Mads to Bordeaux - confirmed

[curates_egg]

I will remain in my default stance of Madigan is the best running outhalf I have seen in Ireland in the 30 odd years I have been watching the game.

If the 30 years excludes Paul Dean then I have no problem agreeing with you.

It does unfortunately. I can only go on the word of others for his abilities. That and the animated gifs and his agent's youtube highlight reel.

[riocard911]

Ah come on, Dave. Deano was good, very, very good, I'll admit, but Ollie was KING!!!

[Dave Cahill]

Ah come on, Dave. Deano was good, very, very good, I'll admit, but Ollie was KING!!!

Yes, but we're simply talking about a running outhalf, and thats where Dean was brilliant. He couldn't kick the ball for toffee, but give him the ball and a yard of grass...

[riocard911]

Ah come on, Dave. Deano was good, very, very good, I'll admit, but Ollie was KING!!!

Yes, but we're simply talking about a running outhalf, and thats where Dean was brilliant. He couldn't kick the ball for toffee, but give him the ball and a yard of grass...

... and he was gone!!! I well remember.

[Peg Leg]

Ah come on, Dave. Deano was good, very, very good, I'll admit, but Ollie was KING!!!

Yes, but we're simply talking about a running outhalf, and thats where Dean was brilliant. He couldn't kick the ball for toffee, but give him the ball and a yard of grass...

He's no john Robertson

[Oldschool]

Barry McGann is at least worth a punt in this discussion.
Dean was also a very solid defender.

[alanair]

Ian Madigan 15 Racing 9...
usual performance from Mads tonight...you know what you get with him

[Raydollard]

Unless you are an O'Connor or a Cullen who doesn't know his ass from his elbow

[Ruckedtobits]

French papers loved the style more than the substance. A lot like our match reports from '14-15; some crtiticism of his kicking from hand; adulation at his skip passes; incredulity at his bravery in the tackle and lip-smacking about some of his half-breaks. All in all, the local fans loved him and his instructions, in French, could apparently be heard in Row Z.

The Mads has arrived!

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Thought his passing was very good, more forgiving (can't think of the correct term) than usual. He blew one try scoring chance by firing a skip pass when hands quick hands would have done but generally it was very good.

[Peg Leg]

Thought his passing was very good, more forgiving (can't think of the correct term) than usual. He blew one try scoring chance by firing a skip pass when hands quick hands would have done but generally it was very good.

Doesn't sound like something he'd do?

[Ruckedtobits]

How easy it is to forget that the Top 14 is largely a slug-fest, until you watch a game like Toulouse v Bordeaux on a pitch with terrible surface in Stadium Ernest Walton in Toulouse. The home side won 22-17 and yes, Mads missed a pen and convert which would have tied it up.

But, he gave a great scoring pass and kicked 2 pens, one a monster from half-way. His defence and distribution were excellent from the moment he replaced the injured Beauxis who suffered a quad injury on 20 mins.

A teak-tough bruising encounter olayed with the intensity of a test match but with the imagination of 3rd B rugby in December.

Mads can handle this every week if necessary but Bordeaux need to find the key to avoiding playing games in this style which doesn't suit their skill-set or outlook.

Would expect Mads to collect a couple more "etoiles" this week. He has started very well.

[curates_egg]

How easy it is to forget that the Top 14 is largely a slug-fest, until you watch a game like Toulouse v Bordeaux on a pitch with terrible surface in Stadium Ernest Walton in Toulouse. The home side won 22-17 and yes, Mads missed a pen and convert which would have tied it up.

But, he gave a great scoring pass and kicked 2 pens, one a monster from half-way. His defence and distribution were excellent from the moment he replaced the injured Beauxis who suffered a quad injury on 20 mins.

A teak-tough bruising encounter olayed with the intensity of a test match but with the imagination of 3rd B rugby in December.

Mads can handle this every week if necessary but Bordeaux need to find the key to avoiding playing games in this style which doesn't suit their skill-set or outlook.

Would expect Mads to collect a couple more "etoiles" this week. He has started very well.

Christ. I hope he is not checking this forum if he ever did.
Looked like a player invigorated after the past season at Leinster in particular. Must be delighted to get away from the haters.
Having stayed in a job too long and had it effect me and my performance, I can only empathise with him.
The fans seem to love him already, so it must be like 2013 all over for him.

He missed one easy kick but Toulouse missed about 4 or 5, so I don't think you can claim anything about missed kicks costing anyone anything. Bordeaux's lineout is probably more what cost them the game (they coughed up a try after losing a lineout on their 5 yard line...and they lost a ton). Classic Madigan pass for the try. They really seem to be encouraging him to play to his strengths...which I guess is what happens when you have a good coach. Of course, their natural style of play suits his running and audacious passing game.

I'll be in the region in September and am planning on catching a game. They've started very well anyway (winning against the champions and getting a losing bonus in Toulouse), so they will hopefully keep that momentum up and play with some verve when I'm there. I will be wearing my smelly old heavy cotton 2006 geansai, so I hope it's not too hot.

[Ruckedtobits]

Didn't see the latest game yet, but another win for Bordeaux and 4 pens and two cons for Mads against Bayonne in a 40-20 victory. Now mid-table with La Rochelle surprising many at top of the Table. Birch needs a result from Grenoble to get their Season started.

[outcast eddie]

From Simon E in the IT - this must be music to Mads' ears but where does he lie in the pecking order?

“At the moment we’ve got three guys there. Ian Madigan is out in France and he was unavailable last weekend but he’s another guy who would be real quality and has been in the environment before. So we’ve got some real depth in that position and options in different styles as well.”

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/i ... -1.2859891

For me it's

1. Sexton
2. Jackson
3. Carbery
4. Madigan.

...but I expect some movement in that order in the next 12 months, or even in the next month.

Good times for green 10's

[simonokeeffe]

dont want the guys in situ getting complacent

would concur with that pecking order, would throw TB in at 4 next Autumn

[offshorerules]

Also Tyler will qualify for Ireland next year I think.

[Ruckedtobits]

From Simon E in the IT - this must be music to Mads' ears but where does he lie in the pecking order?

“At the moment we’ve got three guys there. Ian Madigan is out in France and he was unavailable last weekend but he’s another guy who would be real quality and has been in the environment before. So we’ve got some real depth in that position and options in different styles as well.”

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/i ... -1.2859891

For me it's

1. Sexton
2. Jackson
3. Carbery
4. Madigan.

...but I expect some movement in that order in the next 12 months, or even in the next month.

Good times for green 10's

Was amazed with Easterbunny's comment given that Mads is hors de combat till the end of November at least with knee injury.

Personally, have to agree that TB is a decent prospect but so is Jack Carty, if he was allowed to play his own game, and not just (sometimes) crazy run the ball.

[curates_egg]

Mads is hors de combat till the end of November at least with knee injury.

Are you "some bloke called" Gerry in disguise?

[neiliog93]

Also Tyler will qualify for Ireland next year I think.

January 2018.