Transformer Boks v Irish Projects - Ireland's SA Tour 2016 - Series Decider
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Pot Hale, your points are good. The big disconnect is the clubs. In the NH, you have one club, say Leinster, which plays 22 league games plus 2 playoffs plus 6 European games plus 3 playoffs. That's maybe 33 club games to shoehorn in alongside tests. No wonder there is no room. In the SH we get a 20 week super rugby competition. There is no feasible way to reduce the NH club season without dismantling the current domestic and euro competition system and moving to a three tiered euro wide league for example with promotion and relegation. NH Fans would hate a "franchise"style system because if the history of their clubs and domestic leagues. And its very arbitrary to initially assign 16 clubs to the first division say, and all the rest to lower divisions.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ulsterman" data-cid="584991" data-time="1464951427"><p>This listing of players as "British" is incredibly ignorant. Not one of those players grew up wanting to play for a national rugby team other than Ireland - ergo, they're Irish. (Unless you want to make this a religion thing?)</p></blockquote><br>Leaving aside the intended levity of the piece as I indicated, I don't think you saying they're Irish because they want to play for an all-island Ireland team, is accurate.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Provincial Stalwart" data-cid="585006" data-time="1464984607"><p>Pot Hale, your points are good. The big disconnect is the clubs. In the NH, you have one club, say Leinster, which plays 22 league games plus 2 playoffs plus 6 European games plus 3 playoffs. That's maybe 33 club games to shoehorn in alongside tests. No wonder there is no room. In the SH we get a 20 week super rugby competition. There is no feasible way to reduce the NH club season without dismantling the current domestic and euro competition system and moving to a three tiered euro wide league for example with promotion and relegation. NH Fans would hate a "franchise"style system because if the history of their clubs and domestic leagues. And its very arbitrary to initially assign 16 clubs to the first division say, and all the rest to lower divisions.</p></blockquote><br>Yep agreed with you on that.<br><br>the PRO 12 is currently considering changes to its format/structure - similar to Super Rugby with its 4 countries, 12 teams, and no relegation - to move from a home and away league to a conference/pool structure. The PRO12 chiefs want to cut out matches being played during international windows so that fans/tv sees more of the high profile players. Local derbies such as Irish interpros would happen more often, and perhaps more "Event" weekends as occur at Xmas and season end, that gets in bigger crowds to make up for a reduction in the current 22 regular season games. A conference/pool structure also leaves the door open for further expansion with other teams such as London Welsh, London Scottish or further afield.<br><br>The proposed changes would happen earliest from the 2017/18 season.
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Whilst we're waiting for players to get on planes and head to southern climes, I thought this article about Ireland's performance manager, David Nucifora, was interesting in the story it tells about the only recent compiling of a national database of qualified players for the IRFU. <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/grand-master-strengthens-his-ability-to-make-the-right-moves-34773102.html'>http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/grand-master-strengthens-his-ability-to-make-the-right-moves-34773102.html</a><br><br>As the journalist writes it, the starting point for the IRFU to any foreign player acquisition request from the provinces - Non-Irish Eligible - is why can't you use someone domestic in the game?<br><br>Nucifora's objective has to been to put in a structured player management and movement programme linking the national test team and the players in the provinces. The switching of a Leinster academy player to Connacht for next season is the most notable example of that. It isn't always successful either, particularly with more established, high-profile players such as Marty Moore (joining Wasps next season) and Ian Madigan (off to Bordeaux Begles after the SA tour).<br><br>Nucifora also questions whether the current 4+1 restrictions (3 foreign-players + 1 non-Irish project player are tight enough, or whether they need to be reduced further on financial grounds. They could decide to say that it would become 3+1, or decide provincial quotas individually.
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Good Rticle PH. <br><br>
But what has drawn me to comment is another article on the site with a picture of Keith Earls dressed like an emerald green vicar. WTF, hope that's just an unflattering angle of the tinkered with kit. <br><br>
Unlike CCC to make teams look ridiculous.... I mean at least they don't look like they are wearing bras.<br><br>
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://m.independent.ie/sport/rugby/international-rugby/you-can-see-it-in-cj-stander-theyre-angry-men-physical-men-we-are-going-to-get-a-bit-of-abuse-34773101.html'>http://m.independent.ie/sport/rugby/international-rugby/you-can-see-it-in-cj-stander-theyre-angry-men-physical-men-we-are-going-to-get-a-bit-of-abuse-34773101.html</a> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Immenso Rapido" data-cid="585253" data-time="1465160467"><p>Good Rticle PH.<br><br>But what has drawn me to comment is another article on the site with a picture of Keith Earls dressed like an emerald green vicar. WTF, hope that's just an unflattering angle of the tinkered with kit.<br><br>Unlike CCC to make teams look ridiculous.... I mean at least they don't look like they are wearing bras.<br><br><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://m.independent.ie/sport/rugby/international-rugby/you-can-see-it-in-cj-stander-theyre-angry-men-physical-men-we-are-going-to-get-a-bit-of-abuse-34773101.html'>http://m.independent.ie/sport/rugby/international-rugby/you-can-see-it-in-cj-stander-theyre-angry-men-physical-men-we-are-going-to-get-a-bit-of-abuse-34773101.html</a></p></blockquote><br>Don't get too fussed about those kind of things to be honest. They got a new 4-year sponsorship deal with Vodafone so no doubt every angle possible was taken.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Provincial Stalwart" data-cid="584890" data-time="1464915126">
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<p>The subject of a global season is worth a massive thread of its own...I've been reading / posting on the fern since 2013 and I dont recall seeing such a thread.</p>
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<p>Any thoughts? A key stumbling block is the 6N window in Feb / Mar - the most lucrative competiton other than RWC itself. Talk about moving it back a month is good, as it opens up the possibility of starting the NH year in September and making the June tests the July tests to get rid of the super rugby break. But that is perhaps selfish from a SH perspective, and it means the RWC would have to move to Oct & Nov. A mighty mess.</p>
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<p>I'd like to see the 6N and Rugby Championship played in roughly the same window (Aug-Oct) and the game have a global offseason from 1 Dec to 28 Feb. </p>
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<p>It has been dealt with at length on the Fern over a number of years. I guess it gets pretty tiring flogging the dead horse....</p>
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<p>There were discussions on here when Super rugby was expanded and the fact we now have tests at the pointy end of the competition. Whilst I welcome any test footy and the opportunity to see the ABs and all the other test nations play, Super rugby was just starting to get interesting with a logjam near the top of NZ teams and a couple of others and we now just put that on hold. </p>
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<p>I'm glad there has been a move to three test series plus a provincial game.</p> -
Schmidt and Coetzee announce their teams later today 1pm IST, SA at 2.30pm.<br><br>Early indications from Irish camp is that Payne will shift to his provincial position at 15, with Henshaw moving out to 13, and Ulster's Olding or Marshall to take 12.<br><br>Craig Gilroy is also being tipped for a spot, but it may be at 23, rather than starting.<br><br>Dilane or Henderson to partner Toner in second row.<br><br>Jackson to take Sexton's mantle.
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Ireland team announced:<br><br>15 Jared Payne (Ulster);<br>14 Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster),<br>13 Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster),<br>12 Luke Marshall (Ballymena/Ulster),<br>11 Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster);<br>10 Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster),<br>9 Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster);<br>1 Jack McGrath (St Mary’s/Leinster),<br>2 Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster, capt),<br>3 Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster),<br>4. Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster),<br>5. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster),<br>6. CJ Stander (Munster),<br>7. Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster),<br>8. Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster).<br><br>Replacements: Sean Cronin (St Mary’s/Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Corinthians/Connacht), Ultan Dillane (Corinthians/Connacht), Rhys Ruddock (St Mary’s/Leinster), Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht), Ian Madigan (Blackrock/Leinster), Craig Gilroy (Dungannon/Ulster).
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<p>Good selection Pot Hale. You can be happy with that IMHO.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="585980" data-time="1465484516"><p>Good selection Pot Hale. You can be happy with that IMHO.</p></blockquote><br>Yep - at last the whole of Ireland gets to see what they've been mumbling under their breath for the last 18 months "put bloody Payne at 15 where he's best and Henshaw at 13 where he should be."<br><br>And only 9 Leinster players in the squad with Ulster dominating the backs. There's blood and ice on the walls down D4 way with ulcers popping and G&T's spluttering.<br><br>Someone is going to be saying 'told you so' come Monday morning. And it won't be Andy Farrell.
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The bookies are getting more confident on SA. Boks are now 1/9 and Ireland have moved out to 6/1.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Pot Hale" data-cid="586202" data-time="1465593477"><p>The bookies are getting more confident on SA. Boks are now 1/9 and Ireland have moved out to 6/1.</p></blockquote>
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That's good money for Ireland. I'm getting on them.<br><br>
This game will tell us a lot about Springbok rugby for the next 4 years. I'm just not sure AC's squad have the look of a side that knows how they're going to play. Kolisi at blindside makes me uncomfortable. Same with Faf at scrumhalf. Haven't seen him as a good game manager which is why he's on the Lions bench so often. Wingers aren't great finishers either while Willie is erratic as we all know and hasn't been in good form either. -
<p>I think the price is getting bigger due to Ireland changes and the fact that the players coming in are not as well known. However on paper Ireland have a dangerous backline, better balanced than the one in the 6 nations. If Jackson plays well, Ireland will cause the Boks some problems. </p>
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<p>First game out for the Boks too. Different combinations etc. </p> -
Pietersen makes his mark on Toner from the kick off but concedes a penalty. <br><br>
Another penalty and Ireland have a lineout in Bok 22 -
And Ireland infringe. SA kicking for posts. <br><br>
Lambie sets it up and casually kicks. And misses. -
And another penalty. Against SA at the breakdown. <br><br>
Jackson kicks for touch. Outside SA 22. Irelamd win lineout and then lose it to Beast rip. SA attack. <br><br>
Ireland gather a kick and attack. And ref blows for another penalty against SA for offside. Ref has word with Strauss who has a word with his team. <br><br>
This ref is Very Officious. -
Ireland win lineout and drive forward. Love goes offside and another penalty. <br><br>
Ireland maul again and SA collapse. Another penalty. <br><br>
Ireland continue attack and kick through. Payne touches down. TMO check. And yellow card coming up for SA anyway. <br><br>
Try awarded.<br><br>
Lood de Jäger in the bin. -
Ireland give away penalty in their 22. <br><br>
Lambie slots it. <br><br>
3-7. 15 minutes -
Ireland on attack in SA 22. De Allemde high tackles Jackson and then kicks the resulting penalty. <br><br>
3-10 20 minutes.
