Gilroy

[TMHG]

Newspaper or news sites would have no purpose then if everyone was like you! The world would also be a very dull place.

I don't think anyone is placing any rugby writers on a pedestal (though there are a few who are admired and provide useful insights).

Everybody who gets upset at what they write or thinks they have influence over any aspect of team selection places them on a pedestal. That they do so unknowingly is pretty sad but rather explains it.

I don't agree with the first line at all. I read them as I said so they would still have a purpose if everybody was like me.

Are you suggesting that if folk don't get irrationally emotional due to an article written by somebody who is not of any importance to that person, that the world is a duller place? I think it can only be a dull world somebody is inhabiting where such action seems desirable or necessary to brighten up one's day.

I don't think anyone is getting that upset. Its something to talk about when you are down the pub. I like Murray Kinsella's articles where he analyses games with both the good stuff and the bad stuff, unlike some journalists who just seem to concentrate on the good points of some players and the bad points of others. I just find the bias annoying and I'm likely to mention it. Thats all. I'm not going to lose any sleep over it.

[BaggyTrousers]

Such a load of self-pitying sop.

The difference between International Rugby and Pro12 is night and day. To even try and compare Gilroy's good form at Pro12 as some sort of reason to include him for Ireland is a nonsense.

I don't buy the BS that Schmidt is somehow openly subjective against Munster/Ulster in favour of the Mexicans.

The reality that until half way through last season Gilroy was a defensive liability. A fast liability but a liability nonetheless. His kicking was average, fielding of high balls mixed and he wasn't physical enough in the tackle. He improved immeasurably as the season wore on and scored some excellent tries but is that enough? Not in my opinion. If he manages to keep one of Trimble or Bowe on the bench for Ulster he'll be taking a big step towards an Irish Jersey.

Don't be a sap Buck, Gilroy is twice the player Fitzgerald is, and in all respects including defence, and remember, I say that as a Nordie hating Turnip besides, my post wasn't 100% serious, you were supposed to rail against it....... so thanks for that.

Arrived in Granada, weather good to scorchio, I'm off out shortly, on a tapas trail , feck all Nordies.

G'wan up de yard the lot of yee ballixes.

[Shan]

I don't think anyone is getting that upset. Its something to talk about when you are down the pub. I like Murray Kinsella's articles where he analyses games with both the good stuff and the bad stuff, unlike some journalists who just seem to concentrate on the good points of some players and the bad points of others. I just find the bias annoying and I'm likely to mention it. Thats all. I'm not going to lose any sleep over it.

Indeed but I wasn't talking about you then horse, though I can accept if I didn't make that as clear as it was in my own head - sometimes articulation can be a task. Some folk have said they do get upset and they do think the media has influence over team selection. I have seen that on different forums and heard some half-wits saying it. They are the ones I'm talking about.

No issue at all with discussing what some writer has said. Shur that's little different to what I'm doing here.....though there are a small few here, and I won't name names to save their blushes, who I actually would place on my list of folk whose views and opinions are to be respected but still challegeable at times.

Agreed on Murray KInsella. Very interesting because he actually knows what he is talking about and is dealing in reality for his articles, or all the ones I've seen anyway. I think he is on TV3 for the RWC and I'm looking forward to his analyses. Understand the annoyance - irritation is OK - Going the extra few steps to head spinning is a concern.

[BuckRogers]

Ah BT I knew you weren't, completely, serious. Others I suspect were. I also would personally pick Gilroy over Fitzgerald but thems the breaks.

As a relatively freshly avowed Turnip I am sure you are in the perfect position to put an arm around young 'Gilly' and instruct how to drink from the cup of bitterness against those pale dwelling fockers. So big will the chip on his shoulder be next season he'll resemble the hunch back of Notre Dame and we won't need to complain as he wont be fit to catch or tackle never mind score tries.

[Shan]

Arrived in Granada, weather good to scorchio, I'm off out shortly, on a tapas trail , feck all Nordies.

G'wan up de yard the lot of yee ballixes.

Lucky old fecker. All we have here is shítty old rain today.

Enjoy it Baggy - even if you don't really deserve it.

[BaggyTrousers]

Not forgetting Matt Mostyn, John Kelly, Anthony Horgan, Brian Carney, Barry Murphy or Ian Dowling in recent memory and I use the term memory very loosely.

Oh God. I think one of my worst memories of ever watching Ireland was watching Anthony Horgan get chased down by an All Black second row...

Aye, I remember it well, I was there, Jason Eaton if the old fuse box is working.

Mind you Jizzer is talking ballix about Fitzgerald being better than Rags Kelly, not even fecking close.

G'wan boys even the most unlucky of men such as I, must enjoy a small portion of their miserable existence, I'm off so to do.

Hallo mudda, hallo fadda , here I am in camp Granada, and the tapas and Estrella, looks enticing I could even plan to staya.

Right feck yis, I'm outta hea. I hear that beer a callin'.

[TMHG]

Ah BT I knew you weren't, completely, serious. Others I suspect were. I also would personally pick Gilroy over Fitzgerald but thems the breaks.

As a relatively freshly avowed Turnip I am sure you are in the perfect position to put an arm around young 'Gilly' and instruct how to drink from the cup of bitterness against those pale dwelling fockers. So big will the chip on his shoulder be next season he'll resemble the hunch back of Notre Dame and we won't need to complain as he wont be fit to catch or tackle never mind score tries.

That would be the plan. You don't want him upping sticks and doing a Tommy Bowe on it with disappointment at not making the World Cup Squad. When is his contract up?

[TMHG]

Not forgetting Matt Mostyn, John Kelly, Anthony Horgan, Brian Carney, Barry Murphy or Ian Dowling in recent memory and I use the term memory very loosely.

Oh God. I think one of my worst memories of ever watching Ireland was watching Anthony Horgan get chased down by an All Black second row...

Aye, I remember it well, I was there, Jason Eaton if the old fuse box is working.

Mind you Jizzer is talking ballix about Fitzgerald being better than Rags Kelly, not even fecking close.

G'wan boys even the most unlucky of men such as I, must enjoy a small portion of their miserable existence, I'm off so to do.

Hallo mudda, hallo fadda , here I am in camp Granada, and the tapas and Estrella, looks enticing I could even plan to staya.

Right feck yis, I'm outta hea. I hear that beer a callin'.

Rags Kelly and Anthony Horgan knew where the try line was unlike Luke.

[Shan]

Luke knows where the tryline is. He has a bit more difficulty getting there than most at international level.

Horgan has 41 tries for Munster from 146 games
Kelly has 34 tries for Munster from 154 games
Fitz has 32 tries for Leinster from 141 games.

Horgan had more games on the wing so not much between them at provincial level I'd say in terms of tries.


Edit - Gilroy has 33 tries for Ulster from just 107 games. But to be fair he would have been playing outside the greatest backline in the known universe.

[Snipe Watson]

Anyone expecting the southern media to be fawning over Ulster players, unless they are really ripping up trees, is deluded. Not because of of bias, but because the southern readers want to read about southern players. In exactly the same way that the tele, newsletter and BBC NI rave on about Ulster players.
Also anyone that thinks Joe passes one blind bit of notice of who the media think he should be selecting is also deluded.

[Shan]

Actually just looking there and Fitz has had 120 starts and 32 tries which is 3.75 starts per try while Madigan has 82 starts and 24 tries which is just 3.4 starts per try. Therefore I now propose we move Madigan to the wing if we want to win the RWC.

[Shan]

Anyone expecting the southern media to be fawning over Ulster players, unless they are really ripping up trees, is deluded. Not because of of bias, but because the southern readers want to read about southern players. In exactly the same way that the tele, newsletter and BBC NI rave on about Ulster players.
Also anyone that thinks Joe passes one blind bit of notice of who the media think he should be selecting is also deluded.

My brother. You are wise but you have had the benefit of more years than many to be fair.

[Snipe Watson]

Anyone expecting the southern media to be fawning over Ulster players, unless they are really ripping up trees, is deluded. Not because of of bias, but because the southern readers want to read about southern players. In exactly the same way that the tele, newsletter and BBC NI rave on about Ulster players.
Also anyone that thinks Joe passes one blind bit of notice of who the media think he should be selecting is also deluded.

My brother. You are wise but you have had the benefit of more years than many to be fair.

Only Baggy and rummy older than me and neither of them are wiser...........

[Spiffsson]

Actually just looking there and Fitz has had 120 starts and 32 tries which is 3.75 starts per try while Madigan has 82 starts and 24 tries which is just 3.4 starts per try. Therefore I now propose we move Madigan to the wing if we want to win the RWC.

Given the straight, head to head choice, I'd even have Quiffy on the wing ahead of Fitz. I am totally mystified about Joe's Fitz love-in and have given up trying to understand it. He has had umpteen chances to impress for Ireland and so far, has not. Yet Joe persists with him despite the claims of several better wings. Just off the top of my nog, here are the wings I'd rate ahead of Fitz :

Bowe
Trimble
Gilroy
Zebo
Earls
McFadden
Daverage
Matt Healy
My aunty Madge in her chicken-feeding wellies

[Snipe Watson]

I am totally mystified about Joe's Fitz love-in and have given up trying to understand it.

What makes you think Joe has a thing for Fitz? He has hardly featured for Ireland in Joe's time.