the first to disappear into the quicksand of Ireland's pathetic World Cup campaign in 2007, who had very nearly blown it against England three weeks previously? Yes, the same O'Gara. Except this time, he was different. This time, he brought the very best of himself to bear on a Welsh team hell-bent on smearing him all over the capital. Quite how he held himself together at the last knockings, having been beaten to a pulp from the outset, was, and is likely to remain, a mystery that surpasseth all understanding. But he did it, and all Ireland will be grateful to him from now until at least 2070, the scheduled date of the next clean sweep.


Ireland's acknowledged stellar performers, the centre Brian O'Driscoll and the lock Paul O'Connell, were as magisterial as they had to be in resisting the Welsh: O'Driscoll played yet another captain's knock, sneaking round the corner of a ruck for a close-range try and generally setting the example; O'Connell, now threatening to out-Johnson Martin Johnson as a second-row forward for all the ages, led the charge up front with his customary cold-eyed ferocity. But without O'Gara, their efforts might easily have come to nothing. As O'Driscoll said, with boundless gratitude: "The boy's a wonder."

The outside-half's diagonal kick towards the right touchline six minutes into the second period was so perfectly placed – damn it, he hit the very blade of grass he was aiming for, bisecting the retreating Shane Williams and the advancing Gavin Henson with complete precision – that Tommy Bowe was able to score untouched by human hand. Then, with just two minutes left on the clock, he dropped the goal that launched a thousand parties. He still had to endure the sight of his opposite number, Stephen Jones, lining up a last shot at the sticks from near halfway, but it was out of his hands by then. He could do no more.
Do not let it be said that the drop-goal was an instinctive act, for it would sell O'Gara short. It was planned, meticulously, over the best part of two minutes – something close to an eternity in circumstances so extreme. "I had an awful lot of time to think about it, and by the end, I was roaring for the ball," said O'Gara, who repositioned himself more than once as O'Connell and company repeatedly sought contact in an effort to create the optimum platform. "I went through the imagery of it, visualising it going over. When it came to the moment, I had to concentrate fully on getting the ball up because I knew the Welsh would be right on me."

They were on him all game, bullying him with barely-concealed contempt and leaving him curled up on the turf like some mashed-up mound of rugby roadkill. Ryan Jones tripped him in the opening minute – even had the assault been in a less public place, the Welsh captain's ridiculous blue boots would have given him away – and after the victim had missed the penalty shot, he quickly found himself smithereened by Tom Shanklin and Dafydd Jones. The more resilience he showed, the harder the Welsh tried to break him. O'Gara is as far from paranoid as it is possible to be, but there must have been times when he felt everyone was out to get him. "I expected it, actually," he said, in his soft Munster tones. "People like to think I'll crack under pressure, but I've won two European titles under pressure. I don't think any of that Welsh team have ever played in a final. They might talk the talk, but they haven't walked the walk. What concerned me more was the impression at home that we Munster players hadn't contributed as much to the national cause as we had to the provincial one. I'm so happy that's gone now."

Gone, never to return. For the most part, Ireland placed their faith in a pack that was seven-eighths Munster – when Stephen Ferris, the workaholic flanker from Ulster, was crocked in the brutal early exchanges, he was replaced by Tipperary's finest, Denis Leamy – and their close-knit camaraderie was something to behold. If Gethin Jenkins and Adam Jones established a degree of superiority at the scrum, O'Connell made such an unholy mess of the Welsh line-out that Warren Gatland, the home coach, was forced to withdraw Ian Gough, his most effective forward around the field, and replace him with the much taller Luke Charteris.

Wales also finished a distant second on the floor, where Leamy and David Wallace performed brilliantly, both in turning over opposition ball on the front foot and in retaining possession on the back foot. But for their own passionate manning of the barricades, the home side would have been a dozen points down at the midway stage rather than six points up. Shanklin, in particular, was a tower of strength.

"One thing you can't question about this team is its heart," said Ryan Jones, who, an hour after the final whistle, was still close to tears. "We put everything we had into that match and unless you're a sportsman who has dealt with a disappointment like this, you can't even begin to imagine how hard it is to take." Defeat may have cost the Welsh Rugby Union a seven-figure sum in prize money, but their national captain could not have cared less. On days like this, financial implications are no measure at all.

Just as history is no measure. Are the 2009ers better than the 1948ers? It is impossible to give a sensible answer. All we know is this: O'Driscoll, O'Connell and, yes, O'Gara are there in the pantheon, alongside Jackie Kyle and Karl Mullen – not to mention the Willie John McBrides and Ollie Campbells and Keith Woods, who never played in a Grand Slam-winning side. Around half the '48 team are still with us, and they raised a glass on Saturday night. It would be nice to think the other half were watching, too.

[Rebelred]

O'Gara stands unbowed to join the Irish immortals

Wales 15 Ireland 17

By Chris Hewett at the Millennium Stadium


Monday, 23 March 2009


DAVID ASHDOWN

The two sides contest a high ball at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday

enlarge
How do we begin to measure it, this momentous achievement for Irish rugby? History is the most obvious yardstick – 61 years is a heck of a long stretch between Grand Slams – but it is also the most misleading. As Declan Kidney, the head coach of the new champions, was at pains to point out, it is now dangerously easy to belittle the efforts of generations who travelled this road without quite reaching the end, and to forget how close his own team came to failure. Who would be speaking of history's fulfilment had the last Welsh kick of this wonderful Six Nations finale sailed on the lightest of spring breezes for another 61 inches?


It is better, surely, to judge Ireland's triumph squarely in terms of the here and now, the only place that really matters to the finest players – those who, when a contest reaches its point of no return, have the skill, the technique, the courage, the nerve and the chutzpah to take possession of the moment. In Cardiff on Saturday night, Ronan O'Gara joined the ranks of the finest.

O'Gara? The same O'Gara who had missed match-winning kicks and slipped off match-saving tackles in Heineken Cup finals, who had been among the first to disappear into the quicksand of Ireland's pathetic World Cup campaign in 2007, who had very nearly blown it against England three weeks previously? Yes, the same O'Gara. Except this time, he was different. This time, he brought the very best of himself to bear on a Welsh team hell-bent on smearing him all over the capital. Quite how he held himself together at the last knockings, having been beaten to a pulp from the outset, was, and is likely to remain, a mystery that surpasseth all understanding. But he did it, and all Ireland will be grateful to him from now until at least 2070, the scheduled date of the next clean sweep.


Ireland's acknowledged stellar performers, the centre Brian O'Driscoll and the lock Paul O'Connell, were as magisterial as they had to be in resisting the Welsh: O'Driscoll played yet another captain's knock, sneaking round the corner of a ruck for a close-range try and generally setting the example; O'Connell, now threatening to out-Johnson Martin Johnson as a second-row forward for all the ages, led the charge up front with his customary cold-eyed ferocity. But without O'Gara, their efforts might easily have come to nothing. As O'Driscoll said, with boundless gratitude: "The boy's a wonder."

The outside-half's diagonal kick towards the right touchline six minutes into the second period was so perfectly placed – damn it, he hit the very blade of grass he was aiming for, bisecting the retreating Shane Williams and the advancing Gavin Henson with complete precision – that Tommy Bowe was able to score untouched by human hand. Then, with just two minutes left on the clock, he dropped the goal that launched a thousand parties. He still had to endure the sight of his opposite number, Stephen Jones, lining up a last shot at the sticks from near halfway, but it was out of his hands by then. He could do no more.
Do not let it be said that the drop-goal was an instinctive act, for it would sell O'Gara short. It was planned, meticulously, over the best part of two minutes – something close to an eternity in circumstances so extreme. "I had an awful lot of time to think about it, and by the end, I was roaring for the ball," said O'Gara, who repositioned himself more than once as O'Connell and company repeatedly sought contact in an effort to create the optimum platform. "I went through the imagery of it, visualising it going over. When it came to the moment, I had to concentrate fully on getting the ball up because I knew the Welsh would be right on me."

They were on him all game, bullying him with barely-concealed contempt and leaving him curled up on the turf like some mashed-up mound of rugby roadkill. Ryan Jones tripped him in the opening minute – even had the assault been in a less public place, the Welsh captain's ridiculous blue boots would have given him away – and after the victim had missed the penalty shot, he quickly found himself smithereened by Tom Shanklin and Dafydd Jones. The more resilience he showed, the harder the Welsh tried to break him. O'Gara is as far from paranoid as it is possible to be, but there must have been times when he felt everyone was out to get him. "I expected it, actually," he said, in his soft Munster tones. "People like to think I'll crack under pressure, but I've won two European titles under pressure. I don't think any of that Welsh team have ever played in a final. They might talk the talk, but they haven't walked the walk. What concerned me more was the impression at home that we Munster players hadn't contributed as much to the national cause as we had to the provincial one. I'm so happy that's gone now."

Gone, never to return. For the most part, Ireland placed their faith in a pack that was seven-eighths Munster – when Stephen Ferris, the workaholic flanker from Ulster, was crocked in the brutal early exchanges, he was replaced by Tipperary's finest, Denis Leamy – and their close-knit camaraderie was something to behold. If Gethin Jenkins and Adam Jones established a degree of superiority at the scrum, O'Connell made such an unholy mess of the Welsh line-out that Warren Gatland, the home coach, was forced to withdraw Ian Gough, his most effective forward around the field, and replace him with the much taller Luke Charteris.

Wales also finished a distant second on the floor, where Leamy and David Wallace performed brilliantly, both in turning over opposition ball on the front foot and in retaining possession on the back foot. But for their own passionate manning of the barricades, the home side would have been a dozen points down at the midway stage rather than six points up. Shanklin, in particular, was a tower of strength.

"One thing you can't question about this team is its heart," said Ryan Jones, who, an hour after the final whistle, was still close to tears. "We put everything we had into that match and unless you're a sportsman who has dealt with a disappointment like this, you can't even begin to imagine how hard it is to take." Defeat may have cost the Welsh Rugby Union a seven-figure sum in prize money, but their national captain could not have cared less. On days like this, financial implications are no measure at all.

Just as history is no measure. Are the 2009ers better than the 1948ers? It is impossible to give a sensible answer. All we know is this: O'Driscoll, O'Connell and, yes, O'Gara are there in the pantheon, alongside Jackie Kyle and Karl Mullen – not to mention the Willie John McBrides and Ollie Campbells and Keith Woods, who never played in a Grand Slam-winning side. Around half the '48 team are still with us, and they raised a glass on Saturday night. It would be nice to think the other half were watching, too.

:lol:

nearly pissed myself reading that

[Mick Lyons]

What's all this immortality nonsense?
Is this tub of lard immortal?
Cos he has TWO grand slams. :rolleyes:

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/42568000/jpg/_42568035_jones416gi .jpg

[mightyquark]

Another interview on RTE where BOD speaks of O Garas words to the team being so important...
He was so in control of the final drop goal that at the last sec he managed to make the decision to readjust his technique as the Welsh had broken the line early and that the ref had missed it.
This with BOD s try were 2 world class moments provided by 2 outstanding Irish players.The fact that the Welsh had deliberately trageted ROG all game even makes it all the more sweeter.
Only bottler there yesterday was Jones.

[mightyquark]

Some lads in the ruck


http://www.gaa.irish-guy.com/img/thumbs/_41297734_dublin1_th .jpg

[tim the trip]

Another interview on RTE where BOD speaks of O Garas words to the team being so important...
He was so in control of the final drop goal that at the last sec he managed to make the decision to readjust his technique as the Welsh had broken the line early and that the ref had missed it.
This with BOD s try were 2 world class moments provided by 2 outstanding Irish players.The fact that the Welsh had deliberately trageted ROG all game even makes it all the more sweeter.
Only bottler there yesterday was Jones.

rog took his lumps in fairness.
the end of that game was like "any givien sunday"
top class. irelands finest sporting hour.
the gaa are happy to say such men of honour have played in croker.
and isint it great...





it realy up's their profile.

[de mange]

rog took his lumps in fairness.
the end of that game was like "any givien sunday"
top class. irelands finest sporting hour.
the gaa are happy to say such men of honour have played in croker.
and isint it great...





it realy up's their profile.

nice try but this is an awful pice of wummery
croker will outdo the rugby atmospheres a couple of times over come the championships

no problem finding men of honour in the GAA

[POL]

nice try but this is an awful pice of wummery
croker will outdo the rugby atmospheres a couple of times over come the championships

no problem finding men of honour in the GAApoor timmay, maybe he should ask the SFI for some tips on how to do it properly

[mightyquark]

no problem finding men of honour in the GAA

And do the GAA look after their men of honour?

[de mange]

And do the GAA look after their men of honour?

how would you define looking after?

[tim the trip]

nice try but this is an awful pice of wummery
croker will outdo the rugby atmospheres a couple of times over come the championships

no problem finding men of honour in the GAA

yeah, if they are not on strike:lol!:

[tim the trip]

poor timmay, maybe he should ask the SFI for some tips on how to do it properly


hey pole. those old threads are class. i hope you dont work for a bookie or anything.

[mightyquark]

how would you define looking after?
not brown envelopes etc....

how would you define a man of honour.?..

[de mange]

not brown envelopes etc....

how would you define a man of honour.?..

from a GAA perspective?
Any man who has hurled admirably for his county - id have lopped a nut off to hurl for cork

[mightyquark]

from a GAA perspective?
Any man who has hurled admirably for his county - id have lopped a nut off to hurl for cork

Fair enough..so you are excluding Footballers?

[de mange]

Fair enough..so you are excluding Footballers?

nope - hurling would be my first love- they slipped my mind

are ya going to ask me if handball players are going to be included next?

[mightyquark]

nope - hurling would be my first love- they slipped my mind

are ya going to ask me if handball players are going to be included next?

Nope..
Hurling is a fine sport and Football on its day can be great but I also think to represent your country or county at any sport is an honour...I believe that Dunne and the Iirsh rugby team represented their Country and families with honour on Saturday.I am sure that the welcome return of the Cork Hurlers brought back a lot of pride and honour in the County jersey.Its been a good few days overall.

So do you think that the GAA look after their men of honour?

[Rebelred]

Nope..
Hurling is a fine sport and Football on its day can be great but I also think to represent your country or county at any sport is an honour...I believe that Dunne and the Iirsh rugby team represented their Country and families with honour on Saturday.I am sure that the welcome return of the Cork Hurlers brought back a lot of pride and honour in the County jersey.Its been a good few days overall.

So do you think that the GAA look after their men of honour?

It's not clear what you're trying to imply here ryanair, are you trying to say the GAA should pay its players as professionals?

[mightyquark]

It's not clear what you're trying to imply here ryanair, are you trying to say the GAA should pay its players as professionals?

Dont get the Ryanair thing but each to their own...
No as I said previously I am not referring to financial reward.

[Lamps]

Dont get the Ryanair thing but each to their own...
No as I said previously I am not referring to financial reward.

Ryanair as in you claimed that its possible to "hang in the air".

And still do to this day.

Levitation is something you believe in.

Now where's that Mitchell and Webb clip

[ANVIL]

Ryanair as in you claimed that its possible to "hang in the air".

And still do to this day.

Levitation is something you believe in.

Now where's that Mitchell and Webb clip

Stop Lamps stop please.
I'm worried this levitation thing could be perceived as bullying someone who really can't help themselves.
But while you're at it could you make sure your tray is in an upright position and seatbelt securely fastened.

[mightyquark]

Ryanair as in you claimed that its possible to "hang in the air".

And still do to this day.

Levitation is something you believe in.

Now where's that Mitchell and Webb clip

No idea what you are talking about and keeping in tune with yours and Pols recent form ..neither do you..,..
Now wheres that Christy Ring distributer of Soccer Balls thread?

[Lamps]

I never tire of this. never

ZDNgmdGMpuY

[mightyquark]

Still dont get it...
Exposed again
Its been a long week of exposure for the flat earth muppets...

[Lamps]

Quacky in the office

be wide

Ik7IzBHWxD8

[mightyquark]

I am nearer than you think

Lamps and the flat earth muppets rattled badly

How much hurt went through your soul when it was exposed that Christy Ring distributed Soccer Balls??
That Nicky English was texting ROG.
That Kidney and Dunne turned you over..
I wont even start on the CCB revelations..

(Have another big one on the way soon)

Tis a great weekend for Irish sport and the Irish sporting fan.

[ANVIL]

I never tire of this. never

ZDNgmdGMpuY

Gold.
Like Fawlty Towers it's always worth repeating.

[mightyquark]

Go on the Anvil..build up those browny points...SFI school end of year exam only around the corner.

[Lamps]

QuakY is rattled.

I could say 50 wrongs things today and all I have to do is bring up that sketch to win.

List out some more stuff there like a good lad

[mightyquark]

QuakY is rattled.

I could say 50 wrongs things today and all I have to do is bring up that sketch to win.

List out some more stuff there like a good lad

oh I left out Tom "Leeds Utd" Humphries

You see Lamps you have been badly exposed this last week and the more you bring this up, it exposes you even more..It never gets boring..its like you have a form of stupidity tourettes...You obviously have no understanding of any sport,I think at this stage that is a fair conclusion.
Now I know it has been a bad week of rattling for you and fair dues to you for making all sort of attempts to save face but in a metaphysical sense whats Dunne is done....:lol:

[leftback]

Thought Ireland were brilliant at the weekend and BOD the main man again.

What I don't understand is BOD spoke on Newstalk last night and kept referring to the game on Sat as a 'football' match.

I'm a follower of all games but AFAIK football is usually either gaelic or soccer and rugby is just rugby...

Any takers??

[Mick Lyons]

Yeah the rogby crowd will often refer to some lad as being a "great footballer".
Puzzling.

[mightyquark]

Yeah the rogby crowd will often refer to some lad as being a "great footballer".
Puzzling.

Football is the word given to a number of similar team sports, all of which involve (to varying degrees) kicking a ball with the foot in an attempt to score a goal. The most popular of these sports worldwide is association football, more commonly known as just "football" or "soccer". The English language word "football" is also applied to "gridiron football" (a name associated with the North American sports, especially American football and Canadian football), Australian football, Gaelic football, rugby football (rugby league and rugby union), and related games. Each of these codes (specific sets of rules, or the games defined by them) is referred to as "football".

[Rebelred]

Football is the word given to a number of similar team sports, all of which involve (to varying degrees) kicking a ball with the foot in an attempt to score a goal. The most popular of these sports worldwide is association football, more commonly known as just "football" or "soccer". The English language word "football" is also applied to "gridiron football" (a name associated with the North American sports, especially American football and Canadian football), Australian football, Gaelic football, rugby football (rugby league and rugby union), and related games. Each of these codes (specific sets of rules, or the games defined by them) is referred to as "football".

http://reagle.org/joseph/Talks/2009/images/Penny_Arcade_comic-20051216h.jpg

[mightyquark]

http://reagle.org/joseph/Talks/2009/images/Penny_Arcade_comic-20051216h.jpg

Quality:D

[Lamps]

Back of the net. QuackY exposed again.

He's not very good at the INTERNET

[oul'doll]

Yeah the rogby crowd will often refer to some lad as being a "great footballer".
Puzzling.



Does it keep you up nights?

[Langer Dan]

Yeah the rogby crowd will often refer to some lad as being a "great footballer".
Puzzling.

In rugger this generally equates to being able to run in a straight line without falling over.

[mightyquark]

Back of the net. QuackY exposed again.

He's not very good at the INTERNET

Jesus your cracking up young fellah..running around like a kid with attention disorder ..calling people exposed and rattled...you are making a FOOL of yourself..go away and regroup for gods sake..its getting embarassing.:sleepin g:

[Mick Lyons]

Does it keep you up nights?

http://z.about.com/d/top40/1/0/g/3/1/mjbeatit.jpg

[Lamps]

Jesus your cracking up young fellah..running around like a kid with attention disorder ..calling people exposed and rattled...you are making a FOOL of yourself..go away and regroup for gods sake..its getting embarassing.:sleepin g:

Meltdown for Icarus.

[ANVIL]

Meltdown for Icarus.

Request emergency landing denied.

[Berbs]

By Kevin Myers

Tuesday March 24 2009

What has driven the population of Ireland ecstatic beyond words has utterly escaped the attention of everyone else

A ll right, I understand rugby's offside laws like I do the Tokyo telephone exchange, and my mastery of the mysteries of front-row play equals my fluency in Zulu.

That said, let's all agree that Europe was riveted by Saturday's match. London is to dedicate some bells to the scorer of Ireland's second try, and the Royal College of Physicians is to rename a body part after the Irish manager.

The German Chancellor Herr Bismarck has awarded Brian O'Driscoll the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, with Diamonds and Oak-Leaf Clusters, while General Franco is appointing him a Caballero of the Grand Order of St Sebastian. Even Burma has been impressed, and is releasing a thousand political prisoners to celebrate Ireland's world-famous victory.

Though on second thoughts, perhaps not.

For what has driven almost the entire population of Ireland ecstatic beyond words has utterly escaped the attention of everyone else.

Even if you asked an average Englishman or Frenchman, with a reasonable interest in rugby, which team won this year's rugby Grand Slam, they might possibly know today, (though I doubt it, for their countries notoriously take an interest only in their own sporting achievements) but they certainly won't by next Saturday.

And the rest of Europe has never heard of the Six Nations Championship, the rugby-playing countries' equivalent of the Nordic Cross-Country Skiing & Smallbore Trapshooting Contest, that annually has the populations of Scandinavia and Finland -- with all those lovely Nielsens and Nylands -- chewing their chairs in a frenzy of patriotic excitement, convinced the world is watching, agog.

It isn't. There's only a handful of sporting competitions which are of global significance: soccer, of course, plus a couple of Olympic titles -- the men's 1500 and 5000 metres, and even then their winners are world-famous for but a week.

For these events are always won by drugs-free African athletes who, despite their honesty, don't register on our psyches.

The 100 metres, usually won by drug-fuelled North American descendants of slaves, hasn't been honest since before the Munich crisis.

And of Irish swimmers, I say naught.

So, keeping matters thus in perspective, we might also consider just what happened on Saturday: an Irish team that once again was subconsciously determined to lose was rescued from defeat by the greatest Irish sportsmen alive; the four Os -- O'Driscoll, O'Gara and O'Connell, and their divine associate, O Salutaris. They chose to reject the script that the collective subconscious of some team-mates had begun to write from the very kick-off.

The opening words of this secret death-wish were penned within the first minute when Donncha O'Callaghan started an idiotic off-the-ball incident with a Welsh player. He was warned: any more such hanky-panky, my boy, and you're off.

Midway through the second half, he got involved in more stupidity. But the referee, no doubt daunted by the consequences of a dismissal in the crunch match of the season, kept his yellow card in his pocket.

Nonetheless, the penalty awarded put Wales just a point behind. Minutes later, more subconscious-engendered stupidity, and they were ahead.

Indeed, the ludicrous penalty count throughout the match -- 15-6 against Ireland -- suggests that the Irish self-defeating mentality of old lived on in some players. They knew the referee's severe attitude to holding on to the ball after a tackle, yet nonetheless violated repeatedly. That it didn't lead to disaster was solely because of O'Connell's total dominance of the line-outs resulting from those Welsh penalties. No Irish forward has so completely ruled from the throw-in -- well, not since the day that, owing to a slight confusion in sporting and episcopal fixture-lists, Willie John McBride led Ballymena 1st XV to victory over a party of First-Communicants from Glenarm Infants' School.

And as for Brian O'Driscoll: he is simply the greatest ever Irish footballer, in any code. True greatness is not just about bravura performances for a handful of seasons, such as George Best showed, but throughout an entire playing career.

It is only possible when a unique skill is combined with an equally unique emotional maturity, and all governed by an unswerving personal integrity. Brian O'Driscoll embodies these heroic virtues (whereas Best only ever thought that "honour" preceded "back").

The final hallmark of a truly great player is that even when the opposition knows he is lethal, and unleashes football's equivalent of Soviet-style tank warfare against him, he triumphs regardless.

Two of Brian's tries in this championship, in which he burrowed through the massed armour of the opposing forwards to get a touch-down, are almost without precedent for a centre at international level.

And something else: great players tend also to be gentlemen. Brian O'Driscoll therefore qualifies on all counts.

Nonetheless, at the end, Ireland were blessed with extraordinary luck.

If the usually wonderful Stephen Jones had not in the final minute kicked directly into touch, Ireland would never have been close enough to the Welsh line for Ronan O'Gara's drop-goal.

Yet tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon: even on Saturday, almost no-one else in the entire world gave a damn. So let us all now proceed with the rest of our lives.
Almost no-one else gives a damn about Grand Slam

http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/kevin-myers/almost-noone-else-gives-a-damn-about-grand-slam-1683618.html

What do we all think about this then?

[Lamps]

He doesn't have a clue about sport so I wouldn't pay that much heed to his analysis of the game but BOD is a heroic figure and the rest of the world and most of this country couldn't care less about the win, he hits a lot of high notes there alright.

I like the comparison to the scandanavian stuff.

ps That Grand Slam pales in comparison to what glass jaw did. Credit where its due

[ANVIL]

By Kevin Myers

Tuesday March 24 2009

What has driven the population of Ireland ecstatic beyond words has utterly escaped the attention of everyone else

A ll right, I understand rugby's offside laws like I do the Tokyo telephone exchange, and my mastery of the mysteries of front-row play equals my fluency in Zulu.

That said, let's all agree that Europe was riveted by Saturday's match. London is to dedicate some bells to the scorer of Ireland's second try, and the Royal College of Physicians is to rename a body part after the Irish manager.

The German Chancellor Herr Bismarck has awarded Brian O'Driscoll the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, with Diamonds and Oak-Leaf Clusters, while General Franco is appointing him a Caballero of the Grand Order of St Sebastian. Even Burma has been impressed, and is releasing a thousand political prisoners to celebrate Ireland's world-famous victory.

Though on second thoughts, perhaps not.

For what has driven almost the entire population of Ireland ecstatic beyond words has utterly escaped the attention of everyone else.

Even if you asked an average Englishman or Frenchman, with a reasonable interest in rugby, which team won this year's rugby Grand Slam, they might possibly know today, (though I doubt it, for their countries notoriously take an interest only in their own sporting achievements) but they certainly won't by next Saturday.

And the rest of Europe has never heard of the Six Nations Championship, the rugby-playing countries' equivalent of the Nordic Cross-Country Skiing & Smallbore Trapshooting Contest, that annually has the populations of Scandinavia and Finland -- with all those lovely Nielsens and Nylands -- chewing their chairs in a frenzy of patriotic excitement, convinced the world is watching, agog.

It isn't. There's only a handful of sporting competitions which are of global significance: soccer, of course, plus a couple of Olympic titles -- the men's 1500 and 5000 metres, and even then their winners are world-famous for but a week.

For these events are always won by drugs-free African athletes who, despite their honesty, don't register on our psyches.

The 100 metres, usually won by drug-fuelled North American descendants of slaves, hasn't been honest since before the Munich crisis.

And of Irish swimmers, I say naught.

So, keeping matters thus in perspective, we might also consider just what happened on Saturday: an Irish team that once again was subconsciously determined to lose was rescued from defeat by the greatest Irish sportsmen alive; the four Os -- O'Driscoll, O'Gara and O'Connell, and their divine associate, O Salutaris. They chose to reject the script that the collective subconscious of some team-mates had begun to write from the very kick-off.

The opening words of this secret death-wish were penned within the first minute when Donncha O'Callaghan started an idiotic off-the-ball incident with a Welsh player. He was warned: any more such hanky-panky, my boy, and you're off.

Midway through the second half, he got involved in more stupidity. But the referee, no doubt daunted by the consequences of a dismissal in the crunch match of the season, kept his yellow card in his pocket.

Nonetheless, the penalty awarded put Wales just a point behind. Minutes later, more subconscious-engendered stupidity, and they were ahead.

Indeed, the ludicrous penalty count throughout the match -- 15-6 against Ireland -- suggests that the Irish self-defeating mentality of old lived on in some players. They knew the referee's severe attitude to holding on to the ball after a tackle, yet nonetheless violated repeatedly. That it didn't lead to disaster was solely because of O'Connell's total dominance of the line-outs resulting from those Welsh penalties. No Irish forward has so completely ruled from the throw-in -- well, not since the day that, owing to a slight confusion in sporting and episcopal fixture-lists, Willie John McBride led Ballymena 1st XV to victory over a party of First-Communicants from Glenarm Infants' School.

And as for Brian O'Driscoll: he is simply the greatest ever Irish footballer, in any code. True greatness is not just about bravura performances for a handful of seasons, such as George Best showed, but throughout an entire playing career.

It is only possible when a unique skill is combined with an equally unique emotional maturity, and all governed by an unswerving personal integrity. Brian O'Driscoll embodies these heroic virtues (whereas Best only ever thought that "honour" preceded "back").

The final hallmark of a truly great player is that even when the opposition knows he is lethal, and unleashes football's equivalent of Soviet-style tank warfare against him, he triumphs regardless.

Two of Brian's tries in this championship, in which he burrowed through the massed armour of the opposing forwards to get a touch-down, are almost without precedent for a centre at international level.

And something else: great players tend also to be gentlemen. Brian O'Driscoll therefore qualifies on all counts.

Nonetheless, at the end, Ireland were blessed with extraordinary luck.

If the usually wonderful Stephen Jones had not in the final minute kicked directly into touch, Ireland would never have been close enough to the Welsh line for Ronan O'Gara's drop-goal.

Yet tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon: even on Saturday, almost no-one else in the entire world gave a damn. So let us all now proceed with the rest of our lives.
Almost no-one else gives a damn about Grand Slam

http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/kevin-myers/almost-noone-else-gives-a-damn-about-grand-slam-1683618.html

What do we all think about this then?



Only last week I called Kevin Myers the greatest Irish columnist alive and I see nothing to change my opinion.
He is the Conor Cruise O'Brien of the Noughties.

[Mick Lyons]

He doesn't have a clue about sport so I wouldn't pay that much heed to his analysis of the game but BOD is a heroic figure and the rest of the world and most of this country couldn't care less about the win, he hits a lot of high notes there alright.

I like the comparison to the scandanavian stuff.

ps That Grand Slam pales in comparison to what glass jaw did. Credit where its due

Did you see the shite on Questions and Answers last night? The first question (yes that's right, the FIRST question) was some gom asking if the grand slam win was going to signal the beginning of the Celtic Tiger Mark II (he actually pronounced it Seltick Tiger god love him). Cue lots of cringe-inducing responses from the panel including Mícheál Martin talking about "Roy Houghton" in '88 etc. Alan Dukes gave a short, glib answer that roughly translated as "Yeah, it's good that Ireland won the grand slam, but would you ever fuck off with this shite-talk!".

[o_2_b_a_rebel]

Did you see the shite on Questions and Answers last night? The first question (yes that's right, the FIRST question) was some gom asking if the grand slam win was going to signal the beginning of the Celtic Tiger Mark II (he actually pronounced it Seltick Tiger god love him). Cue lots of cringe-inducing responses from the panel including Mícheál Martin talking about "Roy Houghton" in '88 etc. Alan Dukes gave a short, glib answer that roughly translated as "Yeah, it's good that Ireland won the grand slam, but would you ever fuck off with this shite-talk!".

Makes you proud to be Irish to see us produce comedy gold like that.

[Lamps]

Did you see the shite on Questions and Answers last night? The first question (yes that's right, the FIRST question) was some gom asking if the grand slam win was going to signal the beginning of the Celtic Tiger Mark II (he actually pronounced it Seltick Tiger god love him). Cue lots of cringe-inducing responses from the panel including Mícheál Martin talking about "Roy Houghton" in '88 etc. Alan Dukes gave a short, glib answer that roughly translated as "Yeah, it's good that Ireland won the grand slam, but would you ever fuck off with this shite-talk!".

Yup, caught that. Cringetastic all round.

Your common or garden Irishman wouldn't be able to tell you the difference between Denis Leamy and David Wallace.

And then some langer had the cheek to knock jackie's army for "not actually winning anything"

[POL]

Meltdown for Icarus.the levitator is trying her upmost to rattle the legendary SFI, and isn't not even registering on the scale in any form, Does she not reailse better women than her have been sent down in flames?

[ANVIL]

the levitator is trying her upmost to rattle the legendary SFI, and isn't not even registering on the scale in any form, Does she not reailse better women than her have been sent down in flames?

It's like an ongoing remake of 2001: A Space Odyssey

[mightyquark]

the levitator is trying her upmost to rattle the legendary SFI, and isn't not even registering on the scale in any form, Does she not reailse better women than her have been sent down in flames?

Fair dues to ya after all the beatings you got this week for showing your face...how is the Christy Ring Soccer school going?

[mightyquark]

Rattlement achieved..(apart from Anvil cos single cell creatures ..you know)
Thread over...

[ANVIL]

Rattlement achieved..(apart from Anvil cos single cell creatures ..you know)
Thread over...

Crew prepare for landing.

[POL]

Great week for BOD, singlehandedly won the championship, then gets engaged

[Rebelred]

Great week for BOD, singlehandedly won the championship, then gets engaged

he even managed to get through the celebrating without getting a photo taken of him with his hand down a young one's bra

[Berbs]

he even managed to get through the celebrating without getting a photo taken of him with his hand down a young one's bra

I was wondering how long it would take for someone to mention that. Undeniably true though.

[Castlehaven Erbel]

POL & Lamps still held a candle for BOD but he went for Amy :lol!:

[Lamps]

Congrats to the BODmeister.

Delighted for him. Pure class

[Langer Dan]

Fair play to the goys, they really fronted up today.

Another masterclass in defence from the BODmeister.
ROG should be made sit down and watch a video of today's game against QuinS.
TACKLING 101!

[mightyquark]

Fair play to the goys, they really fronted up today.

Another masterclass in defence from the BODmeister.
ROG should be made sit down and watch a video of today's game against QuinS.
TACKLING 101!

In fairness if ROG was kicking for Harlequins today they would have been out of sight.

[Rebelred]

Class is permanent!

[POL]

Class is permanent!justice is done

[Rebelred]

justice is done

a true leader of men! alive alive oh!

[Langer Dan]

If Gatty and co. have any sense they'l be giving the Lions armband to Drico,
a real leader of men not like that baldy bottler.

[Rebelred]

More of the SFI moving the goalposts i think you can't win with them, let them enjoy their safe haven that its this website.

They say munster are crap,bottlers yadda yadda, they win a few trophies , suddenly they take issue of how "un cork" they are, or how shit the what ever the final was.

First time i have heard the SFI sing BOD praises (if only to wum). He got a lot of critism justifiably, he is making up for it now.

hehehe

[tim the trip]

Class is permanent!

it sure is, and it was great to see some in croker yesterday for a change.

[POL]

it sure is, and it was great to see some in croker yesterday for a change.
Munstershire showed up for the frauds they are

[tim the trip]

Munstershire showed up for the frauds they are

by making a mess of one game pole-y ? a come off it. even your not that stupid.but lets be honest,do you follow saccarballs? what team ??why wont you answer the question ?i agree with you , leinster where fantastic.they indeed kicked munsters ass, in a sporting display that the gaa should be proud of , and aspire to.afterall, a lot of the people on the pitch were on the same team that beat the english there.your clucthing at straws trying to rattle me pole-y, i am no bandwaggoner,i post pictures of every match i go to , either hurling or rugby.how many games do you go to??munster by the grace of god.you cant win everything you know.roll on next year, we will always have slamgate,im still laughing at that.

[tim the trip]

why cant i post them? is anyones editor playing up?

[POL]

by making a mess of one game pole-y ? a come off it. even your not that stupid.but lets be honest,do you follow saccarballs? what team ??why wont you answer the question ?i agree with you , leinster where fantastic.they indeed kicked munsters ass, in a sporting display that the gaa should be proud of , and aspire to.afterall, a lot of the people on the pitch were on the same team that beat the english there.your clucthing at straws trying to rattle me pole-y, i am no bandwaggoner,i post pictures of every match i go to , either hurling or rugby.how many games do you go to??munster by the grace of god.you cant win everything you know.roll on next year, we will always have slamgate,im still laughing at that.soccer is a disgusting business, everyone in the sports forum knows the SFI's position on it, Munstershire are finished now, no better team than Leinster to drive the nail into their coffin

[tim the trip]

soccer is a disgusting business, everyone in the sports forum knows the SFI's position on it, Munstershire are finished now, no better team than Leinster to drive the nail into their coffin

even lamp-y?how are munster finished after this?hahahahah. gowl.leinster are fab i agree. it was a greaT display in Croker. FANTASTIC.

[Langer Dan]

by making a mess of one game pole-y ? a come off it. even your not that stupid.but lets be honest,do you follow saccarballs? what team ??why wont you answer the question ?i agree with you , leinster where fantastic.they indeed kicked munsters ass, in a sporting display that the gaa should be proud of , and aspire to.afterall, a lot of the people on the pitch were on the same team that beat the english there.your clucthing at straws trying to rattle me pole-y, i am no bandwaggoner,i post pictures of every match i go to , either hurling or rugby.how many games do you go to??munster by the grace of god.you cant win everything you know.roll on next year, we will always have slamgate,im still laughing at that.

Ehm what?

The GAA regularly sell out Croker, yesterday was the biggest attendance EVER for a club game in rogby.


In terms of organisation, structure and support the blazer boys have a lot to learn from the GAA.


As for beating the english, a team we play every year irrespective of venue, who gives two shits. The only people getting misty eyed over a bunch of supporters being able to behave like civilised adults were bandwagoneers and the newspaper men who fed them such gibberish.

[CORKBHOY]

by making a mess of one game pole-y ? a come off it. even your not that stupid.but lets be honest,do you follow saccarballs? what team ??why wont you answer the question ?i agree with you , leinster where fantastic.they indeed kicked munsters ass, in a sporting display that the gaa should be proud of , and aspire to.afterall, a lot of the people on the pitch were on the same team that beat the english there.your clucthing at straws trying to rattle me pole-y, i am no bandwaggoner,i post pictures of every match i go to , either hurling or rugby.how many games do you go to??munster by the grace of god.you cant win everything you know.roll on next year, we will always have slamgate,im still laughing at that.

Why should the Gaa be proud of a game of rugby?

[tim the trip]

ehm what?i know the gaa regularly sell out croker,im at most all irelands you silly langer.still, the gaa are proud to heve had such a display of sporting exellence at croker yesterday, it is to be commended.who gives two shits about beating the english? a come on langer-y , your just upset that rugby gives this countey an actual sporting forum with which we actually can beat the brits.well done leinster.the gaa are proud,the sfi are proud.
o and we thank the gaa for making it happen{the record for a club game}

[tim the trip]

Why should the Gaa be proud of a game of rugby?

better ask your sfi rep that one bob.

[CORKBHOY]

better ask your sfi rep that one bob.

I don't have a sfi rep.

[tim the trip]

I don't have a sfi rep.

well hold on, im sure one will be along soon.

[Mick Lyons]

All lines are busy at the moment.....

[vanderburke]

, i am no bandwaggoner,i post pictures of every match i go to , either hurling or rugby.how many games do you go to??munster by the grace of god.you cant win everything you know.roll on next year, we will always have slamgate,im still laughing at that.

Point of correction ttt, it's 'Irish by birth, CORK by the grace of God'

Yet another example of how Munster Ltd are the Man Ure of Ireland....bandwaggo ning and no originallity- just robbing other people slogans..

Those muppets that have that banner should be shot with pellet guns with ammo made from their own spuds

[tim the trip]

Point of correction ttt, it's 'Irish by birth, CORK by the grace of God'

Yet another example of how Munster Ltd are the Man Ure of Ireland....bandwaggo ning and no originallity- just robbing other people slogans..

Those muppets that have that banner should be shot with pellet guns with ammo made from their own spuds

half of the anti rugby folk on here follow soaacre balls teams like man utd as well as the gaa.ant on top of that they dont go to any matches or marches. i noticed a lack if photos of the sfi at any demo or march during the recent crisis. mossy langers, who get there cannon from a brit like t humphries??? ah come off it.who are they to lecture me???i notice they never mention there own teams, who they have played for or anything about themslves at all. cowards it would seem.......i support out national {english beating} rugby team, and munster rugby.i think that its great that the gaa recoginise the might of the game and allow it in croker.the sfi must agree . they have even described yesterdays game in croker as magnificent and great. the best endorsment of rugby i hace heard in a long time, and i thank them for the support they have giving the game.munster has indeed the grace of god, and next year wont be long coming.

[tim the trip]

Point of correction ttt, it's 'Irish by birth, CORK by the grace of God'

Yet another example of how Munster Ltd are the Man Ure of Ireland....bandwaggo ning and no originallity- just robbing other people slogans..

Those muppets that have that banner should be shot with pellet guns with ammo made from their own spuds

your location says sw london.

[vanderburke]

your location says sw london.

Must be one of those fellas that come from another county and spends their time on Cork forums eh, Tim???

[tim the trip]

Must be one of those fellas that come from another county and spends their time on Cork forums eh, Tim???

indeed.

[Youghal Exile]

Must be one of those fellas that come from another county and spends their time on Cork forums eh, Tim???

Tim is a great limerick man.

[tim the trip]

Tim is a great limerick man.

i sure am waterford!!

[Youghal Exile]

i sure am waterford!!

Do you live next door to the dundons?

[mumbojumbo]

Do you live next door to the dundons?

Where in waterford are you from?

[tim the trip]

Do you live next door to the dundons?

only when im a guest of the state.....

[Youghal Exile]

Where in waterford are you from?

As long as the youghal notes are in the echo it will remain in cork.

[tim the trip]

As long as the youghal notes are in the echo it will remain in cork.

o its always in the pink pages. "FOR SALE"

[BangorFeen]

Congrats to the BODmeister.

Delighted for him. Pure class
Indeed. He was sublime. Fair play to Leinster too; that was a big, big result for them. They have unfinished business with the Tiggers too so with a bit of luck they can maintain the momentum. Donkeyponi is out though and I'm not sure what the story is with Luke Fitzgerald. Those would be two big, big losses.

Jackman is still shit though.

[POL]

http://img.skysports.com/09/05/800x600/Brian-O-Driscoll-Leicester-Tigers-Leinster-He_2309917.jpg

[POL]

http://l.yimg.com/fv/xp/afp/20090503/05/2723464261.jpg

[Langer Dan]

It must gall Munstershire that Leinster only needed one crack off the final to win it:lol!:

[rebelicecreamman]

It must gall Munstershire that Leinster only needed one crack off the final to win it:lol!:

mental age of 5.

[POL]

Heineken Cup medal, leading try scorer in the tournament.
Captained Ireland to the Grand Slam, leading try scorer, player of the tournament and two man-of-the-match awards from 5 available.
IRUPA player of the year.
Selected for the Loins, robbed of the captaincy in a disgraceful decision

[séan borver]

I could have sworn Leo Cullen captained Leinster to yesterdays great victory???

Congrats to Leinster on winning trophy yesterday (at 14 attempt despite what some Alzheimer sufferers might have you believe).

Whilst galling not to be there, I gotta say great performance and thoroughly deserved. Some great players coming through for Ireland, most notably JS, CH & SJ, future looks very bright indeed for both Leinster & Ireland. Some Munster boys will be looking over their shoulder next Autumn and deservedly so.

Enjoy the moment guys....

[Lamps]

Wonderful stuff.
http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/rugby/images/1224247266185.jpg?ts =1243156436

[mightyquark]

Heineken Cup medal, leading try scorer in the tournament.
Captained Ireland to the Grand Slam, leading try scorer, player of the tournament and two man-of-the-match awards from 5 available.
IRUPA player of the year.
Selected for the Loins, robbed of the captaincy in a disgraceful decision

He is no Ian Mc Shane:lol!:

[Rebelred]

More of the SFI moving the goalposts i think you can't win with them, let them enjoy their safe haven that its this website.

They say munster are crap,bottlers yadda yadda, they win a few trophies , suddenly they take issue of how "un cork" they are, or how shit the what ever the final was.

First time i have heard the SFI sing BOD praises (if only to wum). He got a lot of critism justifiably, he is making up for it now.

hehehe