So we approach the end of the club season. The champion’s cup has been and gone and we are left with the final of the Guinness Pro 14 between Leinster and Glasgow. Much like the Heineken cup, the best 2 teams in the league are left to battle it out for the trophy, which is … More Stats and Psychology, my 2 favorite ‘S’ words – a preview of the Guinness Pro 14 Final
I sit in my office chair slightly emotional. The club season is nearly over. The blue jersey is in need of its annual wash and to be put away for a few months in exchange for the retro green jersey. It has been a season of ups and downs for Leinster, so how will they … More Leinster v Munster – the psychological battle.
It is 9:10am on Monday the 13th May. I didn’t want to write this, I just wanted to let the weekend lie there in the ruins of a title challenge. Knowing that the ‘banter’ from other provinces would be taken up a notch, I avoided rugby forums but I just couldn’t ignore that final. As … More Leinster come up short against the big red machine, but it’s not all negative!
It is 12:01 on Friday the 10th of May. The Leinster team has been named for the biggest game in a very long time. Would the coaching ticket be able to keep everyone fit and healthy enough to have a full selection to choose from? How would the foreign players rule fit into their plans … More Leinster chasing the 5th star against another red powerhouse – a preview
Because there are alot of people who cannot make it to Newcastle for the Heineken Champions Cup Final, we are putting on an event to bring people together. Regardless of your team, your jersey or your province, you are welcome to come along Details below https://www.facebook.com/events/1149403251905268/
This weeks post is brought to you by The Drive For 5 gathering – The 5 Star meetup! With the countdown to the Heineken Champions Cup final beginning in earnest this week let’s have a 2 week run in to the match. This week let’s look at the psychological battle that will take place in Newcastle … More The build up to the final part 1 : Psychology
Things have been quiet in TCP Towers here in Bray, County Wicklow and the reason for that is because of the thing we love the most. I am not talking about Nutella, Guinness and or Pink Salt Indian takeaway (well worth a try if you are in the borough or its surrounding environs). It is … More Leinster search for their mojo while Glasgow arrive searching for a scalp.
https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-cqz27-acf907 Hello from raining Dublin! Let’s chat about who is creepier, Donald Trump or Joe Biden? And why America is delighted to ignore their fellas creepiness in order to point out the opponents creepiness America is mad! As always, do contact me if disagreement is rife Thecouchpunditireland@gmail.com Thecouchpunditireland.com Facebook.com/thecouchpunditireland
As we arrived to the Aviva stadium it was loud, it was getting cold and the volume was already at 11. Our Ulster cousins had arrived in full voice to stand with their team. Leinster and their blue army rocked up with confidence but the volume from them pre match was not at the high … More Ulster stand up but Leinster roll on to the semis
Ok so I am going to level with you. I am still very upset. But not upset at the Irish team, management organisation. I am upset with the lazy narratives coming out of a really tough 6 Nations tournament. A tournament that has sent shockwaves through Irish rugby. A tournament that nothing went right and … More A journey through the psychology of Ireland’s 6 Nations campaign
I am just going to say it, I have 6 Nations fatigue. The 2 gaps in the tournament kill the momentum and kill me emotionally and spiritually. So the big question coming into this weekend and the welcoming of an unchanged France team to the Aviva was, would Ireland be in the same position as … More Work ons, bonus points and looking forward to the trip to Cardiff – Ireland vanquish an impotent France
So here we go. Ireland are over the half way mark in this year’s 6 Nations and I don’t think there has been an emotional rollercoaster like it since that year that we don’t need to mention. Wales on the other hand played rope a dope with England and are a great bet for the … More Wales play rope-a-dope with England while Ireland just play with the rope in Rome.
So Ireland ventured over to Scotland fighting the urge to change everything while managing enforced personnel changes and pressure to perform. Scotland where confident in what they were doing while finding away, knowing they had nothing to lose. Who would come out on top?
So here we go. Irish supporters are now holding their bums out of the bath for fear of getting scorched by a hungry Scotland. Every other week we would drop into the hot bath with confidence, but this week there is hesitation. So with that mental image, let’s have a look at Ireland’s trip to … More Back on the horse, the Shamrock v the Thistle, Ireland go to Edinburgh with pressure and expectation
Well that didn’t go to plan did it? England arrived looking for a scalp, looking to dominate and looking to put a marker down. Unfortunately for Ireland, they did just that. So is it all doom and gloom?
So here we go. The provincial jerseys have been put away, the inter county rivalry has been put away and the green jersey is clean and ready to be worn and doused with Guinness. The 6 Nations is here and Ireland arrives as favourites, as expectant winners and with all the pressure.
It was business time in the final round of the group stages of the Champions Cup. And you know when its business time, I am wearing my business socks! Leinster traveled to Coventry to take on a Wasps side that really needs something. A team that has players, have talent but are so far away … More Another clean sweep, but is all rosy in the Irish provincial garden?
What a weekend for the provinces, no one saw that weekend coming. All 4 provinces showed up and deserved the wins they got. Some had tougher opposition than others but the end results showed the Irish dominance on the club stage.
So here we go! The mighty Toulouse are welcomed to the RDS for the biggest game of the season for Leinster. A Toulouse team galvanised from their last encounter with the champions. They won it by a point at home with some classy play, some French flair and more than a little aggression. After that … More Leinster welcome Toulouse in a must win clash of the titans!
So an over indulgent Christmas has given way to an excessive new year’s celebration which has lead us into an attempt of dry January. Some have powered on through the back to work fear and some of us have crumbled at the mere thought of being back in the office. The only thing keeping us … More The inter-pros, winners, losers and the in-betweeners
You know it is nearly Christmas when you wear the eskimo jacket to the Aviva Stadium to watch Leinster in December. It gets beyond cold, and when 44,000+ tickets are sold and you see much less than that you know who the supporters are and who the fans are. The volume was up, the supporters … More Leinster on the hunt in front of some fair weather fans, while the supporters enjoyed the cold
Leinster made their way to Downton Abbey in Bath to play a Bath side who haven’t frightened anyone so far this year. They were welcoming back the international players and expected a good performance and a decent points haul. Did this happen? Well not really.
So the end of the November series is upon us, the rugby on the pitch delivered, the supporters delivered in the stands and unfortunately Joe Schmidt delivered exactly the news we expected. So first let’s have a quick run through the games.
Keego and Cian chatted about THAT match against the All Blacks Enjoy and check the facebook page for the event reminder, click it and it pops up when we go live. facebook.com/thecouchpunditireland
So the table was set, the lucky pub was visited, the nervous Guinness drinking was at a level seldom seen. Would Ireland be able to slay the giants of world rugby? Would Ireland be able to show that they belong at the top table and are to be feared by all around them? My nerves … More ‘Ireland baby! We did it!’,The world champions toppled in Dublin
So here we go! Ireland have an opportunity to take on the reigning and defending world champions, they have a chance to take a scalp and they have a chance to really put a marker down ahead of the world cup year.
Keego and Captain Cian pick the bones of the Argentina game and look ahead to a hopeful win against the All Blacks https://www.facebook.com/thecouchpunditireland/videos/1191029027733009/
Don’t forget to listen to The Couch Pundit Podcast Following on from our trip to Chicago, our decimation of Italy and our salivating over Jordan Larmour and his feet, we roll home into the Aviva stadium and welcome another old enemy. Argentina are here for a scalp; Ireland are here to exorcise a demon.
Don’t forget to listen to The Couch Pundit Podcast So we arrived in Chicago, left with a score line but did we leave with the performance? Did we leave with players putting the match day squad under pressure and did we see any improvement in the Italians? Well the answer to those questions are …. Kind … More The Irish in Chicago, Italy face the green machine.
Don’t forget to listen to The Couch Pundit Podcast So we roll into the opening game of the November series expectant like a woman who is 10 months pregnant. But what will we get? Much like the expectant mother, we are not really too sure.
Don’t forget to listen to The Couch Pundit Podcast So we are approaching the time of the year where we put our provincial jerseys back in the cupboard and take out our beautiful green jerseys, some still stained with the tears of another 6 nations win all over them. Or is that the celebratory Guinness? Either … More Ireland take on the world this November, with mind games.
So tonight we went live on Facebook with Cian (twitter.com/rugbykino) to chat about rugby and the craziness of politics. Have a look, a like and a share
Don’t forget to listen to The Couch Pundit Podcast We have managed to get through week 2 of the Heineken Champions Cup. If you wear blue or red, it wasn’t an easy watch. If you wear white or green, it was about the performance.
Dont forget to listen to The Couch Pundit Podcast and do go to see The Alex Forrest when they play on the 11th November The Alex Forrest – live in Dublin The first week of the Heineken Cup is in the books and it went even better than we dared to expect.
Don’t forget to listen to The Couch Pundit Podcast The opening weekend of the Heineken Cup is upon us. Aside from being delighted to call the competition by its real name again there is also the excitement of being on the precipice of another massive season for Leinster and an improving season from Munster. Ulster and … More The Heineken Cup round 1, The Irish in Europe.
Don’t forget to listen to The Couch Pundit Podcast So here we go. The fight has happened, the results are out the furore and madness of the post-fight melee is bouncing around social media, and the middle aged people of Ireland are delighted that they can finally ‘say I told you so’.
Don’t forget to listen to The Couch Pundit Podcast So we sit here on the Monday morning after the last round of pre-European inter provincial games. The usual partial reviews of the game are flying around social media so I was going to try and review the proceedings with the blue shirt in the washing machine.
Don’t forget to listen to The Couch Pundit Podcast The massive weekend of sport kicks off at 6pm on Saturday, in the Aviva stadium where Leinster welcome Munster to their home away from home for the last of the first leg of the interprovincial series of the season. Ulster and Connacht play on Friday which is … More Leinster v Munster, who needs it more?
Don’t forget to check out The Couch Pundit Podcast In the words of our favourite ring announcer, HERE WE GO! Fight week excitement is real and is where we sit as we wait for fight night on Saturday, as we wait for the biggest fight in the history of MMA (until the next one) and we … More McGregor v a monster,UFC 229 and predictions.
The Couch Pundit Podcast The first marker of the Irish rugby season took place last weekend. The first round of the historical inter-provincial games took place in the Sportsground and in Thomond Park. Leinster packed the bus and headed to the Connacht cauldron and Ulster hopped the train to Limerick to try and keep their … More The interpros, doom, gloom and rosy gardens. The Irish provinces lay down a marker.
The Couch Pundit Podcast With the Guinness Pro 14 still a baby in terms of the season it has already thrown up some very unexpected results and last weekend was no different. It is time for a look around the provinces.
Don’t forget to listen to The Couch pundit Podcast After a long week of ups and downs we arrived into Thursday night 10pm and the week turned around. The McGregor show is back in business and business is good!
https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-u45mn-9997b8 Lets chat about Serena Williams, is it a womens rights issue or a spoiled child issue? http://www.thecouchpunditireland.com thecouchpunditireland@gmail.com
Don’t forget to listen to The Couch Pundit Podcast Usually the opening few weeks of the season is the rugby equivalent of what we do when we get in the bath. We dip our toes, slowly test the temperature of the water with our hanging bottoms before diving in. I was expecting a similar approach from … More Leinster, week 2. It’s business time!
https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-g5grf-9905b1 Happy hump day! welcome to episode 69! Lets chat about the world applauding obesity for fear of being called a fat shamer. Lets also chat about or love of plastic surgery and big bums http://www.thecouchpunditireland.com thecouchpunditireland@gmail.com Enjoy, like and share everywhere
itunes.apple.com/ie/podcast/the-couch-pundit/id1315569500 We chat about el trumpo and the return of the beautiful game
With that a long summer of roundball is over. A long summer of diving, bad sportsmanship and an insane amount of coverage is over and we get our game back. A game of combat, of skill and of proper sportsmanship (or is I sports-personship). Rugby is back!
Let’s talk about the C word, the other C word….. consent ! Available wherever you get your podcasts https://itunes.apple.com/ie/podcast/the-couch-pundit/id1315569500?mt=2&i=1000417369402
Remember to check out The Couch Pundit for more. And so we reach the end of the most important summer series in recent memory. Ireland ventured down under hoping to show squad strength and take a scalp of a southern hemisphere super power.
Check out this and all of the episodes Available wherever you get your podcasts The Couch Pundit Podcast ITunes
