Ireland v. Italy Live

[Deraless]

I think we might see Bowe replace Kearney for the France game.

Zebo in for Dave and Madigan in for Sexton who has demonstrated an inability to play in France

[BaggyTrousers]

Tommy Seymour just scored v Scotland. We shouldn't have any trouble next week.

What Jackie? An "own try"

[Wee Woman]

I think we might see Bowe replace Kearney for the France game.

I'd be happier to see Tommy at Ravenhill on Friday night.

D'ave-rage Kearney has done well enough, I think JS will rightly stick by him as he will with our Angry who has had a very good 6Ns.

BOD did very well to give the him opportunity today but it still took a fair bit of scoring. AAT Champion.

I agree Baggy, I can't see Joe dropping Dave or Trimby at this point.

Bowe might sneak it on to the bench but Zebo's not going to get his opportunity this tournament.

Hendy went off sooner than I expected him to and it had been indicated during the week that he was likely to finish the game at lock, did he take a knock??

[Jackie Brown]

Tommy Seymour just scored v Scotland. We shouldn't have any trouble next week.

What Jackie? An "own try"

Lol, I get confused Baggy, FOR Scotland obviously.

[BaggyTrousers]

Tommy Seymour just scored v Scotland. We shouldn't have any trouble next week.

What Jackie? An "own try"

Lol, I get confused Baggy, FOR Scotland obviously.

Beautiful finish too, 3 in 8 caps, well done Tommy.

[Cap'n Grumpy]

For what it's worth I asked AAT straight out one time (maybe a year ago) if there was no love lost between Bod and him - he seemed genuinely shocked at the suggestion and told me that they got on very well together off the pitch. On the pitch for Ulster & Leinster, they would happily kill one another, but when the final whistle goes they become friends again. (or words to that effect).

I believed him.

[Shan]

Well now I enjoyed that. Great second half performance and we racked up a load of valuable points and scored some lovely tries.

Fecking delighted my concerns about Sexton's fitness was wrong. He looked in super shape and had a great game.

Cian Healy is a monster. I was thrilled for him when he got his try.

BOD played a stormer and showed some of what we will miss when he is gone. Great send off for the maestro and as usual he was humble about the whole thing. If only some of the Dublin Media could take a leaf out of his book.

Hendo and Ruddock both played very well. Neither spectacular but I was impressed with both. That game will stand to them.

Now onwards we go and I am very hopeful we can do the job in Paris and nab that Championship. Fecking 'ell that would be just wonderful.

Gwan Ireland. Gwan to feck.

[Shan]

For what it's worth I asked AAT straight out one time (maybe a year ago) if there was no love lost between Bod and him - he seemed genuinely shocked at the suggestion and told me that they got on very well together off the pitch. On the pitch for Ulster & Leinster, they would happily kill one another, but when the final whistle goes they become friends again. (or words to that effect).

I believed him.

So do I. No reason not to. It is pretty normal rugby etiquette.

[BaggyTrousers]

Glad tydings, with a wonderful sense of occasion, Ireland's weemen also beat their Italian opposition by 39 points at the Aviva.

They won 39-0 and can still retain the championship if they beat the French.

G'wan yis girdles yis.

[Russ]

Good to see there was limited use of "the fields"

That unrepresentative BS needs fully knocked on the head

Always wondered why a SUFTIM hasn't started

Also, time to bring back fully cockles and muscles - proper Irish song

[BaggyTrousers]

Good to see there was limited use of "the fields"

That unrepresentative BS needs fully knocked on the head

Always wondered why a SUFTIM hasn't started

Also, time to bring back fully cockles and muscles - proper Irish song

In my long distant yute, Molly Malone was the only song in town. I have to tell you Russ that I always giggled when commentators such as wee Nigel S-S, a man who has suffered more as a parent than anyone should, or the venerable Bill McLaren referred to cockles & muscles or alive alive oh. Molly Malone and yes I'd prefer it by a country mile to "Michael"

[pythagoras]

TV direction (if that's the right term) during rugby matches is going from bad to worse.
Coverage of the match when the ball is in play should be sacrosanct.
I'm shitsick of missing action because the director wants to show some of the atmosphere or even a replay.
But yesterday was the worst ever.
The players were trying to play a game while the tv was showing BOD reacting to the crowd reacting to the tv showing BOD on the big screen.
It was a awful, the only thing that ran it close was the gobshite of a PA announcer doing his usual BIG VOICE.

[Bart S]

Barring any further injuries I'd be amazed if the starting XV for Paris was the same as yesterday, bar POM coming in for Hendo.

If Jo was seriously wanting to look at other options (eg a different starting winger) for Paris, I think he would have given them a start against Italy yesterday.

Reddan was decent yesterday and service was quicker but France will be a tighter physical game and if fit, I'd still back Murray to start.

Thought all the subs made a decent impact yesterday although it's easier when the game is won and the opposition have spent the first 60 minutes tackling.

[BaggyTrousers]

I am here to devour a large slice of humble pie.

Regular readers will know I am an unashamed fan of Ulsters best outside centre Mr Cave. I have in stating the case for Darren been more than a little disrespectful to the Mexican with the boxer's nose and Brian Faulkner smile, suggesting that the "ould ballix" was adding to his record collection - mainly 33s & 45s - rather than making a valuable contribution.

This may have held water in November but in all honesty in the 6Ns he has been the man for the job. Yesterday I thought he was outstanding in all respects, not simply his contribution to each try scored while he was still on the pitch.

Not many are afforded the tribute that he got yesterday, he very much deserved it & now we wait to see if the fairy tale has its happy conclusion in Paris in the spring.

In all fairness to BOD I suggest we put aside provincialism and say - G'wan BOD ya legend. Some of you may be young enough to see his likes again, I've been lucky enough to have seen all of Mike Gibson's career as well as BOD's and had first hand stories of Jack Kyle from my Da but these are very very special men, to be appreciated when you have them.

G'wan BOD.

[BR]

Yip. Had there been a MotM award (open to all) BOD would certainly have been a contender.