A whiff of Cordite

[LeRouxIsPHat]

I thought the same about Monye when he first started commentating but he's grown on me a lot. He can be very insightful whilst still throwing in a howler in every game.

[Twist]

I’m shocked by the number of people saying Marley was trying to “defuse the situation”

First it requires us to believe that Joe Marler wanted to calm things down. Yes, that Joe Marler.

Then we have to believe that he thought the best way to do that was to fondle the testicles of the calmest man in the whole schemozzle.

Like, imagine seeing a fight outside a nightclub and thinking to yourself “This is getting out of hand. I better grope someone to calm everyone down.”

[hugonaut]

I’m shocked by the number of people saying Marley was trying to “defuse the situation”

First it requires us to believe that Joe Marler wanted to calm things down. Yes, that Joe Marler.

Then we have to believe that he thought the best way to do that was to fondle the testicles of the calmest man in the whole schemozzle.

Like, imagine seeing a fight outside a nightclub and thinking to yourself “This is getting out of hand. I better grope someone to calm everyone down.”

Marler is a wind-up merchant on the pitch. I don't think he's a terrible guy at all, in fact I think he comes across as quite a genuine chap for the most part, but he's a wind-up merchant.

I'm like you Twist, in that I can't get over the number of people who are, metaphorically speaking, choosing to die on this hill. Will Carling is one who springs to mind. There are so many old English farts on his Twitter account giving out about how patting lad's balls is part of the spirit of the game, and it's a disaster if you can't pat an opponent's balls anymore. What the absolute f*ck. You f*cking weirdos.

[Twist]

Absolutely, I don’t think he’s a malicious person by nature but he’s a total wind-up merchant and he’s playing in an environment where those instinct won’t exactly be reigned in

[riocard911]

I agree, that Marler was trying to wind Wyn-Jones up and that he deserved to be punished for what he did. I do however think what Tuilagi did to North was worse and should have received a heavier penalty. IMO, Eddie Jones should have been cited too for criticising the red card and claiming England at the end were playing against 16 men. That's scurrilous.

As I see it Marler is acting the maggot; unacceptable behaviour absolutely, but not on the same level as Tuilagi's reckless shoulder charge to the head of an opposing player that potentially could have ended North's career or even in extremis have left him in a wheelchair or killed the guy. Whatever happened to responsibility to protect? A lot of the "hits" - many of them late - we see these days, which are ignored if not lauded and get posted on YouTube, are more damaging than the stupid touchy feely Marler inflicted on AWJ.

[mildlyinterested]

https://m.independent.ie/sport/rugby/th ... 44913.html

Anyone?

[Oldschoolsocks]

https://m.independent.ie/sport/rugby/th ... 44913.html

Anyone?

It certainly ends on a cliffhanger

[alanair]

https://m.independent.ie/sport/rugby/th ... 44913.html

Anyone?

It certainly ends on a cliffhanger

Really ?? .... so there is one sucker that pays for the alleged ‘premium ‘ content ??

[Oldschoolsocks]

https://m.independent.ie/sport/rugby/th ... 44913.html

Anyone?

It certainly ends on a cliffhanger

Really ?? .... so there is one sucker that pays for the alleged ‘premium ‘ content ??

Show Spoiler:

He fears another cavity search on the subject of what happened with England in a previous lifetime.

[mildlyinterested]

https://m.independent.ie/sport/rugby/th ... 84124.html

Anyone?

[Oldschoolsocks]

https://m.independent.ie/sport/rugby/th ... 84124.html

Anyone?

Not worth €2:50 to read

[RavenhillRaider]

"Simon Zebo: ‘It’s been tough not being able to put my hand up to play with Ireland’
Former Munster star has zero regrets with his decision to switch his life and rugby to Paris"

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/ ... -1.4219359

Nothing against the guy, but these stories are getting really tiring now.

I know we are in a period were rugby journalists have no games to report on.

But surely they could turn there hand to writing more interesting stories like whats WR, unions doing to help rugby or pieces on the AIL and its issues.

[blockhead]

INDO's ROC is bringing up the oul NFL Draft idea again. "An NFL draft-style system could help address the imbalance in Irish rugby"
Behind the pay wall of course.

[Dave Cahill]

In fairness to him, he really works for his soup

[neiliog93]

INDO's ROC is bringing up the oul NFL Draft idea again. "An NFL draft-style system could help address the imbalance in Irish rugby"
Behind the pay wall of course.

It's amazing how the 'power of identity' was weaponised by the media when Munster were successful in the 2000s (and the alleged lack of it used to hammer Leinster), but now suddenly we need to largely abandon provincial identities and embrace a draft, mainly because Munster can't produce their own players in large enough numbers...

[hugonaut]

INDO's ROC is bringing up the oul NFL Draft idea again. "An NFL draft-style system could help address the imbalance in Irish rugby"
Behind the pay wall of course.

It's amazing how the 'power of identity' was weaponised by the media when Munster were successful in the 2000s (and the alleged lack of it used to hammer Leinster), but now suddenly we need to largely abandon provincial identities and embrace a draft, mainly because Munster can't produce their own players in large enough numbers...

This is never going to happen.

[FLIP]

INDO's ROC is bringing up the oul NFL Draft idea again. "An NFL draft-style system could help address the imbalance in Irish rugby"
Behind the pay wall of course.

It's amazing how the 'power of identity' was weaponised by the media when Munster were successful in the 2000s (and the alleged lack of it used to hammer Leinster), but now suddenly we need to largely abandon provincial identities and embrace a draft, mainly because Munster can't produce their own players in large enough numbers...

This is never going to happen.

What, Munster producing their own players in sufficient quality or quantity?

[mildlyinterested]

in fairness munster are starting to produce more players of sufficient quality... just need to do it consistently.

[Ruckedtobits]

Just noticed yesterday, a new posting by Demented Mole.

As always an excellent piece.

https://dementedmole.com/2020/04/24/jan ... front-row/

[D4surfer]

https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/ ... 08143.html

"Prop Idol"..........

I certainly will not pay to read this but I presume it's the usual nonsense.