Good auld Mattie

[MadiganSquareGarden]

Look... there was always a level of bullshit from Matt. But he was good for Leinster- and Irish rugby generally in his time here. So let's not throw the baby out with the bath water.

But he is not only out of order on the facts- his style of argument in seeking to portray the support of Joe as some sort if misguided loyalty to his "lovely guy" persona is insulting and weasely. Not cool.

That about sums it up. He seeks to disarm the counter-argument by saying it's blind loyalty to Joe. Pays no attention to the fact that he delivered four trophies in three seasons with Leinster and two Six Nations in three attempts with Ireland. An inconvenient truth clearly.

[Dexter]

Look... there was always a level of bullshit from Matt. But he was good for Leinster- and Irish rugby generally in his time here. So let's not throw the baby out with the bath water.

But he is not only out of order on the facts- his style of argument in seeking to portray the support of Joe as some sort if misguided loyalty to his "lovely guy" persona is insulting and weasely. Not cool.

That about sums it up. He seeks to disarm the counter-argument by saying it's blind loyalty to Joe. Pays no attention to the fact that he delivered four trophies in three seasons with Leinster and two Six Nations in three attempts with Ireland. An inconvenient truth clearly.

It's a complete disgrace that he hasn't delivered three 6N out of three, obviously. I just don't get the whingefest at all, including the rest of the media.

[hugonaut]

Look... there was always a level of bullshit from Matt. But he was good for Leinster- and Irish rugby generally in his time here. So let's not throw the baby out with the bath water.

But he is not only out of order on the facts- his style of argument in seeking to portray the support of Joe as some sort if misguided loyalty to his "lovely guy" persona is insulting and weasely. Not cool.

That about sums it up. He seeks to disarm the counter-argument by saying it's blind loyalty to Joe. Pays no attention to the fact that he delivered four trophies in three seasons with Leinster and two Six Nations in three attempts with Ireland. An inconvenient truth clearly.

It's a complete disgrace that he hasn't delivered three 6N out of three, obviously. I just don't get the whingefest at all, including the rest of the media.

Even the usually sensible Peter O'Reilly wrote that Ireland fans were 'starved of success' in the first paragraph of his match report in the ST.

We've won the last two Six Nations.

[tate]

https://youtu.be/I8o9KyFxppY

An oldie but a goodie

that's an amazing matt williams impression.

as a side note ive just noticed ive been on lf for 10 years now ... that's a hell of a lot of procrastination. thanks for keeping me informed and entertained!

[Dexter]

Even the usually sensible Peter O'Reilly wrote that Ireland fans were 'starved of success' in the first paragraph of his match report in the ST.

We've won the last two Six Nations.

That's even worse, he's normally pretty balanced. I've pretty much given up on the newspapers, TV and radio analyses. Blogs and forums (fora??) are the way to go!

[neiliog93]

The sad thing is that for the most part the guys getting paid to write are full of bluster and factual errors and often rely on interviews for articles. They trot out old clichés and are either too afraid to criticise because they don't want to jeopardise their cosy relationships with the Irish rugby establishment (we all know who the worst offender is), or on the other hand, they go too far the other way and take a perverse glee in being cast as iconoclastic and independent, even though they're full of hot air (Franno, Hook, Williams).

On the other hand, those offering genuinely penetrative, 21st century analysis, which is neither hysterically critical nor overly cosy, are writing mainly unpaid blogs. Most of them are in their 20s. It's a weird situation.

[simonokeeffe]

The sad thing is that for the most part the guys getting paid to write are full of bluster and factual errors and often rely on interviews for articles. They trot out old clichés and are either too afraid to criticise because they don't want to jeopardise their cosy relationships with the Irish rugby establishment (we all know who the worst offender is), or on the other hand, they go too far the other way and take a perverse glee in being cast as iconoclastic and independent, even though they're full of hot air (Franno, Hook, Williams).

On the other hand, those offering genuinely penetrative, 21st century analysis, which is neither hysterically critical nor overly cosy, are writing mainly unpaid blogs. Most of them are in their 20s. It's a weird situation.

Indo has gone that way a bit too, ROC acting as the kite flyer for Munster contracts, fatwa against Heaslip, and milking/stoking foreign/project player issue

[Ruckedtobits]

The majority of journalists only attend big games, have no knowlege of Schools or Club game and are spoon fed interviews and media briefings. Fanning in Sunday Indo is an exception and is both involved and understands all levels of the game.

Com!*#key in IT is only interested in knocking the system or hyping south-side Schools and assumes he is Thornley's ordained successor.

Much more informed and balanced commentary on various blogs. More from such as Demented Mole is always welcome.

[MadiganSquareGarden]

Mattie is at it again today in the Irish Times. Don't be at it, Mattie.

[artaneboy]

Mattie is at it again today in the Irish Times. Don't be at it, Mattie.

I'm not going to read him from now on. Same tired drone....